Delalaria's Gambit
A Legend of Armengar

Come child, sit. You rankle at being called a child? Do not worry; to Delalaria, all are her children and she loves them all equally. So it is also with her followers. What is that you say? You do not believe that Delalaria is a mother figure? Ah my child, you would do well not to be unduly influenced by the wagging of idle tongues. Come, talk to me and maybe you will see her as I see her. Allow me to tell you of the love Delalaria showed for her children when she was alive.   Below ArdChlar Beag, off the SouthWest point of Amnor, Delalaria's Gambit rises majestically out of the sea. Ah, I see you have heard of it. And yet you probably think it but a clever name meant to venerate our lady. No it is not such. Delalaria's Gambit is named with good cause. Listen child, and I shall tell you.

It is no great secret that all was not peaceful in Delalaria's time. All the world knows that Delalaria was a mighty Battle Queen, whose skill in battle was exceeded only by her power in the ways of magic. And yet there were times of peace in those days too. There were times to plant the crops, and times to reap the rewards. There were times to shear the wool from the sheep's back, and times to weave the wool into cloaks to keep the cold winter night at bay. And though during these times, there would always be a watch kept on the passes for the marching of mighty enemies, still they were times for Armengar to appreciate what was good in life.

It was during this time that a young woman was brought before Delalaria as she sat playing the harp; for things of beauty were always dear to her heart and it was said that she would sometimes sit for hours listening to the same piece of music played again and again and again. And with this young woman was a boy child of only four years, and the two were most mortally afraid for the beauty of Delalaria was as unto an unbridled flame. But Delalaria did greet them most joyfully, for children were special to her. She called for food for the young family, and for water with which to wash the sweat from their brows. And when finally she saw that the young woman might be ready to speak, she bade her tell her tale.
"Most merciful Delalaria," the young lady began, for she was still deathly afraid "I have come to my wits end and can bear no more, for my son is most dreadfully afflicted and none can heal him. Though the healers at the wishing tree chant over him from dawn to dusk, still he bears new wounds come the dawning of the next day and I know not what to do".
Like clouds crossing the blazing sun, worry then crossed the face of Delalaria, and she bade the young woman to explain.   "Most high queen," stammered the woman, and was graced with a slight smile "my son is most grievously burnt on both the arms and legs, and even the High Healer himself cannot heal the burns that they do not return."   With that she drew up the sleeves on her sons shirt, that all might see the weeping angry wounds which covered his arms. Though it is said that Delalaria once faced down the very fires of hell itself without so much as allowing a bead of sweat to escape her brow, still she was dismayed to see the ill that had been done to this innocent child. Gathering the child gently in her arms, Delalaria did then weep most unashamedly and it is said that where her tears touched the young boys arm he was given relief from the pain which plagued him.
Finally composing herself, Delalaria looked at the young woman and addressed her directly.  "What is your name, daughter of Armengar?"
"Fiona my lady, if it pleases you"
"Fiona," And Delalaria did smile most graciously, "you must bring me now to your home, whereupon we shall put your son to rest. And I shall watch this night to see what evil it is which does so cruelly scar him while he sleeps."
Fiona was then most overcome with gratitude, and threw herself and the Great Lady's feet weeping her thanks. Delalaria though bade her rise, and addressed her gently "Arise Fiona, for all Armengarians should stand as equals; and it is no great gratitude which is due for my help. For should all Armengarian's not help their fellows when they are in need?"
All who were present were then struck by the wisdom of her words, and in years to come many would remember that moment and be struck silent by both pride and shame.

Doubtless much preparation was made that evening, but nothing further is told until that night when Delalaria watched over the sleeping body of Aibhleog, as the young boy was called. Many the long hour passed, and Delalaria had begun to think that perhaps the child's malady had passed as suddenly as it had begun. So it was that she was nearly caught all unawares when at the darkest hour of the night a light made itself visible.   In awe, Delalaria watched as spirits of flame did appear in the young boy's room. Joyously they danced around his bed and made sport across the wicks of the candles which kept the dark at bay. Around, behind and underneath the boy's bed the spirits played until finally they grew tired of their sport and made to advance upon the sleeping child.
"STOP!" Delalaria's voice rung out threw the small room, and the shadows fled the glory of her ire unleashed.
The spirits stopped in their playful dance, and considered the queen in all her glory. "Daughter of flame, why do you tell us to stop? Is our flame not the bringer of purity, truth and clarity? Is it not a gift to this dark world? Why then should you wish us not to bring our gift to one so young and deserving?"
"Aye, all these things are true" spoke Delalaria, "and yet I cannot allow you to take this child, for I have pledged to protect him and as you know a promise made must never be broken."
"Daughter of flame, your talk of promises mean nothing to us. We know only the hunger, and that the burning of this young child's flesh brings us relief. Will you not allow us this relief?"
Delalaria considered for a moment, and then spoke again with purpose in her voice. "If you do not burn this child now, I will cause 1,000 candles to be burnt in my castle tomorrow, and you may play and sport in their flames."
And the spirits were well pleased, and did pledge to leave the child in peace. "And yet" they warned, "memory is as fleeting as an extinguished flame and hunger is eternal. We cannot pledge that we will not return."
The next morning, Fiona was overjoyed that her boy had not been burnt and heaped effusive praise upon her queen. Delalaria removed herself to her castle, and, true to her word, did cause 1,000 candles to be burnt and watched as the spirits sported within the flames.  That night, no spirit did visit Aibhleog and in the morning no burns marred his skin. And so it was for three nights. Yet after the fourth night, Fiona came in tears to the Queen and told her that the burns had returned again, and Delalaria pledged to try once more.

