by Ralph Smith
Finding her in that field was surreal. He had seen her world time, and again, but today, he was there. How was that even possible, he asked himself? He knew she didn’t have any idea what was going on, either, and it was the fact that she needed him that allowed him to regain his composure.
He had seen her strength, her determination, and her fearlessness for years. Today, though, he saw her vulnerability, and to see her vulnerable changed everything. Any shred of doubt he had about the reality of her existence had been stripped away. It opened a floodgate of feelings he didn’t know he had. He was always willing to stand up for what was right, to protect, and defend people who needed it, but this was something so much more. He knew somehow that no one else saw that side of her and that letting her guard down with him was extraordinary. With that gift came an enormous responsibility, and the question was, is he up to the task? He wanted nothing more than for the two of them to stay here where he could keep her safe, but that was a foolish dream. These moments of respite were fleeting, and what was to come would test his limits. He knew without a doubt that this was the beginning, not the end. That what lay ahead of him was sure to be the most challenging events he had ever faced. He closed his eyes and longed for his parents, for their guidance, and reassurance. He was never one to hesitate, never afraid to jump headlong into a situation, but this was different. It was more than just his fate it was hers. For the first time in a long time, he was afraid. What if he failed, what would the consequences be?
A creak of wood snapped him back to reality. His eyes flew open to see her standing in the entrance from the hall. He hurried to his feet and took in the sight of her. There stood the leather-clad warrior in a cotton nightshirt that ran all the way down to her knees. It was light blue with a small floral pattern. It gently wrapped her beautiful figure, not to snugly, but enough to reveal her lovely shape. She had on a pair of white socks that came up over her ankles. Her hair had been neatly brushed out and fell down past her shoulders. Her face, hands, and the lower part of her forearms were lightly tanned from all the time she spent outdoors. Her calves were pale white from always being covered under her traveling pants. She held her hands together in front of her looking like a young girl in need of approval.
She smiled a little, and said, “I thought I might sneak up on you, but I guess I was wrong. Is this gown all right for sleeping?”
David swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, “Yes you look lovely. Is it comfortable?”
She moved into the room, “Oh yes, it’s very comfortable, I’m not used to wearing something so soft.”
David looked at her hands, “Where’s your pack?” He asked. A brief look of panic and she took off back to the room. He heard her padded footsteps rushing in to retrieve her precious belongings. He stood motionless waiting for her return; in his mind’s eye he could still see her standing there.
She returned a moment later, her pack dangling at her side with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I’m sure it’s safe here, I’m just not used to letting it out of my sight.”
David smiled at her, “I understand, and I thought as much. Would you like to sit by the fire? I have some fresh tea.” David asked.
“Yes that would be nice.” She replied.
He motioned for her to sit on the couch, and then pulled a small throw blanket from a chair next to it. He covered her lap as she curled her legs up under her. She leaned against the arm and back of the couch facing him as he went to the small table to fetch the tea.
“Do you take any sugar or milk in your tea?” He asked.
“No, just plain would be fine, thank you.” He handed her the cup then sat at the opposite end of the sofa leaning back to face her.
“How was your bath?” He asked.
She smiled, “I don’t think I’ve ever had one better. I might not have come out if the water hadn’t started to get cold.”
He grinned, “I hope you’re feeling relaxed, and ready for a decent night’s sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow is the beginning of a long journey, and I have no idea where.”
She looked sadly down at her legs, “Are you sending me away?”
David leaned towards her, and put his hand gently under her chin, raising her head up to meet his eyes. “Never. I should have said we have a long journey ahead of us.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back at him.
After a momentary pause, he pulled back his hand, and she said, “That was foolish of me. You’ve been terribly kind, and I have no right to expect you to do anything more for me. I should leave tomorrow, so I don’t burden you anymore or put you in danger.” Her expression had changed to the look of determination he so admired in her.
David stared into her eyes holding her gaze until she faltered, then said in a calm commanding voice, “From the moment I pulled you out of the way of that fireball tonight your life became my responsibility. Our fates are bound together. In fact, I believe they were set since before we were born. It’s no coincidence that I was there tonight and that you’re here right now. So you have my oath that no matter the cost, I will see through to the end whatever journey we must take. I realized tonight that this is the beginning of something far greater than our two lives and that we must both play our part. I will only ask one thing of you.” She gave him a small nod, looking at him with a mixture of admiration, surprise, and trepidation. “You must promise me that no matter what happens you will never doubt my commitment, and loyalty to you.”
She managed to force out a small “Yes.”
