Legends of Marithia: Book 2 - Darkness Rising by Peter Koevari Page A

Trisa.
    “ That would be a great…” he
began, pausing mid-sentence as they cleared the forest, his mouth
widening in awe.
    “ Welcome to the Weeping
Falls, Vartan,” said Trisa, taking a seat on a nearby
rock.
    His voice was lost within the roar of
the magnificent falls as he blurted out, “My word!”
    The falls were far greater than he had
imagined. Aside from where the water fell into the pool, the rest
was an almost still body of water surrounded by a bed of smooth
rocks, but that was not what gave his eyes a feast. The water led
into a giant mouth of a cave, and at the entrance to the cave, was
what appeared to be a towering water statue of a dragon, with its
wings spread wide open.
    The water did not drop from the dragon
itself, but two waterfalls fell into the pool from the water
dragon’s eyes. At first, the surface of the water dragon appeared
solidified, but on closer inspection, it was clear that the entire
body was made of rushing water.
    Finn landed on the Weeping Falls
cave’s crest, yelling to Vartan below, “Quite a sight isn’t she? We
call her ‘Mother Dragon’. She holds our memories, and links us with
the souls of dragons past. She is our deity and we pray to her
regularly. These waters are sacred to us and for you to be allowed
to swim in these waters is a rare honour. What are you waiting
for?”
    Vartan turned to look at
Trisa.
    She winked at him and
whispered, “Don’t worry young man, I’ve seen it all before. You
have nothing to
be shy around me for.”
    “ I wasn’t…” began Vartan,
his cheeks reddening, “Never mind.”
    He lay down his sword and undressed,
leaving his clothes behind. Walking carefully, he made his way
barefoot over the smooth rocks.
    “ The rocks are warm!” he
exclaimed, “They feel soothing to walk on.”
    “ They sure do, the water is
warm too. The rocks are heated by the falls. Even in the coldest of
winters, steam rises from the water. It is said that magic keeps it
from cooling,” said Finn.
    Mother Dragon watched Vartan closely,
her watery eyes following his moving form.
    Taking his first step into the water,
he felt his entire body immediately react to the warmth. A tingle
danced its way around his body. Letting a long breath escape, his
instincts urged him to dive in and soothe his aching muscles, but
he decided to walk slowly into the water until he was neck deep. He
felt his body involuntarily begin to float and as he lay back in
the water, he felt himself be gently carried toward Mother
Dragon.
    “ Just relax,” yelled Finn,
“There is nothing in the falls that will harm you!”
    I, I can hear them… there
are so many, exclaimed Keturah.
    As Vartan neared the water dragon
statue, the voices began to whisper in his ear.
    Chosen one… One of us…
Choose… Become one… Spirits… we can help you… Strength…
    The voices grew louder in his mind
until his head felt like it was being battered with noise.
Keturah’s voice screamed in fear.
    “ Please, stop !” yelled Vartan
desperately.
    Mother Dragon blinked her eyes and the
waterfall ceased to flow.
    With a voice that sounded like the
most beautiful string instrument being played, Mother Dragon said,
“Silence, all of you.”
    “ By the gods!” exclaimed
Trisa, now standing in disbelief with her mouth gaped
open.
    Finn immediately bowed at the presence
of Mother Dragon, Trisa soon followed suit as the shock began to
subside. Mother Dragon folded her watery wings and picked up Vartan
in her claws. He sat upright, coming face to face with her and
bowed his head.
    Mother Dragon nodded knowingly and
spoke softly, “Dear child, you come to me as freely as your mother
and father once did, but with a heavy heart and damaged body. I did
not grant them their human lives for you to be created and soon
destroyed.”
    “ Mother Dragon, you created my parents?”
he asked warily.
    “ To answer your question,
of course… but I speak of the gift of a human life, which in turn,
created you,”