Somori/Loneliness

Once upon a time, on the edges of a dark and forbidding forest, was a small village who told a strange tale of one of their prodigal sons. This tale was of a man named Luke. When he hunted, he came home with enough food to feed half the village. When he felled trees, he brought enough firewood so that no family would feel the cold. When he told tales of the evil spirits in the wooods to the children, he brought the thrill of fear to their hearts.

Late at night, with children safely tucked in bed, the men of the village would ask Luke what he feared. His reply was always the same, "I fear nothing, for there is nothing I cannot do. The spirits in the woods cannot harm me."

In his own time, Luke courted the daughter of the innkeeper. On his wedding night, the men of the village asked him, "Surely you must fear for your new wife, what if she is taken by the spirits in the woods?". Luke replied simply, "I fear nothing, for there is nothing I cannot do. The fey creatures in the woods cannot harm her."

When the spirits in the woods heard of Luke's brash claim, many fumed. What Luke said was true. He knew what all good men of the forest know, a piece of cold- forged iron keeps evil at bay. He never left his home without an iron nail hung around his neck.

One did not rage and gnash at the human's gall. Alone, he sat among his glade all hung with bones and planned.

A year to the day of his wedding, Luke looked into the eyes of his new-born son. That night, the men of the village asked him again what he feared. "I fear nothing, for there is nothing I cannot do. I hear the anger of the spirits of the woods and yet I walk there still."

In a distant glade, bones clattered against one another as a being all hung with robes stood from his thoughts.

The next day, Luke walked along his usual path into the woods. He tipped his hat in respect to the creatures of the woods. He whispered his helloes to the mice, whistled a greeting to the birds and smiled in defiance at the goblins that lined his path. "Begone foul creatures. There is nothing for you to do to me, I walk your woods protected by ancient magic."

Luke came to his favourite brook, still watched by the wretched goblins. Beady red eyes glared from pits sunk deep into barklike faces. "Begone foul creatures. I would relax here alone." None moved. "My my, you are persistent today, are you not?" The goblins began laughing and in their laughter could be heard the sound of a crying child.

A figure, cowled in deepest black, a hood across it's face stood on the opposite bank. A newborn, wrapped in white swaddling cloth lay in it's arms. It's voice came in deep booming blasts. "This is yours."

Luke knew what he must do, and he did not fear, for there is nothing he cannot do. He took the iron from around his neck and held it in his hands. "Place my son upon the ground where I may wrap this iron about his neck."

The figure seemed to smile, placing the newborn child upon the ground and stepping away. The goblins climbed over each other, every one trying to reach the top of the pile so that it could see best.

As Luke bent to wrap the iron about his sons neck, he looked upon the smiling eyes of the child. Smiling eyes that became dull and lifeless when the nail touched the cloth. One of the goblins shot forward in Luke's moment of shock and snatched away the nail, it's skin seared by it's touch and it's screams echoing among the trees.

The smell of burning bark reached Luke's nostrils and he heard a deep booming voice in his head. "This is your punishment for defying the Fey. Goodbye Luke."

More stuff will come here, but I like the ending already so nyah!

In a distant glade, bones were ground into dust. Luke has no need to fear, for there is nothing he cannot do.