The Quest of Ceridwen

Ceridwen woke up in the dawnlight and gazed around her wondering where she was. She sat up and looked down at herself not recognising her clothing, then realised nothing was right.
Where was she and why was she here, wherever here was?
Nothing was as it should be. Where was her home? It was then she realised , she couldn't remember where that was or who she was. Then as the realisation sank in she felt truly frightened. What was she to do?
She looked about and spied a town nearby, at least she assumed it must be a town, so she started walking towards it.
Upon reaching the gate in the walls she saw a soldier and asked if she could enter. This was granted. Further on she saw some people and asked where she could stay. They were very helpful and gave her directions. Here she found a person who helped her find a home and explained where she was and also the town's name. This was the Lord Arogandor. A very pleasant and helpful man. He helped her settle in and provided her first meal and where to find work.
She settled in happily and knew that although she remembered nothing of her past life, here she could make a new one.
She went to a tavern and met some local, friendly people, one of whom she became friends with and who had said he was willing to help her recover her memory in whatever way he could. So, in the meantime she would concentrate on her new life and see what the future held for her.
She found that she was settling down in this new town and had already met several of the local people, but one night whilst she was enjoying an evening with a couple of them she had a strange thing happen.
One person was recounting how they had come to this new town, During his telling of the tale she found her sudden fogginess in her mind and pains starting in her head. She tried to see behind the fogginess but the pain got worse, then someone spoke to her but she didn't hear them. The world went suddenly black. She slowly came back to herself and found she was laying on the floor and tears were falling down her face. Her head was very painful. Then people in the tavern were very kind and one offered to escort her when she told them she needed to go home. This offer she accepted and went home.
She tried to think about what had happened but it was hurting her head so she went off to her bed to sleep, hoping the morning would bring some enlightenment.

She awoke the next day feeling fine, no headache. For which she was very grateful. She arose and found the sun shining which lifted her spirits. After having dressed and eaten her breakfast she set off for work. At the end of the day she decided to visit the tavern where she had met several local citizens who had been very friendly.
She was still a little puzzled at what had happened the day previous and wondered what had caused it, but however, she decided not to worry about it now. She entered the tavern and found one or two locals there and soon others came in . As all were very friendly it reinforced her thought that she would enoy living in this town. Then the young man who had helped her home last night when she was not feeling good, came in. She greeted him "Hello DiLasso". He smiled and returned her greeting "Hello, my lady. How are you feeling today?"
She told him she was fine and they then got talking as young people do. He offered to help her to regain her memory if it was possible. She thanked him and wondered if this would be a possibility. There were really many things she would like to know. Who were her family? Why had she suddenly awakened outside this town? Where did she come from? Those being the most important ones, but there were many others obviously. Oh! How she wished she could remember. If DiLasso was willing to help she definitely would accept his help.
For the moment though, she wished to get to know him and he was willing to be a friend. What more could she ask for than that?

Having heard she had now secured the post of Ranch Warden just that morning, Ceridwen hurried off the her new job. To begin with she occupied herself looking about and ensuring the animals in production were doing well, then realised that more animals were going to be needed, so she set to and dealt with this. Forgetting to take a break she continued reading through all the paperwork pertaining to her post and was so carried away it was not till it grew slightly into dusk that she realised the time. Gathering the papers together and putting them away she tidied up then set off for home.
Suddenly remembering something she rushed back,tripped and fell, banging her head as she did so.When she returned to her senses, not only was her head aching from the bump she received in falling but she could see in her mind vague mountains, many of them. She saw an ocean and fields. The scene was slightly hazy but even though it was very painful to continue to see this scene through the fog she realised she knew this place. But from where? Trying to force her mind to bring a memory of how she knew this place was so painful everything went dark for a moment and her head was pounding. She had to let it go.
She sat on the ground for a moment trying to recover enough strength to go home. Eventually, she was able to get up and went home and lay on her bed for a while till she felt a little better. Then she got something to eat and to quench her thirst. She sat in her chair and thought of what had happened, was she going to be lucky enough to regain her full memory of her past? If she had to hit her head every time to recieve some of it, it was going to be a very painful process. But however it was going to happen the future now looked better.

