A short little dribble about the mysterious Witch of Gray. She lives deep in the ruins of Ur-Sagol, and many rumors surround her. Some say she's of another world, others say she is the only surviving Sagolian in existence and so had seen the Guardians, more then a few rumors joke that she's 'older then the Guardians themselves'. All that's known is that she is very powerful, very hideous, asks for odd things in return for her services, and may know even more then she lets on.
~
Jennifer, Ashten, and Melodi had completed a very long and perilious trek from Negav all the way to Ur-Sagol. Melodi, the tiny child, had been safely held in the small backpack that Ashten carried, was sleeping as Jennifer climbed over another large and worn down pedestal which had long ago sunken into the ground. He reached up and helped her down.
"You think she's really here?" Jennifer asked, before checking on the sleeping toddler in the backpack. "That neko seemed very suspicious if you ask me. More suspicious then those other flea-carriers."
"I know, I know. But it's our best bet." Ashten sighed. "If we want this curse lifted, then we have to visit her." He kept walking, the thin weeds snagging on his threadbare pants. Months ago, a socerer was angry over Ashten accidentally killing his butterfly, and so laid a curse upon Melodi; she would be asleep forever with no hope for ever waking up. The parents had been to every healer and mage in Negav, but to no avail. Then Ashten met a strange person in a tavern, it was no human but an unusually big neko who lacked a tail. The Neko spoke of a woman deep in Ur-Sagol who knew all sorts of magic who in fact, might have been older then many spells used nowadays, however, she did not look like a normal human woman. When Ashten tried to ask of more information, the neko simply chuckled and finished his vodka.
"What if this is a trap?" Jennifer couldn't help but be worried. On her way here she was almost eaten by a Giant Naga! It wasn't the scary blond one either, but a male. She was lucky that it decided she was unappetizing.
"Well, we have out legs." Ashten reasoned, more concerned with waking the child up. "This way!" He pointed to a large hut that had been constructed from a fallen wall, sticks, stones, and duiker skins. A head popped out from the small opening in it, and slowly a girl crawled out to meet them. Jennifer and Ashten raced over to meet her, panting and gasping for breath when they finally came upon her.
"Hello, may I help you?" The girl asked pleasantly, holding onto her robed body. There was a certain glassy eyed look to her, and the two parents could tell there was just something innately wrong about her.
"We're looking for the Witch of Gray." Jennifer stated. "Are you her?"
The girl giggled, patting Jennifer on the head. "No, silly! I'm not Grandma, but, I can take you to her." She went back into the hut, before poking her head back out and looking at the two. "Come on! Follow me!"
Taking a deep breath, Jennifer and Ashten went into the hut... and found it was merely the 'top' of a large staircase. The girl was skipping down the steps, humming a little ditty. She eventually, after what seemed like forever, led the two into a large room which was crammed with books, candles, potions, scrolls, chests, cases, a few matted rugs, and a couple old moth eaten beds which stood upon a dank stone floor. "Grandma! People to see you!" The girl called.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound of metal tapping against rock echoed through the strange abode. A candlelight flickered, making shadows dance upon the tomes and walls. Jennifer and Ashten could feel their hearts jump into their throats as a cane suddenly came into view. Upon that cane was a pale gray, gnarled, grisly looking tree branch which connected underneath a shambling mass of dark fabric. "Yes?" A croak asked.
"O-our daughter... a sorcerer laid a curse upon her..." Jennifer said, feeling tears welling up into her eyes as she thought of that awful day.
"Let me see her." Ashten took off the backpack and pulled the sleeping child out, nervously handing her to the unusual girl who took her to the heap of fabric. "A sorcerer did this?" The collection inquired.
"Y-yes, can you awaken her?" Ashten nodded, shivering. "We went to all of the healers and mages in Nega-"
"Bah! They know so little, and yet they flaunt their measly powers and say themselves better!" The heap pulled some of the fabric back, and Jennifer nearly fainted, Ashten was shocked. Underneath was a pale gray face, haggard and wizened like an ancient tree. The flesh was splotched and sagged, the hair wispy and light gray, her mouth was full of crooked yellow teeth and gray gums. That was no tree branch, it was her hand and arm! "Ah, surprised to see 'Age', are you?" The woman chuckled, her eyes full of humor. "It occurs on many other worlds, my dears, to many species, as I have found through my travels."
"A-are you of Felarya?" Ashten asked nervously, watching the woman check over his daughter.
"Hehe, why, yes. Yes I am." She answered, still in good humor. Her face became even more lined as she frowned down at the child. "This idiot again."
"You can lift the curse?" Jennifer felt hope spark within her.
"Lift it? Lift it!? This is as easy as turning a page!" The Witch of Gray laughed hoarsely. "This sorcerer was probably fairly well learned to know this spell, but I am by far older then it! Bwuahaha!" She shook her head, looking at the parents. "I will lift the curse, but, with a price."
"A price?" Ashten and Jennifer asked in union.
"Yes, a price. Her dawn, for your-" she pointed at Jennifer, "-taste."
Jennifer nodded, biting her lip. "Anything!"
"Very well then." Drawling up her sleeves, the Witch of Gray's eyes glowed. The glow spread to her flesh, which became firmer and creamier in color, and then the glow surrounded her, illuminating a shapely young body hidden underneath robes and a cloak. She pressed her finger against Melodi's head, and pointed another finger at Jennifer. The glow enveloped both of them too. There was a cascade of gray light, and suddenly the crone had returned, shaking the little child. "Wake up, little Melodi." She said.
"Mmm." Melodi's eyelids fluttered, and finally after months of praying, she had awakened. "Oh, hi!" She said cheerfully to the old woman, before skipping to her parents.
"Th-thank you." Ashten said, bewildered as he picked the child up. "Thank you so much, Witch!"
"Thank you!" Jennifer kissed her daughter's forehead, before looking back at the old lady. "B-but, how did you become... that?" She gestured to Witch's body.
The Witch of Gray shook her head, grabbing up her cane and beginning to hobble away. She looked at Jennifer through one of her eyes and sighed. "Some knowledge... comes at a price." She continued to move away, not looking back at the family.
Jennifer realized something as they walked out of the stange hut... her eyes held a mother's pain.
~~~
Yes, when using her magic, the Witch of Gray looks youthful (and attractive!) Why can't she make herself look like that all the time? Because it's part of the price. Oh yes, the taste thing? She's just got a couple loose screws, nothing to worry about.
Just your regular granny who looks like a hag on a world where everyone looks young.
Subject: The Witch of Gray 
Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:05 pm
