Enigmatic Fantasies #19 - A Stranger Part 9 [Final]

First Part
Second Part
Third Part
Fourth Part
Fifth Part 

Sixth Part
Seventh Part
Eight Part

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A Stranger

Part 9: As Quickly As She Came

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            Galatine silently walked towards the forest village. As normal of his visits, he left his armor behind and wrapped himself in a heavy cloak. The blonde man now sported a light beard along his face and a few streaks of white in his hairline. His pace was solid, but his breath was heavy as he crossed the treeline. The judge smiled to himself, he could only imagine to what heights the village had grown to in his long absence.

            As Galatine arrived at the village, only the scent of dead leaves greeted him. No residents loitered along the forest floor, only the remnants of a long dead campfire. The village was silent and lifeless, almost more so than when her first cam there with the Stranger. The judge pushed forward towards the three oak trees but came to a sudden stop at their base. There was a raised mound of dirt, with a single wooden cross placed in it. His expression drooped as he moved to climb the rightmost tree. As the blonde man ascended he felt no eyes upon him, and when he reached the top he observed not a soul in the other treetop homes.

            When Galatine entered the Stranger's home his heart rose slightly. Across the room, a woman sat in a chair which faced away from the door, a warm fire lit in front of them. The judge nearly bolted across the room, but he chose to approach carefully instead. As he crossed the room he noted it was dusty and poorly cared for, but still lived in.

            "Hello, your honor," an unfamiliar voice greeted Galatine. He hurried his approach and finally came in view of the woman. She had pale orange hair and soft features, her hair was long but well cared for. There was a small infant that slept in her arms, the child was vibrant and breathed smoothly.

            "You," the judge stuttered, "you're her daughter, I thought the grave..."

            "I don't blame you," the daughter replied, "mother's passing was so sudden, I still find it hard to believe."

            "When, when did it happen?" The blonde man asked.

            "About a month or so, I think," the young woman coughed, "sorry, my body is still weak, your honor."

            "There is no need for you to apologize," Galatine assured, "I should be the one to ask for forgiveness, I left for so long...I never expected...I promised her..."

            "It's okay, your honor," the daughter smiled, "you had your own responsibilities."

            "That's...very well," Galatine stopped himself, "that child, are they?"

            "Yes, it's my daughter," the young woman explained, "it was nothing short of a miracle."

            "Where is the father?" The judge inquired.

            "He left to go find help for our village," the daughter revealed, "but that was some time ago..." Her smiled faded.

            "What happened to this village?" Galatine asked, "what tragedy befell you?" The daughter remained silent for a few moments as she held her own child tightly.

            "It's been a long and painful event," the young woman began, "it began not long before mother passed. Please have a seat, this isn't a pleasant story." Galatine accepted her offer and sat down in a familiar chair. "At first we thought it was a simple flu that had swept through the village..."

~--~

            "At first it was only coughs and sneezes," the daughter continued, "then a few people felt too ill to work. It was nothing abnormal at the time, but they never recovered. I feared for myself and my child, but mother assured me..."

            "No illness shall harm you two, I promise," she told me.

            "I wanted to believe her, but more and more people began to fall ill. Even my lover struggled with bouts of illness. Then people started dying...." The daughter choked up, but still mustered the will to continue. "The villagers slowly began to pass on, one by one. We needed...we needed help right then and there, but we had no healers and there was no city or chapel close enough."

            "What did you do?" Galatine asked.

            "My lover and a few others went out for help," the daughter explained. "Despite how ill he had become, he promised me he'd return with the best healer he could find." The young woman stopped for a moment as tears welled up inside her eyes.

            "And you haven't seen any of them since?" The judge queried.

            "No," the daughter confirmed, "soon after that, mother got sick as well." Both individuals grew solemn at the mention of the Stranger. "But even confined to her bed she refused to let me worry..."

            "You will make it through this, I promise," she'd always tell me.

            "You know, your honor," the daughter changed the subject, "she always spoke very highly of you."

            "Why do you mention that?" Galatine was taken aback.

            "Well, near the end, she'd always say 'her luck has run out, but that's fine' and the like," the young woman answered. "She told me you'd understand what that meant."

