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Fantasy Fiction

** This story has lines from Edgar Allan Poe's poem Dream-Land, my favorite poem, and you can see by now that EAP is one of my favorite authors as this is the second story that has a poem of his in it. I hope you enjoy it in all of its oddness.**


By a route obscure and lonely

Haunted by ill angels only

Where an Eidolon named Night

On a black throne reigns upright


“Tha’s the thing about this village,” Old Nula intoned, “darkness is evil.” She had her stand near packed up by then. Lime and ice had tinged the road lime like the color of her rags, so she could wander without danger. She mumbled to herself whenever a newcomer came to town, in her old batty way. No one paid her any mind.


A man had arrived. Nula could tell the ilk of people when they prowled through the gates. An unmistakable bird call would sound each time; sparrow for lady, raven for man. As soon as the birds called, Nula listened. It wouldn’t do to forsake nature’s wisdom, she’d decided long ago. There had been a flock of ravens earlier in the wee hours and sure enough, he was a he.


Nula didn’t exist to the other villagers. They went about their own lives, wrapped in the shadowy shrouds of disillusion and blind to the actions of people who were free. Nula was one such person. Nature, to her, left her signs, clues, things that one could only find if they were unbound from self-absorption. That morning, though, when the newcomer came, his eyes weren’t glossed in uncaring. They weren’t blind, no, they were open.


He had walked right up to her, letting his breath fall unequivocally onto the frosted grass. Yet Old Nula was in a fright, thinking that the man was a ghost. He had been sent to take her away, she thought, to do evil and forsake Nature. She shivered in fright and reached for a stake. 


“Hush, woman, I mean you no harm.” Her grip on the stake faltered for only a moment, but she stood strong. 


“Eh? Why you here then? Answer me!” Nula grew stronger and stronger in her conviction that the stake she held would save her from everything and nothing could threaten her. With a breath of pride, she inched closer with it raised. 


“Why do you think I’m here?” He spoke in a rich accent. “I seek help.” Nula’s raggedy eyelids shot up. They’d been scarred by the threshes and thrashes of branches whenever she left town, marred by the rocks that adorned the mountains she’d once climbed… but that was too long ago. Now she was a feeble old lady, and the only activity her eyelids could manage was a dramatic leap.


“You… I’ve heard stories ‘bout yer kind. They don’t speak kindly of ye.” she said. Slowly and carefully, she brought the stake to a nice waist level. 


“Ah, well, those are rumors. Surely you’d know the difference by now, Nulina.” He was cool and crisp, responding in a serene manner.


“How do ye know me name?” 


“Oh, ‘my kind’ knows many things.” Seeing that Nula was pondering, the man stepped closer. He was careful not to push it, so as to drive her to fight him. In the days of yore, as he remembered, she’d been a fierce warrior. Such a pity that she should peddle in a dank village rather than living the days past. 


“We want no evil here! Leave, night-thrall.” Nula raised her stake as she yelled, being careful so as not to bring attention. The few pedestrians paid the pair no mind; countless times the old hag had felt deep sorrow at their ignorance… but she would take no chances. Her town was peaceful, and she liked it just as it was. 


“No, no! I mean no harm!” For the first time since the beginning of the brief conversation, the man was panicked. His eyes were stricken in a red web and his face contorted like a braid. The world around them seemed to slow as Nula fixed her gaze on him. The trees ceased their rustling and began to shiver noiselessly. 


“Begone.” With the anger of an angry grandmother, she stepped forward to thrust the spear. The man was gone.


**

For the heart whose woes are legion

‘Tis a peaceful, soothing region

For the spirit that walks in shadow

‘Tis– oh, ‘tis an Eldorado!


Morgan Fay drifted silently through the night. He was tired from talking with the old warrior, drained from his journeys. Long ago, he had been out on a night not so different. It had been cold as it was in the town, with shivering trees and angry wind. It had been deep in the impenetrable expanses of the forest, where the mysteries of nature were concealed between cracks in the roots. There was nothing more invigorating than feeling your soul blend with that of the earth, the trees, the land… but at night? The world was awash in pain, anguish, despair. The night was a poison, a sickness. 


