The two brothers
This is experiment - a new story that I wrote in English before I wrote Russian version. It seems to work better, than translating. The only thing I'm not sure about is the end. I wanted to add some more, about Maundevro going to see the rock, but now I'm too tired. maybe I'll do it tomorrow. It's a trial version, so feel free to suggest changes:) Tell me, if it's at least readable;)
And great thanks to broom__rider, who is great fan of mr. Rollingstone and even translated his first name to English:)
From the journey-books of Maundervo Rollingstone, the great traveler and collector of stories, legends and tales.
There is whole series of stories told by this fellow in Russian, descriptions of different places, legends and just tales from his life
On a sunless day lands around Seven Lakes are a melancholic sight. Endless meadows descend into the swamps, forests look dark and gloomy and the lakes themselfs are slate-gray, cold and unwelcome. This is the way Seven Lakes look big part of the year. Local people claim, that sunlight transforms the area into far more cheerful sight and I believe them, but I never saw sun shining over Seven Lakes.
Royal investigation brought me to this distinct in autumn, when days are short and rainy. But what I found there was far more interesting than a pretty views, both for the Crown and for me. I found some minor, but annoying crimes in the tax department and a wonderful story for my collection. Or more exactly, the story found me.
Since I usually travel incognito, I just joined local peddler with a wagon, who was heading to the same town I wanted to inspect. We started early, but the rain around midday slowed us a bit, so we had to make the last leg of our journey in the dark. As the wagon rolled across misty twilight meadows we saw a really odd apparition. Ghostly rider, wearing, what seemed to be oldtime-fashioned armor, appeared out of the mist to cross our road and, then, melted into the mist on the other side. It was a quite evening, but I didn't hear sound of his horse's hooves on the road, nor creaking or ringing sounds this kind of armor often produces. The rider moved in utter silence. That surprised me, but seeing our mare ignoring the apparition, I stayed calm too. Horses are very sensitive to the presence of evil spirits, so I usually relay on their judgment. The peddler, on the other hand was quite terrified.
Later in the safety of brightly lit inn he told of our vision to everyone willing to listen and our adventure became talk of the evening. I heard several elaborate versions of the story explaining those apparitions. They were quite controversial in small details, but in general they told the same tale of love and loyalty between two very different brothers.
Long time ago Baron of Seven Lakes married an outlandish lady from the far north. Despite her difference from local ladies, she was good wife and good Baroness, and gained much sympathy from the people. Much to the joy of all the subjects she gave baron two sons. The firstborn son, Volfgang, who was born in late autumn, had somewhat darkish, melancholic and wild personality, but became known as a poet. Second one, Vitold, who was born two years later, in the end of winter, was quite opposite to his brother. Honest and straightforward, he became a model knight, pure and loyal. And yet,
the two brothers, different as they were, were also very close and connected to each other.
Volfgang was somewhat detached from the reality, and it was his dream, that lead brothers to their doom. Volfgang decided to join the Wild Hunt. Vitold just couldn't leave his dreamy brother to face the terrible Lord Raven alone, so they went together. On a late October night they left the castle and rode into the woods, toward the lakes, were the Wild Hunt rumored to be seen lately. On the third night their search proved successful. Out of the clouded sky Wild Hunt came to them with icy wind and smell of rain. But brothers faced it valiantly, finding courage in their unity. Wild Hunt's nature is to is chase those, who run from them, so, when brothers stood their ground, Lord Raven had to stop and listen to them. Volfgang asked to join the Hunt and Vitold again couldn't leave him alone. Wild Hunt rode with two new hunters that night.
The mindless, endless chase across the dark sky was Volfgang's dream for long time and he was perfectly happy, despite the cruelty of the Hunt toward it's victims. But Vitold, the noble knight, was not happy. Te cruelty of the Hunt was against his nature and he could't ignore it. So he tried to return home, only to discover, that now he no more belongs to the world of day and can't leave. The sunlight will turn him into stone, if he will not return to the Hunt before dawn. Long time he spent wandering alone, ghostly shadow in the clod night, pondering on the price of his freedom - to see daylight only for a short moment and to become stone. But the life of Wild Hunter seemed even worse fate for him, so in the end he went into the daylight. He wanted to see his mother and father before becoming stone, but it all happened to fast. And he became a great rock, on the bank of one of the lakes not far from the Baron's castle. And there he stands to this very day.
Volfgang was terrified and devastated with his brother's fate. He begged Lord Raven to release Vitold from stone. Lord Raven agreed, but on one condition - Vitold has to join the Wild Hunt again, because there is no other place for him to be free of the curse, that lays on Wild Hunters. Night after night Volfgang went to visit his stone brother and talked to rock, hoping to convince him to re-join the Hunt and be free of the stone. But when Lord Raven came and release Vitold from the stone, he refused the offer. And became rock again. Heart-broken Volfgang left with the Hunt.
It' is said, that Vitold sometimes can leave the rock, that imprison him. Now and then, especially in early spring and early autumn, when power of Dark Gods is weak, but the nights are still long and dark, mysterious knight comes out of the dark to save lost or attacked travelers. He rides a terrible steed, red eyed and breathing icy mist, but he, himself, is fair and gentle-voiced.
