by Julia Crane
A shocked look crossed his face right before he bolted.
Keegan looked up in surprise. He was probably mad because she had been ignoring him lately. Whatever, she had more important things going on than high school drama.
CHAPTER 14
Richard could see his men were tired. He had yet to tell them that the great battle was upon them. Of course, they all expected as much since they had increased the training schedule so drastically. They knew they were going to Ireland for a training mission and nothing more. He would inform them of the truth before they flew out. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his men. It was the issue of their relatives with the gift. Many had the ability to read minds. They had been training night and day and everyone missed their families.
Richard looked at his watch and saw it was almost lunch time. He called Rourk over. “Pass the word that there will be a meeting in front of the mess hall in thirty minutes.” This would cause a lot of grumbling from the men. They all hated last minute meetings, and to cut into their lunch time made it even worse.
Richard stood and waited for them all to gather around. “I want you all to know that I appreciate the hard work you have put in. I know you miss your families. I miss mine, as well. Tomorrow I would like you all to bring your family members here for a cookout. Everything will be supplied; you just have to show up.” He looked around and saw smiles on the faces of many of them.
“After that I don’t want to see any of you for the following three days. As for today, you are all done for the day, go home and relax.” With a few honest words, the spirit had gone from weary and fatigued to an overwhelming sense of excitement.
***
Emerald was surprised to see her husband walk through the door so early.
“I noticed the men looked depleted so I sent them home. We’re also going to have a cookout at the camp tomorrow. I told them to bring their families, and I’ve given them three days off after that.” He had a look of mischief in his eyes. “So you know what that means?”
A look of annoyance crossed her face. “That Keegan and Rourk are going to be at the same place at the same time?”
Richard could kick himself. How had he not thought of that?
“Richard, I am too tired to fight. It is done; we will let it take its course. I’m glad you have some time off. I have missed you.”
His eyes widened. He hadn’t expected to get off the hook that quickly. “I was thinking we should take the kids to your mothers and go away for the weekend. It has been too long since we have been alone.”
Smiling, she said, “That sounds like a wonderful idea. Let’s not go too far though. How does a cabin in the woods sound?”
“Perfect.”
CHAPTER 15
The next day the camp was bustling with excitement. There was music playing, people were dancing, and the food was cooking. Elfin children were running amuck all over the place. Rourk didn’t care for this type of thing; however, he understood it was part of being in a unit. Richard knew that events like this helped build cohesion among the soldiers. Rourk had to admit he was enjoying himself, standing back and taking it all in. He loved watching the children play.
Keegan dreaded going to the stupid cookout. The only thing that made it bearable was she could take a lot of pictures. She liked to capture people unaware when they were in a natural state.
Her dad had left early to make sure everything was prepared. Her mother put off their departure as long as possible, but soon it was time to go. They were expected to be there for their father. Keegan wished she could bring her friends, but outsiders were not allowed on the camp.
Much to her surprise, Keegan quickly got caught up in the excitement. Hundreds if not thousands were there. It was hard to explain, but there was something special about being around elfin families, and she could feel the love and admiration all around. Couples were dancing. Laughter was everywhere. Kids squalled in delight.
Keegan smiled. It was the happiest she had felt in months. She snapped pictures as she made her way through the crowd. She thought she probably got some of her best shots ever. Everywhere she looked there were faces of joy.
Keegan looked through her lens and froze. Quickly recovering, she snapped a picture. He was as perfect as she remembered from the night of the concert. Staring off with a look of contentment, he was watching the kids play. Her heart pounded. Rourk is here. When she thought his name he turned and made eye contact with her. They stood staring at each other, neither sure what to do.
Emerald watched the interaction, and she nudged Richard. They both looked over, knowing there was nothing they could do at this point. They watched as Rourk strode through the crowd. Their daughter was as still as a photograph with a look of awe on her face.
Keegan was nervous as Rourk walked toward her. What was she going to say? In an instant, he was in front of her. She felt his fingers trace the side of her face. She looked up into his grey eyes as he leaned down and kissed her.
Richard and Emerald looked away and allowed their daughter to have the moment to herself. They knew there was a real possibility that Rourk would die in Ireland. She deserved this time.
Keegan had kissed boys before, but this was unlike anything she had ever felt. It was the weirdest sensation, as if she had electrical current running through her body. His arms felt so powerful encircling her. The noise around them sounded muffled and distant. She had no idea how long the kiss lasted—probably not long, but it felt like an eternity.
When they broke away, Keegan looked up and said, “Wow, did you feel that?” She had never imagined a kiss could feel so intoxicating.
Rourk stared at her, speechless, with a look of adoration.
Suddenly, Keegan realized everyone was clapping and cheering, and it was directed at them. Her face flushed a deep shade of red.
Rourk, on the other hand, looked proud. His hand found hers and it felt as natural as if they have been together for years. There was no awkwardness; it was like they’d fused into one.
Keegan pulled him toward the games. She smiled up at him, “I bet I could beat you at darts.”
