Fiction Writing Prompt #1

 Prompt: A mages friend is quickly dying under strange, almost cursed, circumstances. The mage (Somara) is hurtling every healing spell she possible can at him. The final time she tries she's no longer forcing all her good emotions into the words, but pouring out her doubt and fear: and it makes all the difference. Will Rowan survive? Will Somara be the one to save him?

     I felt my breath quicken, my heart was pounding, I looked into his eyes; “ No- no no no you can't do this, stay with me.” The woods around us, which was once a safe haven of calm, now seemed too quiet. It felt like something else was here. I felt Rowan’s pulse . . .  nothing. I had been trying for what seemed like hours, the healing didn't seem to have any affect on his condition. His life force was slipping away, I felt helpless. I pictured Rowan’s lively smile and piercing green eyes, the eyes I stared into now that seem so empty and void. I heard the sound of his laugh- br\ight and clear- I couldn't lose him. I could feel the air still; the specter of death was close- I needed to save him. I tried again, this time pouring all of my power into the words filling them with honey like sweetness and all the hope left in my body. “Diablarie Lania” There was a bright light and  . . . seemingly nothing his condition was the same and the eerie feeling from earlier hung over me threateningly.

    I felt helpless, there was nothing I could do. I could feel the blood rushing to my face and my eyes well up; I clenched my fists- I wouldn't cry, not right now, I needed to be strong. I looked away from him, I couldn't bear to look at his face. I was failing him.

     Then something I hadn't noticed before; the healing spells may not have worked on Rowan but it had encouraged growth and healing around him, wildflowers and herbs had sprouted in a circle around him. It would have been beautiful but something about the whole situation just made it so . . .  mocking. The way the flowers swayed, teeming with new life and growth while the air was still. I laughed bitterly at the irony. Here he was surrounded by new life but void of his own. 

    Something inside me snapped, I couldn't do this. I was powerless and he was going to die while I stood here and did nothing. Hate coursed through my veins, I hated I couldn't do anything, nothing was working and it was my fault I should’ve tried harder, maybe if I had he would be alive and laughing. Gritting my teeth I forced all of my remaining power into words.

    All of my emotions surged through me, hate, love, doubt, hope. I cried out, “Diablarie Lania”!  I felt myself being drained of power, collapsing on the ground without even the strength to stand. I looked up toward the heavens and watched the calm clouds pass by, and felt the earth beneath me. Out of the corner of my vision I see tall, almost impossibly so, thorns bushes. Growing at an incredible speed reaching towards the clouds. The thorns were creating a cage around him, encasing his corpse. This was it, it was over he was really dead. I lay there silent how could I let this happen, we had been through so much together and now Rowan was just . . .  gone. I felt hollow, no longer angry or sorrowful, nothing.

    I hear a sharp intake of breath cut through the air.

“Somara?”

Short Story By: Ellie Klubertanz