Rularin and Fentemuil
Variations & Mutation
My Dearest Friend,
I have thought of a tale that I believe you and your daughter will find interesting, and decided that I would endeavor to put it down in a letter to you, before I am distracted for several weeks by the approaching harvest. It is a beloved legend of my homeland and I pray that you find it entertaining.
The story of Rularin and Fentemuil stands apart from you and I, several millennia filling the gulf of history between the founders of the kingdom of Malakyne and we who now make our homes both beneath and between the crimson canopy of this great forested realm. Only memories span this gulf, memories passed down by oral tradition from parent to child, undoubtedly reshaped in the telling. Hence, this bridge of memory is an ethereal one, where fancy freely treads while fact forgoes the crossing. In many ways this makes the tale a more beautiful one, and for that this old Excursionarian is grateful. Thus freed from the constraints of accuracy, I shall relay to you my favorite telling of this lovely and tragic legend, as first spun onto parchment by Talis Telumar, the Weaver of Tales, in the year 995 RF.
"Rularin The Fruitful, it is told, did spend many years taming and beautifying the forests of Malakyne. The fervency of his daily industry, and the beauty of the groves and orchards nurtured by his hand drew others to him, inspiring them in like manner to become inhabitants and stewards of the Great Forest. Under Rularin's guidance, the trees grew, the harvests were abundant and soon the village called Noltin of the Dell did grow up and flourish. One spring, as Rularin wandered further abroad, seeking new areas of the forest to tend and settle, he happened upon a beautiful maiden wreathed in hair of fiery red, green eyes flashing as she danced beneath a large and stately tree. As he neared, the maiden beckoned him to join her. He did, and soon they were laughing and spinning…and then, quite suddenly, the maiden was gone. The woods around Rularin did grow dim, though the tree remained as bright and lovely as before. As Rularin traveled from the place, he watched in surprise as both briar and encroaching vine did shrivel and fade away at his step, trees straightening in his presence. Wondering, he sought out the maiden of the tree many times again. Not until the sixth time did he find her there. She danced not, but sat upon a root of the tree. "Why do you seek me out so?" she asked as he approached. "You have already received my blessing, and yet you return again and yet again." "Is it your blessing that causes the wildness of the woods around me to fade?" She nodded. "It is as I thought," Rularin responded. "I have sought thee for many reasons, chief among them to give thee thanks for such a blessing." "This blessing," she replied "is a boon both upon thee and upon the land where e're thou treadest. By blessing you, I have blessed the forest, and knowing of thy restless wanderings, always in search of new trees to beautify, I did deem my blessing well-spent." "Truly, my lady, I shall seek to bear thy blessing well. And being thus blessed already, I am loathe to ask more of thee." She tipped her head, peering at him. "Ask of me what e're thou wilt. I know thine heart and know that thou wouldst not ask of me anything that would be base or hurtful." Rularin bowed and stepped yet closer. "I have been walking the land in search of a place to raise up a new settlement, for as my people have flourished under thy watchful care we have become many…too many for all to remain now in Noltin of the Dell. Far and wide have I wandered and no fairer place have I yet discovered than this glade and this most beautiful of trees upon which thou doth sit even now." The maiden said nothing. "I beg of thee, maiden fair," Rularin continued. "Wilt thou allow me to raise up a city here, surrounding this glade and this tree? I promise thee to protect and care for it, giving it a place of honor within. A palace will I build around it, and a city fairer far than that which I have already raised." Straightening her head, she looked deep into his eyes. "I will allow this," she finally said, her voice soft. Rularin hesitated, then knelt upon the leaf-strewn ground. "I thank thee most heartily," he said. "And now I must ask of thee one boon more. It is the thing for which I yearn most." He paused long. "Surely," he said, "you know what I shall ask before I ask it, for you have looked upon my heart." Again she said nothing. Rularin continued. "My people seek a leader to rule over them. They have asked that I be made their king, and I have accepted this great call, for I have much love for them. I ask thee, fair maiden…wilt thou be their queen? For thou hast captured my heart completely, and I can think of none other to whom I would wish to be bound for all time and more even." Silence did reign for a long moment. And then, between one blink and the next, the maiden was gone. Rularin cried for many hours upon the leaves beneath the great tree, but finally, he stood and left, returning anon with a group of his people. A palace they did build, and soon 'round it a city emerged. Because of the Blessing of the Laumae which lay upon Rularin, the city flourished and grew. Each day, Rularin