by Lily Thomas
His father met him in the middle, and they bowed to each other, to show respect. Circling each other they both searched for the others weak points.
His father leapt forward. Kaeldar side stepped and deflected the blow with his own sword. Before Kaeldar could get a strike in, his father backed away. The old man was fast, he would give him that.
They circled again. Kaeldar was going to let his father lead this charge. He had never watched or fought his father before, so he didn’t know his weaknesses.
His father again charged forward, but this time Kaeldar held his ground and met his father’s sword strike. They backed away only to come forward yet again.
“Give up boy, and I might just spare your life.”
“Never.” Kaeldar growled. “I have more than one reason to fight you and win.”
“You think the people will accept a human female? You are just a deluded brat.” Their swords clashed together again.
“I have faith in the people. They will come to accept her given time away from your rule.”
His father’s eyes flashed at the veiled insult.
Kaeldar wondered if he would ever find a weakness or if he would have to tire his father out.
When his father lunged again, Kaeldar’s sharp eye picked up on where his father was favoring. Giving his father a couple more strikes Kaeldar waited, and then went on the offensive.
Kaeldar feigned an attack from the left, and then went in on the right. He thought he had his father, until he felt the slice of a blade cut into his arm.
Pulling back sharply Kaeldar gazed at his wounded arm in bewilderment. The crowd gave a cry of alarm at the sight of blood.
What had just happened? His father had been where he’d wanted him. It just showed that his father’s battle experience was going to throw him for a loop.
His father stepped forward, yet again ready to seize another opportunity, but Kaeldar was quick on his feet and danced away. He would have to assess the damage to his arm, when the battle was finally over with.
Moving around the arena Kaeldar led his father while trying to figure out how best to just get the fight over and done with.
His father rushed Kaeldar. They might be related, but they went at this battle with different techniques.
Kaeldar raised his sword to block his father, until he saw the moment he had been waiting for.
Quickly, he side stepped, as his father swung his sword. Kaeldar managed to get his sword into place, and before his father could react he disarmed him. Within a flash of metal, Kaeldar had the sword pointing at his father’s throat.
To kill him or not to kill him?
Now that Kaeldar was the victor, he could spare his father’s life.
“What are you waiting for?” His father demanded.
“Don’t do it!” His mother cried out from the side lines.
Kaeldar looked over at her, while she was held back by other males.
“Stupid boy!” His father barked, as he knocked the sword from Kaeldar’s hands and attacked him.
Kaeldar was done with being called, “stupid boy”.
Rolling around on the ground, they both punched and deflected blows, as they tried to get the upper hand on each other. It was down to brute strength and agility.
After tumbling around Kaeldar straddled his father and held on to his throat.
“Do not make me kill you.”
“You have always been weak, and you will never be a great king.”
“Rope! I need rope!” Kaeldar barked.
A rock giant came rushing forward.
“Tie his hands, once I get him flipped over.”
His father tried to fight him off, but Kaeldar forced him onto his front and his hands behind his back. Once he was all tied up, Kaeldar stood, bringing his father up as well.
“What will you do with me now? Stick me in the dungeon and leave me to rot?”
Was that a tremble in his voice? Kaeldar shook his head, it couldn’t have been.
“I won’t kill you.”
“You can’t.” His father spit in disgust.
His father seemed determined to spur him into killing him, but Kaeldar wasn’t going to take the bait. He was a different man.
“What will you do with him?” His mother had broken free and was racing towards them.
“He will be banished.”
He gave his father over to a trusted warrior and instructed him to take his father to the dungeon for now.
It was done, the challenge had been completed.
Glancing back up he took in the sight of his people bowing down to him. He was the king of the rock giants now.
Thoughts of Claira flitted through his mind. He had sent out some scouts, and he now knew where she was residing. It had taken time, but he thought he was ready to bring her back.
He didn't know anything about her personal life, but he was going to find out. If she’d started a life, he would go away without disturbing her and without bothering her with his presence or so he told himself.
If he saw she wasn't happy where she was, then he would give her the choice of returning with him. She would still need a guard, but his people knew about her. They knew she meant a lot to him.
Everything he had done was for them, but it was also for her.
Kaeldar sat perched in a tree right outside the human village. The sun was rising and so were the people of the village. He watched, as children and dogs went tearing through the streets. His heart stuttered, he was going to see Claira for the first time in months.
He had searched the area around the village, looking for any sign of a cottage on the outskirts of town. There hadn't been a single cottage by itself, which meant Claira was living within the town. It seemed as though she had been able to finally get along with her own people.
He was glad for her, but he also hoped he would be able to get her back.
