* The Legendary Journeys *


ALL WRITTEN MATERIAL, including character names & stories ©2000 JRP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

1) A Babe in the Woods

2) The Boy Who Loved Dragons

3) The Sword of Fire *Chapter 1*

4) And Lo, There shall Come a ... Fred? (coming soon)

5) Into the Lair of Giants (coming soon)

6) The Fires of Falteem (coming soon)

A Babe in the Woods

On a day that seemed normal, near the Village of Ar, in the Kingdom of Furyondy, a humble woodsman named
Rongar was out gathering his daily amount of timber. As he went deeper into the wood than usual, he thought
he heard a sound that SHOULDN'T have been there. He dropped his bundle, and bearing his Axe, he ran towards
the sound. Shortly he came upon a site that indeed told him he'd heard correctly. There, in a cradle shaped INTO
a tree was a crying baby. There was nobody else around, and he went closer.

"The poor wee one.", He thought, "How could someone abandon him?"

"He was not abandoned, Rongar of Ar!", came a voice that seemed like the wind itself, "But he does need to be
cared for. We, the Spirits of this Wood, KNOW you to be a good and just man, and that you have no child. Will you
do this for us? Will you raise him as your own son and keep him safe?"

"Am I truly worthy of such an honor? Whose child IS he?"

"He is a special child with a special destiny. We need someone with your kind of spirit to help him on his way.
You are indeed worthy of this and MORE."

"Has he a name?"

"Not as yet. In the future, a name shall be given to him that will allow him to be recognized for what and who he is.
But that time will not be for many years. Have you a name to call him by?"

"I will name him for my Grandfather, if that is all right."

No answer came.

"Hello? Are you still there? Hmm...I guess they approve. I HOPE so. Well, let us go home to your new mother
now, my son. I hope you enjoy your new life....Marlineus."

The Boy Who Loved Dragons

By the time he was eight years old, Marlineus had discovered certain...differences that separated him from the other
children of the Village of Ar. For one thing, he had an unusual affinity with the animals of the forest. At times he
seemed almost to be able to SPEAK with them. His father had seen this coming, knowing a little of his son's
background, though he'd spoken of NONE of it with anyone, INCLUDING the boy. When asked about it in public,
Rongar merely commented that the Village HAD seen something like this, though it was many years before.

This reminded the older Villagers of a young man who showed the same signs, though not as YOUNG as
Marlineus. He went on to become a Ranger - a powerful warrior who can use the powers of Nature and Magick
in his battles against Evil. One of the signs was that HE seemed to speak with animals. Perhaps Marlineus would
be a Ranger as well. The Villagers thought it natural, as the Ranger that Rongar spoke of was his FATHER, Griffon,
and that the gifts were passed on to his son.

On a day shortly after his eighth birthday, something VERY strange happened to Marlineus. A Dragon was seen
in the area, and everyone in the village was in a panic. It had been many years since Dragons were seen in Furyondy,
and it was enough of a rarity to be taken seriously. Rongar was running frantically throughout the Village trying to
find his son, but Marlineus was nowhere to be seen. On the edge of the Wood, Marlineus was happily humming to
himself, as he was carving a figurine of a Dragon. He'd seen his father make carvings for the Village children, and
this was his first attempt. Why a dragon? He didn't know - it just seemed.....RIGHT. He'd ALWAYS loved Dragons and
hearing tales of them.

Then he heard something. He heard his Father yelling to him, "MARLINEUS! GET AWAY FROM THERE! NOOOO!!!"
He looked towards the Village, and saw the faces of his Father and some other Villagers had gone white. They were
looking PAST him, into the Wood. Marlineus spun around and was face to face with a huge ... DRAGON!

After a roar, the crowd dragged Rongar, screaming for his son. They wouldn't let him go and took him away.
Marlineus spun around and looked at the Dragon, quizically. The Dragon, to say the least, was taken aback.
"Hmmph!", he said in a deep growl, "Why does the boy not run like the other Humans?"

"Because I'm not afraid of you.", Marlineus replied, "And I'm right here, so please be polite and speak to me, not
about me." Marlineus remembered that lesson from his late Mother.

The Dragon was now astonished, and his face reflected his disbelief. "How did you KNOW what I was saying?"

"Well you DO have a loud voice you know."

"That's NOT what I meant, Small One. I was speaking in my own language. Come to think of it, so are YOU! How
can this be? How can a small human know DragonSpeak, let alone speak it PERFECTLY?"

"I'm not sure. I always seem to understand what the forest animals say. Maybe it's the same thing."

"Hmmmph. A Dragon is NOT a 'forest animal', but you may have a point. Hmmmmm.....let me take a good look
at you, Small One. Stand up."

Marlineus did as he was told, and stood before the huge creature, though he had an annoyed look on his young
face. "My name ISN'T small one! It's Marlineus. What'sYOUR name?"

"My name would be translated in Human speech as "SILVERWING", so I suppose you may as well call me that.
Especially since your throat couldn't HANDLE the Dragon pronounciation. Hmmmmm...MOST interesting....WHAT?
Yessssss.... of COURSE!"

"What?? What is it?? What do you see?"

"I see a small Human who can speak with animals and other mystical creatures. You also have a LARGE capacity
to use Magick some day. Tell me, Small .... errr ... Marlineus, why WEREN'T you afraid of me?"

"Well, I know from my Father telling me that there are Evil men, just as there are Good men. I figured the same was
true about Dragons. I mean, you didn't DO anything mean. You were just walking through the Wood."

"If only more of your kind thought as you did. You are CORRECT. There ARE Evil Dragons as well as Good ones. I
will teach you more of that on another day. For now, accept this gift."

He opened his claw, and there, seemingly out of nowhere was a silver ring, shaped like a Dragon. The boy's eyes
widened in wonder.

"Take this ring. It will protect you from Evil Dragons and make you known to Good Dragons as a friend."

"But it's too big! It doesn't fit on my...." Suddenly the ring shrank in size until it was a perfect fit. "Hey!"

"That's just a sample of the wonders you'll discover in this world, Marlineus. There is MUCH more to see, and we
shall start that journey soon. But for now, you should run to your Father and let him know that you are safe."

"I will, Silverwing! And Thank you! Oh, and I'll tell everyone that you're my friend and don't mean any harm! See you
soon!"

Off he ran to tell his Father of his wondrous new friend.

"Indeed you shall, Young Dragon. Indeed you shall.", SilverWing thought to himself.

***********************************************

SilverWing went off through the Wood , 'til he came to his cave. Waiting for him was a young Wood Elf.

"You met the boy?" Her voice seemed like the wind itself.

"Indeed I did. Took me by surprise, too. I didn't know HE was the one until he spoke. Worry not. That ring will keep
Falteem from finding him."

"I hope so, SilverWing. He's starting to come into his power, and the Red Wyrm would have no problem tracking him."

"Peremateaus was my best friend. I'll not let his son be harmed."

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