returned to the courtyard where the Maiden-Tree grew. Where'er he walked roses sprang up, and where'er his tears fell, soft green grasses appeared. Within months, a beautiful garden had grown up around the tree and, bent beneath its boughs, Rularin could be found at the beginning, middling and ending of each day. Finally, in the middling hour of the six-hundredth day, a voice called to Rularin as he wept beneath the tree. "Why do you still weep for me young king?" Rularin's eyes lifted to behold the fair form of Fentemuil, seated upon a root of the tree. He rose, joyful. "Fair maiden," said he. "I feared that you did not visit me because thou wast displeased with what I have built here." She laughed melodiously. "I am quite pleased, young king, with the use to which thou hast put my blessing, and with the honor that thou hast shown unto me in this garden besides. But this is not why thou dost weep." "Truly you speak. I weep, as always, for the loss of thee." "I hear the words of all who come here, seeking a blessing at my roots. They speak of a great king, but a king without a wife…a kingdom without an heir. Why have you not bound yourself to another?" Her head tipped to one side, and her hair spilled down, and Rularin was filled with a great longing for this maiden anew. "Because, fair maiden, I am bound only to thee. If not in deed, still in my heart have I long been bound to thee. And it would be a great injustice to bind another to me when I am already thusly bound." The Laumae then stepped down to the ground, and walked toward Rularin. Reaching him, she laid a hand upon his arm. "A Highborne Laumae has never before bound herself to a mortal man. It is not done. And yet…" "And yet, milady?" She looked up, and he saw tears in her emerald eyes to match his own. "And yet, my heart has been thine for many a long day now, ever since we did dance beneath the Heart Tree long ago." Rularin smiled. "It is called the Heart Tree then? How apt a name for such a thing. For it is where our hearts did leap upon our meeting, long before these stone walls did rise around us." She laughed again through her tears. "I must warn thee," she said. "The world of which I am a part is wild and filled with many dangers, some of which will not be pleased with such a union as this. It is a great risk which I am loathe to bring upon thine head." "And yet, I take it upon myself in gladness, and we will face each trial as it comes, standing beside one another in great strength." And with this he knelt once more, taking her by the hand. "What say you then, maiden fair. Will you be one with me, and rule over this city and many more, as queen?" She hesitated, but soon a smile did break forth upon her face. "I will, good king. And together we will make of this land something fair beautiful to behold." With a great bellow of laughter, Rularin leaped to his feet and he and his maiden fair did dance away the remainder of the day among the roses, beneath the boughs of the Heart Tree. Within the week they were wed in the selfsame garden, in a ceremony of such splendor as has never been seen. And at their union — sealed with a kiss — yet another flower did bloom in the garden, known e'er after as the Maiden's Kiss."
"Rularin The Fruitful, it is told, did spend many years taming and beautifying the forests of Malakyne. The fervency of his daily industry, and the beauty of the groves and orchards nurtured by his hand drew others to him, inspiring them in like manner to become inhabitants and stewards of the Great Forest. Under Rularin's guidance, the trees grew, the harvests were abundant and soon the village called Noltin of the Dell did grow up and flourish. One spring, as Rularin wandered further abroad, seeking new areas of the forest to tend and settle, he happened upon a beautiful maiden wreathed in hair of fiery red, green eyes flashing as she danced beneath a large and stately tree. As he neared, the maiden beckoned him to join her. He did, and soon they were laughing and spinning…and then, quite suddenly, the maiden was gone. The woods around Rularin did grow dim, though the tree remained as bright and lovely as before. As Rularin traveled from the place, he watched in surprise as both briar and encroaching vine did shrivel and fade away at his step, trees straightening in his presence. Wondering, he sought out the maiden of the tree many times again. Not until the sixth time did he find her there. She danced not, but sat upon a root of the tree. "Why do you seek me out so?" she asked as he approached. "You have already received my blessing, and yet you return again and yet again." "Is it your blessing that causes the wildness of the woods around me to fade?" She nodded. "It is as I thought," Rularin responded. "I have sought thee for many reasons, chief among them to give thee thanks for such a blessing." "This blessing," she replied "is a boon both upon thee and upon the land where e're thou treadest. By blessing you, I have blessed the forest, and knowing of thy restless wanderings, always in search of new trees to beautify, I did deem my blessing well-spent." "Truly, my lady, I shall seek to bear thy blessing well. And being thus blessed already, I am loathe to ask more of thee." She tipped her head, peering at him. "Ask of me