The afternoon passed and Kaeldar grew weary of staying in one spot for too long. Perhaps the scouts he had sent out had been wrong about spotting her. He’d been waiting half a day and still he had no sighting of her. The majority of the humans here had brown hair, and so far he had seen no sea green eyes either.
With a heavy heart, Kaeldar jumped down from his perch in the tree. After a quick check on his horse, he made his way by foot around the perimeter of the village.
He was hoping a different vantage point would allow him a better opportunity to find Claira. Even if he did find her today, he may not get an opportunity to talk with her.
Picking another tree with plenty of foliage to hide his massive warrior's body Kaeldar sat to wait.
By early evening, Kaeldar was graced by a flash of long straw hair, but was it Claira?
Straining to see into the town he watched the woman. Her figure matched up with Claira's, and her height would be about right.
"Damn it, turn around." He cursed, as the woman kept her back to him. He felt like it was her, but he wanted to be sure.
He grew frustrated, as she kept her back to him, while she talked with a villager. He hopped down from the branch and looked for another vantage point.
Claira shivered, as goosebumps spread over her tender flesh. The hairs on her neck stood to attention, and she couldn't help but run a hand down her neck, while she turned to look at the forest behind her.
Nothing.
But she felt like there had been an intent gaze pinned to her back.
"Claira, all you alright?" The woman in front of her asked.
"Yes. Of course, I’m sorry. What were you saying about your son?"
"Well, I believe it is just a cold, but I wanted to see if you had time to take a look at him." She explained further. "I just fear for him, since he is so young. I don’t want an illness to take him away."
Claira felt certain there would be no need to worry, but she would, of course, keep checking up on the boy. She’d got to know a lot of the villagers here, like Mary. She knew Mary never had luck with having babes, and this young boy wa
s a treasure.
Entwining her arm with Claira's Mary guided them to her house.
Finally, the two women were moving. He braced himself, as they turned around and faced him.
The breath left his lungs, as he watched Claira smile to the other woman beside her. It did indeed look like Claira had gotten along with these villagers.
It pleased him she hadn't had a hard time, while she had been living here, but it made him wonder if she would want to come back with him. He still remembered the day he’d left her here by herself.
She’d uttered words he hadn't returned, though he felt love for her. It was the reason why he’d given her up, so he could make sure he could provide for her safety.
He hoped she would forgive him for what he’d done, making her feel as though she had no one by her side and for making her feel as though he might not return her feelings.
Now though, he was back, and he was here to take her away, assuming she would want to leave with him.
Kaeldar waited and watched, as Claira went from house to house, until she finally made a last stop which he assumed must be her own home.
It was enough for today. He would just have to be patient and wait for his opportunity to get her alone.
It took a few days, before she travelled outside of the village. The only downside? She had the company of a human male.
Kaeldar watched on, as they talked, but he trailed too far behind to hear what was said between them. It frustrated him like no other, but he didn’t want to blow his cover.
Claira carried what looked like a basket ladened with food, and the man carried a blanket.
Were they together? Had she moved on?
He tried to keep himself calm. He would know more soon, there was no need to rush to any conclusions. He hadn't wanted her to wait around, right?
Now he wasn't so sure. He must’ve thought she wouldn't get along with any villagers and hadn’t been worried about her falling in love.
How selfish of him, but she was his. Kaeldar wasn’t about to give up winning her back, if he could.
If they were together, that male would have quite the fight on his hands, because Kaeldar wasn't about to give up hope on having a future with Claira.
Eventually, the pair stopped in a small meadow, set out their blanket, and sat down. Claira spread out the food before them, as they talked. Kaeldar was able to get a little closer, but it was as if they were afraid of being overheard for they kept their voices at almost a whisper.
Claira turned her green eyes on the male and said something that caused the male’s smile to disappear.
Kaeldar smiled, good, he didn't want the male being happy. This scene already looked cozy enough.
But then the human male lifted Claira's hands and pressed a kiss onto the tops of her delicate skin, as a light blush creeped over her cheeks.
Rage poured through Kaeldar's body, until he saw crimson. Looking around he grabbed the closest branch off the ground and rushed in. He cracked the branch against the man's skull.
A scream pierced through the air, as Claira scrambled back.
Their eyes met, and her eyes widened, as she registered it was him. "Kaeldar?"
He growled down at her.
"How could you have done this? You didn't have to kill him!" She rushed over to the prone male's side, frustrating Kaeldar even more. He hated the fact she was worried for the other male.
"He isn't dead." Kaeldar muttered.
"I'll be the one to determine that, thank you." She reached over placing her fingers against the male's neck. A sigh of relief parted her lips, when she felt his pulse.
Fed up with waiting Kaeldar reached down and grabbed her wrist, jerked her up, and dragged her away from the picnic area.
