1.9.04
Pol And Enthess-Escorial, Chapter 1 Outline
Pol is the eldest son of a border lord. As a very young man, he went hunting, as he was apt to do, with his servant. He took his birthday gift - a splendid bow. They strayed deep into the forest, and Pol came upon the court of the a forest Maiden. She called herself Enthess, Nymph of the spring he was drinking of.
Pol was struck by her beauty, and enthralled for a night. She gave him a gift - kissed his ears - and demanded a gift of him - he gives the best thing he has - his bow. Then she sent him, and bade him not return on pain of death. His servant met him outside the clearing, where he had waited the week out..
But Pol could not be turned away. He left, but thought of nothing but returning. His sorties into the forest became longer and longer, much to the grief of his father. Pol abandoned his duties as lord heir, and concentrated only on finding Enthess again. After many years, he succeeded, and was granted access to her court. She endured him for another week, then sent him away again. This time her gift to him was his life. But Pol was captivated. He left his family altogether, and became a Forest Priest.
His father was distraught, and died soon after. His second brother became lord, and banned Pol from their home. But Pol knew none of this. He sought Enthess a third time, though she had told him he was only permitted the first time.
When Pol found her again, he was a man, and the greatest forester of all times, and an ascete. He drank only the dew and rain, and cooked no food - eating things only as they were provided, yet he was as healthy and strong as any man, as was his servant. He entered her court under pain of death, and asked her to marry him. She laughed. “You do not know who I am - for I am Escorielle, Queen of the Forest.” But Pol did know who she was - he had worshipped her thoroughly, and knew her very well. He was pure, and as worthy as a man could be. Enthess-Escorielle thought on this. She could not consider his offer, for they were too far unequal - the most worthy man was still only a man - he would die shortly, and forget all he had learned, forever reborn as a child. She was spirit, and could not bind herself to an infant spirit. But when she brought him to her bed for the third time, she found she loved him, for he was without fear, and could not see him killed. The morning he was to leave, her servant gave him a small box. Inside were three times pardon from Escorielle (for violating her court, for asking for her hand, and for boldly approaching her, when she knew who she was), as well as three feathers from Escorielle’s head. The servant would only repeat the words of her goddess - she did not expect him ever to return, and she released him from her service. The feathers were a gift of grace.
Pol bade his servant leave him, but as Pol could not abandon his love of Escorielle, neither could he abandon Pol.
Pol was struck by her beauty, and enthralled for a night. She gave him a gift - kissed his ears - and demanded a gift of him - he gives the best thing he has - his bow. Then she sent him, and bade him not return on pain of death. His servant met him outside the clearing, where he had waited the week out..
But Pol could not be turned away. He left, but thought of nothing but returning. His sorties into the forest became longer and longer, much to the grief of his father. Pol abandoned his duties as lord heir, and concentrated only on finding Enthess again. After many years, he succeeded, and was granted access to her court. She endured him for another week, then sent him away again. This time her gift to him was his life. But Pol was captivated. He left his family altogether, and became a Forest Priest.
His father was distraught, and died soon after. His second brother became lord, and banned Pol from their home. But Pol knew none of this. He sought Enthess a third time, though she had told him he was only permitted the first time.
When Pol found her again, he was a man, and the greatest forester of all times, and an ascete. He drank only the dew and rain, and cooked no food - eating things only as they were provided, yet he was as healthy and strong as any man, as was his servant. He entered her court under pain of death, and asked her to marry him. She laughed. “You do not know who I am - for I am Escorielle, Queen of the Forest.” But Pol did know who she was - he had worshipped her thoroughly, and knew her very well. He was pure, and as worthy as a man could be. Enthess-Escorielle thought on this. She could not consider his offer, for they were too far unequal - the most worthy man was still only a man - he would die shortly, and forget all he had learned, forever reborn as a child. She was spirit, and could not bind herself to an infant spirit. But when she brought him to her bed for the third time, she found she loved him, for he was without fear, and could not see him killed. The morning he was to leave, her servant gave him a small box. Inside were three times pardon from Escorielle (for violating her court, for asking for her hand, and for boldly approaching her, when she knew who she was), as well as three feathers from Escorielle’s head. The servant would only repeat the words of her goddess - she did not expect him ever to return, and she released him from her service. The feathers were a gift of grace.
Pol bade his servant leave him, but as Pol could not abandon his love of Escorielle, neither could he abandon Pol.
// posted by Wray Davis @ 9:41 PM 
