The Vault of Lost Souls

Darkness. It’s so cold. The moonlight, the only light helping Morpeth traverse the steep cliff under his feet. This wasn’t normal for him; Morpeth was used to sitting in meadows, hunting Earthbirds. It was a tragic event that had pulled him here;

Two months ago, Angel-Croft Village was raided by bandits. Morpeth had seen them ride down the long path that led to his village. There were so many of them. They came in a blur. Swords and daggers drawn. Morpeth had left his parents that day, without saying goodbye, and now he would never have the chance. He ran towards the village. He could smell the horrible scent of burning thatch. As he got closer he could see flickers of fire, crackling behind the trees. Suddenly he stopped; the Bandits had already left with what little loot they could get. Morpeth could hear no sound. No noise. No talking, no crying, no screaming. Nothing. He ran, as fast as he could, towards Angel-Croft. Through the village, past houses, a few with broken windows, but nothing worse. The villagers were quiet, unhurt, yet shocked. The closer he got to his house, the more the emotions on the faces of those around him changed. From confused, to sorrow and pitiful masks of emotion. Morpeth didn’t even know what was so saddening, but even the thought that something could be wrong, made his eyes redden. And then he saw. The house on fire, a retching smell, the reason for the sadness. It was his house; his home. He walked slowly, crying, a desperate sound that he had not heard before rising from his chest. Then, he saw. Blood, spreading across the grass. A body, from which the blood poured. It was his Father. Dead.

“My Mother....Where’s my mother?”

“She’s....She’s inside the house” replied the Village Elder, Gornrid...

... middle of paper ...

...ded his mind ‘Why did I come here?’, ‘What have I done?’, ‘I’m sorry, mother, I’m sorry!’

“What for, Morpeth?”

“What, who said that?” cried Morpeth, his eyes frantically trying to focus through his tears

“Morpeth, my dear Morpeth. I am here” came the reply.

“Mo...Mother?”

“Yes, Dear. I am here”

“Wh...Where is Father?”

“He is gone, my dear, sweet Morpeth”

“Mother...I...I love you.”

“I love you too, my son, as does your Father”

Morpeth stayed inside the Vault, for as long as he could. He stayed to talk to his mother, to talk about all he had seen, and all he wanted to see. He talked about his life, and she hers. They talked and talked, until the Sun rose over the mountain plains, and covered the land far beyond. Until it was time for him to go. He knew that upon leaving the Vault, his mother would be gone forever, but this time, he got to say goodbye.