- Medium: Acrylic on paper
- Size: A4
- Description:
A mother cradles her child beneath the glow of moon and stars, framed in swirling gold. This piece speaks of tenderness, resilience, and the eternal bond between generations.
Category: StoneAge,
-
Moonlit Embrace
Acrylic painting of a mother cradling her child under a moonlit sky, symbolizing love and connection. -
The Dark Seed
Late Stone Age prophecy several years before exile
In the shadow of the storm-child’s steps,
the grass will wither,
and the cries of the young will fall silent.He will be the warm hearth that burns the house,
the sweet fruit that sours the tongue.His hands will lift the spear against strangers,
but the spear will find his own first.The clan will not cast him out for hunger or rage,
but for the graves his shadow leaves behind.Tone: Fearful — spoken by an uneasy seer, remembered when the clan’s children die.
-
Grael and the Slave
They said he was born of a storm,
but I found him in chains,
skin split by the lash,
eyes empty, yet still watching.They called him exile.
They called him cursed.
They called him meat for wolves.
But wolves do not howl for cowards.He did not beg.
He did not speak unless commanded.
Even when the whip cracked bone,
he stood until he dropped.I gave him no mercy,
only water, only duty.
And still, he rose.He refused the kill.
Said, “No one’s worthless.”
In that moment,
he was worth more than the son of kings.I do not love the boy.
But I will make him a blade.
The gods have already tempered his soul.
I am only the fire.© 2025 E.L. Hewitt StormborneLore.co.uk
Further Reading
-
Beneath the Storm-Crown
I stood where thunder carved the sky,
Where old oaths broke, and none asked why.
The staff I raised was not for war,
But for the ghosts I still fight for.Boldolph’s eyes were iron flame,
They spoke of love, not seeking fame.
His growl a warning, not a threat
A brother’s bond I won’t forget.The wolves still watch. The dragons wake.
Each vow we make, each path we take
A storm-born soul must never stray
From fire-wrought truth or shadowed way.Let others rule with golden tongue,
I lead where pain and praise are sung.
For every scar upon my frame
Is carved from love, not just from flame.
-
The Halls of Emberhelm
Court Beneath the Storm
A tale from the Chronicles of Taranis StormborneThe stone halls of Emberhelm still held the breath of thunder. The storm had passed, but the scent of damp earth and smoke clung to every crack and carving.
Outside, the banners of the three Houses shifted gently in the wind. Flame, Shadow, and Storm. Inside, the High Warlord of Caernath sat upon the seat of judgment, the storm-carved throne of his ancestors.
Taranis wore no crown. His only adornment was the silver cuff upon his wrist, the one shaped like twisted flame. Around him stood those who had fought beside him, bled for him, defied death with him.
Lore stood silent to the left, hands folded into his long dark sleeves. Boldolph crouched at the side of the hall like a black statue, eyes ever scanning. Draven leaned near the great hearth, murmuring with a war-priest. Rayne stood furthest back, half-shadowed, watching everything.
The court was full.
Farmers. Warriors. Mothers. Messengers. Petitioners. Accusers.
This was the burden of the Stormborne to listen.
The first voice was a child’s.
“My brother did not steal,” she said, eyes red from the wind. She clutched a doll made of grass and thread. “He only took what the wolves left. We were hungry.”
Her mother knelt beside her, face pale, silent with shame.
Taranis rose. “Where is the boy now?”
A man stepped forward. Greying, armed, not unkind. “In the cells, my lord. The bread he took belonged to House Umbra’s stores.”
Lore turned his head slowly. “Bread unused for days. Moulding in a bin.”
“Aye,” said the man. “But rules are rules.”
Taranis stepped down from the dais. He did not look at the guards. He knelt to the girl.
“What is your name?”
“Aella,” she whispered.
“Aella,” he said, “your brother is no thief. He is a survivor. And from this day, your family eats under the protection of Emberhelm.”
He turned to the court. “Let the stores be opened to those in hunger. Starvation is not a crime. And those who would hoard while others suffer will answer to me.”
The next petition was colder.
Two men from the borderlands bowed stiffly. One bore a jagged scar along his scalp.
“My lord, Black Claw banners were seen near the Witherwood. We ask permission to hunt them down.”
A murmur rose. Boldolph straightened.
Taranis narrowed his eyes. “How many?”
“A dozen. More. Hiding in the ruins.”
Rayne shifted, his hand brushing the old collar scar on his neck.
“No,” said Taranis.