Claira couldn't believe Kaeldar. She sat on his horse stunned, as he took them away. It had been so long since they’d seen each other that she would never have expected to see him again.
How could she possibly explain what had occurred to Christopher, when she got back? She couldn't think of any excuse for what had happened to knock out her suitor.
She had been so sure she would never see Kaeldar again.
Kaeldar soon stopped, swung her down to the ground, and then dismounted himself.
Claira gave him no moment to explain himself.
"How dare you!" She screamed. "How dare you come into my life and ruin what I made for myself! I told you I loved you, and you walked away from me! Thanks to you, I will have to settle some where new, because I have no way to explain what has just happened!"
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to shed them in front of Kaeldar.
It felt like it was just yesterday he had left her without saying so much as a goodbye, since her emotions were so pure and raw. She wasn't able to handle what was boiling under her skin.
"I realize all of that is true."
"Yet it didn't stop you from rushing in and ruining everything." The tears finally spilled over, and she wiped angrily at them. This was no time for tears. She wanted to be strong in front of him.
Kaeldar sighed heavily and even through her heated gaze she was able to realize he looked weary. There seemed to be something different about him, but she couldn’t place her finger on it.
Before she could react, he wrapped his strong arms around her, and she melted against him. It had been so long, and she’d craved his touch more than she realized.
"Why have you come back Kaeldar?"
"To bring you back."
"Bring me back?"
"Yes, Claira. I have come to bring you back with me."
"Were you ever going to ask if I wanted to come with you?"
"Yes, I was, my sweet, but I saw him kiss your hand. I’m not perfect, and a rage consumed me, and before I knew it I struck him down."
She remained quite, and then pushed away. Her eyes flashed, as she demanded, "And why would I ever go back with you to the rock giant castle?"
At first, she thought he may not answer her, but then he whispered, "Because I love you, and I have loved you for so very long now."
Her breath caught in her throat. She had waited so long to hear those words come from his lips.
"It might be too late to say that." She couldn't stop herself from uttering the sentence, because he had put her through so much.
"I’m hoping I can regain your love, and that I haven’t waited too long." He took a deep breath and continued on. "I have taken the kingship from my father, and my people stand behind me. It wasn’t safe before, but now, I can take you back with me.”
After she said nothing he stated, "I will take you back to the village or where ever you wish to go. I am truly sorry for what I have put you through. Tell me never to see you again, and you will never have to lay eyes on me, but tell me you love me, and I will never let you regret it.”
“Except for when you kill innocent villagers.”
“That is all in the past. I haven’t killed a villager since meeting you, well, there was the one male who attacked you.”
“The male has a name, Robert.”
“He attacked you, Claira. Was I to stand by and let him?”
“No, and I’ve come to accept that you thought it was the only way, but that doesn’t explain the other villagers.”
“What other villagers?” He threw his hands in the air.
“When we split from a group, after I saved your life. You just let your men march off to a human village.”
Kaeldar shook his head.
“Right before we came to the castle?”
Then he nodded. “I remember now, but they did not kill any civilians.”
“How do you know?”
“Your village was one of the few that still has villagers on the border. The one they marched to was vacant, except for some human troops.”
“Oh.”
“Now that my father is out of power, I can help put a stop to innocent deaths. He would not have cared, but I do. I care because I love you, but the war must go
on. Either the humans win, we win or we come to a standstill.”
Closing her eyes she whispered, "I love you, Kaeldar, but I’ve started a life here.”
“Tell me to leave, and I will. I will even promise to never return.”
Claira bit her lip. Wasn’t this what she wanted? A life with him could be dangerous, but a life with Christopher wouldn’t be fair. She didn’t love him, she only liked him. Kaeldar had stolen her heart, a long time ago.
“If I come with you, will you promise to let me go, if I should ever chose to leave you?”
“I won’t give you a reason to leave.”
“Still.”
She wanted, no, she needed the promise, just in case he did do something she didn’t like. He was the kind of man she could trust to honor a promise, even if he was a rock giant. Just because she was going back with him didn’t mean she was going to let him off easily.
There would be wooing, when they got back to the castle. There would definitely be some wooing on his part.
"I can tell you that you will never regret this."
She smiled up at him and held out her arms. There would be problems, but she would face them when they came.
Stepping forward he grabbed her waist and swung her around in a circle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss. It had been too long since they last kissed.
"They will accept me?" She worried her lip, as she broke off the kiss.
"I have already talked with my people. You will be accepted, and I will be by your side. There will be challenges to get through, but in the end I believe you can win them all over."
Claira smiled. If someone had told her her life would work out this well, she would’ve told them they were insane, but she was glad she was wrong. From simple healer to future queen of the rock giants.