That night, Delelaria did watch once more as the spirits danced and frolicked around the bed of the young boy. Once more, she bade them cease as they moved to burn Aibhleog.
"Beautiful lady of flame," they greeted her, "why do you wish us to cease? Our hunger sits in us like ice, and we must burn if we are to live."
"Spirits," she spoke, "if you will leave this child be, I will cause a great pyre to be lit along the edge of the great plateau, and you may have it for your own".
And the spirits were overjoyed and pledged to leave the child be...for as long as their hunger was sated. 
The next morning, though many of the citizenry did wonder why she bade it done, Delalaria caused to be built a pyre the likes of which had not been seen before on Armengar. The heat was so great, that none could walk within fifty feet of it and even behind the mighty walls of the citadel its crackling and spitting could be heard. Joyfully, the spirits of flame played in the fire and Delelaria watched and waited.  Again that night Aibhleog slept without being assailed by the creature of flame, and so it was for many nights. It came to pass however that the spirits returned once more, and Aibhleog was most grievously burnt. Once more Fiona came to the might Queen, and once more she pledged to keep watch over him as he slept.

That night as Delalaria watched the spirits once again came frolicking into the child's room, and once again Delalaria bade them stop in a voice which shook the very stones in the walls.
The spirits flickered excitedly as they turned to face her. "What will you offer us this time to leave the child be, lady of flame?"
Unnerved by the hunger in their voices, Delalaria drew herself up to her full height. "I will burn Coill Oirthearach to the ground, and the flames will last for many days. Will this satisfy you?"
"Nay Lady, for while forests may burn in time it is not for you to do so, and the spirits of leaf and bark would rise up against us"
"Then I shall decree that every night a bonfire shall be lit at the gates of the citadel, and you shall have a place to live for all time. If I do this, will you consent to leave this child in peace?"
"Nay Lady, for we know that the memories of man are short, and there would come a time when man would decide that the bonfires were naught but superstition. Now move aside Lady, that we may feast upon this child"
Dismay weighed heavy upon the breast of Delalaria, and she cast about in her mind for despair for something which would entice the spirits. "Then I shall give you my hair, that you may consume it utterly."
Now Delalaria's hair was sometimes as red as flames, and bright as the noon day sun, and other times the deep red of blood and as forbidding as the darkest night, and when she made this offer the spirits danced and spun on the air.  "Give us your hair lady, and we shall consider it a great gift beyond counting."
Hearing this, Delalaria took a knife from her belt and shore her long tresses from her head. Piling them all together in the centre of the room she stepped back and allowed the spirits to consume them.
Exuberant was the dance of the spirits as they consumed the hair of Delalaria, and it is said that as far away as the Phoenix Pass their laughter could be heard echoing through the hearths of homes and pits of campfires. Then, of a sudden, the laughter turned harsh and discordant, and all who could hear it were compelled to cover their ears lest they be driven insane.  Slowly, one by one, the spirits left the pile of ash on the floor and encircled Delalaria. "Daughter of Flame" they spoke as one in a voice as terrible as the desert sun "we have tasted the flame of human again and it is sweet. No more shall we be deterred, and no more shall we be merciful. Tomorrow night, we shall take this child and burn his flesh to ash, and should you stand in our way, for all that you are of the Flame, we shall burn you too!"
Delalaria wept, for she knew then that she had failed, and not all her power over flames could stop these spirits from taking the child. Running from the lowly home of Fiona, she fled out onto the plateau and threw herself down on the ground. There she clawed deeply into the earth with her fingers and shook and sobbed for a child she could not save.

