Will+Taylor

**Introduction: **
====I knew what had to be done. Throughout the entire tale I am about to tell I knew exactly what had to be done. The entire time I was walking down a road that could only have one ending. The fear of what would happen once I reached the end almost made me stop a dozen times. This is not a story where I can proudly say I strode towards my destiny unwavering and chest held high. I did the best I could given the person that I am. I am no hero. ====

**Chapter One: **
====Fletcher's Farm was the perfect place to grow up. It was almost 10 square miles of hills, beautiful chestnut trees, apple orchards and bubbling creeks. There was a huge farm house that sat about half a mile back from the front gate. It was made of dark red brick and sturdy oak and it had a single tower rising from the back chambers. But at the moment I wasn't thinking about the gorgeous landscape or the classic farm house that I called home, I was thinking about the seven rows of beanstalks that needed to be picked and then hauled all the way back to the kitchen. I solemnly started on the next row when I felt icy cold water splash onto my head and down my back. ====

===="AHHH!!!" I screamed. I whipped around to see who had attacked me. By the time was fully turned around all I could see was Ayla's back as she sprinted through the rows of vegetables ====

====I knew she was just looking for a reaction. I bit my tongue and put on a burst of speed. Just as she reached the grassy bank of the lake I caught her. ====

===="Want to go for a swim?" For a minute she thought I was serious, then I picked her up and tossed her into the lake. She shrieked as she splashed into the cold water. I heard a booming yell from the main house. Cook's voice rolled over the fields and could be heard perfectly even all the way out at the lake. ====

===="Boy, get that poor girl out of the water and wash up for dinner!" When Cook says it's time for dinner, you don't waste time, you get to the table as fast as possible. I helped Ayla out of the water we started walking up towards the house. ====

====The main house was in its normal state of chaos when we reached the front door. All the farm hands and all the servants were getting seated at once and the servers were weaving their way through the chairs and people to lay the food on the huge table that stretched the entire length of the dining hall. I managed to grab some seats towards the end of the table near the fireplace. I spotted Rodrick wading through the other servers carrying a huge turkey easily with his right hand and a flask of wine with the other. Once he'd laid the food on the table i stood up on my chair and waved at him. He smiled and pointed back to the kitchen giving a rueful shrug. ====

====Everyone had finally gotten settled and started serving themselves. The smells of fresh bread and roasted meats filled the air. Rodrick came out of the kitchen looking tired, but happy. ====

====Then the door at the far side of the hall opened and in strolled Mr and Mrs. Fletcher arm in arm. Mr. Fletcher was an impressive man. He stood well over six feet tall and even though his beard and hair was completely gray he still exuded a sense of power. His face was creased with laugh lines and the marks of a long life on a farm. Mrs. Fletcher was the classic farmers wife. She was small a little bit plump and she wore her perfectly white hair up in a bun. Everyone stopped grabbing at the food in front of them and turned to greet the owners. Both smiled at the crowd of workers. ====

===="Back to your dinner! If this food gets cold before it's eaten Cook will have my head!" said Mr. Fletcher laughing. ====

====He then spread his arms and pulled all the dishes of food around him right onto his plate. Ayla and I barely even noticed anymore when Rodrick ended up eating ninety percent of the food close to where we were sitting. Ever since last summer Rodrick had never stopped growing. His arms had become thick and he was the tallest on the farm other than Mr. Fletcher himself. When he was told that he would finally have to start working in the fields he begged Cook to let him work in the kitchen. The Cook can't ever say no to Rodrick and Rodrick knew this. Cook said yes and Rodrick now spent his days cooking food and helping prepare for major meals. It was common knowledge on the farm that he worked harder than most of the men who did hard labor. ====

===="My friends, i believe it is time for bed. As, no doubt, you all know the final fall harvest will be next week. I expect EVERYONE to be out working in these coming days to make sure we are ready. And yes, that means you too Rodrick." ====