The following evening Ceridwen decided to call into the tavern. As the evening wore on many came in that she had not met before. She found them all to be such nice folk and was glad that if she had to be somewhere without her memory, then this friendly town would be her choice. One young lady she met was really nice and was now a new friend.
"How could I be so lucky to end up here?" she wondered. "I surely had a good spirit hovering over me that day," and smiled at the thought.
Much later in the evening when all had gone, she again met the young man DiLasso. She stayed to talk to him and whilst they were in conversation, she thought of doing some painting. "Wait a moment.! Where did that thought come from? How do I know I can paint?" she wondered. "Was this a real memory?
DiLasso had looked at her in concern and asked if she was alright, as she had apparrently gone white. Ceridwen looked at him with slightly unfocused eyes, then gathering her senses she told him what had occurred. He looked very pleased at the return of a tiny bit of memory. "I will try to get you some paints if it's possible," he told her.
Her face lit up in a bright smile and she thanked him. She told him she could make them but it would take time, then stopped and looked at him wide-eyed. "Oh! How do I know I can do that? It must be some more memory. I really hope so. It would be so good to remember who I am and who my family is", she said, feeling hopeful that this was indeed the thing that was happening to her.
DiLasso turned to her and asked her if she would like to go out of town one day to take a walk. Ceridwen thought of the outside that she had only seen in a haze when she had awoken and found her memory gone. "Oh! I would really like that", she told him. "I will show you many of the places I found on my little forays outside the town. I am sure you would like them and maybe wish to paint some," he told her.
She hoped this would be a beginning to the return of her memory. She certainly would like to go out and see places and hopefully do some painting.
As she was now getting tired she told him she would now leave and see him maybe tomorrow. He offered to escort her home for which she accepted gratefully.

Finally after much trial and error, she had got it right. It had taken quite a while to find the right plants, mosses and roots to make her paints and now she had them correct. How she knew this, she didn't know but the sense of urgency to do so was very strong. She had given in to it and had found the reeds she knew she could use to make her papyrus.
She sat back on her heels with a deep sigh of contentment.Now she could do her painting when she needed to. Gathering up her equipment she placed it in the bag she had made for it, then made her way home.
That was something else she wanted to do. She liked the town but wanted a home she knew would be hers. Vaguely, a memory filtered hazily through the fog but she couldn't quite grasp it. It was she knew, a picture of a home she was familiar with. She had to build it. How she didn't yet know but it would happen , that she knew. If this was the way her memories would return she would do whatever she was pressed to, to ensure it happened.
The feeling of such inner isolation was such that she had demons on her heels, so to speak. Not real ones, but that was how it felt. There was no way she could explain this utter non-person feeling, the inner pain of not knowing who her family were or where they were. Who was she? All she wanted was for the intense darkness to go away. Trying to pretend she was happy and normal was taking it's toll on her and she needed to force her memories back, no matter how much pain it caused her.
She entered the place she was calling home for now and putting her materials carefully aside she went to the kitchen and got herself the meal she had prepared earlier before going out. Later, when she had eaten she returned to the sunny sitting room and sat on the window seat gazing out of the window.
Suddenly she saw a winter scene of snow! She blinked and looked again. It was gone, yet it stayed in her mind.
Forgetting everything, she rushed to get her paints and papyrus. She smoothed it out and got the water she needed and dishes and blindly set to work.She continued feverishly working, blind now to everything outside her mind, deaf to sound, urgently needing to get this scene down on paper. This memory, this, whatever it was. Only knowing it was important somehow. This, this was how she would know. This, was where she had her words to explain. Somehow she knew, she could tell anything, explain anything, be anything. Her painting! This was her! This was her language of speech. Her communication. She worked on, her world now existing only within the picture in her mind. Everything else lost to her. The light faded to dusk but still she worked, till at last, with a sigh she put her brush down.
She stretched herself, releasing kinks in her bones through huddling over her papyrus. Startled, she realised it was almost night and went over to the table to light the rush lamps.
Walking back to her work she looked at the scene her memory had given her and almost bent over from the sudden pain she felt. She knew this place! But where was it? Tears fell down her face unknowingly. All she knew was an intense loneliness this scene made her feel. Why? She didn't know but she did know it had been a place she loved. She stood there with tears falling and pain in her heart looking at this picture for some time. Some day, she would learn where it was and why it was important.

Ceridwen was asked if she would like to see her picture that had been put along the trail and was given the directions on how to get there. So she went home and dressed warmly and stepped out quite excited and hurried to the gate.She greeted the soldier who waved her through, then she set off along the trail.
It was a fine day, albeit a little chilly this early in the morning. But that was fine with her as she was warm enough. She continued on her way to the crossroads then suddenly she saw an enormous bat heading straight at her.


