by Nikki Landis
“I came to see what you were doin’, not so sure I want ta know now.” His voice was gruff and flustered.
“I don’t see how hiding in trees was giving you any answers. You know I can hear you.”
Fidget answered with a second “harrumph” and then looked at me again.
“Names Fidget,” he told me, “nice to meet you.”
I walked over and shook his hand. “Hello, Fidget. I’m Rhiannon. It is very nice to meet you too.” I put on my best smile.
His eyes widened again. He looked at me for a moment. Then he walked over and sat down on the same log I had just gotten up from. I followed him over and sat next to him. He seemed to like that. Kellen looked at me and smiled, nodding his head in approval.
“Rhiannon, you say.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That sounds just like…”
He suddenly fell to his knee on the ground before me. “Milady. Forgive me. I did not realize it was you.”
“Rise Fidget.” I smiled. “There is not a need for formality here.”
“Oh but there is. I would gladly bow at your feet milady.” He blushed and glanced at Kellen who was laughing so hard he almost fell off the log he was sitting on.
“Come now Fidget. Have a laugh for old time sake.”
Fidget grinned and sat down at my feet. He flat out refused to sit with me again.
“There’s been talk. Some of the folk are nervous. I’ve come ta ask ya if there is going ta be a meetin’ soon.”
Kellen glanced at me, and then spoke quickly. “We’re here to see my father. We have news.”
He filled Fidget in on the reason for our visit. They spoke for several minutes. Most of the conversation was confusing, so I just smiled and pretended I got it. After a few minutes, Fidget got up.
“I need ta leave. There is much ta tell the others. I will meet ya at yer home in two days,” he told Kellen.
Kellen nodded. “Yes, in two days.”
They clasped arms and then Fidget walked slowly over to me.
“Farewell, milady.” He bowed and kissed my hand. “Until we meet again.”
He left, so quietly I could not hear his footsteps. Kellen looked at me and grinned.
“That was well done. He likes you. I think he is a bit smitten, actually.” His voice sounded just a tiny bit tight and then he relaxed.
I smiled and shrugged, yawning slightly.
“It’s getting late. We will start moving again at dawn. You need to get some sleep.”
Kellen spread the sleeping bag out on the ground, making sure no rocks or twigs were there to bother me, rolling up a blanket and setting it down as my pillow. Then he walked over and took my hands, leading me to the makeshift bed. He kissed me long and tenderly and gestured for me to get in the sleeping bag. When I was all zipped in and comfortable, he walked over to the log and sat down.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?” I asked him.
“Not tonight. Remember, I told you I can get by with very little sleep? It’s a soldier thing.”
I nodded. I watched him as he took out a cloth and began polishing the sword. He looked at me after a while, noticing I was still awake.
“Darling, you really need to get some rest. It will be another long day tomorrow. I promise to slow down for you though. Sorry about that,” he apologized again.
I knew I needed to sleep but I couldn’t. I just lay there. He sighed after a few minutes.
“Would you like me to sing to you?”
My mouth opened in surprise. He sang too? Let’s check off another item on the ‘things Kellen is good at’ list, I thought. He was amazing. I nodded to him.
He started humming and then his voice lifted into a wonderful ballad about a soldier in love with a beautiful maiden.
“Where you go, my darling, my heart will follow after.
There's no road you can escape me by.
Joy or woe, your sorrow and your laughter,
I will share with you until the day I die.
There's a new magic in the air,
Enchantment everywhere, I feel it all around me.
Magic in the breeze among the trees so fair,
It is you, my lover, wherever you may be.
Ever since you came, nothing is the same,
Just to speak your name, the harder that I fell.
Your love ignites my inner flame,
Ever since I fell underneath your spell.
Where you go, my bonny dear, my heart will follow after.
There’s no road you could escape me by.
Joy or woe, your sorrow and your laughter,
I will share with you until the day I die.
My heart is overflowing, filling with desire,
To make you my very own.
I would travel the longest road, climb ever higher,
I would cover you in riches, never would you be alone.
Where you go, my lovely one, my heart will follow after.
There’s no road you will escape me by.
Joy or woe, your sorrow and your laughter,
I will share with you until the day I die.
Come and run away with me,
That the world could see my devotion, how very easily,
Magic that surrounds us, even as we flee.
I only wish to hold my love for all eternity.
Where you go, my deepest love, my heart will follow after.
There’s no road that you would escape me by.
Joy or woe, your sorrow and your laughter,
I will always share with you until the day I die.”
I was completely mesmerized. His voice was gentle and strong and seemed to lift the very air around me. I sighed contentedly as my eyes fluttered and closed. I heard him start singing it again as I gently fell asleep.
Someone shaking me startled me awake. My eyes tried to open but were having difficulty. I blinked them a few times and then I saw Kellen in front of me. He was smiling.
“Time to get up. Sorry to wake you so early but we have a lot of ground to cover today.”