He had an empty cup of ale when he stumbled into the forest, drops hanging like dew on his shaven beard. There was a faint uproar from the bar he had ran from but he was deaf to all noises. Morgan kept drifting farther out of consciousness and into the grip of intoxication. 


La-uera sendirian… A cold voice seemed to ooze from the sky itself and crumble to the ground in wisps. There was a song, soft but ominous. The lyrics were sharp and edged, uttered in a foreign tongue… Morgan… the song was beginning to surround the desperate man as he stumbled back and forth… 


Morgan… Do you wish to be free? All of the dark clouds that had shrouded his mind in a clump had been pierced by the voice. So alert was he that the moon seemed brighter than the sun had ever been in all of his years.


In Morgan’s intoxication, as is customary, he made poor decisions. First, to wander into the night alone. Second, to leave the expanse of the nearby town. Third, to accept the offer that the mysterious voice offered. As soon as his head nodded, the voice thickened, the sounds lengthened, the world stretched. 


Good, good. The voice was laughing. When Morgan awoke, he had chains of darkness around his wrist. 


Nula's village was his last hope, the only place he might find the knife that could free him. Of course, she wasn't likely to give it to him... he would have to get it himself.


After the sun had set and all of the wandering people had gone to bed, Morgan hoisted himself from the shadows. Darkness was like a heavy mist that sunk down and down in waves and was somehow discernible. Le Fay Street, Gawain Street, Genevieve Street... they were all quiet, the empty veins of the cadaver that was the town.


Nula's shop was right ahead, where there was a small flickering candle that always remained to ward off the poisonous dark from her wares. Morgan had gained much knowledge through the darkness, such terrible things that he'd rather not know intermingled with things of such interest that he giggled at them. The frail old lady was not one to idly disobey.


Morgan snuck his dark fingers under the flap and climbed in. There, snoring, was Old Nula. Drool slipped and curved from her lips to her collarbone. His heart pounded in his chest as he walked past her, almost starting at her loud snores. On the floor, there were many objects, various things of interest.


Ah, the Club of Brabantio, the lava hilt still glowing.


The poison whip of Claudius, lime as ever.


A couple of deadly smoke bombs.


Some old tarot cards.


An evil eye charm.


There wasn't anything there that didn't pull his fancy, but he forced himself away. You're here for one thing, he thought, don't get distracted.


The knife was nowhere in sight, not on the ground or the shelves. Every nook and cranny, every single hole and crack Morgan checked while staring at the snoring woman, but to no avail. Had she sold it? Surely not, she wouldn't try to burden anyone... Morgan doubted she sold anything in this town or made even a measly profit.


Then he saw it, when his hopes had just begun to sink like a ring into the ocean, ever deeper into despair. Beneath a book in the rightmost corner was a case. He cared not for the old lady now and pushed it aside. With a gleam, the knife Nocturne was revealed.


"Ha! I shall be free!" Morgan was giddy with excitement. His joy clapped against the silence of the night until the whoops echoed through the distance. As he was about to raise it to his arms, Old Nula pushed herself up to her feet. Ah, just another day, nothing special, she thought. Then she saw the man with the knife in his hand and yelled.


"Yeh'll kill us all! No!" But it was too late. In an explosion of darkness, Morgan's face contorted. There was no turning back, for all future decisions would cascade from the decision made long ago, the drunken one, which caged him and left him trapped. All through the night, a grim voice rang out. Oh, the foolish traveller, oh, the foolish man... now you'll lay beside him in a grim and undead land.


**

But the traveller, travelling through it

May not– dare not openly view it

Never its mysteries are exposed

To the weak human eye unclosed

March 16, 2021 18:51

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272 comments

20:48 Mar 17, 2021

A series of stories inspired by songs, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. It would be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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21:07 Mar 17, 2021

Lolllllll ok two votes for that.

