"No Man"

by Daerlynn

The bardess stands quietly in the Half Pint Inn, waiting for the commotion to die down. Leaning an arm on the bar, she says, "Well, now that we have done a number of bawdy songs, I hear that you are calling for a story." She smiles shyly as a number of voices are raised in affirmation, before continuing on. "A story. . . a story of fate. . .and of prophecy. Who is to say what the intertwinings of fate and prophecy are, and how we as mortals can ever hope to affect what the Gods may have already decreed?"

Taking a small swallow of her cherry schnapps, she continues slowly. "They say that naming, or speaking, a prophecy, gives it power. But, I ask you, does the naming or the hearing give it power? Or.. is it truly fate?"

She shifts a bit, leaning back on the bar, and brushes a stray wisp of hair from her face.

"Once, long, long ago, there was a nobleman named Sanndena. Sanndena was a good man, married to a noble lady named Lasadel. They had one child, a beautiful girl named Delahle.

"One day a traveling scholar stopped by their manor. As was his nature, Sanndena invited him and showed him the hospitality of his home for the night. The scholar, whose name is now lost to us in the mists of time, was quite taken in by little Delahle, who was now ten years old.

"Sanndena and Lasadel, only wanting the best for the girl, asked the scholar whether he would perchance speak a prediction over their young daughter. He of course agreed. So they called Dindennat, the young girl who was Delahle's friend and destined to be her ladyservant, to bring her in."

The bardess smiles before taking another slow sip of her schnapps.

"After Delahle was brought in and Dindennat dismissed, the unnamed scholar consulted the moons and, as is the tradition of wandering scholars everywhere, indulged himself in a bit of showmanship, which suitably impressed Sanndena and Lasadel."

A slight frown creases the petite bardess' face.

"There was no denying that his face did turn pale, and his smile as he looked at Delahle was a bit wan. But smile he did, and he said to her parents, 'It is not meet for a child to know her own fate at such a young age, and to hear the naming of her prophecy.' So Delahle was dismissed.

"After she had left the room, the unnamed scholar turned to the good man and his noble lady, and said, 'Gracious Sir and Lady, it is my wish that such a dire prediction not be named for such a beauty as she!' Still, Sanndena and Lasadel entreated him, and he gave in, and this is what he said."

The bardess leans forward, speaking quietly as she continues. "'The Moons spoke to me as I looked at the beautiful lady Delahle, and they pronounced. . ."No man shall love Delahle with a deep true love, and this shall be both her bane and her salvation."'

"At this, the unnamed scholar dropped his head, and Sanndena and Lasadel began to discuss in whispers what this all could mean. Unbeknownst to them, however, Delahle, being inquisitive as well as beautiful, had been listening and had heard her own fate spelled out. She vowed in her heart that this prophecy would never come to be!"

Another sip of the schnapps, and continuing on in a normal voice, "Once again, time passed, as time is wont to do, and Delahle became a beautiful young woman. Beloved by the people of her father's domain, she traveled the land with her ever-present hand maiden, Dindennat.

"However, despite the quick smile and flirtatious nature, deep inside her heart the bitter seed of the prophecy rankled. Through many relationships, all chaste of course, she always would see a flaw in the young lad that proved the prophecy true. Often, the relationship was broken off quickly, sometimes even against the advice of her friend and confidante, Dindennat.

"Time passed still, and the bitter seed began to grow fruit in the beautiful woman's heart. She was now the heir of the good man and his noble lady, who had walked the Starry Road never having seen the grandchild they so desired.

"Unfortunately, the darkness in Delahle's heart began to cause her to trust no man and few women, and her rulership began to grow as harsh and bitter as the winter wind, even though the advice of her most trusted friend, ever faithful Dindennat, was always of warmth, sun and stars. Delahle's people began to cry out, but she turned a deaf ear to them. It was wondered where the beautiful woman, daughter of a good man and a noble lady, had gone."

The bardess sighs gently, brushing that stray lock of hair out of her eyes once more.

"At this time came an emissary of a young knight named Wenhegessger, who ruled a
manor next to that of Delahle's. In times past, he had loved the beautiful woman, and he had never forgotten her. He offered her marriage and, he said, his heart. His love was as true, Wenhegessger declared, as the sun rises and falls, as true as the ash tree, and as strong as the oak.

"Everyone could see that the young knight's heart was full, and that Wenhegessger loved Delahle with the love of a dwarf for gems or for ale. Everyone but the beautiful woman herself, who flew into a rage at the emissary. '"How dare he?' she cried. 'He wants my lands... my soft hearted people have gone crying to him that I am too harsh! I will show them harsh!! Prepare for war!! My people, and this young knight, shall pay for this insult to me!'

"At this, her best friend and loyal maid servant, Dindennat, stepped in front of her. 'Milady,' she cried out. 'Do not do such a thing! These are your people. This young knight, this brave young man, loves you!' Already enraged, the beautiful young woman heard the prophecy mocking her in her faithful servant Dindennat's words. Sliding her sword out of its sheath. . ."

The bardess takes a deep breath before going on.

". . .she struck down her companion and friend since infancy, the loyal Dindennat.

"At this, the rage left her, and Delahle saw what she had done and what she become. Cradling the beautiful Dindennat in her arms, she begged for forgiveness. She poured out the words of the prophecy, begging absolution and understanding from the dying Dindennat. Dindennat stopped her, gazing up at Delahle with warm, tender eyes"

"'Do you not know your languages, my Lady?' said the sweet Dindennat. "My father, disappointed that I was not the son he craved, named me in the Gamgweth, Dindennat, which means No Man. And I have loved you with a true deep love for so many years, and my soul shall always love you. . .my Delahle. . .my love.' And with these words, the loving Dindennat's soul walked the Starry Road.

"At this, the beautiful young woman repented, and the Prophecy's seed died with her tears. She accepted the young knight's proposal and, as is the way of tales everywhere, sher and her people lived happily ever after, and she kept the woman Dindennat in her heart.

"But she always remembered that prophecies are not always what they seem, and she often wondered what I now wonder."

The bardess brushes a wispy tendril of hair from her face to behind her ear, sipping her schnapps once more.

"Does the naming of a prophecy determine fate, or the hearing of it? Or will the prophecy just find a way. . .to come true?"