A Glimpse From Afar

The Watcher encounters a certain something . . .

—That boat was never seen again. The last sight of it was it sailing on into the sunset. I’ve seen where it went, and— oh hello. Where have you come from? You can hear me can’t you? I thought you could.

I know who you are, but you do not know me. I am The Watcher, The One Who Watches. I can see all, but none can see me. I only watch, never interfere. I do not know if I even can interfere, as I have never tried. I have never done anything but watch and narrate what I see to my friends. Will you stay? The catch, but you have no choice since you are already here, is that you may never leave. Don’t worry about food—you won’t need that here. No, you aren’t dead. Not yet. You will stay here with me till the end of the world. Wont this be fun?

Time is nothing to me. I see throughout time, but I could not place the whole of history in order. Sometimes I see a general view of what is happening, and at others, I focus on only one thing. I know what you are thinking. I said I can see all, but I just meant that have the capability to see anything, not that I have seen everything. I haven’t seen it all. At least, I haven’t yet. But the more I look, the more I have seen. Now, be quiet, my new friend, not another word, and listen as I narrate what I see.

Ah, what is this I see. A beautiful village in the mountains. Cold, crisp air. Beautiful rain. Majestic clouds. Goats are everywhere, and there are people too, watching over the goats and going about their lives. Life has gone on in this village for many, many years. How long, I am uncertain. But what is this? Tragedy! A young woman weeping on the day of her wedding. Where can her husband be? He is gone. Nowhere to be seen.

Things come to light that have yet to be. Come to light to me. A cave, more of a crack, in the mountainside. Men are walking through this crack. Or, they have walked through the crack before, and will in the future.

There are men in there now. Do they live there? I do not know and I cannot say. I have never seen this cave before. There are many things I have yet to see, but this is strange. It feels as if it has been hidden from me. Something more powerful than I dwells within. I am afraid, but still I am curious. I shall ignore my fear and delve deeper.

Peeking outside the cave, I see the woman. She is now in her middle years, and grey streaks her hair. She holds a deep sorrow in her heart; I fear she never found her beloved. Her eyes have cried all the tears they can, but they are still red.

Going down, deeper, farther, I can see a large cavern. In the middle is a bonfire the likes of which has never been seen. Near it are many figures in crimson cloaks. I cannot see their faces, hidden as they are by their cowls. I should be able to peer beneath, but something is stopping me. In the midst of them, chained in a kneeling position, is a man on a stone pedestal.

I believe this where her beloved went. Whether he was one of the cloaked figures, or whether he was chained on the pedestal, is unknown. They chant. I can hear it now. It is deep, and guttural. They cannot only be men, as some of the sounds the make could only be from a woman’s voice. I cannot make out the words they are chanting. Every once in a while I can make out a name, “Suff—” but the rest of it is drowned out in a cacophony of roars, growls, and ululations of both men and women. My fear is growing stronger.

The bonfire erupts into a splendid cloud of smoke and sparks. In its place is an ancient entity, one of the old gods. His arms are long, but he appears to have no legs, and he is all bone and flame. The chanting grows in strength, and the figures begin to work themselves into a frenzy.

He is looking right at me. He does not want me here. He, it is, that has been hiding this cave. He is coming right for me. I must leave. I do not want to know what he will do to me if he catches me.

I am finally outside. It is snowing now, and once more, I can see that poor, poor woman. Her hair is now long and gray, but she still gets about quite easily. Her eyes have a twinkle in them, but they are still sad. They will cry no more, though they remember him. I cannot stay with her, as I wish, and comfort her.

Thank you for listening to me, my friend. I wonder what things we will see together in my narration. Yes, I remembered a certain castle I thought particularly interesting. Let me see if I can find it again.

The End,
God bless