David went on, “In return, I commit to you the same. No matter what, I trust in you. Somehow, I know without a doubt that it is our bond, our unbreakable bond that will protect us more than anything else. Every instinct I have, tells me that we will be tested, and that, it is that test that we must not fail. It may seem crazy after a few short hours to make such a statement, and anyone who has not seen what we have seen our entire lives wouldn’t understand. I hope you don’t think me a fool acting on a whim, but somehow tonight, all the pieces seem to be falling into place, and I’ve never been more certain of anything.” He paused looking at her for some sign that she didn’t think he was crazy.
She looked down again, and for a moment he thought she had her doubts. Then she raised her head strong, and proud, and met his eyes. In a steady voice filled with confidence she spoke “You’re right, it does seem crazy. In fact if it were anyone else who said those things to me I would leave this moment, but something more than my own heart, or my own head tells me that what you said is true.” Relieved, David managed a smile, and Aurora smiled back at him. Then he saw her looking frightened for the first time, “I’m terrified that I’ll fail. I’ve never admitted that before because the stakes are too high. I only hope you can forgive me if I do.” A single tear ran down her cheek. David reached out, cupping her face with his hand wiping away the tear with his thumb.
He spoke in a gentle voice “Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow, for today has trouble enough of its own. I’m afraid, too, but you’re going to be fine, and together we won’t fail.”
She closed her eyes and rested her head in his hand. It was so comforting to feel his strength. She always had to be the strong one. This was the first time she felt it was ok to let go. For ten long years, she had carried a heavy burden, and the weight of it was crushing at times, but it had suddenly lightened. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, and saw him sitting there, still holding her head in his hand, and drinking her face in with his eyes. She lifted her head, and he slowly recoiled his arm. Turning to look at the fire, she noticed it. She sat upright without a word.
“What is it?” David said. She was staring intently at the fireplace.
“Do you see that in the middle?”
He turned to look, “Do you mean in the fire?”
She shook her head, “No, in the middle above the opening. The circular design”
David looked back at her, “Yes, I’m not sure what it means, but my parents carved it into the house above every do
or, and window.”
Shocked, she turned to look, and to her surprise she saw it everywhere watching over them. “Do you have any idea what it is?” She asked her mind racing.
“No, they’ve always been here, and my parents never talked about them. I always liked the design, and found it comforting to look at, but never thought to ask my parents what it meant.” He said with his curiosity building. “Do you know what it means?” He asked.
“Yes, it’s His mark, the mark of our Lord. That’s why I feel so safe here; they cannot pass this seal. When his true servants place this seal, it creates a barrier that the Dark One and his servants cannot cross. Your parents must have been His servants.”
“Yes, they were believers, they taught me everything about his word, and … “
She cut him off “I’m sorry, I think you misunderstand me, it isn’t just enough to believe. They must have been more than that.”
He looked at her confused, “What do you mean?”
“Where I come from there are followers. They are people who believe in the light. And then there are followers with gifts, like me. Then there are His servants, they are born that way, they stand in both worlds His and ours. They guide us in the fight against the dark. At least one of your parents had to be His servant”
David sat there silently, trying to understand the implications of what she was saying. Aurora stared at him waiting to see what he would say. Slowly, as if thinking out loud, he began to speak, “When I said my parents were gone, it wasn’t an accurate way to describe it. It’s just the phrase I’ve used because I don’t normally like to explain it.” She gently placed her hand on his to encourage him to go on. “It was the day before my 18th birthday. My parents had gone on a trip, and were supposed to be coming home. There was an accident, their car hit a tree, and burst into flames. My father was found on the road badly hurt, but without a burn on him, and they never found my mother’s body. They assumed she was consumed in the fire because of the intense heat. My father survived, but he can’t speak or move. He just sits staring off into nothing and nurses have to feed him and tend to his every need. I visit him every week, and after six years there hasn’t been any change” his voice trailed off.
Aurora gently squeezed his hand, and when he looked at her she said, “Tomorrow we’ll go see him.” David nodded his head. “David, there’s something else. I think I’ve seen your mother before.”
His eyes wide, David asked “What?”
Aurora looked at him, and in a gentle voice said, “When I was looking at the picture in your parent’s room, and I saw your mother, I couldn’t place it then, but I think I may have seen her before. I’m still not certain when or where, but she’s extremely familiar to me.”
David sat there staring at her, his head spinning, and after a few moments he regained himself. “Aurora, after today, as difficult as it may be to accept, I must admit that anything’s possible.” Seeing how tired she was, he added “But for tonight I think you need to get some sleep before you collapse from exhaustion.” He gave her a smile letting her know it was not a dismissal.
“Perhaps you’re right. With some rest, my memory may become clear.”