====We all stood up as one and made our way to our respective quarters. Rodrick and I bid goodnight to Ayla and opened the door to our room. For as long as I can remember Rodrick and I have shared in this room. It's been our sanctuary and home for six years. Rodrick, just like me, is an orphan. He was left on the farm doorstep early one morning. Cook found him wrapped up in a blanket with a note saying, "Protect him." Ever since then Cook took care of him, but never hid from Rodrick that he was in fact not his father. Then I got here. What I've been told by Mr. Fletcher is that ten years ago my mother came to this farm with me in tow. It was obvious that we had been on the road for awhile. My mothers clothes were dirty and torn and she was stumbling as she carried me up to the farmhouse. My mother yelled for help and Mrs. Fletcher went downstairs and helped us into the house. My mother was very sick and I was only six so I had no idea what was going on. My mother passed away that night and the generous Fletcher's decided to let me stay on the farm. I quickly grew close with Ayla and Rodrick. We spent many days together enjoying the farm. Four years passed and at age ten it is custom for all of the worker's children to move into the servant quarters. Rodrick and I managed to get a room together and we have been living together ever since. ====

====I climbed into bed as Rodrick did the same. I pulled the covers up to my chin and glanced over at Rodrick. He was propped up on his elbow looking at the ceiling. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Hey Raven, have you ever wished that maybe we could leave the farm for awhile? You know, go see something different." He asked. He already knew the answer to his question. We'd been having conversations like this for months. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"I know exactly what you're saying Rodrick, now go to bed. We both need to be up tomorrow." I said while turning over and closing my eyes. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A little while later i heard him finally settle back into his bed and get comfortable. I felt myself slowly falling asleep ====

====//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">My eyes flew open and I looked around in confusion. All I could see were rough stone walls surrounding me. I heard the dripping of water. A soft, warm face came into view. It was a women wrapped in shall that just left her face visible. //====

====//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Then a door opened and a blinding light shown through the the opening. The silhouette of a tall man stood in the door. He slowly raised one hateful hand and pointed right at me. An unearthly shriek exploded from the walls and I was plunged into darkness. //====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I sat up heaving and soaked in sweat. The early dawn light was shining through the window of my comfortable, warm room. Rodrick was no where to be seen. He always left early to help the early preparation in the kitchen. I shook my head and pulled on my clothes and got ready for another day. I made my way to the dining room and grabbed a hot loaf of bread from the table and a pad of butter. I turned to go back to my room when I saw Ayla waving off to my right. She pointed to a seat next to her and smiled. I walked over to her somewhat disappointed that I wouldn't get more time in my bed. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Didn't sleep well?" She asked.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"You're just a regular detective aren't you?" I said sarcastically. She shrunk back a bit obviously a bit hurt. Then she gave me another look and her face suddenly became worried. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Just then Rodrick came into the dining room with a plate of eggs and ham. He laid it in front of Ayla and me and sat down. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I ripped off a piece of my bread and tossed it at Rodrick. He tilted his head and caught it in his mouth giving me a huge smile. Ayla and I couldn't help but start to laugh. After we all finished eating we stood up and made our way outside to start the morning work for the harvest. Rodrick hadn't had to work in the fields since last harvest and even then he'd managed to skip the last five days of work with a "twisted ankle." ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">This time though there was no getting away. Mr. Fletcher was out and working with everyone else and if he was working than you better be working as well. Mr. Fletcher looked up from his pile of picked carrots, wiped his brow and spotted us walking down towards the fields. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"You three get over to the pumpkin patch and search each one of those pumpkins for rot. And if you miss a single one you better be ready to eat it." He said. His face was serious, but his voice was kind all the same. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We spent the better part of three hours pushing over pumpkins to check their bottoms. Sweaty and tired we finally trooped our way back to the house. Rodrick and I said goodbye to Ayla for the time being and went off to get cleaned up. Finally, clean and feeling a bit better we all met up outside the kitchen. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Go for a swim?" offered Rodrick.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"It's October. You can go for a swim if you like, but I think I'll pass." Ayla said. She jokingly nudged Rodrick's arm and Rodrick mumbled something about just trying to help. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Maybe we could go out to the lake and just hang out for a bit." I said.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"A picnic!" Ayla shouted happily. "Ok Rodrick go get some food from the kitchen, Raven go get a blanket from your room and I'll wait right here." ==== ====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Rodrick raised an eyebrow and gave me a look, but we both knew that when Ayla got like this it was better to just do as she says. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Rodrick disappeared into the kitchen and I went up the stairs and down the hall to our room. I didn't want to use the blanket from my bed so i opened up the trunk at the foot of my bed. There was not a good blanket to speak of among the folded up sheets. I walked over to Rodrick's chest and opened it up. The very first blanket on top was red, thick and perfect for the job. I lifted it up and was just about to shut the chest when I spotted a piece of paper neatly folded and lying on top of the next layer of sheets. ==== ====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I picked it up. Feeling only the tiniest bit of guilt I opened up the sheet. Besides, what could Rodrick have to hide from me? Six silver pennies fell out of the folded sheet and onto the ground. I frowned and opened up the paper the entire way. I could see pictures of tiny mountains and the curves of carefully drawn rivers. It was a map. A map like I had never seen before. It didn't just show Fletcher's Farm it showed almost all of Mauridia. There was a tiny red ex in the fields of the south. Right where Fletcher's farm would be. ====