She stood there frozen for a moment and thought,"No-one said anything about this creature being around here". Then suddenly it attacked her. Ceridwen managed to beat it off and ran but stopped when a huge rat appeared in front of her.


The ensuing fight injured her as she had no weapon and had not expected to meet creatures like this. She managed to fight it off and although she had dealt as many injuries to the rat as she had recieved, she did manage to get away. She continued on her way and thought "Not much farther now", when a giant mole jumped at her and she wasn't sure she could fight this creature. She had to try, though this creature really looked evil.


It charged at her and she quickly jumped aside. Before it could turn she tried to escape but it cut off her chance and charged at her again. Ceridwen punched it in the head as it passed her and tried again to run. Finally she managed to get away, she had given her best she was almost exhausted but managed to escape and staggered to the crossroads and saw the sign of her painting. It was worth the fights she had just had to see it there and felt very proud. Then she turned for home.

Ceridwen slowly started back to town keeping a wary eye openand looking about her. A little way down the road another giant bat attacked her.


This time she was very annoyed and beat it back with a stick she had picked up, injuring it's wing. It was now no longer a danger to her, so she went on her way.

As she was about halfway home the rat she'd fought was there waiting for her and this time she was not going to run.


She attacked it and injured it but it still kept coming and dealt her a damaging blow in the ribs. That really annoyed her and she kicked it in the head and as it fell it's head snapped back against a stone, so she kicked it in the head again and this time it was never getting back up. She grabbed it by the tail and was determined to drag it back with her. Ceridwen staggered along with the rat trailing behind her when that awful mole stepped out in front of her.


"Oh no! That's all I need," she groaned. "This just is not my day." Then she let go of the rat's tail and charged at the mole and dealt it a stinging blow. It fell back then charged at ther and caught her on her shoulder. This type of back and forth hitting each other was draining her energy so she tried to grab the rat and run but the mole stepped in front of her and prevented her. Ceridwen dealt it a stunning blow and grabbing the rat's tail she used nearly all her energy to run.

She ran down the road then looked back and slowed, heaving a sigh of relief.It had gone.The realisation that now she was in sight of the town gate and safety drained her badly and she staggered towards the soldier at the gate . His eyes opened wide at the sight of her covered in blood and dragging a dead rat behind her.

"Are you alright miss?" he asked her and relieved her of the rat. Ceridwen let him take the rat. She was exhausted and slid down to sit on the floor.The soldier helped her up and called over to his friend to help her home. " Are you badly hurt miss? he enquired.

"No, just bruised and battered really. I will be fine. Just rather tired now." she told him. Then she went with the other young soldier to her home. Thanking him she assurred him she would be fine.

Once he realised she really was alright, he bade her goodbye and left. She went into her home, entered her bedroom then fell on her bed and slept.

Ceridwen awoke the next day feeling better and not so sore, just a few aches, but she could handle them. She went about her daily routine with care for her sides and towards evening when she had finished work, she decided to go to the little shop that sold many of the things she wanted.
The proprieter was kind enough to help her get her supplies ready and then packed them tidy in her basket for her. Having thanked him for his kindness she went home to prepare the things she wanted for her friend DiLasso. She had invited him for tea and she wanted it to be nice. First though she had to have her evening meal. She made herself a nice hearty stew with chicken, and consumed it with relish.
After she had cleared away her dishes and cleaned them she got her supplies and laid out all she would need. Then she set to baking. She was determined to make this the best tea she could, so she busily got everything baked and the rest prepared and put in cold storage ready for Thursday. At last, having done all she could and cleaned her baking things she mad herself a tea and went to her favourite seat to relax.
Her mind drifted away and she remebered the name she had dug out of her memories. She had wondered if he was faamily but it didn't feel that way. Letting her mind just wander she saw the hills and mountains she knew were home, but where? Fish! She sat up suddenly, it was something that reminded her of fish. Did she live in a fishing port? Were her family fishermen? She could only wonder. Still, it seemed she was now getting fragments of memory and hopefully she would be able to put it all together one day. This thought gave her hope and was very comforting.

Thursday arrived and Serridwen was finding herself getting nervous yet excited. She hadn't had any visitors to her home yet and wanted everything to be just right. She busied herself at work during the day and finally when it was time to return home she found herself hurrying along the path. Once at home she got herself a refreshing drink and tried to calm down.

