Story: The Temple of the Five Views
Title: The Temple of the Five Views
Written for brigits_flame , March 2010, week 4 as a "Just for Fun" entry
Prompt: Renegade
Words: ~1000
Author's note: This story, which is written as a letter, takes place in the same world as With Hidden Cards, but that probably isn't immediately recognisable and you don't need to read that story in order to understand this one.
I also didn't manage to sign up for edits this week, so constructive criticism is more than welcome! ;-)
Beloved Brethren,
Long we have guarded these sacred grounds where Forest, Plains, River, Mountain and Sea meet. Long we have worked side by side, creating this temple to worship the Bond between our five peoples.
Indeed, it has become a place of great beauty. Pilgrims come from the darkest corners of the woodland, the distant grasslands where the Plains meet the desert and the highest peaks. Others travel miles upon miles down the mighty River on their houseboats or rise from the depths of the Sea to behold the Temple of the Five Views, as they now call it.
With wonder they behold the sturdy foundations built from the bones of the Mountains and the great pillars intricately carved from strong trees of the Forest. They marvel at the carpets woven from the long grasses of the Plains, the statues formed from clay of the River and the murals painted with pigments of the Sea, depicting creatures of each of our origins on the walls facing the five directions.
The five of us had a vision and we did all we could to fulfil it. We brought about years of peace and prosperity between our peoples. We have taught countless novices to care for the temple, its gardens and, most importantly the Bond between our peoples. They were educated in everything they could possibly need to know and each of us was to instruct one of our disciples to take our place when our end was drawing near.
The temple was to be a place of beauty, peace and devotion; everything was to have its order.
In recent years, the temple has changed. Slowly but steadily, the hushed silence is giving way to excited chatter. Whilst the Bond between our peoples encourages understanding, the temple was built to worship this Bond, not be the place to exchange mundane news.
Likewise, our gardens are no longer a place of beauty and reflection. Merchants spread out their goods, praising them and arguing about prices with each other and customers. How can a garden represent peace amidst petty squabbling?
I shall not digress, my Brethren. You know my views from the countless discussions and arguments we have had about this. I fear I am no longer able to serve the Bond in this way and together with my disciples, have decided that we shall return to the Sea.
I still believe our vision was true. However, I have come to believe that our way of achieving it was not the best strategy. I am tired of disagreeing. I am tired of seeing all of you suffer from the changes time has brought to our temple.
Dear Faludir, Warden of the Forest, I see you wincing at the noise that now fills our once peaceful temple. I know why you seek the remote corners of your garden with their bushes and trees. I understand why you look with longing at the trees of the Forest you once called home. I know you try to stay out of our arguments in order to refrain from damaging the peace any more than it already is. Do not grieve my decision, perhaps it will enable you peace and freedom to return home as well.
Praind, our Keeper of the Plains, you say you are not unhappy with recent developments, except for the arguing amongst us. Yet I do not feel you are as content as you once were. Once, you were a proud rider of the Plains, yet you did not see it as a sacrifice to spend most of your time at the temple. Since the changes began, you have retired to yourself, indulging in luxuries you once laughed at. Sometimes, I feel I do not even recognise you. Perhaps, once you are free from the bond, you will become who you used to be.
My vigorous Brother Reivan of the River, quick to anger and to love, I wonder what happened to the days we were so close. Perhaps we could never truly agree because we were so alike. I know you see trade and talk, laughter and arguments as a part of life. You know I always believed the temple to be a retreat from the world, a place of devotion and quiet. If I thought I could make you understand my point of view by explaining once again, I would. I fear you will not be able to see through your anger and recognise how much our disagreements pain me.
Dearest Marak, Lord of the Mountains, I know I will hurt you most with this decision. You always truly believed we could make this vision work, despite all difficulties. You put so much into the temple, were the one we could always rely on. I wish I did not have to destroy this dream. Perhaps the wind from the Sea will eventually wear down the grudge you will carry for me, but I know you stand by your principles and do not forgive easily. I know that when you read this, you will regret having given up your fears that all people from the Sea are untameable and restless. I am truly sorry to have disappointed your trust.
I fear all of you will see me as a traitor, but I am doing what I believe is best for all of us. The temple cannot be what we once believed it to be, so by leaving for good, I am breaking the bond between the five of us. As we all know, the temple will no longer be indestructible once the bond is broken and will wear away with time, slowly crumbling and decaying as any ordinary building does.
Although the bond of the temple is destroyed, I do not consider the Bond between my people and yours to be broken. I hope we will continue to live in friendship and peace.
I ask you for forgiveness, my Brethren, but I do not expect you to give it to me.