**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Chapter 2: **
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I quickly grabbed the blanket and shut the chest. I jumped down the stairs, my head spinning. I stopped just in front of a very annoyed looking Ayla. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"What took you so long? I thought the idea was to have a picnic while it's still light out." She said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, but gave no answer in return. She seemed to take this as an apology and started walking towards the main entrance. Rodrick and I followed, me carrying the blanket and him a huge armful of food. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We all walked down the sloping fields to where the lake lay peacefully. There was a huge chestnut tree that shaded the bank on the left side of the lake. It was gnarled with age and hung low with thick branches. I handed the blanket to Ayla. She held two corners and let the gentle breeze lift the blanket. She laid the blanket down carefully. Rodrick put his load down on the blanket. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">It was one of those rare mid autumn nights where the air still held on to the warmth of summer and the air smelled sweet. It almost tricked you into thinking that maybe it wasn't quite fall yet. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I sat down on the blanket and started to get my swimming clothes on. Ayla walked over to the lake and put her toe in. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rodrick getting up quietly. He glanced back at me giving me an impish grin. I smiled back and he turned, creeping slowly towards Ayla. She sat down and started dipping her feet into the water, lost in her own thoughts. When Rodrick got to about five feet away from her she stopped kicking her feet and turned around quickly. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"No Rodrick!" She squealed as he dove at her. He grabbed her and they both fell into the water head first. She stood up out of the water spluttering. She grabbed Rodrick's head as he stood up and she dunked him into the water. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"I thought I told you to never ever ever ever sneak up on me!" She punctuated each word with a dunking of Rodrick's head. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Rodrick finally pulled away and slapped the water with his large hands spraying water at Ayla. I saw my opportunity and ran down the bank and jumped into the water right between the both of them i grabbed my legs and hit the water full force sending huge splashes at both Rodrick and Ayla. We all started splashing each other and jumping around in the water. Soon the sun had begun to set a little and the air became a bit cooler. We got out of the water and grabbed our towels to dry off. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Anyone hungry?" asked Ayla reaching for the pile of food.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Pass the bread." I said hungrily looking at the large loaf. Rodrick pulled about half of the food towards himself and set about steadily dispatching it. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Want to share any of that?" asked Ayla raising an eyebrow.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Shurgsh." said Rodrick around his mouthful of food. Looking rather hesitant he handed over a small handful of almonds. Ayla raised her eyebrow even further and he handed her another handful. ==== ====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Ok fair enough. I know that's all I'm going to get out of you." said Ayla trying really hard to look annoyed, but not quite managing it. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I looked up across the fields recognizing every little bump and cluster of trees in the landscape. It was all so familiar and so beautiful. Smiling, I looked up towards the house and the road leading up to it. Something was moving on the road. I squinted trying to figure out what it was, but the sun was directly behind whatever was moving. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Well there was that circus last spring." I said looking hopefully up towards the road.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"No there are only two people up there. And they're definitely wearing black. Not quite circus attire." Ayla said while standing up and also shading her eyes with her hand. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We set out walking up towards the house. The two figures got to the main door before we did and we could see Mr. Fletcher standing in the door way talking to the riders. His voice was a little louder than usual and a lot less gentle. We all looked at each other and we crouched down going up to the side of the house so we could hear the conversation without being seen. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"You have no business here!" said Mr. Fletcher firmly.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"It would not do you well to deny us rest." one of the black riders hissed. His hand fell slowly to the hilt of a sword that was mostly concealed inside his long black robe. ==== ====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"I will not be intimidated by your kind." Mr. Fletcher said. His eyes flashed and he seemed to stand taller and straighter. The two riders gave him an appraising look and slowly turned their horses around. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Mr. Fletcher watched them both slowly ride away until they turned onto the main road and were out of site. He looked tiredly out over his fields and turned back into the house. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Probable just some tough characters from up North." said Ayla not looking particularly convinced.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Whatever. Let's just get back to the lake." I said. As the presence of the riders slowly faded from the forefront of my mind I realized I was gripping the hem of my shirt with such force that it had started to tear. I shook my head and took a deep breath trying to clear my mind. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Rodrick nodded and started to walk off with Ayla. I looked out over the road where the riders had gone. Two dots on the horizon flew up from the ground and circled in the sky for a moment before racing off into the distance. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I turned around and saw that my friends were half way around the house and almost at the kitchen entrance. I looked one more time out over the road into the horizon, but there was nothing there. I turned around and jogged after Rodrick and Ayla. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Inside the house there was the normal hustle and bustle of servant activity. Cook was already getting things together for the harvest feast and anyone that he saw was immediately conscripted to some sort of job. We saw Cook storming towards us so we quickly left the kitchen area and headed up to me and Rodrick's room. We sat there talking until dinner time when we all headed down to the dining room to eat. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The next week passed in a haze. Everything seemed to be focused on the harvest. Cook could often be seen scouring the house for people on a break or relaxing. These people would immediately be sent to do some sort of unsavory job such as de-feathering all the foul that would be used for the harvest feast. Rodrick, Ayla and I quickly learned that the best strategy was waking up early and heading out to the fields and getting some more pleasant jobs from Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher even began showing signs of stress as the work days continued to get longer and harder. Soon enough Mr. Fletcher was handing out jobs left and right. We all worked hard and soon enough it was the night before the harvest. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I hadn't mentioned the map I had found in his dresser to him yet and I figured I probably needed to at some point. Minutes passed as I thought about how he'd react to my accidental discovery. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Yep?" he responded. I gave out a sigh and quickly said what I was thinking before I could stop myself.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Are you planning to leave the farm?" I said. Rodrick picked got up a bit from his bed and resting on his elbows. He looked at me, his brow furrowed. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Why would you think that?"