All through that next day, the people of the city came to Delalaria, but she would not hear them. Though her most trusted general came to her and asked that she review his battle plans she would not move. Though her musicians came and played for her with skill which moved the hearts of all who heard, Delalaria did not cease her weeping. Though her hunting hounds were brought down to her, and they begged her to play and frolic with them, nothing could lift Delalaria from her despair.  And so it finally came to it that Delalaria still lay upon the grass as the sun made its descent towards the sea, and even greater despair came upon her for she knew that Aibhleog had not long to live in this world. Yet even through her despair, she heard the new voice which spoke to her. "Daughter of Flame, why do you weep so?" And Delalaria was all distraught, for it seemed to her as though the very ground beneath her feet had spoken to her.  "Daughter of Amnor, will you not answer me and tell me why you weep?"
A great wonder came upon Delalaria then as she realised that it was indeed the earth which knew her name, and shy as a child unto a great king she replied.  "Oh spirits of earth, I weep because one of my own shall die and I cannot stop it. The spirits of flame will take him, and not all my power will save him."
And now the earth spoke in a stern voice and did berate Delalaria thusly, "Daughter of flame, you are most grievously mistaken. Think you that only you, and you alone, may save this child. Nay Delalaria, should you but ask then we will aid you in this matter, for the love you bear your people does nourish the land. Aye, and the spirits of sea will help aswell, for they have ever been at war with the flame."
And so it was that the spirits of earth told Delalaria how she might save Aibhleog, if only she were brave enough, and she took herself with great haste to the house of Fiona, for it already grew dark. There, wrapping the child in a blanket she held him to her tight and made to leave. Even as she walked towards the door, the spirits of flame did pour from the lamp wick and screamed her name.

"Spirits of Flame!" she cried, "Should you want this child, then you must take her from me". And with that she ran out the door and into the city beyond.  Now the spirits were greatly excited by this, for they could feel the blood burn hotly in Delalaria's veins as she ran, and they gave pursuit.
Down through the city ran Delalaria and past the gate guard. Gleefully the spirits chased after.
Down Sli na Mhileatcileach she ran, the breath in her lungs coming in ragged gasps. And still the spirits pursued.
Across Ardchlar Beag she raced, never once stopping to look back at her pursuers. The song of the flame spirits echoed across the plateau as they followed ever on.
Finally did Delalaria come to the end of the island and turned to face her foes. Joyfully, menacingly, they made their way forward, and surrounded her on the edge of the cliff.
Then Delalaria let out of her an unearthly scream and sent forward all the power of flame she could muster. The spirits laughed in delight, and danced among the burning grasses and sang their songs of undying fire. "Daughter of flame" they cried, "you cannot hurt us with fire. Where will you run now, daughter of flame?"
And yet the spirits of earth had heard Delalaria's cry, and they responded. Freed from the grip of the grasses, the split the earth asunder and allowed cracks to form across the headland. Then the spirits of sea took their part, and they did pull the columns of earth down from the headland, until only the pillars of rock on which Delalaria and the flame spirits stood - those pillars we now call Delalaria's Gambit.  Then realising that they had been tricked, the flame spirits screamed in rage, for they knew that they were trapped and surrounded by their enemy the sea. They looked for a way back to the land and found that there was none. They searched for something in which to burn, and found that Delalaria had already burnt it all. Finally, they turned to the Great Queen herself in desperation and rage. "Daughter of Flame, what have you done?" they cried.
"You will leave this child and all my people in peace, now and forever" she replied, "or you will live and die on these pillars, never to burn again"
But the spirits of flame were selfish, and would not listen. "Send us back" they cried, "or we will burn both you and the child; for we would rather be extinguished forever, than never to feel the burning of a human again."
And a great sadness came upon Delalaria, for the spirits of earth had told her that this might happen, but she feared to make the next step. "Then you shall have a burning" she spoke, in a voice as cold as a winter's morn. "If you leave my people in peace, I will allow you to burn in my mind forever and never let your flames go dark."
And with that she opened her mind and allowed the spirits of flame in. Swiftly they flowed through her mind, burning and searing all they touched and Delalaria screamed in pain. Every part of her was engulfed and she feared that she would never again she past the conflagration in her mind.

Yet just when Delalaria thought that all would be in flames forever, she did feel a coolness upon her brow. And opening her eyes she looked up into the face of Aibhleog who stood over here weeping. Humbled then that a mere child might bring her back from her doom, she shut the flames away in the back of her mind and spoke to him most calmly.
"You are safe Aibhleog. I name thee the Unburnt One, and I have a task for thee. There are dark times ahead, and I may not always be here to protect my children. Remember me unto my people, Unburnt One. Remember unto them that I love them all."

And that my child is the tale of Delalaria's Gambit, and that is why we name our highest priest the Unburnt One - that he may remind us always that no matter how hot the flames may burn, Delalaria would sacrifice all for the love of her children.

 

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(OC Author - Fergal O'Brien)