A Cursed Day

Years ago when I was still young in age and foolish in mind I came across an old beggar wrapped in rags and covered in sores. As I passed him he offered a story for any coins that I could spare. As everyone knows we dwarves aren’t a people that part with gold freely, so I kept to my path and tried to ignore the man.

That was enough to catch my attention for a moment.Having a few moments to spare and a couple of coins in my pocket I decided to let the old beggar talk.

He began telling me of his life as a traveling bard and of the riches that he acquired while performing for the masses.

Though impressed with the storied of riches, I failed to see how these things involved me and MY greatness. Growing tired of his story I began to stand and make my way off. As I did he stopped me.

‘This voice was once the greatest in all the land. Kings and queens from everywhere paid to be entertained by my vocals, but I can no longer perform. As you can see I am not as presentable as I was in my youth. My voice is no longer important to me. Youth is what I crave, to be young again!’

He grabbed my arm and continued ‘Can you picture it? Your own theater with all of the gold that you could possibly want! Great fame throughout the lands, anything you desire could be yours!’

As he tightened his grip I began to picture the possibilities. As I mentioned before, we dwarves are a bit power hungry and can be greedy at times.

With the images swimming around in my head, foolishly I answered, ‘How? How can I fulfill these images that I’ve seen? I would give anything!’

As he spoke the words I felt a strange sensation filling my lungs. As I stood there wondering what was happening a most wonderful sound began flowing from my lips. I couldn’t believe that the sound was coming from me!

As the new feelings subsided I looked at the old beggar who was wearing a strange grin on his face, ‘Now what do you get in return?’

He grinned, ‘You did say anything and now it will be done. Above all things I wish to be young again and now I will be. I will be young again at your cost! All the years that are returned to me will be taken from you! You will live a half-life! You will be great and you will receive all the spoils that you have ever dreamed of, but your life will be cut short. This has been agreed upon and now it is done!'

As he spoke the words the sores covering the mans face and skin slowly disappeared and life seemed to flow back into him. His grey hair slowly turned to black and his lifeless eyes filled with color once again.

As I shockingly watched his transformation I waited to feel the pains of old age but they never came. You could see the confused look on my face so he answered the questions I was asking myself.

‘You will not grow old on this day, your old age will come sudden and harsh, and then you will die. I do hope that our agreement benefits you as much as it has me.’

With that he recited a few words and blinked out of view. As I stood there not quite understanding what had happened I decided to begin my new life.

Everything that I saw on that day eventually came true... I did build my own theater and I did acquire fame and great riches. I even managed to clear that days events from my mind, until now. Along with everything else that I knew would happen I now believe that this old age has come upon me. I fear that my time left will be short.

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