Destiny

As I stepped into the disturbingly dark forest, I noticed that even the birds were silent. The trees were still and unmoving , baring witness to this momentous occasion. No animals dared to peak out from their hiding places. Thunder rumbled in the black sky, rolling around the hills menacingly. Would this finally be the night?

Making my way slowly across the clearing, I was stumbling and slipping on the damp leaves under foot. I stopped to take a long, deep, nervous breath. I saw a hazy light up ahead. A figure stood in the shadows, stooped over in a long brown cloak with the hood almost completely covering their face. I called out, “Show yourself!” He stepped forward from the shadows and to my relief it was my faithful servant Gautrey. “ Have you brought it?” I demanded hoarsely. He took the bottle tentatively from under his cloak, with a shaky hand he passed me the potion. I looked at the tiny, dull bottle. It was old and cracked. How could it be that this seemingly insignificant item was destined to save my life?

I sent Gautrey back home, Into the darkness of the forest. I turned to take what may be one final look at the man who had served me my entire life, but he was gone. The mist was creeping closer and closer. Icy, cold, silvery fingers reached out and touched my skin. I drew my cloak closer around my tired, aching body. It gave me no comfort. I saw the path ahead and knew this was where the test began. My hand reached down to my waist, seeking security and strength from my sword. I looked forward, focusing on the goal ahead. My legs were weary. I had to will myself on.

The darkness of the forest was left behind me as I entered the clearing. For a moment I was disorientated. My eyes recovered slowly from the sudden change. Fires burned brightly at six points, forming a circle. At each point stood a representative from the magic realm; an elf, a fairy, an ogre, a witch, a wizard and one empty space for me. I lifted my head high and walked over to take my place. Eyes bore into me, I could imagine the questions forming in their minds, they were desperate for answers but nobody dared to speak. The lightening flashed across the sky, almost splitting it in two. It lit up purple, signalling the beginning of the tournament.

The witch was the first to be eliminated as her potion bounced harmlessly off the clearing floor. A voice from above boomed, “ You’ll have to do better than that, is this all you have to offer?” She let out a scream and disappeared into a puff of smoke. I fought back the fear, as tears welled in my eyes and sick rose in my throat. I was sure my heart would beat so hard it would jump right out of my chest. The ogre stepped forward with his bottle raised above his head defiantly. “ You shall be sent back to where you belong!” He shouted shakily. He muttered a spell and threw his potion to the floor. The wind whipped up the leaves around us, taunting us. The ogre stepped back, willing his magic to work. “HAHAHA!” teased the voice. I shielded my eyes, not sure of what was to happen next, or whether I wanted to see what would happen. The ogre dropped to his knees, clutching his head in pain. He let out a gut wrenching moan and then he was gone. The fairy, who until this point had been very still, fluttered her wings and flew forward at such a speed I almost fell backwards. She took the smallest bottle I think I have ever seen, and with a ferocity unbecoming of a fairy, she flung it to the ground. She shouted with all her might, “Be gone! Be gone!” before exploding into a shower of glitter. That just left me and the wizard. We stood staring intently at each other, trying to work out which one would make the next move. I knew this was my destiny, all my training and lessons had been leading to this day. But did I have the strength? Would my spell fail me? I clutched the old bottle in my hand, it was still cold to touch despite the clamminess of my hand. The wizard took out his potion and began chanting in Latin. Slowly and quietly he recited the long spell, which was turning the sky green. Thunder clapped all around. He began to convulse, he looked at me, staring into my eyes, pleading. He was sweating now, his whole body shuck with the effort of raising the potion above his head. He was gone before he could even throw it. My whole life flashed before me. Every word my father had ever said to me, came rushing into my brain. I tried to concentrate through the fog of thoughts and fears that were clouding my mind. Only a person who believes enough can defeat him, my father had told me. I looked at the empty clearing and wished I wasn’t so alone. I looked at the potion in my hand, I had to be strong. I threw it high in the air just as the next bolt of lightening struck. I shouted the words that I had dreamt every night since I was five years old. A strangled cry filled the air, torturing my ears and shaking the ground. The trees bent low with the sudden force of the wind that ripped through the clearing. And then it was still. The sun began to shine, the birds sang loudly and the animals finally began to show their beautiful faces again. My destiny was complete. I sank to my knees, then curled up on the floor and slept a sleep like no other I have ever had.

Word count 996