The Lovers' War

Back when the people of the Land were still young and naive to the ways of the world and the many passions of the Gods, there was a man who felt betrayed by his countrymen. He knew that this was not likely, for the people of Volan were among the kindest and gentlest under the Creator's sun, yet he knew of no other way to explain his hardships. While many have forgotten the reasons he felt betrayed thinking them lost in the mists of time where only the Ender can perceive them, all remember the results of those feelings for they are etched into the very heart of the Land, especially the Heart of the Plains of Volan.

In these days it was far more common for the Gods to dally amongst men. You have heard many stories of the Children of Geskekulud and their works, even tails of the Warrior Sons of Shagras who attempted to split the Land, but in this time, on the plains of Volan, there was born to the King of Volan the most beautiful child ever to walk among the poppies of the Plains, so beautiful that on the day of her birth every male infant in the kingdom was silent with awe. Her name was Nirella, and she was a true daughter of Nirian.

For years the people of Volan rejoiced with their fortune. Wherever Nirella walked, the crops grew more strongly, the sun shown a little more brightly and always were the boys on their best behavior. It came to pass that as Nirella grew, suitors in vast numbers would scour the Land looking for that one treasure, the one flower or turn of phrase that might win Nirella heart. One of these suitors was a poet, Garth. From the first moment he laid eyes upon the daughter of Beauty, he knew that he would not rest until he had won her. He wrote a sonnet of love and beauty so finely crafted, so pure of intent, that no woman could hear it and remain unmoved.

He showed the work to none but his sister, that she might give him a woman's perspective, and indeed she vowed that had the not been siblings she would've been moved to marriage at that very moment. Hearing this, he set off to the capital to win his bride.

Unfortunately for Garth it is in the nature of Summer people, and especially those of Volan to share their joy with neighbors, friends and even strangers who pass by. Garth's sister, knowing that Nirella would soon have a husband shared her news with all in the small town of their birth, telling them the smallest details of the Garth's sonnet of love. News of such proportion could not but spread and soon the country side was ablaze with the news. All knew the import of that day. All that is, except Garth.

The other thing that Garth did not know was that Nirella, years sitting among suitors, had already lost her heart to one of their number. She was secretly betrothed to Tomas, a handsome and kind, but in other ways unremarkable Summerman. They decided to keep their love secret until Tomas could find away to distinguish himself at the court and she could proclaim her love for him above all others.

It came to pass that Garth's sonnet arrived at the capital before Garth himself, for there is nothing so swift as a rumor moving through the country side. When Tomas heard it, he knew that his chance had come. He went before the court and recited Garth's sonnet of love to Nirella. He claimed that the great poet Garth, for many knew of him even then, had sent this work across the land that Nirella might hear it, but only one who loved her like Tomas could deliver it with such feeling. When Tomas finished the recitation, not a face in the great hall of Volan was without tears. It was then that Garth entered the hall, and it was then that the King of Volan announced Nirella's betrothal to Tomas.

When recognized, Garth himself was heralded as a hero, but like a true artist he shied away from the intention muttering that he was glad his work was of value. But unlike a true summer person Garth fled the hall bitter and betrayed. Betrayed by his sister, betrayed by his King, betrayed even by the entire countryside of Volan who carried his words to Tomas. He fled Volan, and sought refuge in many nations but wherever he went he dreams were haunted by the beauty of Nirella and that fateful day in the Great Hall of Volan.

As the days went on, he became more and more bitter. Wishing to strike out at the people of Volan but knowing that they were the favored of Nirian and would be closely watched over, especially while Nirella lived. It was at this realization that he had his vision. The Mistress of Vengeance came to him as he called out to her in the night and a terrible deal was struck. It is not known what Garth offered Her, but that very night he returned to Volan where, as he had been promised, he would cast a terrible vengeance upon those who had betrayed him to his sorrow.

He entered the castle and secretly approached Tomas. He told Tomas that the had uncovered a plot to kill Nirella. A plot by jealous suitor who would rather see her die than marry another. No one could be trusted, for he did not know how far this plot had spread, but at least he knew Tomas as Nirella's betrothed, was not a part of it. Tomas, reacting like a natural summer person did not believe it at first, but Garth was a master of words and Tomas's greatest benefactor, so he eventually came to believe. He told Tomas to wait in Nirella's quarters on her own bed with no light in the room. Garth would call Nirella away and allow Tomas to wait in secret for the one who would harm his Love.

