The Silverwater - 5

He glanced down into the murky water and saw a face that held nothing but memories. No future could be bright for that face. It was a face that held memories beautiful, ugly, good, bad, horrid, and even glorious. But none of these could be said for the face's future. It held sorrow, oh so much of it, and at the end of the road, a horrid death. Perhaps a pleasant one, but much he doubted that. He saw adventures amazing to behold but none of them good. None perhaps, even bad. They were lower. Just a face was all that he saw and yet the predictions he imagined could not be false. He felt it in his heart.Five months earlier.He embarked on a journey to the Silverwater. By reputation alone, it far surpassed The Marsh, or even... possibly... The Hartwood. Perhaps by one or two men. Slowly he trudged down the dirty path that led to the grassy banks, green hills, and pure waters of the Silverwater. He had heard the name since he was but 12 years, a mere child. Oh he loved the sound of Silverwater, he loved the way it rolled of his tongue and sounded like a blessing. And now he was going to see it! His heart felt like it might burst with the excitement and nervosity. It couldn't decide to beat fast or slow. His footsteps seemed too small and yet too large. Oh the Silverwater, the place in the dreams of many other creatures. Even the foul Laerithan (whoa!! That's a word?) were said to think it beautiful. The joy in his heart could hardly be greater. And yet, as great as it was, it was suppressed by the fear.Three months after.A shadow passed outside the cave and he shrank back in fear. He could hear the snorts outside and feel the fiery breath of the Draconae. He was going to die.Two months after.And now his journey was at an end but oh the Silverwater. True enough, there were the grassy banks and the green hills. Even the pure water was not short. And yet it held only gloom for him for in the beautiful waters he had seen his future and despair had clouded his heart. He saw, indeed, glorious things that made his heart sing but he longed for them and he knew, deep inside, that this journey was his last. He would live on the banks of the Silverwater for many more years, waiting for the events to happen. But he knew that once he looked into the Silverwater, he would never be able to leave. The glory that might have been him faded and he sat and wept as the years passed and he died, peaceful, but sorrowful and alone.