“You’re on,” he replied with a grin, “but don’t cry when I beat you.”
Rourk smiled at her after he won a second time. Keegan had her hands on her hips. “Best out of three.”
“Forget it, you’ll never beat me. Let’s go grab something to eat.” Keegan took off running towards the woods and Rourk followed. He laughed as he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. They fell to the ground.
“I have waited for you my whole life.”
“Sure you have, I’ve seen you enjoying yourself with a few guys,” Rourk said in a teasing voice.
“Whatever, I’m sure you have had your share of girlfriends.”
“I’ve had none; you are my first and only.”
Rourk reached over and kissed her.
“I wish we could stay here forever, I think this is the best day of my life,” Keegan said as she leaned back against him.
Someone yelled their names. Rourk gave her a quick kiss and pulled her up. As they walked, elves kept coming up and congratulating them, talking about how they all thought it was so sweet Keegan and Rourk were able to meet before their time. The rest of the day went by in a blur.
When it was time to leave, her parents approached them. “Your father and I have plans to go away for the weekend. Your brothers are going to your grandmother’s. Would you two like to join us?”
Keegan gaped at her mother. Was she serious? Her heart leapt with hope.
Rourk replied, “Of course, we would love to join you. As long as it’s okay with Keegan.”
Keegan looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I want to spend as much time as possible with you.”
Richard seemed kind of surprised himself as he looked at his wife. “We will have to call and change the reservations to a cabin with three bedrooms.”
Looking at them both, Emerald said, “There is a condition to this. Yo
u guys can have this weekend together, but you are not to see each other again until you get to Ireland, is that clear?”
The idea of being separated brought a pain to Keegan’s chest. However, she nodded at her mother. She understood that Rourk had to focus on the preparations for the battle. Rourk also agreed. They were both grateful for anytime they could spend together. “We will be leaving in two hours,” Emerald said, “so I suggest you part ways and gather up whatever you will need for the weekend.”
***
Back at home, Keegan felt like she was floating on clouds—she didn’t know such feelings existed. Glancing around her room, she began throwing clothing into her bag. Her mother had said a cabin. Knowing her mom she’d better dress for the occasion. They would probably end up on a long trek. She threw on a pair of hiking pants, shirt and boots. She grabbed her necessities out of the bathroom and yelled to her parents she was ready.
They looked at each other in amazement over their bed where they were both folding clothes into duffel bags and smothered a laugh. Usually Keegan was the last to be ready and took forever making sure she would have the perfect outfits and her hair was just right. They could get used to this. Hopefully, Rourk continued to have this effect on her.
They piled into her mother’s Land Rover Defender and headed out. Keegan had to admit it was a seriously cool vehicle. Her mother had been in one on their last safari in Africa and said she loved it. Her father, seeing an opportunity to surprise her, had one delivered to the house before they got back. It was matte black with rugged tires and a rack on top. Keegan ran her hand on the soft leather seat and thought she couldn’t wait to have Rourk by her side.
Her father pulled into Rourk's driveway. Keegan skipped up the drive and knocked on the door. Rourk’s father answered. Upon seeing him Keegan smiled and thought he was very good looking for an older man.
Keegan smiled and said, “Hello, I’m excited to meet you.” She peeked around him to get a glance of the house.
His father opened the door wider which allowed her to step in. “You have made Rourk happier than I have seen him in a long time. He’ll be out in just a second.”
Glancing around the house, she was surprised to see that it looked as if it had a female touch. She expected to see a bachelor pad or something. There were dainty curtains hanging in the kitchen, and the living room looked warm and inviting.
“You have a lovely home,” Keegan said.
His father replied, “Thank you, I have not changed a thing since my wife passed away.”
Ah, that made sense. “Well, she had great taste.
He smiled warmly at her. "She would have loved to have met you."
Keegan's face flushed. "Thank you, that means a lot.”
Rourk appeared from the hallway and her heart skipped a beat. Would she ever get used to his overwhelming beauty? He wasn’t beautiful in the conventional way. His face looked rugged, angled with eyes that were confident. He looked exactly like what he was, a warrior. She could not believe he was all hers.
His eyes met hers, and a smile spread across his face. He quickly glanced at his dad. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Rourk grabbed Keegan’s hand, and she looked up. He was much taller than she expected—not that she was complaining; in her eyes, he was perfection.
They quickly descended the steps toward the vehicle. She felt like jumping up and down over her excitement for the weekend. They had no idea, where they were headed, or how long it would take. Not that it mattered, as long as they were together.
During the drive, Keegan asked Rourk tons of questions. Talking a mile a minute she wanted to know everything about him.
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Green.”
“Really? Green is my favorite color too.”
Her father turned towards them. “Keegan, I think green is a very common favorite color for elves.” She stuck her tongue out at him and continued on drilling Rourk.
“Glass half empty or half full?”
“That would depend on how thirsty I am.” He smiled at her while she thought of his answer.
