The water has been touched by darkness, My Lady

Aislinn felt as though she were being gripped by darkness. She often wandered around the forest, searching for adventure and magical treasures with her parents. Now, though, the forest seemed different and hostile. Nothing was familiar or welcoming anymore, which pained Aislinn. The forest was silent, and even the beams of sunlight that broke through the great trees offered no warmth. The sticks and leaves that crunched beneath their feet seemed quieter than either would expect.

“Do you have combat experience, Rowan?” Aislinn inquired.

“I took some boxing lessons a while ago. Chased off some burglars with a lead pipe once. Nothing like a real fight to the death, though.” Rowan replied.

“A lead pipe?” She was confused.

Rowan gave her a kind smile. “A short metal staff. We use it to connect different things, like, say, running water from one place to another.” He explained.

“Really? Father said that you have a worker’s hands. What do you do?” She was curious.

“I help my father build things in his workshop, and-” he cut his sentence short when the ground trembled beneath them. The two stopped in their tracks and scanned their threatening surroundings.

A group of several large boards charged through a thicket of trees right towards them. Their fur gleamed in the beams of light that peered through the trees, but even that supernatural vision was tainted by the dark aura that surrounded them.

Rowan and Aislann dodged out of the way and avoided what would have certainly been the end of them. Their horns looked almost crystalline and as sharp as spears. “I’ve never seen boars like that before. They’re four times the size of anything back home.” Rowan commented. He pushed himself up and helped Aislinn to her feet.

“They’re magic boars. Animals that live in forests blessed by Siofra gain magical traits.” Aislinn explained as he drew her bow and nocked an arrow. She softly spoke arcane words Rowan could not understand. A bright light overtook the arrow as she loosed it at a charging boar.

The arrow struck true and stopped the boar in its tracks. Rather than cause harm, the arrow broke apart into specks of light that wrapped around the boar to purify the corruption.

“Perfect!” Aislinn cheered, pleased with her success. Both she and Rowan avoided another charge while the purified boar stood between them and its pack to offer Aislinn protection.

Rowan was impressed by her. Aislinn wields a magic staff in the book rather than a bow. She loosed six more arrows in rapid succession, each hitting its target in mere moments of one another. The boars froze in place as Aislinn’s magic purified them.

“Wow,” Rowan breathed. “Your book certainly didn’t show you using that trick. It would have made a couple of your fights easier.”

Aislinn grinned. “Will you be taking notes to correct the record in your time?”

“Naturally. I could do it for extra credit.”

The pack of boars slowly walked toward Aislinn and knelt before her in gratitude. The princess gently patted the closest boar on its head. “I’m glad I could help you, O noble creatures of his sacred forest.” She spoke with a warm and gentle voice. Rowan could just about make a smile on the creatures’ large mouths. “Could you please tell me what happened to you? Why were you corrupted so? I wish to prevent such a thing from happening again.”

Rowan was about to question her attempt to communicate with wild animals, but he was quickly silenced when one of them began to speak. “The water has been touched by darkness, My Lady. Lapping at the waves turns even the noblest being into a vicious and cruel monster.” It spoke with a deep and calm voice, one that didn’t match its visage.

Aislinn kept her composure, but the horror that shocked her form was clear. “From which lake did you drink?” She asked, gently patting her new friend.

“It was that way, O kind Danan maiden. Be warned, other beings have been there, and they have already been touched by darkness.” It waves its snout in another direction.

“Thank you. Please be well and mindful of the forest for now.” Aislinn rose to her feet as the boars knelt before her again.

“I can’t believe that animals talk around here.” Rowan was in disbelief.

Aislinn smirked and tapped his chest with her finger. “As I said, it is Siofra’s gift. Those with her gift have a bond with the Dana. These meetings are fairly common,” she explained. “Now come, we must prevent further corruption. If it is a sign of Aonghas, we must seek it out and inform Queen Sorcha.”

“Allow us to guide you there.” The boar offered. “Will see you there quickly and safely.” The pack stood at the ready.

Aislinn mounted one of the boars and beckoned Rowan to join her. “You’ll have to ride with me, these great beasts don’t allow others to ride them unaccompanied.” She patted the boar in front of her. Rowan eyed the beast with suspicion as it, in turn, gave off a dangerous aura. He sat in front of Aislinn and tensed his body as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He became conscious of her warmth and a sweet perfume that made his heart skip a beat.

Before his heart could settle down, the boars charged off and nearly threw him backward. “Whoa!” Rowan braced himself as best he could as the beasts moved at greater speed than their large sizes would suggest. Aislinn laughed behind him, clearly enjoying the ride.

They rode through a thick and unwelcoming forest. Rowan had gotten used to riding the boar. It seemed to dislike his presence and resented having to carry him, but it would not do anything to upset the Danan princess who sat behind him.

The corruption became clearer as they reached the lake. Darkness shimmered just beneath the surface, almost like a mirror that peered into a black abyss. Rowan and Aislann dismounted the boar to begin their investigation.

“I sense your hesitation, so I will not ask you to accompany us further,” Aislann addressed their new friends. “Please go in peace and be well.” She bowed in respect to them.

The boars knelt in kind. “To you as well, O fair Danan. Please be careful.” They stood and charged away from the area that frightened them so.

Rowan and Aislann walked closer to the lake. A sense of unease and dread washed over them. The air was heavy and stale, and not even the sunlight could pierce through the treetops. “This is most certainly Aonghas’s work,” Aislann observed. “Queen Sorcha has said that his corruption seeps through Mairwen’s seal in an attempt to gain a foothold in this world.”

Aislann walked closer to the lake and drew her bow. She chanted a spell in a soft voice, conjuring an arrow of light. Her words became symbols that swirled around the arrow as it flew high in the air and split into six. They fell and hovered in place, five to surround the lake and one at its center.

Her voice echoed through the forest as the arrows glowed ever brighter. The wind picked up around her as her spell took its full effect. Six beams of light pierced the sky and expanded, joining as one to banish the darkness around them.

Rowan watched the light fade behind Aislinn. His mouth hung agape as the princess was framed by light. She seemed ethereal, almost divine, as she turned to face him with a smile. The light faded, giving way to a beautiful forest devoid of darkness. “Wow…” He breathed.