clearskies
09-07-2008, 10:07 PM
I've never written anything before. This idea just kind of came to me so I decided to try and write a story. This is the beginning chapter one, please let me know if i'm doing alright.
Tales of the Bard
Chapter 1
The radiating sun beat down on the back of Ashen's neck glimmering on the droplets of sweat that had formed there. The leaves of the great trees on either side of the path he walked moved gently back and forth and the chorus of songbirds and chirp of insects could be heard throughout the air. The dirt road Ashen walked stretched, unwinding, into the distance for as far as he could see. The scent of the trees and all the nature that laid growing alongside the dirt path refreshed him as he sniffed the air. Ashen stared into the deep blue clear sky looming over him cupping his hand over his eyes, he smiled a small sly smile, it was a beautiful day albeit a hot one.
His short brown hair, the color of dark hazelnuts like those from his hometown, swayed gently in the refreshing breeze the day had so graciously given him. His eyes, green like the leaves from the same hazel bushes, shone in the sunlight. The townsfolk from his hometown of Dhoma had always joked that he had sprouted from the ground near one of their expansive hazelnut bush fields because of the color of his hair and eyes. He let out a quick sigh and gave an abrupt chuckle as he remembered his friends from his town. Right then, Ashen promised himself he would return as soon as he was able to, so he might celebrate the harvest festival with them.
His face, still young and unweathered, showed an optimistic joy befitting of his age of sixteen. His dirtied leather boots made a crunching sound and his simple leather and cloth clothes blew in the wind as he walked the leafy forest road away from his hometown.
Ashen hadn't been raised like every other kid in his hometown he didn't have any parents, although it never bothered him. Ashen had been found by one of the town's ladies when she heard what sounded like a baby's cry. She had found him bundled up and laid next to a tree in the forest very close to the town. Just as she entered, she had told Ashen, she saw a man wearing a hooded cloak running through the forest away from the tree were he lay. She also told him that she assumed he was his father but could never be certain. Ashen lived the proverbial phrase, it takes a village to raise a child. Everyone in Ashen's hometown looked after Ashen carefully and raised him as their own teaching him everything he would need to know for a common life, farming, cooking, making clothes, but one man stuck out in Ashen's mind the most.
Sometime ago, when he was about ten years of age Ashen remembered, a traveling bard had come to there village to rest on his journey. Taking a fancy to the quaint farming town the Bard had stayed for nearly seven months. Ashen, who had become slightly rebellious and a mischief maker because of his upbringing, had taken a liking to the Bard because he would tell him fanciful tales of daring adventurers and entertain him with song, music, and occasionally some bardic magic. After having gained the Bard's trust Ashen convinced him to teach him to be a bard so he could also do the fascinating magic and recite exciting tales. The bard, Ashen remembered, had agreed with a hearty laugh and a pat on Ashen's head. Although the people of the town of Dhoma weren't entirely keen on the use of magic they all agreed that it was good to see Ashen trying for something, and try he did with such great determination, patience, and perseverance. It had been nearly six years since the bard had wished everyone the best and left town, undoubtedly heading off for more adventure and excitement.
Ashen wiped the sweat that had accumulated on his brow. Since he was ten he had come a long way, he thought with an amused smile. Ashen looked over his shoulder to the town he had left behind nearly a week ago. He had never wanted to leave however he had learned all the bardic magic he could without leaving and he could never sing any other songs unless he went on some grand adventures of his own, so he had left his village behind. They had told him before he left that they were proud that one of their villagers was going out into the unknown for something they believed in, and once again he smiled remembering this.
Just as Ashen snapped out of his nostalgic daydreaming he noticed a small clearing in the woods coming up on his right, with what looked like a barely distinguishable beaten path. A mischievous smile appeared on Ashen's face. He had planned to go all the way to Sythia but why not take a little detour? The leaves crunched louder now as Ashen disintegrated off into the forest down the barely beaten path.
Tales of the Bard
Chapter 1
The radiating sun beat down on the back of Ashen's neck glimmering on the droplets of sweat that had formed there. The leaves of the great trees on either side of the path he walked moved gently back and forth and the chorus of songbirds and chirp of insects could be heard throughout the air. The dirt road Ashen walked stretched, unwinding, into the distance for as far as he could see. The scent of the trees and all the nature that laid growing alongside the dirt path refreshed him as he sniffed the air. Ashen stared into the deep blue clear sky looming over him cupping his hand over his eyes, he smiled a small sly smile, it was a beautiful day albeit a hot one.
His short brown hair, the color of dark hazelnuts like those from his hometown, swayed gently in the refreshing breeze the day had so graciously given him. His eyes, green like the leaves from the same hazel bushes, shone in the sunlight. The townsfolk from his hometown of Dhoma had always joked that he had sprouted from the ground near one of their expansive hazelnut bush fields because of the color of his hair and eyes. He let out a quick sigh and gave an abrupt chuckle as he remembered his friends from his town. Right then, Ashen promised himself he would return as soon as he was able to, so he might celebrate the harvest festival with them.
His face, still young and unweathered, showed an optimistic joy befitting of his age of sixteen. His dirtied leather boots made a crunching sound and his simple leather and cloth clothes blew in the wind as he walked the leafy forest road away from his hometown.
Ashen hadn't been raised like every other kid in his hometown he didn't have any parents, although it never bothered him. Ashen had been found by one of the town's ladies when she heard what sounded like a baby's cry. She had found him bundled up and laid next to a tree in the forest very close to the town. Just as she entered, she had told Ashen, she saw a man wearing a hooded cloak running through the forest away from the tree were he lay. She also told him that she assumed he was his father but could never be certain. Ashen lived the proverbial phrase, it takes a village to raise a child. Everyone in Ashen's hometown looked after Ashen carefully and raised him as their own teaching him everything he would need to know for a common life, farming, cooking, making clothes, but one man stuck out in Ashen's mind the most.
Sometime ago, when he was about ten years of age Ashen remembered, a traveling bard had come to there village to rest on his journey. Taking a fancy to the quaint farming town the Bard had stayed for nearly seven months. Ashen, who had become slightly rebellious and a mischief maker because of his upbringing, had taken a liking to the Bard because he would tell him fanciful tales of daring adventurers and entertain him with song, music, and occasionally some bardic magic. After having gained the Bard's trust Ashen convinced him to teach him to be a bard so he could also do the fascinating magic and recite exciting tales. The bard, Ashen remembered, had agreed with a hearty laugh and a pat on Ashen's head. Although the people of the town of Dhoma weren't entirely keen on the use of magic they all agreed that it was good to see Ashen trying for something, and try he did with such great determination, patience, and perseverance. It had been nearly six years since the bard had wished everyone the best and left town, undoubtedly heading off for more adventure and excitement.
Ashen wiped the sweat that had accumulated on his brow. Since he was ten he had come a long way, he thought with an amused smile. Ashen looked over his shoulder to the town he had left behind nearly a week ago. He had never wanted to leave however he had learned all the bardic magic he could without leaving and he could never sing any other songs unless he went on some grand adventures of his own, so he had left his village behind. They had told him before he left that they were proud that one of their villagers was going out into the unknown for something they believed in, and once again he smiled remembering this.
Just as Ashen snapped out of his nostalgic daydreaming he noticed a small clearing in the woods coming up on his right, with what looked like a barely distinguishable beaten path. A mischievous smile appeared on Ashen's face. He had planned to go all the way to Sythia but why not take a little detour? The leaves crunched louder now as Ashen disintegrated off into the forest down the barely beaten path.