Darkness enthroned

Chapter one

                               1


There sat a faded old man, he didn’t look to be at all dangerous nor did he seem particularly welcoming to guests around his small fire, perhaps that was due to him scowling off into the pallid darkness of the woods around him. It was odd but it was almost as if the old man was looking for something, not that he could see very well anymore especially at this time of evening, yet still he scowled. There was however two other people that were a lot more accustomed to the dim light of the sky and the woods for that matter, they had spotted the old man and were currently watching him and debating as to whether their presence at his fire would cause trouble.
“look Belle I understand your apprehension but he is just an old man and we are” he looked at her with a smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth “oh shush Gren you always think you’re amazing, this old fellow well he could be anyone, we don’t know anything about him" Gren having paid almost no attention to her warning decided the best course of action was to simply invite himself to enjoy the fire and not so much the company. Raising an eyebrow towards Belle he whispered “you worry all you want here behind the tree, I’m going to introduce myself and enjoy some warmth, you can watch from here and I’ll signal for you to come over if it’s safe”. This basically put a stop to any further conversation, though that’s more likely because he started too slowly walk out from the tree and towards the fire.
The old gentleman had become absolutely aware of someone else’s presence by now, however he didn’t comment on that fact at all. As Gren walked closer and closer the old man scowled and scowled as if he had some good reason to dislike the strapping young lad inviting himself to the fireside. “Good evening old traveller, do you mind if if join you?” Gren asked, but at the same time was sitting himself down close to the fire. Gren immediately felt unusually out of place, he was of course still being scowled at, worst of all the old guy still hadn’t said a single thing. “Look here you doddering old fool I have just very politely invited myself to sit by your fire and provide you with what I believe is some much needed and long desired company” exclaimed Gren. Further scowls followed this, Gren abruptly stood up with his hand hovering over his sword hilt, Belle still peering around the tree knew that some trouble was about to begin, Gren she knew for some strange reason liked to teach people their proper manners despite struggling to understand them himself. She was readying herself to run over and save this ancient human from what would be a humiliating experience.
“Sit” came a gruff voice sounding like the earth itself. Gren didn’t quite know what to do, clearly the scowling man hadn’t said it because his mouth hadn’t moved at all short of continuing to scowl. Just to make sure Gren grabbed hold of his sword and immediately knew that he was still amazing. “sit” came the voice again as if the wind was whistling it at him this time, he was definitely struggling to understand the situation now was poor Gren, he felt his knees start to bend of no choice of his own of course and found himself sat quite comfortably and neatly upon a little log stool that fit him perfectly. Entirely confused Gren looked to the stooping figure and unfortunately noticed it was no longer scowling but was now grinning ever so slightly at him and staring right into his eyes. Gren went to speak but the old man beat him to it “A very fine evening to you yourself young man, pull up a stool and please warn your cold little toesies against my fire, you’re welcome to stay, I do however require but one condition to be met" the grin spread on his wrinkled face. He seriously was giving Gren the creeps by now, attempting to speak Gren mumbled in fear “what you want with me", “now now dear fellow, such a strong boy as you out in the woods shouldn't need to be afraid” replied the man.
This had of course angered Gren, who once again stood yo his full towering height struck a pose with one hand on his sword hilt and the other on his chest, thankfully for Gren doing this always made him feel better because he knew that he looked as amazing as he felt doing it. “pfftha" snorted the old man and Gren immediately sat back down on his log. “if you’ve had quite enough fun there young fellow I would provide to you my condition” “Ok” was all that Gren could manage. “ahh marvellous, well my only condition for you to sit by my fire is that you provide another person to join us” Gren was bewildered by this request “where am I suppose to find someone out in the middle of the woods at night time" stammered Gren almost defiantly but failing at it. “ tut tut” mused the old man “if you would allow your young lady friend stood behind the tree to join us then three we would be, and doesn’t that just sound fantastic" chortled the man.
Belle of course had been found out, thought neither her or Gren would ever figure out how exactly this old man managed it, he barely looked as though he could see ten feet in front of himself. She of course made her appearance and walked over to the fire. “sit" came that odd almost sweet voice and Belle was also bending her knees to sit though she didn’t remember asking her legs to do so, she felt herself touch upon an immensely comfy chair that absolutely wasn’t here before. She looked at the old man, who was one course looking back and smiling at her. “Well here we are three happy and cheery around your fire, what exactly should we be calling our most gracious of hosts?" she said to him as if firing the words from a bow. “Hmm a good question my dear, you should call me the keeper if you wish" “the keeper of what exactly” Gren questioned. “quite simply I am the keeper of stories and memories, I saw you both amongst the trees and thought to myself that perhaps you would like to sit by my fire and enjoy a story, however you seemed to want to hug some of the trees first before making your way over”.
Belle staring at the keeper as he is known had one last question for him “what story exactly is it that you would share with strangers at night in the woods"
“I’m glad you asked for it is most certainly a very important story" announced the old man almost proudly

“The greatest fear of the world as a whole was made true many many years ago, when darkness itself took over, given absolute power to do as it willed and desired. The time that shadow itself sat down upon the throne and plunged the whole world into doom”.