Gasps.
“We do not chase ghosts and bleed men for vengeance. Not now. Not today. Fortify the border. Send scouts. But no hunt.”
The men looked uneasy.
Draven raised his voice. “What if they attack?”
“Then we crush them,” said Taranis, steel in his voice. “But we do not start the fire.”
Boldolph gave a faint growl of approval.
Later, as the court thinned, an old woman with clouded eyes was led forward.
“I was once a healer,” she said. “Cast out in the time before. I seek no pardon, only a place.”
Morrigan stepped ahead from the shadows.
“I know her,” she said. “She taught me names of plants I still use.”
Taranis looked to the court. “Is there any who speak against her?”
Silence.
“Then let her be welcomed to Hearthrest,” he said. “Let her wisdom serve again.”
The old woman wept.
As the hall emptied, Lore remained behind.
“You did well,” he said.
“I did what had to be done.”
“Which is often the hardest thing.”
Taranis sat again upon the throne. He looked to the high carved beams, where the banners of the Stormborne rustled gently.
“The war will come again,” he said.
“It always does.”
“Then let this peace be something worth protecting.”
Lore nodded. “So we fight, not for power. But for dignity.”
Taranis gave a half smile.
“For bread. For brothers. For those who can’t fight. That’s what this court is for.”
And above them all, in the rafters where the light touched the carvings of wolves and dragons, the storm winds whispered through the stone:
© StormborneLore. Written by Emma for StormborneLore. Not for reproduction. All rights reserved.
💬 If this spoke to you, please like, share, and subscribe to support our mythic journey.
-
The Road to Umbra Written from Lore’s perspective
A vibrant artwork reflecting the themes of struggle and resilience in the narrative of StormborneLore. House of Shadow
I do not speak of heroes.
I speak of those who walked in silence.
Of boots torn at the sole,
and breath taken with care
lest the wind betray them.I walked the road to Umbra alone,
but never unmarked.
Each tree knew my name,
each stone held a memory,
and the crows whispered
what the living dared not say.My brothers called it exile.
The warlords called it treason.
The wolves knew better.
They call it the long return.I did not carry banners.
I carried wounds.I did not seek the throne.
I sought peace and found shadows
that bled like I did.And when the night fell thick with frost,
and even the stars looked away,
I did not pray for light.A heartfelt thank you for engaging with the narrative of StormborneLore, inviting readers to support the storytelling journey.
-
The Houses of Caernath Part 7
The Fifth Flame
The stone circle of Emberhelm stood silent under the pale light of morning., five cairnstones glowing faintly in their ancient places. The air shimmered with a stillness that only came before something eternal was spoken.
Taranis Stormborne, cloaked in black and silver. stepped ahead to the first cairn the one carved with roots and mountains, circled in white ochre. He turned to face the gathered warriors, wolves, and wanderers.
“Before the dragons flew,” he said, “before the wolves howled, there were five lines of fire. We knew only three. But today, we remember them all.”
He turned to Draven, who stepped ahead slowly, still favouring his side.
“Brother you bled for us. You survived what none should have. You guarded the line even when no one knew it was there.”
Taranis drew a shard of stone from the cairn itself. Then handed it to Draven, and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“By the weight of the earth and the strength of the mountain, I name you Lord of Terra.”
A cheer rose from the crowd, led by the wolves, then echoed by the dragons above. Draven bowed not to Taranis, but to the people.
Taranis turned then, slowly, toward the fifth cairn the one none had touched in generations. It bore a sunmark, and a spiral, and a cut across its base. where an old flame once split the stone.
Beside it stood Rayne, straight-backed now, though his eyes still bore the shadow of the collar. And beside him stood Tirena, a woman of stone and flame, silent and radiant. With one hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sun-marked blade.
Taranis paused before speaking not as a warlord, but as a brother.
“Rayne. We lost you once. You were chained, beaten, turned into a whisper. But you came back. And with you came fire not born of wrath, but of forgiveness.”
“Yet even flame must have form. And no one guards the flame better than the one who sees in silence.”
He turned to Tirena.
“Knight of Lumen, daughter of the dawn do you stand beside him of your own will?”
Tirena gave a single nod, her voice soft and fierce.
“I do. Not for crown. For cause.”
Taranis placed his hand on Rayne’s shoulder, and raised his other toward the sun.
“Then by the fire that remembers and the light that does not burn. I name you Rayne of Lumen, Lord of the Fifth House.”