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Well, you've been talking about seeing something new for awhile and the other week I opened your trunk an-" He cut me off. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"I know that. I can't explain it, so don't ask me to try."
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"You'll miss this place if you go away. You know that right?" I asked. He sighed and rolled over. Obviously the discussion was over. I curled up in my sheets and tried not to think about a Fletcher's farm without Rodrick. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The next day dawned clear and cold. As soon as the first ray of sunlight shined up over the mountains to the East Cook woke both Rodrick and I. We blearily climbed out of bed blearily and stumbled down the stairs wiping the sleep from our eyes. We got to the main entrance where other similarly tired people were gathering to get ready to go down to the fields. Mr. Fletcher was the only one besides Cook who looked like he was awake and ready for the day. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Alright everyone. Let's just get this done and we can enjoy the wonderful feast that Cook has prepared for us." said Mr. Fletcher opening up the main door out to the fields. We all trudged down the various paths to the fields. The previous night at dinner Mr. Fletcher had announced jobs so we all knew where to go and what to do. Rodrick, Ayla and I got to work together picking the pumpkins that we had deemed of a high quality the last time we were out in fields. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The work was hard and the sun rose quickly up the sky. Ayla and I grabbed some of the more reasonably sized pumpkins while Rodrick toiled away with the monsters of the pumpkin patch. We all lifted and pulled and pushed those pumpkins for close to seven hours. Soon we could barely lift our arms and the sun was beating down over head. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"If this is fall what the hell is summer going to be like?" Rodrick grumbled while wiping the sweat off his forehead. It was all I could do to grunt in response. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"It's not my fault I'm small!" said Aya pretending to look upset.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Less talk more lift. I'm ready to get this done." I said rolling a pumpkin over to our one of our wheelbarrows. I looked over the patch and only saw about eight or so pumpkins still wrapped in their vines. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The other two looked over the patch and smiled running to the remaining pumpkins. But our smiles faded when we saw the mother of all pumpkins sitting comfortably in her home of vines. It had to be at least 8 feet around and 6 feet tall. We hauled the rest of the pumpkins to where our wheelbarrows were and dumped them on top of the piles. We walked over to the huge pumpkin and got in position all on one side. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Nice job. Ok, well just run those wheelbarrows to the back of the kitchen and you kids can take the rest of the day off." ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The troop up to the back of the kitchen turned out to be the hardest part of the whole business. Each of the wheelbarrows required our combined effort to move it up the hills and o the kitchen. We made the trip 6 times and finally we were free for the day. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"So what now?" asked Ayla.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"I'm showering and going back to bed and don't you dare wake me up until dinner." I said starting to walk up the stairs. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I didn't look back as I climbed the stairs and turned down the hall to my room. When i got into the room it was dark. I lit a lamp and sat on my bed. My eyes fell on Rodrick's chest at the foot of his bed. I couldn't resist so I walked over and opened it up. I pulled up the neatly folded blanket on top and looked under. Nothing was there. He had moved the map. I immediately felt guilty. He knew I'd look again. Damn, well there's nothing to do now except go to bed. I looked out the window. The mountains to the East rose tall and proud. Two black dots hovering in the sky caught my attention. They slowly circled in the sky before going behind a peak in the mountains. I looked for a second more and then lay back in my bed. Thoughts of the feast to come fluttered into my mind before I drifted off. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I got dressed quickly and walked down the stairs to the dining hall. The entire room was decorated from top to bottom. Streamers ran the length of the entire hall and there were intricately carved jack-o-lanterns all across the table. In the center of the table the mother pumpkin sat above all. She was carves all the way around with pictures of the harvest spirit. Pictures of the moon, the tides and the changing season circled the pumpkin. The pumpkin was lit from the inside with no less than 6 lamps. It gave a huge light and the pictures on its skin were cast along the walls. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"My friends, this has been another successful year! Together we have worked hard and together we will continue to thrive on this farm. But don't let me hold up your dinner any longer!" ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">And with a wave of his hand servants began pouring in from the kitchen. The first wave of kitchen servants each carried a few smallish, silver dishes each topped with a silver lid. All of these dishes were neatly arranged along the table with about two dishes around each person. Then the servants retreated back to the kitchen and came out once again each helping another carry huge dished over to the table. Each pair shuffled over bending under the wieght of the food they carried. Again these dishes were covered and every one sitting at the table started whispering to their neighbor guessing at the contents. The platters were placed upon the table and all the servants took their seats at the table. Then Mr. Fletcher with a huge smile on his face stood up and walked into the kitchen. A minute later people started to fidget and look hungrily at the concealed food in front of them and just as everyone almost helped themselves, Mr. Fletcher, Cook and 5 other servants all came out carrying a platter the size of the pumpkin at the center of the table. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">They walked up to the table cheered on by everyone sitting at the table. As soon as they placed it down next to the huge pumpkin Mr. Fletcher stood up once again. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The kitchen servants got up again and lifted all the lids of the food at once. Immediately the smells filled the air. Roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and steaming vegetables mixed to create an intoxicating smell that everyone immediately reaching for the dishes that surrounded them. The sounds of cutlery being moved about and glasses of wine being poured quickly filled the air. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Oh my god, Cook really outdid himself this time." said Ayla as she looked at the pile of food she had put on her plate. ====