what e're thou wilt. I know thine heart and know that thou wouldst not ask of me anything that would be base or hurtful." Rularin bowed and stepped yet closer. "I have been walking the land in search of a place to raise up a new settlement, for as my people have flourished under thy watchful care we have become many…too many for all to remain now in Noltin of the Dell. Far and wide have I wandered and no fairer place have I yet discovered than this glade and this most beautiful of trees upon which thou doth sit even now." The maiden said nothing. "I beg of thee, maiden fair," Rularin continued. "Wilt thou allow me to raise up a city here, surrounding this glade and this tree? I promise thee to protect and care for it, giving it a place of honor within. A palace will I build around it, and a city fairer far than that which I have already raised." Straightening her head, she looked deep into his eyes. "I will allow this," she finally said, her voice soft. Rularin hesitated, then knelt upon the leaf-strewn ground. "I thank thee most heartily," he said. "And now I must ask of thee one boon more. It is the thing for which I yearn most." He paused long. "Surely," he said, "you know what I shall ask before I ask it, for you have looked upon my heart." Again she said nothing. Rularin continued. "My people seek a leader to rule over them. They have asked that I be made their king, and I have accepted this great call, for I have much love for them. I ask thee, fair maiden…wilt thou be their queen? For thou hast captured my heart completely, and I can think of none other to whom I would wish to be bound for all time and more even." Silence did reign for a long moment. And then, between one blink and the next, the maiden was gone. Rularin cried for many hours upon the leaves beneath the great tree, but finally, he stood and left, returning anon with a group of his people. A palace they did build, and soon 'round it a city emerged. Because of the Blessing of the Laumae which lay upon Rularin, the city flourished and grew. Each day, Rularin returned to the courtyard where the Maiden-Tree grew. Where'er he walked roses sprang up, and where'er his tears fell, soft green grasses appeared. Within months, a beautiful garden had grown up around the tree and, bent beneath its boughs, Rularin could be found at the beginning, middling and ending of each day. Finally, in the middling hour of the six-hundredth day, a voice called to Rularin as he wept beneath the tree. "Why do you still weep for me young king?" Rularin's eyes lifted to behold the fair form of Fentemuil, seated upon a root of the tree. He rose, joyful. "Fair maiden," said he. "I feared that you did not visit me because thou wast displeased with what I have built here." She laughed melodiously. "I am quite pleased, young king, with the use to which thou hast put my blessing, and with the honor that thou hast shown unto me in this garden besides. But this is not why thou dost weep." "Truly you speak. I weep, as always, for the loss of thee." "I hear the words of all who come here, seeking a blessing at my roots. They speak of a great king, but a king without a wife…a kingdom without an heir. Why have you not bound yourself to another?" Her head tipped to one side, and her hair spilled down, and Rularin was filled with a great longing for this maiden anew. "Because, fair maiden, I am bound only to thee. If not in deed, still in my heart have I long been bound to thee. And it would be a great injustice to bind another to me when I am already thusly bound." The Laumae then stepped down to the ground, and walked toward Rularin. Reaching him, she laid a hand upon his arm. "A Highborne Laumae has never before bound herself to a mortal man. It is not done. And yet…" "And yet, milady?" She looked up, and he saw tears in her emerald eyes to match his own. "And yet, my heart has been thine for many a long day now, ever since we did dance beneath the Heart Tree long ago." Rularin smiled. "It is called the Heart Tree then? How apt a name for such a thing. For it is where our hearts did leap upon our meeting, long before these stone walls did rise around us." She laughed again through her tears. "I must warn thee," she said. "The world of which I am a part is wild and filled with many dangers, some of which will not be pleased with such a union as this. It is a great risk which I am loathe to bring upon thine head." "And yet, I take it upon myself in gladness, and we will face each trial as it comes, standing beside one another in great strength." And with this he knelt once more, taking her by the hand. "What say you then, maiden fair. Will you be one with me, and rule over this city and many more, as queen?" She hesitated, but soon a smile did break forth upon her face. "I will, good king. And together we will make of this land something fair beautiful to behold." With a great bellow of laughter, Rularin leaped to his feet and he and his maiden fair did dance away the remainder of the day among the roses, beneath the boughs of the Heart Tree. Within the week they were wed in the selfsame garden, in a ceremony of such splendor as has never been seen. And at their union — sealed with a kiss — yet another flower did bloom in the garden, known e'er after as the Maiden's Kiss."