Eventually it was time to get everything ready for her friend's visit so she prepared the table, then the sandwiches. she continued her preparations till it was time to have a bath and change. She looked at her work and was happy that it all looked nice.

Ceridwen was in the kitchen when she heard a dreadful noise. Thinking someone had entered and was destroying her home she dashed into the room and stopped dead.
There by the table was an incredibly dirty creature stuffing it's mouth. She knew immediately who it was. "Udgar!" she cried out, "What are you doing? You bad boy."
It stopped with it's claws to it's mouth and looked at her kind of shamefaced, then looked at the table. "Oh, look what you have done!"
Just then the door burst open and dashing through came DiLasso, who like her stopped in his tracks when he saw Udgar. She turned to him not sure whether to cry at the destruction or laugh. Then the funny side struck her and she broke into laughter.
Going to Udgar she took his claw and led him away handing him a cake that had not yet been damaged. She led him to the door and gently told him to go home. Coming back indoors she walked up to DiLasso still laughing and said "I'm so sorry for the mess he's made of my lovely tea. He doesn't really have the sense of a child so I could not shout at him. I will clear this mess and find something a little more simple if you can be patient."

Cweridwen looked at DiLasso laughing. She found it very funny to think she had worked so happily for quite some and yet childlike Udgar had demolished the lot in minutes.
DiLasso looked on amused and offered to help clear up the mess, then offered her the flowers he had brought for her. She smiled , "Oh, Di, thank you. These are just what I need to to remind me that simple things are always good. They are lovely. I'll just place them in water then set to and clear up." she told him.
After filling a vase with water and placing the pretty flowers in she put them in the room on the table near the window. Then with DiLasso's help cleared up the mess Udgar had made
Going back into the kitchen she found some things to make a simple meal. So she and DiLasso prepared their meal and sat to eat it in the kitchen. Luckily she hadn't used all the small cakes and fruit so those were just that little extra to finish off the meal.
They talked of Udgar and his little ways regarding food. and agreed he was so childlike one couldn't tell him off too strongly for he really wouldn't understand. Then gathering the remains and dishes they tidied up, after they finished they took their cups of tea to the main room to sit and talk.
Ceridwen was pleased DiLassso hadn't turned on Udgar in anger, as many may have done and she was very pleased with the flowers he so kindly brought her. She looked over at them smiling.
She then told him of the foggy view she had had of mountains and the feeling of something that reminded her of fish, although she didn't know why.

Later that week for some unknown reason Ceridwen suddenly knew she was being watched, but by whom? She turned quickly but was unable to see anyone. "That is so strange", she told hereself. "Why should I feel someone watching me?"
It was such an eerie feeling she shivered as if cold. Then gathering herself together she hurried home. Just as she was opening her door she again felt that eerie feeling of being watched and rather than look she hurried indoors.
Later when she had eaten and felt more relaxed she sat and thought about the strange occurrence. Whichever way she looked at it, it still seemed very odd indeed. She knew of no-one who would want to watch her in this manner. She wondered if she should mention it to her friend DiLasso, but couldn't see what he could do about it so decided to say nothing.
Putting it to the back of her mind she took up a book and read for a while.

Dressing warmly in the chill morning air Ceridwen stepped out into the early dawn mist to make her way to the Ranch and the days work. She hurried along the street in an effort to keep warm when suddenly, something flew past her face. Startled she stopped and looked about wondering what it was, Then she noticed a funny , tiny arrow no bigger than her little finger.
She went over to it to pick it up and saw the tip had some sticky stuff on it. She stopped and gingerly picked it up with care. Taking a rag from her pocket she carefully wrapped it and put it in her bag, then looking around and seeing no-one, she continued on her way to work.
Hurrying along in the chill morning air she wondered where the tiny arrow had come from. she'd not seen anything like it before. She would show it to her friend when he returned to Camaar.

He was out on his way to check on his vegetables when he noticed the fair lady near the Ranch.

Good day, my Lady. I hope that you are well. Ready for the day's travails?

He smiled as he walked up to her, always glad to see her.

Ceridwenlooked around as she heard her friend's voice speaking to her. He smiled at her and she was very pleased to see him. She was always pleased to see him.
She dug into her bag carefully and brought out the tiny arrow thing and carefully unwrapping it, she showed it to him and asked if he had seen anything like it before.