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"You're drinking?" said Ayla raising an eyebrow.
====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Ya of course. It's the harvest and last year I was too young to drink. I am not missing out this ear." I said. I poured myself a generous glass of the deep red, cherry wine. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Ayla rolled her eyes, but gave no further comment. As soon as I had finished pouring my glass Rodrick reached over and grabbed the bottle. He quickly poured himself a glass and used it to wash down his mouthful of food. Everyone in the hall was too busy swallowing down bite after bite to even talk. After awhile everyone began to slow down and talk to their neighbors. The noise in the hall began to increase and two servants started piling firewood in the fireplace. Soon there was a glowing fire and everyone had a large, food induced grin on their face. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The servers came out with some small deserts and pies. Rodrick was one of the few who had the space left in him to eat any of the deserts. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">She came back into view a second later pulling two large chairs up to the fire place. Rodrick and I got up and helped her bring them over next to the other comfortable chair in front of the fire. We all sat down, stretched out our feet and sat deep into the plush chairs. The wine and good food had me and everyone else smiling lazily. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We all three stayed like that for close to an hour just relaxing and enjoying the comfortable silence between us. The sleepy atmosphere in the hall was intoxicating and soon people were going off to bed. Ayla stood up out of her chair and stretched. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Well, I'm about to pass out right here, so I'm going off to bed. Good night guys." She said. She waved over her shoulder as she left the hall. ==== ====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Alright let's go." I said standing. We trooped up the stairs to our room and over to our beds. I climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up over myself. I felt my deliciously full stomach, my sluggish wine altered mind and tired body mix to make my eyelids droop and shut the minute my head finally touched the pillow. I heard Rodrick give a contented sigh and I knew he was feeling the same way I was. ====

