Fragments Gallery
The Storyteller: The Waltz (Part 2)
A short time later the old man opened his eyes as he heard the doors to his hall open. A steady stream of people slowly filtered in as they finished their meals and made their way back to the fire. It didn't take long for all of the children and their parents to return.
The fire crackled merrily as the Storyteller surveyed the room, taking note of his listener’s mood before he continued the story.
They were restless but not so restless that the story would not grab their attention quickly. He took another drink from the mug at his side and then he began once more.
"The young girl, Kalie was her name, waited outside the castle for an hour or so, just staring down at the castle, after a while she began to see movement inside the walls. Someone was still down there. Feeling a surge of hope for her brother's life she crept down to the castle and cautiously stepped onto the glassy drawbridge. She looked up at the massive structure and was momentarily stunned by the sheer size of the building. No human hands could have shaped this she though in awe, it was just too beautiful. After several minutes she recalled her mission and she scurried across the bridge and entered through the tremendous crystal doors. Now inside the doors she found herself standing inside the great hall. Fey lights burned in a changing rainbow of colours in their brackets along the tall walls. The hall had four tiers; she could see book shelves on the top level so she thought that must be some sort of library. The middle two levels, she stood on the lower of the middle levels, seemed to be solely balconies overlooking the bottom level, and the lowest level was filled with a crowded ballroom floor. In front of her lay a grand staircase leading down to the bottom level while to either side of here there were stairs leading up to the higher levels."
"Kalie rushed forward to the railing so she could get a better look at the lowest level. The floor was crowded with people. Young man and women swirled and twirled around the polished floor as the danced to the slow orchestral music emanating from somewhere in the hall. She searched frantically her eyes darting from figure to whirling figure. Something seemed wrong with them, sometimes the people down below seemed to… flicker… It was almost as though they began to fade and then reappeared. She thought about it for a moment and then passed it off as a trick of the light and continued her search. After a few minutes she was rewarded with a glimpse of him. With his height he was easily recognizable once she knew where to look. Throwing caution to the wind she rushed down the stairs and ran across the room pushing between the dancing couples. Reaching her brother she tore him away from his companion."
"In shock he looked at her and asked, Kalie what are you doing here?" said the Storyteller changing the tone of his voice.
"She cried out in response you promised that you'd come back, you promised months ago!" again the Storyteller's voice changed pitch.
"Months ago? He asked with a bemused expression on his face, I've only been here a few days."
"Kalie just shook his arm more. You need to come with me she yelled, you've been here for months!"
"Abruptly the music stopped and the crowd began to applaud the unseen orchestra. A man jumped onto an upraised platform and began to speak; Kalie ignored him instead focusing on her brother. But her brother had gone still as the man leapt into view. Kalie tried to speak and pull him away but her brother quieted her with a wave of his hand and resisted her efforts. His face was rapt as he stared at the speaking man. Frustrated Kalie turned her attention to the speaking man as well to see what had so entranced her brother."
The Storyteller stopped to take a drink as his audience stared on their attention firmly on him.
"Thank you all for attending my ball, the man exclaimed to his attentive crowd, the time has come for us to say goodbye, so goodbye and thank you."
"The man raised his arms high above his head and the castle began to tremble. Then the screaming began. Kalie stared around in shock as men and women began to fall to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain. Her brother’s hand pulled from her own as he too fell to the ground. She could only stare as he began to fade. Within moments he was gone. Kalie cried out and glanced around to find she was alone in the hall. All the other guests had faded as well. Tears began to run down Kalie's face as the lights in the room dimmed leaving her in the dark. Something cracked and then blinking tears from her eyes Kalie found herself on a hill overlooking the castle. Just as her brother had disappeared so the castle began to fade." "It matters not what you have seen, said a disembodied voice in her ear, no matter what you say more will always find their way to me, it is your nature."
"What happened, she whispered."
"You see the longer they stayed, the faster they withered. Replied the voice, as the guests faded I grew younger. Eventually the guests would completely disappear leaving only me."
"I will stop you, she yelled out as the castle fully disappeared."
"Only the wind and fading laughter answered her."
The Storyteller paused as he took another drink before asking, "Next story?"