He stood, and offered her his hand. She pushed the blanket off her lap, and he pulled her effortlessly to her feet. She turned, and grabbed her pack. He followed her back to her room, and pushed the door open, looking inside. All was as it should be, and he stayed at the threshold as she moved into the room. She turned to him with sleepy eyes. “I’m not sure how I’ll sleep without the hard ground for my bed.”
He smiled at her. “I’ll be in the room next to you with the door open so I can hear you if you need me. Sleep well, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
She placed her hand on his chest, over his heart, and closed her eyes. Her touch sent a shiver through him. She looked up, and opened her eyes again to see him gazing at her intently.
"You'll be safe here tonight."
“I know I will” she replied. “Good night, David.”
“Good night, Aurora,” then he pulled the door closed, but left a crack; just enough for her voice to carry through.
The Awakening
David made his way back to the living room lost in thought. He gathered up the tea and cups, and laughed to himself as the dog slept on the rug in front of the fire. A dog had so few things to worry about, but his lighthearted moment was short lived. His mind began replaying the day’s events again. Running through every moment, looking for anything he may have missed, considering her words. Before he realized it, he had finished cleaning the kitchen, and made his way back to the fire that was burning brightly. He sat on the couch and stared at the seal on the mantle. He was finally getting tired, but it somehow held his gaze. The outer ring was a circle, and the inner markings were divided into three groups. He couldn’t specifically tell what they were, but they gave the appearance of motion. As he stared at it in the dimming light his eyes began to lose focus, and he thought he saw movement. Soon the inner markings began to swirl as if around a whirlpool in the center. Slowly at first, so he thought it was a trick of the light, and then suddenly it was a blur of speed. Beginning at the center, a small light started to emerge, and began spreading until it filled the entire circle. The moment it reached the outer ring, he heard a bang.
He felt as if he was being propelled through the air, directly into the vortex of light. In an instant, he was inside the light, and then he was surrounded by silence. He looked around. He couldn’t tell if he had a physical form or not. While trying to sense something or gain some perspective on what was happening, a sound began to reach him. It was a voice floating in from a distance saying his name “David”. He called out “Yes I’m here”.
The voice responded, “You have acted wisely today. The time has come, the battle rages, only through faith can you prevail. You have been given everything you need. Follow your heart, and beware those who serve the Dark One.”
David called out desperately, “What do I need to do?” As the voice began to drift out of his reach, he heard “You will know. Choose what is right, and serve others.”
David felt as if he fell back onto the couch or into his body, he wasn’t sure which. His eyes popped open wide, and the room was filled with the morning sun. What felt like mere moments, had actually been hours. He was wide-awake, and stood up to look around the room. He felt different somehow, as if energy was coursing through him. It was something new that hadn’t been there before. He stood, his eyes closed, trying to make sense of what it was, but the sensation was beyond his understanding.
He opened his eyes to see Rusty lift his head, and yawn. David looked at the clock; it was six in the morning. He felt well rested and alert. "How about some breakfast boy," he said to the dog. Wagging his tail, Rusty jumped up to follow him. David made his way to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. He gave Rusty a biscuit to tide him over while he got out his food. As the dog ate happily, David stared out the window watching the sunlight shimmer on the grounds. While the coffee pot gurgled, he considered what he had heard. He still had no idea what he was supposed to do next. He was filled with a mixture of excitement, and fear. What had happened to him last night was beyond words. He felt more alive, more connected to the world than ever before, yet the implications of it all were frightening to conceive.
Pouring himself some coffee, he lifted the cup to his nose and breathed in the aroma. The smell of fresh coffee in the morning was why he started drinking it in the first place. When he found himself living alone after the accident, he missed that smell, and began making it for himself. Still dressed in his clothes from the night before, he decided to walk outside with his cup to get some fresh air. He went out the back door, and the cold morning air felt refreshing. It was a bit brisk out, but he was a little stiff from being on the couch all night, and the fresh air was soothing. He wandered out into the yard and looked at the plantings, the trees, and grasses. All the life around him seemed to touch him; it made him
feel a part of it. As he stood there, he noticed something that never caught his attention before. The far edges of the garden had a curve to it. He made his way over to look at it. Why would the garden curve? All the fields were planted in rows. It was just more efficient that way. Once he reached the perimeter he saw the edging that his parents had put there before he was born. He had never quite paid attention to it before, but for some reason it intrigued him. He began walking the perimeter, following the line. When he got to the end of the garden, he saw, for the first time that the edging continued on. He was surprised he never noticed it before. He had cut the grass here countless times. As he continued to follow it, he began to realize that everything looked different. Somehow the world seemed brighter more alive than it did before. He wondered to himself, was it because of what happened the night before, or was it just his imagination?
