A Raven's Story

[Honey_B]

This is a thread for Ravenloft and myself. Please read along if you love the poem as much as we do.

She walked down the road at a brisk pace, not noticing the sharp stones as they bruised the soles of her feet. Something of great import was about to happen and the young woman concerned herself with speculating what it might be. She had eyes of luminous gray. On days like today, the sun brought out the golden flecks immersed within them. They darted ahead to a flutter of black in the fallen brown leaves. She rushed forward, her elfin face intent. It was a bird, a raven, barely a hatchling. Crouching down, she scooped up the creature in her small hands. The softness of its feathery down felt silken against her fingers and made her smile.

Without warning, loud shrieks broke the stillness of the forest's quiet. She looked up to see the air thick with black forms. Angry ravens were swooping between the trees.

"I shall protect and care for this young one, now and for always."

Her voice was soft and low, yet communicated an unspoken power. The promise soothed the kin of the tiny bird. The flock circled the tops of the trees once before disappearing into the distance. From within the shelter of her cupped hand came a small voice, barely a whisper.

"And I shall leave you nevermore."

One year later, Lenore stepped from her hut. The raven, now full grown, perched upon her shoulder. She lifted him to her forearm.

"My dear friend, go. Find him if you can. If you should locate the man that haunts my dreams, lead him back to me. Go now. Fly safely."

The great bird turned its magnificent head and looked into her eyes, seeing to the very depths of her soul. If a bird could smile, surely the raven would have done so.

"You have my word, my sweet Lenore.
I will search the world as I soar,
And find the man your heart cries out for."

With a rustle of dusky feathers, the raven took flight. Lenore watched him disappear into the clouds and wiped a tear from her cheek. She would miss her friend.

 

[Guest]

Leaning forward on a silver headed cane, a man rode through the pitch night in the belly of his carriage. Traveling from one territory to another was the norm for him, although this particular journey would see him home. After more than a month away it seemed almost a dream to return to his own bed. A thought stabbed his mind. 'Even if it was empty.' But he quelled it, knowing it was by his own will that his bed remained as such.

He was still young, but the years would keep slipping faster and still faster. So emersed in his work he was that there was never time to meet a fine young lass, much less court her...

One of the carriages wheels began to squeek, indicating a turn to the left, they were not far from his home now, his cold, empty home... Shaking his head and clenching his jaw, he focused on the passing land scape as though they would aliviate his loneliness...

 

[Ravenloft]

Leaning forward on a silver headed cane, a man rode through the pitch night in the belly of his carriage. Traveling from one territory to another was the norm for him, although this particular journey would see him home. After more than a month away it seemed almost a dream to return to his own bed. A thought stabbed his mind. 'Even if it was empty.' But he quelled it, knowing it was by his own will that his bed remained as such.

He was still young, but the years would keep slipping faster and still faster. So emersed in his work he was that there was never time to meet a fine young lass, much less court her...

One of the carriages wheels began to squeek, indicating a turn to the left, they were not far from his home now, his cold, empty home... Shaking his head and clenching his jaw, he focused on the passing land scape as though they would aliviate his loneliness...

 

[Honey_B]

The Raven

High into the clouds I soar,
Looking back only once more,
It hurts to leave my sweet Lenore.
I can turn back no more.

Hours of flight over hill and tor,
A hundred miles, maybe more.
A thousand thoughts, dreams galore,
I must find the one that is for Lenore.

Over near the distance shore,
A carriage crossing the lonely moor,
Bearing the love of sweet Lenore,
I sweep low and tap at the door.

Follow him I will, beseech him for,
A visit to the hut of Lenore.

 

[Ravenloft]

A simple sharp tap against the wooden carriage gave its passenger a start. With a short draw of breath and his eyes wide, the man looked through the carriages window. "Eh? Nothing is there..." He muttered. Only a moment later did the carriage's driver reign the horses to a stop. They had arived home and with a weary hand, the man pushed the carriage's door open.

Twenty minutes found him settled into his favorite recliner, facing the growing fire in his stone hearth, his head bent on the verge of slumber.

 

[Honey_B]

The Raven

As I flew thru the open space, the stranger swore.
I dodged his parry with a seaman's oar,
And perched on a bust far from the floor.
I began the song meant to implore,
Singing of the woman known as Lenore.

"Eyes stolen from the fairies of lore,
Hair in which the sun does pour,
Her tender love you have in store,
If only you'll follow me to her door."

"Your heart and mind are at war,
It's prudence you must now ignore.
Take up the quest of the knight's of yor,
And find the woman you've been waiting for."

 

[Honey_B]

Lenore

He was of an age somewhere between old and ancient. He stood with his shoulders hunched and his back bent. His black clothes hung loosely on him and his bony wrists thrust out from his sleeves as if his coat was too small for him. His long pale hands fluttered like a spider over the page, his fingers inked from nail to knuckle. Elias Stone always reminded Lenore of a ferret. His face composed of pinched features that gathered to a pointed nose. She always expected it to twitch. His high-pitched voice reached everyone in the congregation.

