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You are Byrdie, a knight living in the kingdom of the land. You have a steel sword and a wooden shield. You are on a quest to defeat the evil dragon of this land.
You've heard he lives up north of the kingdom. You set off on the path to defeat him, and walk into a dark forest. As you enter the forest you see a man approach you.
He says,"Excuse me, are you the person who has come to slay the dragon?"
"Yes," you answer. "Looks like we have both come to kill the dragon."
"And you are?" Byrdie asks. "I am named Byrdie. What is your name?"
"I am named Drix. What do you plan on doing?" Drix says.
"I am here to slay the evil dragon named Miraak."
"Byrdie, do you think you can slay the dragon?"
"Yes, of course. I am very experienced in dragon slaying and I have devastating powers."
"Byrdie, that is good. What are your powers?"
Byrdie thinks for a second...You have the power to transform into a white tiger.
"Unfortunately though, it is the year of the tiger, so my powers will not be that powerful."
Byrdie, what will you do?
You will enter the dragon's cave and attempt to slay him. You and Drix walk into the dark forest. As you enter the forest, you see a cave. Miraak's voice booms from the cave, and demands only Byrdie enter the cave, alone.
"This is not the way! Bring the princess! Now!" Miraak shouts.
Byrdie, what do you do?
You enter the cave alone. Byrdie walks inside the cave. Miraak welcomes her, and challenges her to a duel, to test each other's strength.
Miraak moves quickly and attacks. Byrdie dodges and blocks.
Byrdie, what will you do?
You attack and defend. Byrdie attacks and slashes. Miraak is quick, dodging and blocking her attacks. When he blocks her, he's impressed to feel just how strong she is. Eventually Byrdie loses, and Miraak is triumphant. He takes off Byrdie's helmet, because he wants to see her face. He sees she is an elf, and is taken aback. Seeing an opening, Byrdie uses her last resort. She transforms into a white tiger and bites Miraak's ankle. He screams in pain, and backs away from her. He's very close to death. Byrdie turns back to normal, and realizes with Miraak's reaction, that he is a normal man. She feels sorry for him. She decides to save his life, and heal his ankle. Byrdie sits down and holds his leg. His ankle is still in terrible condition. He's very weak. Miraak comes at Byrdie again, but she slashes her sword into his chest. She heals his chest and tells him he can't do that anymore if they're going to be working together now. He asks her to stay, she tells him to come with her instead. He says that he can't, he has a horse to tend to.
As soon as he has the chance, he will come back to her.
During the night, Miraak comes back to their cave. The horse's name is Clive. He watches silently from the shadows. Miraak enters the cave and finds Byrdie sleeping by the fire. There is a knock on the door, Miraak goes to answer it. It is Prince Arutha. He asks, "May I come in?"
Miraak says,"Of course." The Prince makes it clear that he is DEFINITELY not Lucien and asks why is his horse named Clive there. Miraak says,"It is the name of my horse. Why is your horse there?"
"We came to slay the dragon named Miraak." Prince Arutha says.
Miraak says, "The dragon is slain. Take your strange horse and go."
Byrdie wakes up, hearing their arguing. She says,"Please, both of you stay here. I'll go get my father. He will know what to do."
She runs out of the cave. The Prince watches her go. Miraak keeps an eye on the Prince with deadly intent as Byrdie leaves. Byrdie returns, saying she doesn't know who her father is. The Prince says, "Alright I'm done here, I'm taking my horse. Bye!" he leaves with his horse.
Miraak and Byrdie are now alone in the cave together, by the fire in silence. Miraak breaks the silence, he says,"Byrdie, I have been searching for you all over. Where were you?"
Byrdie gives a small smile and answers, "Here...."
She looks into his eyes. Miraak stares and says, "I have been searching all over, even to the Valley of Rhenn. I have been to the Elven forests. Have you been to the Elven forests?" Byrdie frowns.
"No. I am an elf, yes, but I have never been to the Elven forests." Miraak then asks, "You are not from there?"
Byrdie answers, "No, I am not from there. I was raised in the north lands, like where you are from." Miraak says, "What do you mean, 'raised'?"
Byrdie says, "I mean, I am not from this world. I am from the Forbidding." Miraak asks what she means, but before he can finish his question, Byrdie suddenly kisses him. He kisses her, but then pulls back.
He looks to the stone floor, downcast. "I should have known. I should have known you were an Elf." Miraak looks at Byrdie in disbelief.
She says, "And you didn't know?"
"No. I did not want to believe it, but...it's true," Miraak looks to the ground again.
Byrdie asks him if he still wants to duel, and he says yes. Byrdie asks him if he will come with her when she leaves the Forbidding, and he says yes. He would do anything for her. Simp. ..
