Choice of Chosen - Ch. 2 - Darkness be his home

Many things of importance happened while the chosen one was being raised. The Dark Lord thinks there are more than what will be recorded here.

The first instance of note happened three days after word had spread that the Dark Lord had adopted the chosen one. A mob had amassed around the Dark Lord’s castle. In the mob were the repressed, the idealist, the determined, and the concerned minions. Some had blades, but most had farming tools or axes. They began building bridges and ladders to enter the castle.

The guards watched anxiously. Ataraxy ordered them to not take any action until the Dark Lord tells them otherwise. He signaled for them to open the gate. The castle was exposed with only a lone ruler to defend it.

“Your evil rule shall end.” A brave one shouted.

“Do what you want with any land beside my castle.” The Dark Lord returned to his castle.

The mob were confused. They slowly dispersed.

Another important moment happened on a warm moonlight night. In the former armory, the shields, spears, swords, battle axes, bows, and arrows were replaced with blankets, a crib, and a baby. The Dark Lord was rocking the crib.

Ataraxy came from the kitchens with warmed milk. He gave the milk to the chosen one. The chosen one made a soft whistling as he enjoyed his dreams.

The Dark Lord gave a book filled with names to Ataraxy. Ataraxy flipped through the pages and became particularly attached to one: Colton.

The Dark Lord saw the name Ataraxy pointed out. “I like that name, too. It fits him. Colton.”

The moonlight slithered through the slit in the wall.

The Dark Lord stopped rocking the crib. “I once had a name. I think it was Rex.”

“My Lord?”

“Please use it. I have forgotten what it feels like to be called by my name.”

“Ok, Rex.” Ataraxy smiled.

The next important moment was after Colton said his first words, which were Papa. One sunset, Colton went on to the porch. Rex joined him.

“Uppie.” Colton got raised on to the banister. “Dad, what is out there?”

“I have not been out there in years, but when I was it was full of war.”

“What is war?”

“A foolish endeavor where rulers send their followers to die.”

“Have you been in a war, father.”

“Yes. I have been in and been the cause of many wars.”

“What is it like?”

“If you lie to yourself that the enemies you are fighting aren’t people, you can feel anger or joy. Once you know the truth, all that is left is guilt.”

“Is there anything good about war?”

“Of all the wars and battles I have been in there is one good thing.” Rex booped Colton on the nose. “You.”

Another instance was when Colton went up to a guard’s kid. “You want to play.”

“I can’t.”

“Can we do it another time?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“My momma told me to stay away from you.”

“Why?”

“You are the Dark Lord’s kid if I hurt you... Momma says bad things will happen.” The kid ran away.

The castle hasn’t had guards since then.

The final instance happened in the castle courtyard, Ataraxy was working on his garden.

Colton came bounding through the vegetables. “Uncle, can you answer a question I have?”

“It depends, but probably.”

“Why do I have to learn to fight? If violence is so bad that is.”

“Well, I can tell you the answer or I can tell you a story.”

“A story. A story!” Colton demeaned.

“Ok, ok.” Ataraxy sat down. “Before I was a general in your father’s army... Well even before I had heard of your father, I was a farmer. I had a large farm.”

“Was it bigger than the garden?”

“Way bigger, so big in fact I couldn’t do it alone. I had two brothers who helped me. We were raised on farming. It was all we knew. Then a group of soldiers came to town. They drank the tavern out of ale. They were what everyone was talking about. They were the great soldiers from the Dark Lord’s army and they came to our town. Many took it as a bad thing. I got the idea of joining them in my head. I stayed up all night scrounging for the courage to ask to join them. Once I did, the big one told me to travel and prove myself worthy at the Training Grounds. I went and I lost and I lost and I lost. I lost so much that they banned me from trying again. I begged at their gates for days and nights. Your father heard about me and made an exception for this stubborn fool. I lost, but he saw potential. He let me join the army on the condition that I worked twice as hard as everyone else. I did. I worked so hard that I became better. I was trusted to lead, but after many battles, I stopped dreaming of fighting. I wanted to go back to that golden field with my brothers. We would work then relax. There was no fighting.” Ataraxy picked a berry. “Now, I realize how peaceful toiling dirt is. I did not know that before. I guess I am saying I would rather be a warrior dreaming of farming than a farmer dreaming of war.”

“Can I be a farmer?”

“Grab that little shovel.” Ataraxy instructed Colton through transplanting a tomato bush.