The future's past

[Emer O Treasaigh]

Emer walked down the steps from her room at the Inn. She wasn't used to sleeping in a real bed, her home had been in the depths of the Irish forests with her father's sister. It was in that quiet, sun dappled place that she had finally healed from all the darkness that had poisoned her heart & soul. She had returned to her father's people after leaving RhyDin and renouncing her Mother's heritage and powers. Here she had finally felt safe.
Then one early spring morning she had heard faintly the call of the past that waited to be faced and put to rest. There was no reason to remain in the forest, no family or friends remained to hold her. She had left the small cottage at the next false dawn and walked resolutely back into her past. The future had stretched out mistily before her.
The Arena hadn't changed much physically, the banner still hung down and Hubie was still working the bar. The Rings drew her eyes and she realized that they were but the access to the Ghosts that had haunted her dreams. She pulled a Guiness from her pocket and annouced her willingness to duel anyone.
She had been surprised when a Warlord named Farek had offered to duel her. She knew that it had been so many years since she had last stepped into one of these Rings, but nothing ventured is nothing gainned, and so she accepted. To the surprise of both Farek and herself she beat him, her sword Honor having lost none of it's lust for the duel. She left quickly after, almost running as she made for the small forest outside of the city. As she entered the trees she howled out her triumph, not all had been lost some small gifts remained.
She returned the next night to the Arena eager to test and hone her skills. She had been caught off guard when she saw Topaz and Xyclone, her thoughs whispered "the past" and she smiled to cover her dismay. Her first duel with a handsome bard named Soerl had been fun and his wit had pulled her out of her dark thoughts. Her win was a surprise and she thanks Soerl as she noted the ways he had scored on her. The Caller Steven had conjured up a Guiness, just at the time when she was partched from the duel. She had found him kind and intriguing. Her duel with Xyclone had brought her face to face with a faithful friend. She knew he recognized her personality and dueling style, but he couldn't quite make the leap to who she had become. She still had the same heart shaped face and dark brown hair, but the peace she had found had changed her inside and out. After the duel, she had told him who she had been and had been lovingly received.
And the wounds began to close.

[Emer O Treasaigh]

Emer had waited to talk to the handsome Caller Steven. She felt at ease with him, as if she had known him forever. He had invited her to Twilgiht Isle for the night. She expected him to try something, as most lads she had met in the past had done. But he had talked to her and shown her about this lovely Isle and had taken her to a lovely beach cove. When Steven began to take his leave for the night, she had taken matters into her own hands. The kiss she gave him had left her more than confused and breathless, and he had taken his leave of her before she could come to her senses. Sleep had been a long time coming and she slept the sleep of the innocent.

[Emer O Treasaigh]

As she emerged from the trees at the lower end of the meadow, Emer stopped dead in her tracks. The lone Tree at the top of the rise had grown immense in the intervening years, and as she walked slowly up the slight hill her could see white flowers blooming in profusion around the Tree. Her eyes moved to the right of the Tree, the house had been there - although no trace of it remained. HE had destroyed it after she was gone, as his darkness had lead her down a spiral that no one had stopped.
She stood now directly in front of the Tree. It was covered with climbing branches decorated with white roses. She could see the edge of the marble stone as it peeked out of leaves and the grass, and her fingers pulled and tossed away until the stone lay once more open to the sun. Gentle fingers brushed the dirt and debris from the letters on the brass plaque that was set into the marble. It read:

Here lies
Morte Dulce
Beloved Wife
and Mother

It seemed that she sat there for a very long time although she had already made her peace with this part of the past. Emer had come to release the Valheru curse of Darkness with the Light of her reply. She leaned forward with her hands covering the words on the brass plate, eyes closed and soul reaching for a spar of the power had once filled her veins. Reaching, farther backwards to twist the light with her mind. A huge "BOOM" filled the air, echoing through the streets of RhyDin.

After a few moments, Emer opened her eyes and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She stood, turned without a backwards glance, and made her way down the rise. She slipped quietly back into the forest leaving behind the Tree, the White Roses and a brass plaque on a marble stone which read:

Hope
Springs
Eternal

[Emer O Treasaigh]

Emer wandered through the old forest on her way back to Rhy-din. The undergrowth was quite thick in places and her skirts kept gettin caught on brambles and twigs. "Och, twas a bad idea te take the forest back te town" she muttered as she pulled once again at her skirt. The path seemed to open up just beyond the next few trees, and Emer sigh with relief at the lighter area ahead.
As she stepped into the glade she instantly recognised where she was. In the center of the glade Emer saw that 4 Swords were standing hilt up like small colummns. Very quietly she moved closer to see which blades were back in the glade. Seamus' "Truth" was still gone, as were "Fidelity" and "Compassion". She sadly saw the the returned Guardian Blades were "Justice" , "Champion" , "Revelator" , and strangely "Hope". In her short time back in Rhy-Din, Emer had recognised the lack of those qualties in the country. It was more than a feeling, it was the crime rate and the fear she could feel in the streets.

Emer knew that she had been forbidden to return to the Glade, even tho she was allowed to keep the Guardian sword "Honor". She turned quickly and strode to the first opening in the trees that she spied. She could feel the heat in the sword at her hip, and she KNEW what that could mean. She was frozen in mid-stride by the soft female voice.
"Emer, the Guardian blades once more call out to those whose hearts and souls are the Protectors of the innocent and weak. Keep heart... only those who will wield the blades for the light will be able to release them from their stones. They will find the Glade, one by one, and I will watch them and record thier possession of the Swords. Never again will you find this place, Emer. Guard Honor and Rhy-din well."

With that, she was released and quickly left the forest to seek the Twilight Isle and Steven.