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21:08 Mar 17, 2021

Heheehehehehehehe

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21:22 Mar 17, 2021

If I do that one, I’m thinking of some songs like Someone Like You, Hometown Glory, Rise by Katy Perry, girls by Nature, and some other ones... but I might do one of the other ones!!

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21:40 Mar 17, 2021

That sounds amazing! PLEASE do Someone Like You. I LOVE Adele. I would read every story you post for the next two months if you did Someone Like You.

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21:55 Mar 17, 2021

I LOVE ADELE TOOO AND I GONNA HOLD YOU TO THAT

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21:41 Mar 17, 2021

By the way, can you give me some critique on one or two of my recent stories? I need some really hard (but still constructive lol) critique. Please!!!!!!!! :)

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21:55 Mar 17, 2021

OFC I WILL SOMETIME TOMORROW

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Mira Caplan
19:24 Mar 17, 2021

LUKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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19:39 Mar 17, 2021

Whatttttttt

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Mira Caplan
23:24 Mar 17, 2021

nvmmmm XD

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Mira Caplan
23:24 Mar 17, 2021

nvmmmm XD

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Mira Caplan
19:22 Mar 17, 2021

LUKE TEXT ME NOW

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Mira Caplan
19:22 Mar 17, 2021

Because I think "I" have the wrong time. So....uh....heeeeeelppp

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Mira Caplan
19:22 Mar 17, 2021

Lukeeeee Can you message "me" and sat that RO ended

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Dorsa S.
17:59 Mar 17, 2021

for the poll- A SERIES OF STORIES BASED OFF OF SONGS!

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Nainika Gupta
15:37 Mar 17, 2021

a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy series a. A new Epic Fantasy ser...

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15:38 Mar 17, 2021

Lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Really??????? Ok!!!! That's one answer from Nika!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Nainika Gupta
15:39 Mar 17, 2021

YESSSSSSSSSSSSs i feel like I haven't seen you do fantasy (apart from like malefice but that was a WHILE ago :)

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15:40 Mar 17, 2021

Yeah!!! My new one is kinda fantasy, but I been tinkering with an idea that's in the same genre as LOTR and Narnia.

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Nainika Gupta
15:50 Mar 17, 2021

Sounds cool! ALSO I’m almost done with TtD and aghhhh im gonna start a new dark fantasy seriesss

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15:52 Mar 17, 2021

OOH YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WE CAN BE NEW SERIES PEOPLE

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Dorsa S.
13:05 Mar 17, 2021

AHH THE NOTES OF SUSPENSE- ""Yeh'll kill us all! No!" But it was too late. In an explosion of darkness, Morgan's face contorted. There was no turning back, for all future decisions would cascade from the decision made long ago, the drunken one, which caged him and left him trapped. All through the night, a grim voice rang out. Oh, the foolish traveller, oh, the foolish man... now you'll lay beside him in a grim and undead land." this caught me and i'm craving a part two- such a good storyteller you are. it's like you grasped my hand and ...

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13:09 Mar 17, 2021

Heeheehee thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!! Heheheh I was tinkering with that line about all the decisions cascading and I was thinking of applying it but I came up with it a while ago after reading Faust. Awwwwww there won't be a part two, but I'm glad you loved it!!!!!

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19:38 Mar 16, 2021

I like how you changed it from city to village, to be honest. All (most of) the italics are the poem, right? I might have read that in class... good story!

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19:48 Mar 16, 2021

Thanks you so much Ethan!! All of the italics after the section breaks are snippets from different parts of the poem.

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Jexica Marcell
18:29 Sep 16, 2021

omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg SOOOOO amazing!!!! the sentances are like poetry -cass/jex

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12:39 Apr 05, 2021

love that poem so much! and I also love poetry infused stories, which is usually very hard to write correctly, nevertheless, this was so amazing! Happy Today!

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02:02 Apr 06, 2021

Thanks so much!!!

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03:57 Apr 06, 2021

Yur welcome! Do you write poems?