Two years pass...
Seven years have passed, and Miraak is now a knight. He keeps his vow to himself and Byrdie. Byrdie is impressed with how far he has come. He is much more considerate and caring to the people and to the world around him. Byrdie has shown him how to believe in life again.
One day, they are traveling up a steep incline when they hear shouts and screams. A large group of people are in trouble. Miraak and Byrdie ride to the top of the incline.
The people there are hunters, looking for Miraak and Byrdie. They say they killed the dragon and were bringing its head to the Elves. They think they are the Elves. Miraak and Byrdie don't say anything.
They just watch. Byrdie says she doesn't know what they mean, and asks them to disperse. They won't listen, though.
Miraak moves toward his sword, and Byrdie says he should put it away and not do anything stupid. Miraak says he won't, and he draws his sword.
The people say the demon of the forest will rise again. Miraak tells them to clear off. Miraak and Byrdie leave the Elves and ride back to her home.
After a few nights, Miraak and Byrdie hear that the Elves are coming, led by Prince Arutha.
Arutha who is definitely not Lucien says, "Hey Byrdie I found your living relatives! Want to meet them?"
Byrdie nods, and she and Miraak ride off to meet the Elves.
The Elves are overjoyed to see them.
They embrace their long lost cousins. Byrdie cries tears of joy, and Miraak smiles. He's happy to see Byrdie being happy.
Arutha turns to Miraak and says,"You do not know how happy I am to see you. I feared I would have to fight you for the throne."
Miraak answers him, "The throne is my birthright. I shall take what belongs to me."
"You shall take what belongs to you? Why?" Arutha asks.
Miraak says, "It is what I was given at birth. It is mine, and no one else's."
"What is it you wanted here in our woods?"
"I wanted to see the Elves and their lands. Now, I shall."
Byrdie remarks that she's happy that Miraak is doing this, and alongside her as well.
"Are you happy to have him back with you?" Arutha asks.
"Yes, of course I am. Elves live for hundreds of years. I have missed him."
Miraak turns to them, "I will live as long as I must. I must remain here to take care of Byrdie."
Arutha smiles. "I like hearing that. Come, let us go inside."
"Will you come with us?" Byrdie asks Miraak, with hope. Miraak looks at her.
"Yes. Of course."
In the Elven house, the Elven Hunters prepare a feast. It is good, and they are all full.
The next day, the Elves ride out to meet the Forbidding. Miraak warns them to not speak to the forest demon, he says nothing good can come of it, but the elves answer with assurance that there's no reason to worry. They will be back in two days.
They leave, and Byrdie asks Miraak, "What will you do if they don't come back?"
"I will search for them if they do not return in one day," he states.
Arutha returns the next day, and he is exhausted. He has been riding all night long. When he sees the Elves, he cries, "Why did you not wait for me!"
Miraak heals Arutha and asks what happened. Arutha says nothing for a while, and then he says, "The forest demon appeared and tried to make a deal with us. We refused, and he tried to kill us."
"How did you survive?" Miraak asks.
Arutha says, "I did not. The Elfstones protected me, and the Elven Hunters helped as well."
Byrdie finally speaks, "We must put an end to the forest demon once and for all."
"Yes," says Miraak.
"I am ready to begin the journey," says Arutha.
Miraak calls for his companions. Sahrotaar, Relonikiv and Kruzikrel appear. They join him in going into the Forbidding. They travel three miles into the Forbidding when they hear a scream from an Elven Hunter. Miraak's companions leave. Byrdie runs up and finds the Elven Hunter was just killed by the forest demon. They keep going and find another body with the same fate. They are all too exhausted to go on, but they must.
They reach the entrance of the Forbidding and see the demon waiting for them.
Byrdie and Miraak fight the demon together. Arutha stands by and watches. The demons are strong, but the Elves are much stronger.
The demon soon lies dead on the ground. Its head is left on a spike.
Byrdie asks, "Why didn't we just do that before?"
Miraak answers her, "We did not have the Elfstones. They gave their power to me, and with their power I will give you my strength. So long as you have me, you have power."
Byrdie blinks at him. "Did you just propose to me?"
"Yes," Miraak replies.
Miraak gives her the Elfstones; he puts them on her. Their power adds to her own, and she becomes strong enough to drive away the remaining Elfstones. With the power of the Elfstones, the Elfstones have been defeated. Byrdie turns to Miraak.
"When is our wedding?"
"When the moon is full," he says.
They leave the Forbidding and go back to Arborlon. They are married and live happily ever after. They have many children and rule over all life in all of the land for as long as they can. There is hardship. but also peace.
END