The Keep

I have lived hundreds of years. Did I sell my soul? No. Am I an all powerful creature who is immortal? Not in the slightest. My name is Moon and this is my story.

In the year 1249 I lived on a island with my parents who were farmers. The center of the island there was a keep that held a royal army. Our farm was situated above the keep on the side of a small mountain that overlooked the keep and the waters beyond. When I was a child I would visit the keep with my parents to sell our harvest and the guards were the kindest men ever. They would give me treats and trinkets. They did that for most of the children and younger adults on the island even though they were there to guard the main land from pirates and invaders. 

One evening we had sat down to dinner outside our modest cabin and I said to my father, "Dad do you see the light in the water?"

My father looked towards the sea and jumped up saying, "Moon hurry to the Keep. Tell the guards there are ships in the distance."

Both of parents hugged me and said, "Hurry."

I asked, "Are you not coming?"

My Mother put a cloak around me and said, "We will be behind you shortly."

Running as fast as I could I cut through the woods swiftly and scared the men training outside the keep below our mountain. When I came out of the woods the commander caught me and said, "Moon what is wrong does your parents need help?"

Catching my breathe I choaked out, "Commander Amari there is ships on the horizon. They are running with no lanterns but we saw the light reflect off of them from the top of the mountain."

He gripped my shoulders and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said. "I saw it with my own eyes and pointed it out to Papa."

He lifted me up and yelled, "Sound the alarms. Open the gates so the people can come to safety."

Running with me in his arms to the keep he handed me off to the Admirals Wife and said, "Gather the families incase we need to evacuate."

Turning to the entrance I said, "I need to get my parents."

She grabbed my hand and said, "Moon your parents will hear the bells and will be here soon enough. Let's gather the children in case we have to leave. Moon if your parents sent you here first they want you to remain safe."

Nodding I said, "Of course Maam."

We gathered the families and the children of the village. Commander Amari came in and said, "Maam we have orders. Get the elderly, woman and children to the boats through the tunnels. We are evacuating."

"My parents," I said.

He gripped my shoulders and said, "You can wait till the last boat Moon but if they do not come they sent you to me for safety and you will be on the boat with me do you hear me."

I nodded as he handed me a dagger and said, "Just in case anything happens to me it will guarantee you a home with my family."

As we loaded the boats with people to leave we heard fighting coming from the keep. We hurried and soon there was one boat left with the Admirals wife and I waiting. A handful of soldiers came in and one yelled, "The Admiral and Captain said to bring it outside the cove they will meet us." 

Looking at the dock I saw a young girl hiding behind a crate. I said, "Go I will grab her and jump on at the end of the cove."

Picking her up I ran and I heard people running into the cove. I tossed her to the admirals wife and went to jump on when there was a slew of arrows coming towards me. I ducked behind a boulder and she yelled, "Moon."

"Do not hold the boat I will get out and swim if I have to," I yelled. "Sticking to the wall I went through the small passage that lead to the beach. I came up behind a man who had a arrow pointed at the Admiral and Captain who were alone on the beach. 

He said, "All who are here are cursed with a lifetime of immortality until you kill the serpent."

I felt a shock of electricity run through me as I took my knife and brought it down on the mans neck to stop him from hurting the Admiral and Captain. HE fell to his knees and with his last breath he said, "No you foolish child."

Captain Amari grabbed me and said, "Moon come lets go."

He pulled me into the water and we swam to the boat waiting a bot offshore. Looking to the top of the hill I saw my parents cabin on fire. Falling to my knees I cried. The Admirals wife held me and said, "Come Moon we will avenge them."

We watched as fires were lit all over the island. As we went to the main land we were met by ships of the imperial army. The Captain asked me, "Did you feel the shock when he cursed us?"

"I did," I said. "Were the people on the ship safe from it?"

"No," He said. "All thirteen of us including the young child felt the curse."

"What now?" I asked.

"The Admiral will figure it out," He said. "Your bravery saved hundred of people Moon. Your sixteen correct?"

"Yes," I said looking at the island. "Why?"

"I have no wife," He said. "I ask that you wed me. Our ages are close enough that people will not judge us as I am just twenty. We will be friends until you decide if you want something more. Or if you want something more. I offer you protection and status. If we are immortal we will be companions till we figure out what we can do. You will be safe with me."

Nodding I said, "On one condition."

Chuckling he asked, "What is that?"

"We are equals," I said. "No your my wife do as I say."

"Moon you saved my life," He said. "I would be afraid to give you orders."

Admiral and his wife joined us at the bow of the ship and he asked, "Is it settled."

Captain said, "Yes sir, we will be wed."

Looking at the Admiral I asked, "What about the child I saved. What will become of her in our situation."

He smiled and said, "Theala and I could never had children. We will raise her and keep her as our own. Her father was a fisherman and she saw her parents slain as the call to the keep happened. Cania is old enough to pass as a young woman and we will guide her in life. A few men on the boat said once she gets older they would wed her and offer her protection. But she has a long time before that happens. But as we have told the men do not say anything to anyone about the curse. I am coming up with a plan now so people will not guess what happened to us."

When we docked Amari took my hand and led me to the registers office. With the Admiral, his wife and daughter as witnesses we wed. When we left the office the Admiral said, "We have arranged a small family quarters for you both. Amari we have to meet with the military. Moon I would like to say you need to go with Theala but you were the one who saved us so we need you to come with us and then we will have you taken to your quarters."

Amari sighed and said, "Sir Moon has been through a lot. Losing her parents and them marrying me can her questioning wait till tomorrow?"

Admiral said, "Amari I wish it could, we will be there to assist her. Come lets not keep them waiting. Theala I will join you both shortly."

Theala patted my arm and took Cania's hand saying, "Come my sweet let us go to the market so we can make a nice meal."

As they walked away I asked, "Could there be a chance there are survivors on the island?"

As we headed to the main offices Admiral said, "I hope they are hidden well then as the men who invaded were killing the innocent that we were trying to get to the boats."

Main- Moon

Commander Amari

Admirals wife Theala- Cania adopted daughter