            "I see," the blonde man absorbed the familiar statement, 'oh dear Stranger, please tell me you did not do such a thing.' The judge traced his vision over the daughter and realized something was amiss. "Do you still have your mother's...marble?"

            "Oh, that?" The daughter replied as she reached into her clothing to reveals a hidden necklace. It was adorned with a golden, key-shaped ornament, crafted from some flimsy material. But, slotted in the center was one of the Stranger's "marbles." It had a dim glow but had a crack that ran along its surface.

            'Even now her strange powers still linger,' Galatine thought, 'if only for her daughter.' The judge placed his hand on the young woman's shoulder, "Your worries are over now. I'll do everything in my power to help you and your child."    

            "Thank you," the daughter smiled, "but, it's too late for me."

            "I promise you I can-" Galatine began.

            "You don't need to lie to make me feel better, your honor," the young woman interrupted. "Mother told me, you've already tried to help me. It's fine, your honor."

            "Please, if there is anything I can do to aid you I will," the judge pleaded.

            "There is one," the daughter admitted, "mother told me about...about an offer you made her long ago. Is it still...?"

            "The offer?" Galatine realized, "of course, but do you mean to?"

            "Your honor," the young woman held up her child, "please take her with you, give her the life I never could."

            "I," the blonde man hesitated, a part of him had waited for this day for so long, but this isn't how he imagined it. "I will, she'll make a fine judge."

            "Thank you, your honor," the daughter cried as she clutched her own child close.

~--~

            The infant was put to sleep wrapped in a warm blanket in another room. Meanwhile, Galatine and the daughter remained in the main room, warmed by the fire. The young woman held back tears of joy, while the blond man did his best to comfort her.

            "Please, your honor, you don't have to stay here any longer, I have nothing left to offer you," the daughter insisted.

            "I will stay," Galatine exclaimed, "it would be unbecoming of me to leave you alone in your state."

            "Mother was right, you are stubborn," the young woman sighed.

            "Is that all she said about me?" The judge chuckled.

            "No, like I said she spoke very highly of you," the daughter smiled, "she actually spoke more about you than herself."

            'Cryptic till the end, even to her own daughter,' Galatine thought. "She never spoke about herself?"

            "Very rarely," the young woman admitted, "If I asked she'd normally be very vague. But, sometimes she'd muse about how she missed living by the water and eating seafood."

            "That's it?" The blonde man laughed, "if only I'd known, I'd of found a nice fishing village for her to live in." The two shared a small chuckle and continued to chat idly about the Stranger and whatever other topic came to mind.

            "This Jonathon sounds like a wonderful man," the daughter replied to a story about Galatine's former apprentice. "He certainly-" The young woman suddenly coughed, "oh, sorry I-" She tried to apologize, but the coughs continued and developed into a full-blown fit. Galatine did his best to help her, but the fit didn't stop until she coughed up a spot of blood. "Don't worry," she croaked, "that happens sometimes."

            "I will do what I can to ease the pain," Galatine rubbed her back.

            "Thank you," the daughter whispered.

~--~

            "You're so kind, your honor," the daughter spoke in labored breaths, "you didn't need to stay with me for so long."

            "I am merely doing my duty," Galatine assured. "Besides, I know the pain of helplessness and the power of a stranger's kindness."

            "Stranger, or 'Stranger'?" The young woman asked.

            "Either or," the judge smiled and held her hand tight.

            "Is that how you met?" She smiled back.

            "Your mother never told you?" Galatine inquired.

            "Sadly no," the daughter shook her head, "what happened?"

            "Well your mother and I had a very violent first meeting. I was the losing party," the blonde man explained, "but she took pity on me. Despite her exterior, I always believed her to have a soft heart."

            "Your honor?" the young woman looked towards the judge with half-open eyes.

            "Yes?" He replied.

            "You know a lot about my mother," she stated, "can you tell me the whole story?"

            "Only she knew the full story, but I can still tell you what I know," Galatine admitted.

            "That's fine," the daughter nodded.