Ceridwen looked at him startled,*Did he really think this little thing represented something so dreadful?* she wondered. But his face told he he really was concerned over it.
"Is it so serious that we need get the Town Leader involved?" she asked.
She really couldn't believe anyone meant her harm in this way. Why would they? She hadn't done or said anything to cause such a reaction as this.
She handed him the tiny arrow and said, "If you really think that is necessary then please take this with you for he may neeed to see it. Ifind it very hard to believe somone may mean me harm with this thing. It will probably turn out to be a child's game, I expect."
Her heart lifted though, when he asked if he could see her that evening.She gave him a sunny smile and told him," Iwould love to meet you tonight. I have much to tell you of my memories that have come back while you were away."
She had missed his company and him more then she had expected to. Now the thought of spending the evening in The Bistro with him made her feel so excited and happy. She said," I must hurry in to work now but I look forward to meeting you in the Bistro tonight." She smiled and waved goodbye and hurried into the Ranch feeling she was the happiest girl in the world.

All day Ceridwen thought about her coming meeting with DiLasso at the Bistro. She wondered what he had found out regarding the funny little arrow. It was so strange to think someone would use a tiny thing like that to try to harm her. She smiled, maybe it was a child's toy.
At the end of the day she walked home in a dream and did not notice an odd looking fellow standing near the corner of the road. It was when she was passing him she felt a sudden pain in her arm and startled, she looked around but the man had vanished and when she looked at her arm she then saw the blood.
For a moment she stood there shocked and unable to think. Then the pain started to make itself felt most decidedly. Not being sure what had caused the blood and the pain she pulled her jacket off to look and saw it had been slashed by a knife. Her arm luckily had sustained just a slight cut, not deep, but about 10cms in length. She took a kerchief from her pocket and bound her arm awkwardly, but it would hold till she got home. Then putting her jacket back on she continued home, carefully keeping watch this time.
Once home, she gathered together her small medicinal pack then, cleaning her arm she placed a salve on it and bound it as best she could. She washed and changed out of her work clothes and put on her prettiest dress, then had a snack before going to meet DiLasso at the Bistro.
She decided to take the main route and walked in the centre of the road. This way she would see anyone who wished to harm her. Soon she arrived at the Bistro and entered to wait for DiLasso.
While she waited she thought of possible reasons of why anyone would want to harm her. She could not think of anything she had done or said since she had come to Camaar that would warrant such measures. So could it be from a time in her past life.? She ran through her mind what she could remember from her retrieved memories, when she suddenly saw in her mind a dark-haired man whom she knew scared her. She saw herself cringing away terrified as he came towards her with a stick in his hand, she put up her hands and tried to back away as he sneered and laughed at her. Then it vanished and she found herself shaking from the memory.
Ceridwen looked, about hoping Dilassso would not be long for she felt really frightened, but not sure at what. She just knew the memory had disturbed her badly.

Ceridwen was so pleased to see the elegant figure of DiLassso and smiled at him forgetting her fears for the moment.
"No, I arrived a little early." she told him "but yes, someone tried to stab me on my way home from work." She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "I am beginning to get a bit afraid now. I have no idea why this is happening. It was not serious but it scared me."
She looked at him shaken then told him of the flashback she'd had about the man. She hoped he had something, anything to tell her, but from his face it did not look likely.
As he seated himself she tried to calm herself, but this was getting all too complicated and frightening. *What was going on?*
Is there anything at all that you have found to help? she asked him.

Ceridwen looked at her friend and felt disappointed but truly it was just a hope the guard may know something. She hadn't really expected much.
As to the man in her memory flash. She told DiLasso, "No, I had no name or anything like that but I know him. Somehow I am convinced of it. Who he is, I don't know but I do sense he is an enemy."
She brought the memory to mind and felt again the intense fear of this man. Suddenly she saw something she had missed. A scar ran down the side of his face on the right. It looked as if it had been done by a knife or sword. He was tall and thin with dark but bedraggled quite thin hair,
The scene jumped to another scene, she could see him tying a rope around her hands and she was crying. As she watched the scene unfold, she could see other men in the background. Very rough looking men with horses. She felt him pick her up and throw her across a horse, then the men galloped off with her across the fields. In the distance she could see mountains and she knew she was in terrible danger.The scene then disappeared.
She looked across at DiLasso after recounting the scene while while it was unfolding. Suddenly grey-faced and trembling she fainted.