The crowd was still for a heartbeat.
Then a pulse rolled through the cairns. A faint hum, like the deep breath of the land itself, stirred the hair of every person there.
The ley lines had awakened.
Five fires, once lost, now stood again.
Taranis looked out across the gathered faces his brothers. His people, the wolves, the dragons, the flame keepers and shadow walkers who had followed him through storm and silence.
His voice dropped low, just above a whisper, but the wind carried it to every ear.
“I know I wasn’t there for you. I’ll always regret that. Father exiled me… and maybe I would’ve run anyway. But that exile taught me many things.”
He looked to each brother in turn Lore, cloaked in dusk and silence. Drax, ever the storm, hands calloused from war. Draven, grounded like stone. And Rayne, flame rekindled beside the steel gaze of Tirena.
Taranis smiled, but it was not the smile of a warlord. It was that of a boy who had once been cast out. Now stood at the heart of everything he loved.
Just then, Draven stepped ahead again, his voice steady.
“Brother… you were exiled at eight,” he said. “We not protect you then. But we can stand with you now.”
Taranis’s gaze faltered for the briefest moment not from shame, but from the sudden weight of grace.
“And I will never walk alone again,” he answered, his voice thick with feeling.
Around them, the wind stirred the banners of each House. The cairns pulsed faintly, glowing at their roots. Overhead, the wings of dragons cast long shadows across the circle. And for the first time in generations, all five ley lines were whole.
Thank you for reading
© StormborneLore. Written by Emma for StormborneLore. Not for reproduction. All rights reserved.
💬 If this spoke to you, please like, share, and subscribe to support our mythic journey.
Further Reading
The Prophecies and Tales of Taranis Unfolded
-
Good Afternoon, God eftermiddag, Prynhawn Da, Buenas tardes, Guten Tag, Добрый день (Author note)
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read yesterday’s Authors Note.just a warning : This is NOT EDITED in anyway so there will be spelling mistakes and grammar issues., structure issues.
Why am I doing this?
The reason I’m saying hello in English. German, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Welsh (I do apologise if I’ve spelt or wrote anything wrong)
The reason for it is those are the top countries in my stats for viewing my site.
THANK YOU
Thank you and USA youre number one. Thank you, and last night’s authors note had more likes than any other piece.
AI and Me
Well I’ve tried AI and still think even with all the errors. My writings probably better, than ai even though I use it to Polish my work it feels wrong.
Less human! Less capable of putting in what it takes to make the reader feel. SO after talking to my child who is a one of the biggest book nerds I’ve know. Someone who states don’t use AI they steal from other writers.
They are right but my stories are mine and double checked even triple checked not just through grammarly. But I also paste anything that I’m suspicious of direct into search engines manually check. If something worth doing it’s worth doing right !
The Plan Today
What’s on the plan today is easy 4 pieces.
This authors note
1 story – Three houses of Caernath part 7
1 poem – based on the eternal lords
1 article
1 recipe. Inspired by the bronze age
Where is my world based?
Someone asked me where are my stories / world based?
Worcestershire.
The House of Flame – Ignis.
Infact Emberhelm is based on the Malvern Hills and surrounding areas. Where I walked every weekend as a child and teen. An area stepped in history and folklore from Roman Britain to today.
Shropshire, Welsh marches and Staffordshire
The houses of Lore and Drax
Tempestas (house of storm) and Umbria (the house of shadow)
While Drax guards the marches with his armies of tempestas. Lore works his charms throughout his lands of Umbra. Taranis sits in the main house of Ignis. Soon to be joined by two others.
Again I spent hours walking not just around my village. But Cannock chase and Tettenhall woods, Walsall woods, cannock woods. I listened to historians, folklorists, read books on mythology, folklore, hauntings of the areas.
Other areas
I’ve walked Glastonbury Tor. (The hard way even ended up crawling at the top. But worth it and I proved to myself I can achieve the impossible. )
I’ve walked the long mynd (shropshire)where a village is said to have disappeared. The walks beautiful but not for those with mobility issues.
I’ve visited Wales (let’s face the truth at one point most of England was welsh). so when I include Welsh it more of a nod to ancestral heritage. My favourite place in Wales is Pembrokeshire.
Everywhere I go I’m learning not just the history but any folklore people are willing to share.
Growing up in Staffordshire gave me an opening to learn the Lore. Of not just my village but cannock chase and many other areas.
I was told “never put rough articles on your blog”. but when you don’t have funds for an editor for your articles where do you go?