I slowly climbed out of the sleeping bag, not entirely awake yet. I watched as he rolled everything up and took down our little camp. After a few minutes, it looked like no one had been there at all. He brought me some fresh water to drink and wash my face with. Then he discreetly showed me the ladies’ room. I knew he would be close by if I needed him. A few minutes later we were walking hand in hand again, toward his home.
Sometime later, Kellen stopped by a bunch of trees. He let go of my hand and told me to stay still. He seemed to be waiting for something. All of a sudden a large centaur came galloping out of the woods. Behind him another came out a few seconds later.
They greeted Kellen warmly. He talked with them for a few minutes, informing them of the gathering in two days. They looked at me nervously, but after Kellen explained to them they relaxed. They quickly went back the way they had come, as if they had never been there at all.
The rest of the day passed much the same way. We walked a lot and we were stopped often. I had never seen so many different creatures or different kinds of people before. They were always cautious and curious. Kellen would explain and they would move on, all promising to meet at the designated spot. I caught glimpses of elves, wood sprites, and little folk. It seemed like the closer we got to his home, the more we saw.
The day went smoothly except for once in the late afternoon when Kellen heard an enemy patrol close to our location. We had climbed up in a large tree with overhanging branches. Luck had been on our side but I had my first glimpse of goblins. They were grotesque and ugly creatures, twisted and scarred with the evil that consumed them. Kellen told me if werewolves were with them we would have been discovered for sure. As it was, we had to stay hidden for a while and travel longer than we anticipated to find safety and shelter.
This time, when we finally stopped for the night, I was so exhausted I could hardly move. He had taken me to a lake to fish and he was preparing it for us to eat. Whil
e waiting for him, I had lay down and fallen asleep. He woke me up to eat and then he had put me to bed. I barely even realized he was doing it.
The next morning he let me awaken on my own. I opened my eyes to the bright dawn streaking across the sky, throwing brilliant shades of red, burnt orange and violet passed my eyes. It was a glorious morning for more than that reason though. We were going to Kellen’s home today.
I sat up excitedly and looked around for him. He was practicing his sword moves quietly a few feet away. He was breathtakingly handsome in the morning light. I watched him for a minute until he noticed me and ran over.
I jumped up and into his arms. He spun us around and lifted me into the air and then back down again. His eyes were bright and shining, the way they always looked when he was excited. I was learning his expressions and moods now. I knew this look. It was familiar.
“We don’t have far to go today. We are only a few hours from the border of my homeland. Let’s hurry so we can see my family by midday.”
We kept up a fairly quick pace as we made the last leg of the journey. It was only a few hours later when Kellen stopped me.
“Stay there Rhiannon, don’t move.”
Kellen and I had almost reached his home. He was so excited, it was contagious.
“Ok, I’m going to have you close your eyes now. Don’t open them until I say so.”
He took my hands and guided me forward for a few minutes. “All right,” he said at last, stopping me again. “Open your eyes.”
The first thing I saw was his beaming smile. When I looked around me, I gasped in surprise. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The trees had opened into a large meadow with wildflowers growing everywhere, an almost endless sea of vivid color. There were mountains close by and a large river. An exquisite waterfall was flowing and splashing onto the rocks below just a short distance away.
The hill we were standing on dipped down and opened into a large valley below, off to the left. Everything was so green and bright, full of color, like an exquisite mosaic of lush greenery and vivid blues. I instantly loved it.
“What is this place?” I asked him. “I’ve never seen anything so wonderfully beautiful in all my life. I love it.”
“Technically this is the Monterro Valley, but known to our people as Karmelo, my home.”
He turned and took my hand leading me across the meadow. We walked in silence as I took it all in, my eyes scanning the expansive countryside. This place, this valley, was amazing, like a paradise here on earth. I noticed we were coming upon a huge stone wall that seemed to stretch forever into the mountains. I wondered why such a large wall was needed. I never had to ask.
“The wall keeps our enemies out,” he explained, “come on, I am anxious to be home.”
Chapter Three
The double doors of the gate entrance were wide open. Kellen walked through and was greeted by more guards wearing the same armor, which I could only surmise were more Guardians. Several of them clasped him on the back, giving hearty greetings. Kellen continued to hold my hand, his fingers intertwined with mine, and lead me through the front gate entrance, where a busy square bustled with activity.
I was fascinated by the city, observing every angle, and spotted a large stone fountain in the middle of the town square, three large stone maidens held fish and baskets, water spraying up and around them, playfully spurting back into the fountain. It was beautiful.
A large market dominated the rest of the area. Small shops lined the cobblestone street and merchants were hawking and selling their wares. Fresh flowers, roasted meats and pastries, locally grown produce, linens and clothing, baked goods, armor and weapons, and almost anything else that you could think of.
A blacksmith and book shop were set up on the left. A general store and lumber mill on the right. There was a dress shop and seamstress further to the left. A stable with horses was further down the hill. There were animals everywhere and children playing.
After several minutes we passed through the center and entered an open field. As I glanced around I could see houses spread out around. There were many homes. Some were small and had thatched roofs, others were larger and made of stone.