Garth then went to Nirella, and was warmly greeted for the service his sonnet had rendered. Her beauty and kindness almost caused him to lose his resolve, but then she mentioned Tomas, and he realized that what he had told the Prince to be was true after all. If he could not have her, than no man would. He told her that he carried a message from Tomas. He has something very important to tell her. Something he could not trust to a messenger, but something she must know before the wedding on the morrow. But as it was custom in Volan for a bride and groom to not see each other during the days before their wedding, that their join at reunion would be all the greater, she would have to come to him in secret. He told her to dress all in black, hide her face, and sneak quietly even into her own room lest she be seen or heard by a passing servant. There she should silently approach her bed and wait for Garth to bring Tomas to her. She wished to be done with this advice and rush to see Tomas immediately regardless of custom, but Garth was a master of words and soon she became convinced.

And so it was that Nirella, daughter of Nirian, quietly went to her own chambers dressed only in black, making no sound to be heard, only to be stabbed through the heart by her beloved Tomas on her own bed. Garth fled Volan knowing that the sadness of this day would more than repay what he was owed. He did not know however, that the Mistress of War had other plans...

Tomas was so consumed with grief when he realized what he had done, that he was unable to move or speak. Taken by the guards to the King and questioned before the court, so strong was his sorrow that he could neither see nor hear what they said to him and replied with nothing. But he was not the only one so stricken. On Her Throne, the eyes of Nirian herself filled with tears that clouded Her view of the Land. It is said that all true priests of Nirian were blind that day and for a weeks thereafter.

It was then that the Red Lady fulfilled the unknown part of her bargain. Throughout the Plains of Volan she stirred the passions of the people. As they women of Volan heard what had occurred in the castle, what had been done to one of their number by her beloved, Shagras filled them with such rage and fear that wives struck out against their husbands, sisters against their brothers, and most especially, young women against their betrothed. Nirian, her eyes clouded with tears, saw nothing.

So began the Lovers' War. It was not the bloodiest war in the Land, nor was it the longest, but it is likely to have caused more pain than any other war in history, for as each woman killed the man she loved, or each man struck down his wife while being attacked, Shagras withdrew her influence for a time and allowed them to feel the full depths of sorrow before strengthening their resolve to kill again.

Old people unable to fight, and priests unable to see were ignored by Shagras. They called out to their Goddess that she might deliver them from the madness that was destroying their world. Nirian, her ears clouded by grief, heard nothing.

For weeks the battle lasted, until, Eyran, a simple priest of Nirian from a simple town, staggered of to the west guided by to warmth of the setting sun in search of the Ivory Throne. It is said that for six days he traveled blindly into the west never stopping to rest. And it is also said that when he arrived at the Throne, he begged for six days for the Mother to open her eyes and look towards her children. He gave all he had in offering, and in in the end, on the sixth day, it was deemed enough.

Those who remembered the war have said that Nirian herself stepped onto the plains of Volan and with a wave of her hand caused a wind that blew their dust over the entire nation. On that day, no Summer Man of Woman was immune to the effect of the dust, and before nightfall, all the people of Volan were asleep.

When they awoke, they were free of all influence, and left only to grieve for their lost loves. Such a wailing rose up from the Plains that their sorrow could be heard in the farthest reaches of the Land. Nirian was so moved by the grief of her people that she told Eyran (who could now see, as could all the priests) go to the Heart of Volan and dive in its waters. It is not known whether Eyran emerged from the depths but from that day forward the waters of the Heart of Volan have been able to ease a broken heart. The citizens of Volan drank deeply of those waters, and it is even said that Nirian Herself went to have a small drink for her lost Nirella.

And thus the people of Volan began their long journey back from despair. It was many years later that Garth returned to Volan and saw what his jealousy had wrought. Standing in the middle of the Great Plain he cried until he had no more tears, but would not drink from the waters of the Heart. He carried the fullness of his sorrow for the rest of his days and vowed that he would make amends even until his death at the hands of the Tzalin King, but that is another story...