**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">* **
====//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I was sitting on the bank of the lake while the wind blew blew over the water. The wind sang a soft lullaby as I lay back in the thick grass and closed my eyes. //====

====//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I heard a bang in the distance, but the grass was far too comfortable to bother to get up and open my eyes. A heat started to grow in the air. It was pleasant at first, but it kept growing in intensity. Soon I was sweating and felt my skin started to itch with heat. //====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We ran to the door and opened it. There was fire everywhere engulfing the hall way. The roar of flames and the flickering orange of the fire consumed the house in all directions. We ran down the hall and turned sharply left. Part of the ceiling collapsed just behind us and I felt the floor shake. Ayla's room was up on the left and we both sprinted towards it holding our shirts over our mouths to avoid the smoke. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"AYLA!!" I screamed pounding on her door. There was something blocking it from the inside and it wouldn't budge. Rodrick grabbed the handle and pulled on it savagely tearing it from the door. He stepped back from the door and raised one of his massive boots and kicked in the door with a loud bang. A ceiling beam had fallen across the room bringing most of the ceiling with it. The air was thick with smoke and debris. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"AYLA!" I yelled again. From the closet I heard a weak sounding moan. I sprinted over and opened up the doors. In the back corner a limp form lay curled up away from the flames. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">" Pick her up!" I yelled over my shoulder at Rodrick. He easily put her on his back and looked at me for direction. I motioned back to the hallway and we climbed over the burning ceiling beam and back out into the corridor. The fire had gotten worse and now the floor was patched with spots where the fire had burned through and the ground level of the house could be seen. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">"Come on let's go!" I shouted as I led the way to the stairs. We took the stairs two at a time running down to the main floor. I looked in the direction of the main door and saw that a huge portion of the frame and surrounding wall had collapsed leaving no room to escape. We turned into the dining room and sprinted across the floor towards the door at the other end of the huge room. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I looked up and saw the flames had spread across the entire length of both walls and the high ceiling. We were twenty feet away from the exit when I saw the roof directly ahead of us give way with a groan. It fell directly in our path and we skidded to a halt. Ayla gave a groan and her eyes fluttered. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The hopelessness of the situation tore at me. My friends were trusting in me and I couldn't let them down. I felt sick with fear and I looked around with no ideas coming to mind. Suddenly, my vision began to darken and the bright fire turned a deep shade of red. The contrast between everything became clearer and colors became stronger. I heard a deep rumbling and felt more than saw the roof above us begin to fall. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">I grabbed hold of Rodrick's arm and with out thinking I ran at the wall dragging Rodrick with me. I gave a powerful cry as I pulled us towards the wall. The roof was no more than ten feet above us and I felt time slow. Everything was closing in. The wall and the flames all surrounded us and the roof seemed to be falling extremely slowly. Rodrick was being dragged behind me and he just had time to open his eyes wide in surprise as I hit the wall. I felt the brick crumble in front of me as I kept running. Everything began to blur and my head pounded. With a tremendous blast the wall exploded outwards. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We tumbled out of the burning building and out into the cool night. People were screaming and running up towards the house with buckets of water. I could barely sit up. A horrible tiredness had come over me and all I could do was lie there and watch my home burn. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Out of the flames and pillar of smoke a shape began to take form. It moved farther out towards me and I could see two leathery wings beating the air and fanning the flames. A reptilian head with slit like eyes looked out over the destruction cruelly. Behind it another one of the monsters came into view. It twisted around in the wreckage of the house, knocking down walls and caving in rooms. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">The first creature opened its mouth and gave a scream that tore through the night. The noise scraped against my ears and I screamed back, clutching my ears. The monster looked down again at the burning house. Once again it opened its mouth but this time flames roared from its mouth with a sound like a cannon. The rolling and bubbling flames shot through the air and hit the house. The shear power of the blast blew the remaining parts of the house that still stood out across the fields. ====

====<span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">People screamed and ran as fiery debris fell from the sky. I felt sadness like I had never felt before. My home and the place of all my memories was destroyed. I turned my head to the right and saw the chestnut tree down by the lake. A piece of the burning house hit its branches and slowly the fire spread. The flames slowly crept down the trunk and the tree became a huge pillar of fire. ====