c. 1993 · Aveleshar, and what the Druid says must be done.
There is a poem of this name, written in the same period: read it in verse.
After his encounter with God, Alander served as an apprentice to a shepherd, and learned the greater values of humility. Three years later, he bought a small ship from a desperate merchant and set sail toward Aveleshar, the Crown of the World.
Aveleshar was home to the Druids. Earth granted the Druids eternal life and lore for their unending service to the world. It was said that there was nothing unknown to the Druids and Alander needed their knowledge. On the seventh day of his voyage, the sea became restless and a storm rolled in.
Being native to Eriad, seamanship was a talent Alander learned as a child. He lowered the sails and threw down the anchor so that the waves would not throw his ship on its side and therefore sink it. The storm worsened and the winds shred his sails and split the mast. Lightning struck the iron reinforcements of the hull, and with an explosion of wood and iron, his ship descended into the boiling waters.
Alander awoke to find himself on the shore of an unrecognizable beach. Lying on his back, he stared into the sky, and noticed an immense rocky spire reaching to the stars. He stood up and realized he had achieved Aveleshar. Aveleshar seemed to have no limits, climbing from under the sea to far beyond Sun and Moon themselves. Full of both excitement and apprehension, he advanced toward the mountain, and discovered a small path that lead through its side.
He could feel the life and power of the rock surrounding him as he climbed through the passage, and the energy of the ground beneath his feet seemed to give him strength to continue forth at an amazing pace. Within minutes, he entered Druid’s Vale.
He stood atop a ledge overlooking a vast valley of green and brown. The valley was enclosed by the mountain, and inside the valley was a thick circle of trees hiding a mystical grove. He knew that he would find Earth there. While admiring the spirit that dwelled within Aveleshar, he was surprised when a Druid he had not noticed before called for him to approach. Following the Druid’s command, he neared the grove and stopped before him. The Druid wore the colors of nature: green, brown, red, and yellow. His face was wrinkled with age, and his eyes were wells of wisdom. The Druid spoke to Alander,
“My child, do not fear. I have rescued you from the sea. You know not what you must do, and I must tell you, for the sake of all.
“Many aeons ago, I defied Paradox in a great battle. It was not won without cost, though. It is important for me, therefore, to explain to you what you must do to save us all; only you are capable of it.
“Understand that Sun and Moon are opposite in nature. When two opposites combine, the result is nothing. Nothing exists. It is a thing capable of uncreation. Like God can create, Paradox can uncreate. It is worse than destruction. Destruction only causes separation. Uncreation… is something that defies nature. It is evil. It must be stopped. And now Sun and Moon will come together again for the second time. Paradox awaits, and I am helpless to prevent it.
“I say to you, child, ‘Hear me well! Paradox can be defeated only by the same way it is born! An opposite needs to be found—something so potentially moral that instead of being unmade, it too creates nothing, but nothing born of nothing—and thus unmakes Paradox. So as was done in the beginning must be done now.’ Climb to the top of Aveleshar and meet Paradox tonight. You understand goodness—you have virtue!”
Without another word, the Druid passed through the trees and went into the grove. Alander turned away from the enclave and returned to the ledge from where he had entered. He scaled the first part of the mountain, and Earth’s power gave him strength to achieve the summit.
He waited at the crest of Aveleshar, the crown of the World, for the Crossing. Only you are capable of it… Meet Paradox tonight… You understand goodness—you have virtue! But what was he supposed to do then?
Composed 1993 · part of the Short Stories collection · authorship documented on the Provenance page.