The Paladin and his bride (storyteller submission)

[caelumpanache]

There was a time, long ago, when the council of Solus was sought out and headed. When the terror of Emsu canvassed the land. The time before the Vigilant Keep, its construction announced, yet not completed. There were no guilds, and the politics of the land were simple at best. A simple knight entered the land, seeking knowledge of what had become of the Temple of Torm in the land. A local priest gave him instruction on where to find it, but little else. The priest had become a recluse in the years, resorting to simple threats against all adventurers who passed through his domain. The Temple itself remained serviceable, though it had been abandoned, and the road to it was problematic. This young knight, who was a paladin in the service of Torm, spent many days clearing the Manticores surrounding the Temple. He did what he could to spend time in the Temple, and spread the knowledge of Torm throughout the land. And so it was, that this simple knight, a warrior in the struggle against evil, while purchasing supplies for his endeavors, came across and met a young woman who seemed to be looking for a path. She was looking for a way and a focus in her life. Together they formed a team. She still seemed to be unsure, but for the time she was with him, she would follow along and lend her strength to his. They fought together, helping to bring order to the land. Less often, they died together, being given another chance on life by the witch, who helped so many adventurers. Eventually, they lived together, becoming as one. Spending so much time together they loved each other. This love eventually brought them together, before Solus. She, because of her beliefs, needed a father figure in her life to lend her wisdom and guidance, giving her permission to pursue her own heart. He, not really understanding, but trusting in the wisdom of Solus, having had many conversations with him before, agreed that he would seek the best for both of them and his blessing would only help the betrothal. Solus gave his permission, but only on the condition that marriage must be for life. The two agreed and preparations were made for their wedding. In the end, the wedding was unplanned. Though the engagement would last for some time, the actual date of the wedding was never set. At one point, they both agreed it was time, and Solus was present to officiate. A small party assembled, with promise of a ring ceremony later at the Vigilant Keep, which had still not been completed, the couple were married in the Temple of Torm. Ah, Genseric. Oh, Mara. How much joy did you have together? How could you have known the difficulty that lay ahead of you and the commitment you were about to break. Genseric's greatest sin was his absence. He left, for whatever reason, whether good or ill, he left. With promise to return, but not word or message till he did, he was gone. And were did he go? What great work did he perform? Does it matter? For when he returned his loving bride, the girl of his dreams, had proved unable to wait. She had followed for so long that when he was no longer there to lead, she had to find her own path. Ironically, she found another knight of Torm. Even more ironically, he would leave her as well, though in death, and not for some time. Mara would seem to never recover from this, falling into reclusion, spending most of her days in the garden. Genseric, also, would seem never to recover. His transition one of brutality and violence. Where before he fought to save the weak from evil, now he simply fought to destroy injustice. No one can know, what really happened between the two. Genseric was his own man, a firm commitment to his faith and himself. Mara was her own woman, learning for herself, what she could and could not do. Genseric and Mara attempted a peace of sorts, but it was half hearted, both feeling the great gulf between them, both feeling the pain and anger of the past. No one can know the heart of Genseric, nor the mind of Mara, and it is said that neither will ever be whole again, nor could they. But some have said, when Mara and Genseric both learn to forgive themselves, and then each other, they will finally be one and whole.