The Last Hope

The Last Hope

There weren't always dragons in the valley.

Silence fell over the room as the last sounds of the Bard's harp deceased. Every eye in the Tavern of Twilight Moon fell upon the stranger. He stood in the center of the room next to the fireplace with his back to everyone. The fireplace gently crackled as the silence became ominous.

He spoke again in an audible whisper, "There weren't always dragons in the valley. He sat in the chair facing the fireplace, taking his staff, and carefully placing it over his lap. Gesturing his hand, the fire jumped from the fireplace to a pipe in his mouth. The pipe appeared out of nowhere. The bar patrons stared in disbelief as fear built within the silence. The room was well lit with the fire, but the man in the chair was shrouded in darkness. The fire from the fireplace glittered off his face, but none of his features could be seen.

He spoke again with a forbidding voice that matched the ominous silence. "There weren't always dragons in the valley. That valley was once filled with life. The trees, animals, Fey, and Moon Elves used to live there. I remember clearly those days as the valley would be brought to life at sunset. The Moon Elves would play their harps and flutes as they danced in twilight hours. The fey would come out with their silver light and join the Moon Elves in celebrating The Goddess Luna. People would come from miles upon miles to celebrate the festivals of Luna with the Moon Elves. Worshipping their Goddess and giving her all the praise and glory." In a sneer, he mockingly said, "Oh, how, I remember!"

As the words left his lips, the smoke from his pipe turned an ebony black that engulfed the man sitting in the chair. The smoke left the man looking as if he had been on fire and someone had put him out, and all that remained was a burnt-out carcass. The room was dead silent.

Out of the corner of the room, a massive man in Platemail armor asked, "What happened to the Moon Elves. The words of the enormous man brought a sense of life back to the silent pub as the patrons started to whisper. The man in the chair didn't answer as he continued to smoke his pipe, pumping out the ebony smoke. The massive man stood up and walked toward the man next to the fireplace.

With his heart pounding and palms sweating, the barkeep said, "Sir, we don't want trouble here. The massive man stopped and looked at the barkeep. The gigantic man replied, "There will be no trouble. I am Annex Dragonband from Zion, and the people you see in that corner are my traveling companions. A wizard has invited us here to end the Dragon menace in this valley."

Another man stood up on the opposite side of the bar and spoke. “I am Draken Silverleaf of Elden. Along with my companions, I was invited here to end the dragons' threat in this valley. Another man sitting in the middle of the room, close to the old man, stood and introduced himself. I am Leon Lionheart from Zenith, and my companions have also been invited to end the threat of these dragons. Each of the men started to look at each other, sizing each other up with their companions.

The Bard playing the harp earlier started to gasp and laugh like a lunatic. The three men began to look at the Bard. The Bard then smiled an eerie smile, and he spoke with a mischievous voice. "Luna, the Goddess of the Moon, has blessed us tonight, or Darkarn, the God of Darkness, has cursed us tonight. We are all in the company of the greatest heroes throughout each of the greatest kingdoms in the land. All gathering here upon this little valley to clear the threat of Dragons. How lucky or odd it be!" the Bard said mellowly. Each of the heroes stared at the Bard, not knowing how to respond.

Not knowing what to say, Annex turned to the other two heroes and asked, "You said a wizard invited you here to end the dragon threat?" Besides the mysterious figure at the fireplace, all the bar's eyes look at the two heroes for an explanation. Draken and Leon looked at each other to see which one should speak first. After a few moments of an intense eye contest, Leon finally answered.

"The wizard came to our King and asked for my companions by name and me. The wizard said that the dragon threat must be ended before they become a plague and spread throughout the land." Draken silently shook his head as Leon recanted the story of the wizard. Draken said, "That is precisely what happened with my companions and me. The wizard came to our elders and asked for me by name. Alarming, the Bard started to play his harp, singing these eerie words.

The finest sword of the land The wielder is a Dragonband The deadliest bow from the elven belief The shooter is a Silverleaf The sharpest spear is a magnificent work of art The holder is a Lionheart

Silence after the last note of the Bard's song. Everyone looked confused, trying to figure out what the Bard was singing about. Then out of the silence, a deadly voice said again, "There weren't always dragons in the valley!" Out of frustration, Annex yelled, "Why do you keep saying that, old man?"

Sinisterly the Bard said, "Be careful what you ask for!" With frustration and anger, Annex said, turning to the Bard with mortal eyes of rage, "What do you know that I don't know?" The response he received was a menacing laugh from the Bard.

Draken spoke, "This wizard gathered us all here for one reason. The dragons. I say we all team up together and go to the valley first light, and we can end this threat before it spreads throughout the land." Shaking his head, Leon was in agreement with Draken. Before Annex could reply, the old man began to speak again.

"The moon elves would sang that grotesque song all night. The fey with their lutes and harps playing that dreadful noise throughout the night. Oh, how, I remember. Their loving words to their Moon Goddess." The Bard magically played his harp without any invitation or warning without missing a note. He sang the Moon Elves' song…

Luna, you brighten the skies Like you brighten our eyes You light the dark Like you light our heart With the radiance of the moon You make our spirits bloom Luna, you bless us from afar You are our Night star Luna, Luna, Luna

The music ended, leaving everyone once again in confusion. Annex, on the verge of rage, then screamed, "Who are you, Bard?" The Bard started to laugh like a madman, and after he finished, he looked at Annex with a vicious stare. Deadly and lethally, he answered, "I am the one who invited you here!" Stunned, Annex's mouth fell open. Then the words were repeated once again by the old man… "There weren't always dragons in the valley. Confused, the heroes looked toward the old man again. On cue, the Bard, who was the wizard, said, The reason I called you here is the same reason the Moon Elves are no longer in the valley."

Annex replied, "What happened to the Moon Elves. Laughter erupted from the Bard, and he said let me show you… As the words left his mouth, the old man at the fireplace started to transform… into a Dragon!