            "Very well, let's start at the beginning shall we?" Galatine began. "Once long ago, in a humble village, a Stranger emerged from the wilderness..." The daughter closed her eyes and took in the judge's words as he weaved his tale. She smiled as the story of her mother passed through her mind's eye.

~--~

            "They have the same smile you know," the daughter murmured as she cradled her own child.

            "Who?" Galatine was confused by the statement.

            "My mother and my daughter, their smile is the same," the young woman explained. "It's subtle but warm and welcoming."

            "Oh," the judge nodded, "I wouldn't know, I don't think I ever saw your mother smile."

            "It was hard to notice," the daughter stated. "Her face was always covered by her hair and she rarely looked at people head on. But sometimes, when her guard was down I'd catch her in the act."

            "I see," Galatine mused, 'warm and welcoming, huh. I wish I'd seen it.' The blonde man watched the parent and child for a moment until a glint caught his eye. The necklace with the Stranger's "marble" still glowed softly as it hung around the daughter's neck. However, the glow was much dimmer than before, and the cracks much deeper. "Do you need any more water?" Galatine offered the young woman.

            "No, I'm fine," the daughter smiled weakly.

            "Don't push yourself," Galatine stood up from his chair and approached the ill young woman. "If you need help don't hesitate to ask."

            "Please, your honor, you've already done enough for me," the daughter whispered.

            "You need the help, I can tell," the blonde man refused to back down.

            "So stubborn," the young woman let out a light chuckle. "If you must...then I accept," she nodded and closed her eyes. Her breaths were shallows, but her smile remained.

            "I'll be right back," the judge assured and left for the other room. Before he exited he glanced back at the daughter, the glow in the necklace had nearly faded. Galatine took a deep breath and moved quickly.

~--~

            Galatine returned to a somber sight, the daughter was slumped over infant still in her arms. The necklace had fallen from her neck and now clung to her child, the light completely diminished. He knew this time would come, but nobody can truly prepare for it. With a heavy heart, he separated the two and put the child to sleep in the other room. He took the daughter and checked her pulse and heartbeat, both were silent. Her skin was ice cold, despite the nearby fire, and paler than snow.

            'What luck it lasted as long as it did,' Galatine pondered, 'I wonder, is this what she meant by not having a choice anymore?' The judge chose not to dwell on the thought and prepared for what was next. He gave the daughter a proper burial, right beside her mother. The blonde man wished he could have buried her alongside her lover as well. However, they both knew from the start that could never be the case.

            With his duty performed, Galatine took the infant in hand and returned to the judge's council. His return was met with many shocked stares and long gasps. Yet, no one dared to ask why a member of the council disappeared for so long, only to return with a baby in his arms, except for one. As Galatine moved through the halls he was met with a familiar face.

            "Master Galatine, where have you been?" Jonathon jumped to his master's side, "you look exhausted, and where did that child come from?"

            "Do not concern yourself with the child's origin," Galatine stated. "Ask no question, for I will give no answers. Just know that she has incredible potential."

            "Yes, Master Galatine," the former apprentice nodded before he helped his tired master forward.

            'My dear Stranger,' Galatine looked down at the infant in his arms, 'I know not where you came from, nor your intentions. But, I can assure you, I will ensure this child's growth. I will not let the same tragedies befall her. I won't let her die being nothing more than a Stranger.'

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And, finished! This has been quite the ride, but I've learned a lot from writing this story. I hope you dear readers enjoyed it as well.

We end on a bittersweet note, but that was my plan from the beginning. My only concern is the character of the daughter, I hope she doesn't feel forced.

I have my share of regrets with the story, mostly because I felt I could have done a little more the flesh out the world and characters. But, I happy with the result still. Besides, I like to wait a bit before I pass any final judgments on my own work.

To end this off I have an announcement, I've started a patreon [link]. I won't be placing any of my stories behind a paywall, but I will be using it to post previews of my content, as well as extra materials around my stories. Fun stuff like rough drafts, cut content and trivia for my stories (so if you wanted to know how old Galatine was, the name of every member of the judge's council or the names of random incidental characters than look no further).

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.