It's also said that in the days of late autumn Volfgang still comes to visit his brother, and can be seen riding in the meadows. Each year he bids Lord Raven to ask Vitold to join the Wild Hunt again, and each year Vitold refuses. And the gray rock, resembling the knight, riding tall horse remains on it's place by the lake...
And great thanks to broom__rider, who is great fan of mr. Rollingstone and even translated his first name to English:)
From the journey-books of Maundervo Rollingstone, the great traveler and collector of stories, legends and tales.
There is whole series of stories told by this fellow in Russian, descriptions of different places, legends and just tales from his life
On a sunless day lands around Seven Lakes are a melancholic sight. Endless meadows descend into the swamps, forests look dark and gloomy and the lakes themselfs are slate-gray, cold and unwelcome. This is the way Seven Lakes look big part of the year. Local people claim, that sunlight transforms the area into far more cheerful sight and I believe them, but I never saw sun shining over Seven Lakes.
Royal investigation brought me to this distinct in autumn, when days are short and rainy. But what I found there was far more interesting than a pretty views, both for the Crown and for me. I found some minor, but annoying crimes in the tax department and a wonderful story for my collection. Or more exactly, the story found me.
Since I usually travel incognito, I just joined local peddler with a wagon, who was heading to the same town I wanted to inspect. We started early, but the rain around midday slowed us a bit, so we had to make the last leg of our journey in the dark. As the wagon rolled across misty twilight meadows we saw a really odd apparition. Ghostly rider, wearing, what seemed to be oldtime-fashioned armor, appeared out of the mist to cross our road and, then, melted into the mist on the other side. It was a quite evening, but I didn't hear sound of his horse's hooves on the road, nor creaking or ringing sounds this kind of armor often produces. The rider moved in utter silence. That surprised me, but seeing our mare ignoring the apparition, I stayed calm too. Horses are very sensitive to the presence of evil spirits, so I usually relay on their judgment. The peddler, on the other hand was quite terrified.
Later in the safety of brightly lit inn he told of our vision to everyone willing to listen and our adventure became talk of the evening. I heard several elaborate versions of the story explaining those apparitions. They were quite controversial in small details, but in general they told the same tale of love and loyalty between two very different brothers.
Long time ago Baron of Seven Lakes married an outlandish lady from the far north. Despite her difference from local ladies, she was good wife and good Baroness, and gained much sympathy from the people. Much to the joy of all the subjects she gave baron two sons. The firstborn son, Volfgang, who was born in late autumn, had somewhat darkish, melancholic and wild personality, but became known as a poet. Second one, Vitold, who was born two years later, in the end of winter, was quite opposite to his brother. Honest and straightforward, he became a model knight, pure and loyal. And yet,
the two brothers, different as they were, were also very close and connected to each other.
Volfgang was somewhat detached from the reality, and it was his dream, that lead brothers to their doom. Volfgang decided to join the Wild Hunt. Vitold just couldn't leave his dreamy brother to face the terrible Lord Raven alone, so they went together. On a late October night they left the castle and rode into the woods, toward the lakes, were the Wild Hunt rumored to be seen lately. On the third night their search proved successful. Out of the clouded sky Wild Hunt came to them with icy wind and smell of rain. But brothers faced it valiantly, finding courage in their unity. Wild Hunt's nature is to is chase those, who run from them, so, when brothers stood their ground, Lord Raven had to stop and listen to them. Volfgang asked to join the Hunt and Vitold again couldn't leave him alone. Wild Hunt rode with two new hunters that night.
The mindless, endless chase across the dark sky was Volfgang's dream for long time and he was perfectly happy, despite the cruelty of the Hunt toward it's victims. But Vitold, the noble knight, was not happy. Te cruelty of the Hunt was against his nature and he could't ignore it. So he tried to return home, only to discover, that now he no more belongs to the world of day and can't leave. The sunlight will turn him into stone, if he will not return to the Hunt before dawn. Long time he spent wandering alone, ghostly shadow in the clod night, pondering on the price of his freedom - to see daylight only for a short moment and to become stone. But the life of Wild Hunter seemed even worse fate for him, so in the end he went into the daylight. He wanted to see his mother and father before becoming stone, but it all happened to fast. And he became a great rock, on the bank of one of the lakes not far from the Baron's castle. And there he stands to this very day.
Volfgang was terrified and devastated with his brother's fate. He begged Lord Raven to release Vitold from stone. Lord Raven agreed, but on one condition - Vitold has to join the Wild Hunt again, because there is no other place for him to be free of the curse, that lays on Wild Hunters. Night after night Volfgang went to visit his stone brother and talked to rock, hoping to convince him to re-join the Hunt and be free of the stone. But when Lord Raven came and release Vitold from the stone, he refused the offer. And became rock again. Heart-broken Volfgang left with the Hunt.
It' is said, that Vitold sometimes can leave the rock, that imprison him. Now and then, especially in early spring and early autumn, when power of Dark Gods is weak, but the nights are still long and dark, mysterious knight comes out of the dark to save lost or attacked travelers. He rides a terrible steed, red eyed and breathing icy mist, but he, himself, is fair and gentle-voiced.
It's also said that in the days of late autumn Volfgang still comes to visit his brother, and can be seen riding in the meadows. Each year he bids Lord Raven to ask Vitold to join the Wild Hunt again, and each year Vitold refuses. And the gray rock, resembling the knight, riding tall horse remains on it's place by the lake...