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11:33 Apr 06, 2021

A couple yeah!! The one I used here was my fave Edgar Allan Poe-m lol 🥳

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12:54 Apr 06, 2021

i love Edgar Allan Poe-ms lol, tho i am no poem geek sir i only read, deep poem analyzing is something me brain can't handle, and the poem is so cool, especially the imagery and the language. Have you read the city in the sea? you do write? have any with you now?

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13:33 Apr 06, 2021

I have read the City in the Sea!! It’s awesome. Ah, you’ll have to be in quiet suspense :)

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B. W.
22:44 Mar 22, 2021

Hey

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Misti Davidson
12:23 Mar 22, 2021

i keep coming back to this story... you're a great writer, i'd love to get you in touch with one of my publisher friends if you're looking to publish your short stories. i came on this website to discover talent and help get young writers the recognition they deserve, if you are interested respond and i can start editing pieces and sending them to my publisher friend. if you aren't it's no problem, but you have incredible potential, i'd love to see you grow as a writer!

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12:42 Mar 22, 2021

I would love that!!! Woah, that's super kind of you!

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Misti Davidson
12:56 Mar 22, 2021

i'm so glad you're interested! would you like to give me your email or phone number or give you her email or her phone number? whatever works best for you.

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12:56 Mar 22, 2021

I think that her email would be great!!

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Misti Davidson
13:09 Mar 22, 2021

no problem!

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Mira Caplan
21:47 Mar 21, 2021

Luke, I got downvoted to 1600. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

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23:04 Mar 21, 2021

OMG. OML. THAT IS NOT OKAY. NOT TO MY BESTIE. TOMORROW I GET YOU 1000-2000 POINTS.

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Laiba M
13:03 Mar 19, 2021

Queen in Japan?

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13:04 Mar 19, 2021

NoPe!

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Laiba M
14:33 Mar 19, 2021

It's a book with a queen in Japannn :( It's definitely Japan, though~ Hmm.

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14:36 Mar 19, 2021

It might not be a queen... but its definitely a japanese classic.

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Laiba M
14:41 Mar 19, 2021

The Pillow Book

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14:43 Mar 19, 2021

Nerppppppp

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Elle Orthan
15:43 Mar 18, 2021

good job i was wondering what the here lies part in ur bio meant

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15:44 Mar 18, 2021

Thanks!! Oh, it's commemorating reedsy people who have left.

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Elle Orthan
15:44 Mar 18, 2021

oh that’s sad do you plan on staying? ur rlly talented and nice i think if u left a lot of ppl would miss u

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16:30 Mar 18, 2021

Oh of course I’m staying!!

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Elle Orthan
16:54 Mar 18, 2021

i’m rlly happy to know that!!!!

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Oo! Oo! Is your emoji puzzle Mulan???

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23:30 Mar 17, 2021

Nerpppppp

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Awhhh alrrr

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21:58 Mar 17, 2021

Part 5 out!

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22:06 Mar 17, 2021

YAYYYYYYYYY I CHECK OUT SOON

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B. W.
20:04 Mar 17, 2021

Hey

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20:33 Mar 17, 2021

Heyyyyy

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B. W.
20:47 Mar 17, 2021

How are ya?

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21:22 Mar 17, 2021

Great!!!

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B. W.
21:50 Mar 17, 2021

What do ya think the new prompts will be about?

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22:06 Mar 17, 2021

I dunno...

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Misti Davidson
18:45 Mar 17, 2021

this is going to sound weird but are the emojis in your username a reference to the tale of genji by Murasaki Shikibu...? you might just be a japanese girl who like fantasy books or something, but one can only hope. i've never met someone who's read the tale of genji lol, highly recommend its a great book.

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19:39 Mar 17, 2021

You got it!! All of my puzzles are books, and I’m reading the tale of genji right now!!

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Misti Davidson
20:26 Mar 17, 2021

omg wow, the taste is immaculate

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20:33 Mar 17, 2021

Lollllll

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