~ Talis Tale-Weaver
Cultural Reception
The tale of Talis Tale-Weaver continues, but I shall only lightly touch on the remainder of his tale. While I am not averse to tragic endings, this one exacts a deeper cost in grief than many others. Perhaps it is because Malakyne is home to me, or perhaps it is simply due to the richness of the telling…maybe it is evidence that there is much of truth to the tale after all, and my soul-sense recognizes it and mourns such extravagant losses.
Suffice it to say, Rularin and Fentemuil spent several blissful decades deepening the peace and widening the prosperity of Malakyne. But alas, as Fentemuil foresaw, the Wyldemaugre—an idea that must be saved for discussion elsewhere—did in time follow her into the world of men, in the form of Kaliel--Arbiter of Ilumen, highest of the Laume and sibling of Fentemuil. What followed is a tragic tale of deception, infiltration and corruption, ultimately followed by a war which altered the landscape of Malakyne forever.
Kaliel, it is said, after infiltrating the court of Rularin and corrupting several highly trusted lords and ladies, called forth an army from the Depths Of Malafay, the fiery heart of the world where all departed souls eventually find their way. A great opening was rent in the earth upon the emergence of Kaliel, which quickly filled with water from the Quadstrait Sea, becoming the mighty bay that is now known simply as The Deep.
Rularin and his armies fought bravely, but their destruction would have been inevitable in the end. In order to save her people from the ravages of the Deeping Horde, Fentemuil fled with her handmaiden to the Soul-Tree of Weylan, laid herself down upon an altar comprised of braided root and branch, and called upon her handmaiden to sacrifice her in order to satisfy the Abiding Justice of Kaliel.
And there she died, her blood spilling out upon the altar. Talis tells that at this moment, while battle raged around The Deep, Kaliel suddenly withdrew, the Deeping Horde retreating back into the Depths from whence they had come. Rularin and his armies watched in confusion, and presently the king went in search of Fentemuil to seek her wisdom on the issue.
When he did not find her, he went out into the forest, scouring it until, after 6 days, he came upon the handmaiden, fingers still stained with blood, wandering woefully in the wilderness. She led Rularin to the altar, where he wept anew at the loss of Fentemuil.
In the ensuing year, the green summer leaves of the forest changed to a deep crimson, the blood of Fentemuil having been drawn up by the Soul-Tree and spread throughout all of Malakyne. It was believed that the queen's own soul had returned to the trees from whence Rularin had drawn her so long ago, to bless and protect her people and their descendants forever. Many found comfort in this belief.
Rularin, however, felt only grief each summer as the trees turned to crimson once again. His heart had well and truly broken. In the end, Rularin left his kingdom to his heirs. Rising up one morning in late spring, as the trees were just beginning to blush with the coming of crimson, he walked from the capitol to the edge of The Deep, the trees shifting to ease his passing and line his way. And he entered The Deep, diving from sight, determined to retrieve his maiden fair and bring her back again to their kingdom.
He was never seen again, though both he and Fentemuil are remembered to this day. Fentemuil is honored during the Midsummer Festival, when the emblem of her sacrifice is painted most deeply upon the trees, and her name is oft heard upon the lips of any who seek blessings or guidance.
Rularin is revered even now as the greatest of all Malakynean kings, and a tower has been erected to watch over the Deep for his return—a largely ceremonial structure now, maintained reverently by the Deepmen, and visited often by the royal families of our day.
And that is all I shall say, for my heart is now exceedingly heavy with the telling. May Fentemuil's grace rest upon you and yours until we see one another once more.
Your friend,
~ Alian Shryne
Telling / Prose
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I love your writing style, it's so interesting! I can't wait to read more about the different races you've made (or are going to make) up. I also love that these are written in the style of letters from some sort of historian, it's really cool!
Thanks so much...I appreciate the read! I know it's long...I'm a longwinded fella. I am planning on loading in a lot more as I have time. Fingers crossed! Thanks for the follow as well by the way!