“Very clever, I’ve never heard that reply before.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and they lapsed into a comfortable silence. Keegan looked out the window, wishing they could stop. She wanted to take some photos of the breathtaking scenery. She knew it was more important to get to their destination.
The drive took a couple of hours. Finally, her father turned down a narrow, winding road. Rourk laughed when Keegan gripped tighter on his arm as her father made a swift turn. Richard was a crazy driver. She would be glad when they could get out and walk. Twenty minutes later, they turned into a hidden driveway.
Keegan was excited; she loved going new places. It felt like they were going on a grand adventure. Ever since she was little, her family had traveled across the world and she was always excited to see new places. Even though they weren’t that far from their home, it felt as if they were driving into a hidden oasis.
“Have you guys been here before?” she asked. She noticed the look passing between her parents. Both had secret smiles on their faces.
“Yes, we’ve been here,” her mom answered. “Out of all the places we have been this is our favorite. We planned to keep it a secret from everyone. This is not the exact spot. We usually come to a much smaller one-room cabin.”
They stopped, and her father said, “We walk from here, so grab your things.”
They hiked up the rugged terrain and Keegan felt like she’d stepped into a magical wonderland. The scenery was stunning with rolling green hills and sparkling sunshine that stole through the canopy to illuminate the flora on the ground. Keegan grabbed her camera out of the bag and started snapping pictures. Even though elves had adapted to living among human civilization, they were still most at home in nature. She stopped and inhaled the fragrance of the wildflowers scattered around her.
“Mom, do you know the name of this flower?” Keegan asked, bending down to train the lens of her camera on a beautiful lavender flower.
“No, sorry. I always forget the names,” Emerald answered, coming to a stop to wait for her daughter.
“Well, this is a dwarf iris. It’s named after the goddess of the rainbow. It’s also the Tennessee state flower.”
“Why did you ask if you already knew the answer?” Her mother asked, exchanging an amused look with her husband.
“Well, you’re always right, so I wanted to throw something out there that I knew you didn’t know.” Keegan looked up from her camera and gave her a devious smile. Rourk chuckled.
“That sounds like something your father would do,” Emerald sighed, rolling her eyes. She gave Rourk a sympathetic look. “Rourk, you have to watch this girl.”
“I’ll be sure to put her in her place when it’s needed,” he said, amused.
Richard laughed and placed a hand on Rourk’s shoulder. “Good luck with that.”
They walked deeper into the woods, and it appeared as though snow was covering the forest floor. That was not the case; it was the lovely spring beauty flower that blanketed the ground. Keegan couldn’t help herself; she stooped once more to the ground, lifting her camera to catch the sea of white.
Richard glanced over at Rourk, whose gray eyes were trained on Keegan with a look that bordered on adoration. “You better get used to this, son. It takes two to three times longer to get anywhere with her when she has the camera in hand.”
Looking amused, Rourk said, “I would wait forever for her.”
Keegan was lost in her photography and missed the exchange.
Emerald nudged Keegan. “We need to quicken our pace if we’re to get there before nightfall. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the forest tomorrow.”
Reluctantly, she put her camera away and wondered how much further they had to go. They kept ascending the trails, if one could call them that. She hoped her father hadn’t gone off the path and gotten them lost. Her muscles ached. They’d
been trekking a long time.
Unexpectedly she heard the tranquil sound of water splashing against rocks. A waterfall must be close by. She squeezed Rourk’s hand.
“Dad, can we please find the waterfall?”
Glancing behind him, he threw over his shoulder, “You’re in luck. We’re headed in that direction. We are almost to the cabin.”
They hiked another 400 meters or so and then her father abruptly turned off the path and into the woods. Keegan glanced around. Oh great, we are lost. The sun was setting, and she was starting to get worried. She glanced up at Rourk; he looked completely at ease but focused. He had complete confidence in her father. Rourk was constantly preventing her from getting smacked in the face with branches. She saw her father pushing his way through a huge portion of bushes. This was ridiculous; she could feel herself getting annoyed. It was no longer fun—she was sore and tired.
Just when she was about to say something to her father, she was stunned into silence. Hidden behind the shrubbery was a wooden swing bridge. She grasped hold of the rope and tentatively stepped onto the wooden slats. It swayed, and when she looked down, she felt a rush of adrenaline run through her. She hadn’t realized how high they had climbed. She felt like running across the bridge, but her parents were walking in front of them. Reaching back, she grabbed her camera out of the bag. The bridge was narrow, so they had to go in a single-file line. She got some great shots of Rourk and her parents. She wished she’d brought a larger lens. The distance to the ground was so far away, she was not going to be able to do it justice. This was definitely worth the time it took to get there.
Once they made it across her father promised it was not much farther. Thankfully, he was telling the truth.
Nestled in the woods like something out of a fairy tale was a rustic cabin. The boards were so weathered they were gray and looked old and run-down. Beds of brilliantly colored flowers were overflowing the front yard while the leaves of the forest behind the cabin shone in the sunshine. A single gravel pathway led to the front door, where her mom retrieved a key that was hidden under some rocks.
