Dungeon

I’ve been rereading Harry Potter recently, and the word “dungeon” occurs rather frequently.

They’re dark and fearsome, but what is a dungeon, exactly? I mean, I’ve never actually been in one.

I’m working on a book called “Written in Stone,” a fantasy romance, which involves a dungeon or two, so the word’s going to come in handy soon.

I thought it was something like a prison underground; a place to throw people and forget them, and I’m right, but the original French word meant, and still means, “castle keep.” It’s quite a leap down from the tower, where guards stand watch, through everything else in between, and down into the darkest places humans have made for each other.

From highest tower,

Seized and demoted colleague,

Eternal darkness.