Enigmatic Fantasies #18 - A Stranger Part 8

First Part
Second Part
Third Part
Fourth Part
Fifth Part 

Sixth Part
Seventh Part

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A Stranger

Part 8: End to a Dream

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            Even after the Stranger's supposed death, her legend lingered. Stories of her exploits continued to appear for the next few years. Bards would sing of the time she brought rain to a desert city and turned the dry land into a fertile oasis. Poets loved to recite about her adventure through a valley of gigantic beasts, and how by the end of her journey the beasts would flee from her. A tale of how she rescued a village from a dark wizard become a popular children's story. Whether these stories were true or not depended on who you asked. While many of these stories were total fabrications, even the most outlandish tales have a grain of truth to them.

            Despite claims the foreign woman was sighted in every corner of the land, the council dismissed the notion. The judges put their faith in Galatine. All the reports of the Stranger were labeled as nonsense or the work of imposters. The council suppressed the idea that the Stranger still lived, and encouraged others to do the same. After many years the stories of the foreign woman grew fewer and more infrequent. Eventually, they finally stopped and she drifted into legend. The vast majority had accepted the idea she was dead, others believed she returned to where she came from. But, only one man knew the truth, Galatine.

            Despite his new responsibilities and fame, the judge found time in his life to visit the Stranger in secret. Always with the hope, she would accept his offer to join the judges, but she never did. However, the blonde man never gave up and continued to try until one certain day.

~--~

            Galatine trudged into the forest village, it had been almost a year since he last visited. Numerous questions swirled around his mind, all of which concerned the Stranger. The smell of fresh wood and cooked food passed by his nose. As he entered into the village he took note of some of its new inhabitants as they held a small cookout on the forest floor. They waved to the blonde man and he returned the gesture.

            'I wonder if they still don't realize who I am,' the judge thought. He was unarmored and wrapped in a cloak to remain inconspicuous. The villagers may recognize him as a frequent visitor, but Galatine was concerned they'd realize he was a famous judge. It would be better for all involved if they didn't, but if they did the blonde man hoped they could keep a secret.

            The judge made his way to a familiar trio of oak trees and scaled the rightmost one through a series of hidden ridges. As the man neared the treetops her spotted several more residents in their homes among the trees. Most of them were in the middle of repairs, a few watched Galatine as he climbed the tree. All together there was likely no more than a few dozen people in the village. However, it was clear the community was still in mid-growth. The judge wasn't certain where they all came from, but theorized they were in some way drawn to the Stranger.

            Finally, the blonde man reached the top of the tree and entered the house situated there. Inside the building was no more furnished that it was when he and the Stranger first spent the night there. It was certainly cleaner, but that was the extent of it. The Stranger was seated in a chair faced away from the door, a book was in her hand as she sat in front of a lit cooking fire.

            "Hello, your honor," the Stranger welcomed the judge.

            "How can you always tell it's me?" Galatine asked.

            "You're the only one who enters uninvited," the redhead replied bluntly.

            "Fair enough," the blonde man walked around to face her directly. "It may be sudden to ask dear Stranger, but why have you stopped-Oh." The judge froze mid-question. He had wanted to know why the foreign woman's adventures had come to an abrupt stop recently. The Stranger did not even have to open her mouth to answer, there was a small infant in her arms illuminated by the fire. "Is that child-?"

            "Yes," the foreign woman replied.

            "Who's the father?" Galatine asked.

            The redhead turned and looked him in the eye, "I do not know." Galatine sweated, he could not tell if she was honest or not.

            "When did this happen?" The judge inquired.

            "About a month or so ago," the Stranger revealed. "It just so happened a midwife was among the newest residents, lucky me." Galatine chuckled at her statement, but the Stranger remained stone-faced. Given a chance to look closer the blonde man noticed one of the redhead's "marbles" clutched in the infants tiny hands.

            "Already preparing for the worst?" Galatine pointed to the "marble."

            "Look again, the worst is already here," the Stranger replied. The judge glanced back at the child and finally noticed how pale its skin was. The infant shivered even in the warmth of the fire.

            "How did this happen?" The judge asked in a panic, "what illness has swept through this village?"

            "None," the redhead answered, "she was born this way."

            "I can help her," Galatine assured, "I can bring you the best healers in the land within the week."