Many indie writers told me once Grammarly but that’s ai isnt it? If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
I’m learning and slowly starting to use my own raw writing on this site.
Have a good day, and to those in war torn areas or going through tough times. blessing and positive thoughts go out to you.
Please try to stay safe.
© StormborneLore. Written by Emma for StormborneLore. Not for reproduction. All rights reserved.
If this spoke to you, please like, share, and subscribe to support our mythic journey.
I wrote this directly into wordpress so absolutely no editing.
-
100 Tales from the Halls of Emberhelm 🐉
100 posts. 19 days. 6 tales a day.From the first howl on the wind to the firelit feasts of Caernath, StormborneLore now stands tall a living archive of myth, memory, and meaning.
In these past 19 days, you’ve journeyed through:
✨ Poems of Spirit and reflections from wolves, dragons, outcasts, and gods
🔥 Tales of Hardship and Hope, stories born in darkness, rising toward the light
🍖 Feasts of the Ancients, recipes inspired by the meals of warriors, crones, and storm-born kings.
⚖️ Truths of Our Time articles echoing modern struggles: disability, injustice, survival, and healingEach post is more than just a page — it’s a voice from the halls of Emberhelm.
“When all the world forgets us, we will still sing around the fire.” Taranis Stormborne
To every reader who’s wandered these halls, thank you. To every warrior, wolf, and flamekeeper yet to come welcome home.
StormborneLore
Fiction forged in myth. Truth written in fire.
-
The Houses of Caernath Part 5
The Feast of Echoes
As the feast burned on into the night, the firelight danced on stone and skin. The laughter of children clashed like wooden swords as they played warriors. Dashing between the legs of old veterans now soft with wine and bread.From the edge of the great hearth-circle, Boldolph. The ever watchful wolf-man, stood with arms crossed, one eye scanning the shadows beyond the firelight.
Beside him, the High Warlord of Caernath. Stood wrapped in a dark cloak trimmed with the dragon’s sigil, grinned like a rogue caught in mischief.
Morrigan, seated nearby with a healer’s grace. But a wolf’s patience, gave Taranis a sharp look one that said plainly: “Behave. Don’t test those who would die for you.”
Taranis gave a half-bow and a lopsided smile.
“I know, fair lady. I’m not the cub I once was but has everyone forgotten?” He raised his arms wide, as if to embrace the stars. “I can’t die. I’ve walked out of battles far worse than the ruins of old clans left to rot.”
At that moment, two small children ran up and collided with his legs, eyes wide with awe. They looked to their fathers for permission then to Taranis as if gazing upon the man behind the myth.
One boy stepped ahead, voice clear:
“We’ve heard the tales, sir. Especially of Stormborne how the dragons flew above the ridge and bowed to you. How Boldolph and Morrigan led the wolves into battle. Everyone fought, but only you walked out untouched.”
Before Taranis answer, Solaris, seated close to the fire, his collar gone but his voice steady, spoke quietly:
“No… I think he means the Cave of Skulls. One hundred and fifty men, women, and children trapped. Clawclan sealed the tunnels, left their own behind. But you…” Solaris met Taranis’s gaze. “You went back. You left the manor of Rock. You found the torture dens. You should have walked away. Instead, you tried to free us.”
His voice grew softer.
“My father cursed your name that day. My mother tried to calm him. But the slave the one who defied the lords had stirred the dead to rise.”
Taranis looked into the fire.
“They caught me. Tortured me. Bound my hands in chains of bone. Months passed. They set the date of my execution and buried me beneath the stone the very slab the warlords dined upon.” He paused, the flames reflecting in his eyes. “But they didn’t expect me to climb back out. From under their own table.”
He turned to the children, his voice gentler now.
“As long as I draw breath,” he said, “you will not face this world alone. Nor shall horrors befall you while I yet live.”
A hush fell over the feast, broken only by the crackle of fire. And in that silence, some said they heard it faint but unmistakable:
The low, mournful howl of a wolf, rising from the northern hills. And then another.
And another.
As if the old ghosts, the ones buried in bone and memory, were listening.
“they’ are howling for you Taranis, a lord they can all trust, a man leading his people to better days.” Morrigan said with a gracious smile
© StormborneLore. Written by Emma for StormborneLore. Not for reproduction. All rights reserved.
If this spoke to you, please like, share, and subscribe to support our mythic journey.
Further Reading
The Prophecies and Tales of Taranis Unfolded
StormborneLore 