As we started to make our way out of the town I realized that this was Kellen’s city. The center of life. This was where he had grown up. Where he trained as a soldier and played as a child. It completely fascinated me.
After a few more minutes we came upon a courtyard, with a large grey stone and dark red brick house. The house was easily three stories tall. The gabled roof had intersecting pitches with lattice work and molding along the edges. Wrought iron decorated the windows on top of the shutters with fleur de Lis accents. Flowers in large terra cotta pots stood near the entrance.
All of the windows were open, letting in the warm afternoon breeze. There was a massive wooden door, edged by flat grey steel, which opened up as we approached.
It was hard not to notice Kellen’s enthusiasm. He nearly broke into a run. As it was, he was pulling me with him quite fast. We were both breathless. He slowed down a few feet from the front door. A man and a woman met us there. They had to be his parents.
“Mother, father,” he greeted them, placing a kiss on his mother’s cheek.
His father was tall like Kellen, very dark and muscled, with the same slow wide grin. His mother was fair, slender, and about my height. They greeted us with wide smiles.
“Rhia, let me introduce you to my parents, Kedehern and Mairwen. Mother, father, this is…Rhiannon.” His voice became soft when he said my name.
“It is very nice to meet you,” I told them, smiling.
“Hello dear. My, you are lovely. Welcome to our home.” She smiled warmly and gave me a quick hug.
“Welcome, Rhiannon, of house Monahan, please come in.” His father’s voice was deep and rich as he spoke, formal, but in a nice way.
Still holding my hand, Kellen led me into the house toward the main room. It was large, decorated with mahogany and cherry wood, with velvet draperies and ivory lace. There were wildflowers and oil lamps, as well as tapestries depicting knights and fair maidens. Rich colors of burgundy, deep forest green, cream, and gold were woven in the room.
Some of the fixtures were wrought iron with fleur de Lis and crowns, giving the room a regal atmosphere. The hard wood floors were oiled and polished, covered with braided rugs. It smelled of nature and spice, just like Kellen’s sweatshirt back home, all those months ago.
Just then a young tall woman, with coloring the same as Kellen, came sprinting in and threw her arms around him. She laughed joyfully and glanced over at me.
“Is this her? Is this Rhiannon?” She didn’t wait for an answer. She threw her arms around me too in a strong hug. When she backed away she was grinning, just like Kellen, the same exact smile. Their father’s smile.
“Rhiannon, this is my little sister, Kayleigh.” He gave her an annoyed look but then smiled.
“Twin sister, I was born only five minutes later.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
I looked at Kellen. “You never mentioned you were a twin,” I told him curiously.
He looked at me sheepishly. “I didn’t think about it. I was a little…distracted.”
His dad let out a loud guffaw, which made everyone else laugh. I just blushed.
Kellen led me over to a large bench and sat next to me. I leaned against him, suddenly tired.
“You could use a nap and something warm to eat. Mother?” He asked.
He brushed his hand along my cheekbone, smiling at me gently.
“Oh, yes. How silly of me. Kayleigh go ask cook to make something up please. I will see to a bath and other accommodations.” She rushed off to prepare things, taking Kayleigh with her.
“We need to talk. There is much to discuss Father. I only have a couple of weeks here.”
Kellen and his father were looking at each other, their eyes making silent communication.
“Yes, my son. We will get to
that. We must see to our guest first.”
It seemed only minutes later that I was eating a hot meal and being ushered upstairs to a warm bath. Kellen was reluctant to let go of my hand.
“Kel, she’s not going anywhere. I’ll take care of her myself.” Kayleigh was grinning.
Kellen turned to me and brushed my hair back from my face. His eyes looked into mine for a moment.
“I’ll be here when you wake up. If you need me, call me. I’ll come as fast as I can.”
Kayleigh sighed. “She won’t need you silly. She’s going to be sleeping.”
She rolled her eyes at him and pulled me up the stairs before I could respond.
“I will,” I called, “bye, Kellen.” He frowned. I had the impression he did not want me to leave his side.
The hot bath was wonderful, smelling of rose petals and scented lavender oil. It was very similar to the items I used at home. My sore and aching muscles began to relax. I was just getting really sleepy when Kayleigh burst in with some clothes. She smiled her big grin, so much like her brother’s. They must be close, being twins.
“When you’re dressed I’ll take you to your room.”
“Yes, thank you,” I told her.
After she left I climbed out of the tub. I dried off quickly and put on the long white flowing nightgown she had brought. It was soft and silky. She led me to a room and ushered me into the bed. My eyes were closing before she was gone.
The sound of muffled voices awakened me. I blinked my eyes open. Above my head was a high wooden beam. Sunshine bounced off of it, throwing little dust particles into the rays. I heard the voices again.
“Kellen, she’s not up yet. I just checked five minutes ago. You have already peeked on her twice now. She was obviously very tired. Just be patient.” It was Kayleigh’s voice.
“She’s been asleep for ten hours now. I’m just making sure that she’s all right.”
“Well, how far did you push her? How much rest and nourishment did she get? Or did you fail to realize you had a woman with you?”
