Willowstar’s Crèche
Jarik visits Willowstar and her children with Hamroth and Sharoshi along with two very carefully selected dragons
The following is soaked in resonance and sung, involving total control over the intension of the words and their effect on the listener.
"Well Willowstar, Elena and Malakar is this not a happy day. True there are clouds on the horizon, dark ones indeed. But without dark there would be no light." Jarik smiles
"There is only the storm, universe and the Glaennyn"
Jarik turned to the children and solemnly announced. "Welcome to Grayhawk, I greet you."
The two Children of the Gods coo and smile. These are not ordinary children; Malakar has a dark aspect and Elena is the Child of Light. Perfectly balanced Jarik thinks.
Changing the tone to a happy note he continued "As the children of Willowstar you will grow to be great and perhaps wise. The latter will be up to you even as you cannot avoid the former."
"They will receive the best of everything," Willowstar says, "and more since they will count you Jarik as friend. It comforts me that you are here and that my children are in safe hands. With our help they will be truly great."
"Your mother asks I offer you my protection, take you under my wing. I will do more than this you will ride on them. Let me introduce Shashkar and Allahbar. Brother and sister they are among the best of the youngest generations of dragons. If you wish they will grow up with you, mature with you, and I hope grow old with you. I suggest you treat them as friends rather than steeds."
The two children smile and giggle at the two dragons. An instant bond of love exists between them and Jarik senses Willowstar’s pride (she tries to hide her respect and love for Jarik but it is impossible to shield her emotions from him!). "The Elenorians give horses to their children at birth so that they can become independent quickly," she says, "these steeds are gifts beyond compare."
Jarik had chosen the dragons carefully. Two brothers who showed a balanced philosophical promise, both though small were shape changers and had mastered swordplay and unarmed fighting when in elven form.
Ok
"I stand for balance, and hope if ever you argue, you might turn to me if your mother cannot resolve the problem. Think of me as an uncle, perhaps better, a mentor. I am here to help, requested by your mother, but also demanded by the most divine spirits of Grayhawk’s past."
Initially, at this early stage, the two children cannot communicate, though there is understanding beneath their beautiful expressions. Jarik feels that they have committed his face (and his mind) to memory as friend.
"I cannot tell your future, but I hope to know you long. And long can be a very long time."
Willowstar hides her tears…but not her feelings for Jarik. She kisses him tenderly on the cheek. "I could have wished for nothing more than you have given me here today, Jarik, you have made a dark world shine with light once more…"
Let me sing ‘A Song For the Dead’ I thought it at first, but now I realise it is about much more about life, about how death through the natural resonance of Grayhawk and the universe around it, is transcended and fuels the soul, indeed all magic, all life, including the primal, including Gods, including you. Our lives are the blessing of our ancestors. The All Father now past beyond our sight."
Jarik sheds two tears freezes them solid and hands one to each child "Keep my grief and know you have friends. Call my name I will hear you, even from the depths of the abyss. Become wise, become old, always as brother and sister."
The tears shimmer with an inner light, an inner power. Hoqar smiles in your mind but says nothing…his all-seeing eyes also fill with tears.
"I would talk to your mother alone …"
Jarik walked with Willowstar out into a godly elven glade leaving Hamroth, Sharoshi, Shashkar and Allahbar with the children to talk.
"Now comes my greatest grief. I have never conceived and never will." Jarik’s tears flowed as they walked. "While I am infinity capable of the ultimate act of destruction, I am absolutely denied the ultimate form of creation. I will have to settle for my small part each death and birth. But if you allow it I will act as uncle to your children, all your children both present and future. The Lord Glaennnyn, Prometheus, Nature et al left me a massive responsibility, but one I believe Grayhawk and I are up to providing and all are part of it.
"You are already a father to them Jarik," Willowstar says softly as you stroll, "but as a mother I can feel your pain as if it was a knife in the heart. You have not got to settle for anything Jarik, not while I live and breathe. True you are seedless but you are not impotent…
"As for myself, I have grown up. Until I unleashed the Maelstrom I remained a child scared of my future but now, things are different.
"You are more a man than any I’ve ever known Jarik…"
"As for us, our roles converge, as the Great Mother, a name once given to Nature, you will, if I am not wrong, mother more offspring. I hope to welcome them all. I would be come as a close friend, a frequent visitor. I seek your wisdom, to discharge Nature’s task I must understand the elves and their power, I was born to a human culture and am yet only 17. But most of all it is you Willowstar as yourself, Grayhawk’s greatest treasure that I wish to know personally, one kiss from an elven goddess and your average 17 year old would be smitten, but for an infertile immortal the impact could be eternal on my soul." Jarik laughed merrily nudging the goddess.
Willowstar stares long and hard at the youngster and takes his hands in hers. She stares with an intensity that would melt the heart of lesser men. "It maybe my fate to bear many children, Jarik, my destiny to litter the world with my children but I would give it all up this instant if I could sire a child for you…there is no more deserving father in all the universe.
"I do not wish to give you false hope but there may be a way. Great Mother you called me – there may be a solution to your problem. The Marraqs do not reproduce naturally, they are seedless like you. But it is with the help of the Mara tree that they are able to reproduce. I will go to her – oldest of the Five Trees – and discuss it.
"If there is a way – any way – then I will find it."
"Look before I embarrass myself I’ll be off. I will call again soon.
"Andurien, Great Mother most of all you have my blessing. May our paths converge the Mother of the Gods and the Guardian of Balance could form a divine bond, much to the benefit of Grayhawk.
Jarik bows slightly, gathers Hamroth and Sharoshi and leaves to follow his plans.
Both dragons bow to the goddess and then to you…both weep for your plight."