            "At the cost of your credibility?" The Stranger countered, "Am I not supposed to be dead?"

            "Not a soul has to know it is your child," the blonde man continued, "I can take the girl with me and go to a healer. I'll swear them to secrecy, trust me."

            "It's not that I don't trust you," the redhead replied, "I'd rather not be indebted to you. Besides, I don't know if the child can survive travel."

            "It is not a matter of debt," Galatine stated, "I'm merely doing my duty."

            "Such stubbornness," the Stranger chuckled.

~--~

            As Galatine promised he had an exceptional healer come to the Stranger's doorstep to treat the ill child. The judge had more than enough clout to keep them sworn to secrecy. However, he dropped some deceptive hints that the child was of noble birth, just in case. The healer was a man of the church, trained in the art blessings and miracles. Galatine had relied on similar individuals to treat himself and his allies before. If they could not save the child, no one could.

            After several hours of treatment and medicinal spells, the healer emerged from the other room with the child in his arms. A somber look consumed his features as he returned the infant to the mother. "Forgive me for my failure, your honor," he apologized, "but I could not free the child from whatever ails it."

            "What do you mean?" The judge exclaimed.

            "Whatever affliction grips that child, it is not borne of disease or poison," the healer explained. "The child has a weak constitution, it is her body that betrays her. It is a miracle she has lived for as long as she had." Galatine prepared to reply, but the Stranger interrupted him.

            "I understand, thank you for all your effort," the foreign woman thanked the healer.

            "Allow me to give you some space," the healer left the room. After the man left Galatine turned towards the Stranger. He could not see her face through the tangled mass of her red hair, but he could faintly hear a small whimper. He could not tell if it was from the child or not.

~--~

            The next time Galatine returned to the Stranger was mere months later. He returned to the same sight, the Stranger in her chair, faced away from the door with the baby in her arms. As before he approached and greeted her.

            "How is the child?" The judge spoke in a near whisper.

            "She continues to fight," the redhead replied.

            "Do you have any plans for, well the end?" The blonde man spoke with hesitation.

            "I'll decide when the day comes," the foreign woman replied.

            This pattern of events would repeat itself, again and again over the next few months. Galatine would continue to sneak out the forest village, uncertain of the child's fate. Yet, he always arrived to find her still alive in her mother's arms. All he would receive from the Stranger were cryptic responses in regards to the child's eventual fate. Even as months became years, and the infant became an adolescent.

            The Stranger's child grew into a small girl with pale orange hair and soft features. She grew her out long like her mother's but took better care of it. The young girl remained ill, her body thin and frail. She remained confined indoors and always clutched one of her mother's "marbles" for good luck. The judge believed the child had great potential, based on her parentage. But, he knew her sickly body would always hold her back.

            As the blonde man watched the child grow further, a horrific sensation began to well up in his chest. This indescribable guilt haunted him as he watched the child struggle to make it from one day to the next. As the girl neared her teenage years he struggled to face her and her mother. Eventually, his visits became less and less. From months apart to several months apart, to half a year and so on, until he finally stopped.

            On the last day he spent with the two he warned them his visits would need to cease for a time. He explained how he could no longer maintain the frequent visits because his peers had grown suspicious of his absences. He was a man of status after all, and he needed to keep up his appearance. He assured them it'd only be a temporary measure until he could throw his peers off the trail. The mother and daughter seemed to accept his explanation. As the judge prepared to leave, the Stranger approached him one last time.

            "If you were afraid you could have just stated outright," she told him.

            "I don't know what you speak of," Galatine denied, "this is only a temporary measure, it is for your sake as much as mine."

            "If that is what you believe then there's no point in trying to argue with you," the foreign woman sighed.

            "I will return, do not worry," the blonde man assured.

            "That is not why I am concerned," the redhead shook her head. The two shared no further words, and Galatine left the village. The judge returned to his duties and planned for his eventual return, whenever that would be.

~~~~

Can you believe it? There's only one more part left in this tale. With that in mind I'll post a collection of my general thoughts on the story when it is finished, plus a few extra tidbits. I also have an announcement to go hand in hand with it, so look forward to that.

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