Seilmas of the Sea
Written for brigits_flame , March 2010, week 4 as a "Just for Fun" entry
Prompt: Renegade
Words: ~1000
Author's note: This story, which is written as a letter, takes place in the same world as With Hidden Cards, but that probably isn't immediately recognisable and you don't need to read that story in order to understand this one.
I also didn't manage to sign up for edits this week, so constructive criticism is more than welcome! ;-)
Beloved Brethren,
Long we have guarded these sacred grounds where Forest, Plains, River, Mountain and Sea meet. Long we have worked side by side, creating this temple to worship the Bond between our five peoples.
Indeed, it has become a place of great beauty. Pilgrims come from the darkest corners of the woodland, the distant grasslands where the Plains meet the desert and the highest peaks. Others travel miles upon miles down the mighty River on their houseboats or rise from the depths of the Sea to behold the Temple of the Five Views, as they now call it.
With wonder they behold the sturdy foundations built from the bones of the Mountains and the great pillars intricately carved from strong trees of the Forest. They marvel at the carpets woven from the long grasses of the Plains, the statues formed from clay of the River and the murals painted with pigments of the Sea, depicting creatures of each of our origins on the walls facing the five directions.
The five of us had a vision and we did all we could to fulfil it. We brought about years of peace and prosperity between our peoples. We have taught countless novices to care for the temple, its gardens and, most importantly the Bond between our peoples. They were educated in everything they could possibly need to know and each of us was to instruct one of our disciples to take our place when our end was drawing near.
The temple was to be a place of beauty, peace and devotion; everything was to have its order.
In recent years, the temple has changed. Slowly but steadily, the hushed silence is giving way to excited chatter. Whilst the Bond between our peoples encourages understanding, the temple was built to worship this Bond, not be the place to exchange mundane news.
Likewise, our gardens are no longer a place of beauty and reflection. Merchants spread out their goods, praising them and arguing about prices with each other and customers. How can a garden represent peace amidst petty squabbling?
I shall not digress, my Brethren. You know my views from the countless discussions and arguments we have had about this. I fear I am no longer able to serve the Bond in this way and together with my disciples, have decided that we shall return to the Sea.
I still believe our vision was true. However, I have come to believe that our way of achieving it was not the best strategy. I am tired of disagreeing. I am tired of seeing all of you suffer from the changes time has brought to our temple.
Dear Faludir, Warden of the Forest, I see you wincing at the noise that now fills our once peaceful temple. I know why you seek the remote corners of your garden with their bushes and trees. I understand why you look with longing at the trees of the Forest you once called home. I know you try to stay out of our arguments in order to refrain from damaging the peace any more than it already is. Do not grieve my decision, perhaps it will enable you peace and freedom to return home as well.
Praind, our Keeper of the Plains, you say you are not unhappy with recent developments, except for the arguing amongst us. Yet I do not feel you are as content as you once were. Once, you were a proud rider of the Plains, yet you did not see it as a sacrifice to spend most of your time at the temple. Since the changes began, you have retired to yourself, indulging in luxuries you once laughed at. Sometimes, I feel I do not even recognise you. Perhaps, once you are free from the bond, you will become who you used to be.
My vigorous Brother Reivan of the River, quick to anger and to love, I wonder what happened to the days we were so close. Perhaps we could never truly agree because we were so alike. I know you see trade and talk, laughter and arguments as a part of life. You know I always believed the temple to be a retreat from the world, a place of devotion and quiet. If I thought I could make you understand my point of view by explaining once again, I would. I fear you will not be able to see through your anger and recognise how much our disagreements pain me.
Dearest Marak, Lord of the Mountains, I know I will hurt you most with this decision. You always truly believed we could make this vision work, despite all difficulties. You put so much into the temple, were the one we could always rely on. I wish I did not have to destroy this dream. Perhaps the wind from the Sea will eventually wear down the grudge you will carry for me, but I know you stand by your principles and do not forgive easily. I know that when you read this, you will regret having given up your fears that all people from the Sea are untameable and restless. I am truly sorry to have disappointed your trust.
I fear all of you will see me as a traitor, but I am doing what I believe is best for all of us. The temple cannot be what we once believed it to be, so by leaving for good, I am breaking the bond between the five of us. As we all know, the temple will no longer be indestructible once the bond is broken and will wear away with time, slowly crumbling and decaying as any ordinary building does.
Although the bond of the temple is destroyed, I do not consider the Bond between my people and yours to be broken. I hope we will continue to live in friendship and peace.
I ask you for forgiveness, my Brethren, but I do not expect you to give it to me.
Seilmas of the Sea