"If we have transgressed, if we have strayed in any way from God's purpose, we must beg His forgiveness..."

His pale blue eyes seemed to bore into hers, but Lenore found it difficult to look down in humble submission. She only came to this church out of necessity. A person, especially a woman, became immediately suspect if they did not.

Lenore remembered herself and lowered her eyes. She began to silently move her lips, but it was not in prayer as one might expect.

 

[Ravenloft]

Looking up, as one of his servents called out in surprise, Dr Pendelton started at the sight of a jet black raven. It fixed him with a wild eyed gaze, and if Pendelton had had words, he would have besought the holy father... For the Raven spoke in a song, transfixing him with its words.

Just as the bird finished its recitation of its message a pair of Pendelton's servants rushed in. "Mater Pendelton, a raven has flown in here!" Standing to face the two of them, Pendelton waves a hand toward the bust that served as the jet birds perch. "I can see that gentlemen..." He breathed, not daring to even mention what he had just heard. Looking back slowly, a sheen of nervous sweat upon his brow, he instructed his servants. "Removed it if you will... But do not harm it..." Pendelton stated, still staring at the ebon avien with a mark of fear in his eyes. "I... I think its best I retire... It was a long journey... And I grow weary..." He breathed, finally turning away from the bird to his room.

 

[Honey_B]

The Raven

A servant sought to complete the chore,
Of seizing me. I let out a roar.
A snip of the beak, his skin tore.
I would not be budged until this man swore,
To follow me to my mistess Lenore.

 

[Ravenloft]

Pendelton:

Startled by his servant's cry of pain, Pendelton turned back around. The young man was holding a rather nasty, bloody wound. Snapping his gaze up toward the fowl, Pendelton could only stare in fear. "Dear lord..." He breathed, but his oath was cut short by the way the bird's eyes fixed on him. "What... What is it that you want?" He asked bare above a whisper.

 

[Honey_B]

The Raven

"Do you doubt what I said before,
when you are ready we will go to Lenore.
She has dreamt of you for three months or more,
The man her sweet heart has been meant for.
I found you by seeing the thoughts you store,
You are indeed the one dreamt of by Lenore.
Sleep if you wish, we can travel at morn,
The journey is a day's ride, not more."

 

[Ravenloft]

Dr. Pendelton:

Waving the servant's from the room as the raven spoke again, Pendelton stared, enwrapped by how plainly the fowl could speak. "I fear I could not sleep now." He said, taking a step toward the bird. "A day's ride, and you will be my guide?" He didn't even realize that he had picked up the raven's rhyme as he looked up at it where it perched.

 

[Honey_B]

Transmuted light took shape, growing in substance until a man stood before her. She could not see his face but she could hear thoughts, soft caressing words that formed in her mind. He loved her, would always love her as long as he drew breath, but she did. She knew it with as much certainity as she knew her own heart.

She slipped the gown off her shoulders and it fell away, disappearing into the mists at her feet. It was a gift she offerred when she cupped her full breasts, lifting them in her palms. It was a gift she received when he fastened his mouth onto one of her rose-tinted nipples. She drew him too her, her hands running over the taunt skin of his back. He picked her up and carried her into the clouds where he laid her down. His body covered hers, his warmth melting into hers. She parted her thighs and guided him into her. Above her a raven cawed. Loud... disturbing... It seemed so out of place.

It was her raven!

Lenore woke with a start. Her raven was tapping at the window, cawing loudly. She quickly sprang from her bed and opened it.

My sweet Lenore,
He is coming to your door,
You have a moment,
Not much more.

Lonore looked down at her tattered nightdress. Hardly appropriated for meeting one's true love. She went to the trunk at the foot of her bed and opened it. From within its depths, she drew out a filmy white cloak. It had belonged to her grandmother's grandmother, a respected member of the old religion. Lenore divested herself of her gray nightdress and slipped the beautiful cloak over her shoulders, fastening the silver clasps. She could do nothing about her unruly mane of hair except to tuck it into the full hood of the cloak.

Dawn is breaking with difficulty Lenore thought as she stepped out her door. A think mist clung to the track that lead away fom her cottage, shrouding Lenore's view in secrecy.

She heard him before she saw him. Her ears told her he approached on horse. She took a step closer. Then another. Her own breathing seemed to roar in her ears.

He was there.

A dark shape coming out of the white mist. Lenore could not see his face. Lenore shivered. She remembered her dream.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dr. Pendelton:

Dismounting as he caught sight of the woman. She was cloaked in white, the material seemed to mesh with the mist that collected about her feet. He held her in his gaze as he approached her. "Lenore." He said breathilly as he reached a hand out to touch her, the only way he could confirm the reality of her standing before him.