Foreword: The following story loosely retells of some events that happened during the period of June 22, 1998 to July 7, 1998. The events being told happened both in Ultima Online and on the Crossroads of Britannia Tavern message board. The chronology of events are not exactly in the order that they originally occured nor necessarily in their proper placement of occurence, but, such slight adjustments were made to provide a more meaningful story.Vlad Talon

The dull, cold echo of an axe setting on the floor bounced off the empty walls and dissipated quickly and unnoticed as Vlad stood rigidly in the middle of a bare fieldhouse. Not more than a handful of days ago he had been here to visit lady Willow, an excellent bowyer and owner of this cozy cottage. The now bare wooden floor was then covered with a thick, inviting, maroon colored fur, a small table for two used to peek out of the western window and he swore he could still hear the merry chiming of the clock that had ticked away on the now barren northern wall. Nothing. All gone. All that remained was a hollow shell, an empty reminder of days past.

Vlad stood there as emotions ran thru his head, spurts of anger, remorse, helplessness. He had just been acquitted of his brutal hunt and murder of the thugs that brought such pain and sadness upon Willow and her housemate Loreena. Still, it did not re-furnish the house or return that which was lost. And it was not just possessions that were lost, but, hope and inspiration that the world was moving towards a better tomorrow. At least for some, the world was now a bleak and empty place.

Vlad finally turned and left the forlorn house, locking the door behind him and walked into the trees. A sturdy bow bounced at his side and he paused and held it in front of him. It was of exceptional craft, carved by Willow herself and given to him no more than a couple of hours before her ill chapter was written. Somehow, the bow gave him a sad inspiration, as if a reminder of beautiful days that had past. Beautiful days that he wish might dawn again in the unforeseen future.

The trees hovered over Vlad as he walked, his chain tunic clinking merrily and mixing its metallic ringing with the creatures of the woods to create an upbeat little music of its own craft. Yet, the melody that hummed from Vlad's lips was more somber and slow with a hint of darkness. Was the weight of the world finally snuffing the jovial spirit that always manifested itself in him? He was not sure, but, things certainly seemed less... happy these days. Or maybe he was just tired. Or maybe it was the sun that beat down on him and he simply needed a refreshing dip in the river.

The river. The mention of that entity seemed to spark even more memories within the massive man. Many of the peaks of his life had happened near that particular river just outside the Crossroads Tavern. He had not been to that river in a long time. Perhaps, in some strange way, the river was his lifeblood and he didn't even realize it. Or perhaps it was merely coincidence that a single river held so many fond memories for him. He rarely stopped to think of such deep thoughts being really nothing more than a simple woodsman with a fierce appetite for combat and a ladies touch.

Suddenly he stopped in his tracks, his humming stopping abruptly with him. A cold chill made its way down his spine as he realized everything he was thinking about was in the past. For as long as he could remember, he lived his life in the present, fondly remembering the past only when retiring for the night by a crackling fire. Here he was, walking in the present, yearning and longing for what had past. He always said it was the first death of a person to no longer live in the present and continually look back. Was he at that point already?

Before he could answer his own question, he heard a rustle in the trees up ahead and quickly cleared his mind and notched an arrow as well as loosened his satchel of explosive potions. He melted into the trees and waited, wondering what or who it might be to show in the clearing in the next few seconds. His face nearly dropped as he looked upon a most beautiful image of a lady. For a long moment he seemed entranced like never before. The woman's auburn hair seemed to fall carelessly about her shoulders, knowing full well how to form a beautiful cascade of curls, yet teasing the viewer with almost a naughty messiness that was enticing to look upon. He stood nearly a full foot over her five and a half foot, slender yet curvy body. Her face was delicate, but her defined arms suggested she was not a stranger to the woods or to hard labor. He smiled with a look of approval and then almost respect as he saw a mace hanging by her side. Not many ladies he knew could even lift such a device of war, much less use it with any effect in battle. It was only when her hazel eyes looked in his direction, laying across his face darkened by the shadows by the tree he stood under did his heart leap forward and he realized who she was: Cerilene.

Cerilene! Tis ye in the woods that me spies on!

Vlad let out a merry, almost boyish laugh and stepped foward from his obfuscated position under the trees and approached her. He bowed low to the ground in dramatic, royal fashion like a humble knight would bow to a queen or princess, causing fits of giggles from Cerilene, quickly replaced by an attempt to return the grand gesture but pretty much failing as the giggles continued to escape from her soft, delightfully full lips.

Well met, Vlad Talon! And how are ... *stops, pauses and giggles out loud uncontrollably*... Really, Vlad! we are in the forest, not Lord British's court! I insist that you straighten up and open your gift!

Cerilene's words were said with a forced commanding tone which barely held its integrity amidst the giggles that still played from her lips. Vlad beamed as he looked in her eyes, the dark thoughts and foreboding feelings washing away from his mind at the sight of her auburn tides of hair and refreshing, sparkling eyes that seemed to be a window to better days. She held out a small package, wrapped in a red cloth and tied with a rawhide string. He took the package, slipped off the string and unfolded the cloth and stuffed it in his back pocket. His face could barely contain the smile on his face, though, it was not so much from the excitement of seeing what was inside the package, but from whom was giving him such a gift and the very closeness of her to him.

Inside the package were 4 pairs of custom tailored, studded leather gloves, each with a finely embroidered daisy on the cuff, much like the real daisy Cerilene had sewn into a pair of gloves for him over a week before. His eyes lit up at the thoughtful gift and he immediately dropped the clumsy plate gloves to the ground and slipped on a pair, the soft leather caressing and sliding smoothly across his skin in a sensuous manner.

Cerilene! Ye be so thoughtful... and talented!

The genuine vibration in Vlad's voice caused Cerilene to lower her head, almost blushing at his intense, heartfelt gaze, then back up to his face, her own displaying a proud radiance at seeing Vlad happy with what she had done.

Well, I know you needed leather gloves for chopping wood ... but if you are set upon by ruffians while lumberjacking, I thought maybe the gloves would distract them, giving you an even bigger advantage over them than you already have! Well, I should really be going... I just heard you might be around these parts so I tracked you down!

Cerilene continued to stifle more giggles, then quickly gave Vlad a kiss on the cheek while uttering the magical recall words of power.

Oh no ye doesn't gets away THAT easily ye little tease!

Vlad grabbed her before she could dissolve, squeals of surprise and glee erupting from Cerilene. He bent down and gave her a playful, passionate kiss before finally letting her go. She staggered slightly, a big, dreamy smile on her face, her slender hands pushing some stray curls from her face. She tried to recall but fizzled the spell, causing both Vlad and Cerilene to stare at each other a moment, laughing, until she finally managed to focus enough to recall from view. He continued down the path to his house, the red cloth peeking and waving playfully from his back pocket as if to bade his worries now behind him goodbye, a merry tune replacing the dark tones that were present before.

The fire crackled at the feet of the tired Vlad. In one hand he held the bow Willow had carved for him, in the other a pair of gloves Cerilene had tailored him. Yet, it was more than a bow and a pair of gloves he held. It seemed he held the past and the present at the same moment... perhaps even the future. He let out a happy sigh and fell asleep in the oversized, handcarved oak chair, still clutching onto the bow and the daisy embroidered gloves as the night watched over him.

-Vlad Talon

Other Vlad Talon Stories:

Reflections in the Wood - May 11, 1998
Lost Sheep - May 13, 1998
Revelations: Eagle or Trout? - May 14, 1998
The Seed that Blossoms - May 18, 1998
Tomes of the Soul - May 20, 1998
Chestnuts and Ebony - May 21, 1998
Passion Waves - June 1, 1998