Forty-Seven - Tarka

The scene before me was playing in slow motion. Everything was a blur and I couldn't really take it all in or really even understand what was going on. The next thing I knew, Alden was flying out the door, and everything sped up again. My first instinct was to run after him, but Rhythmus put down his hand on my shoulder before I even took a step.

"Don't go after him; he'll be back."

"How can you be sure?" 

"He has to come to terms with this himself, without any help from anyone else."

I nodded, then turned to Tristram. He took a step back away from me, unsure of what my next action was going to be. I planted my feet firmly in the floor. "Why did you kill his brother? How long have you known that he was his brother?" 

"I've known almost as long as we've all been friends. I didn't want to tell him because no one would want to help me then. You two were my only refuge for a long time. I didn't want to lose that." He hung his head in shame. 

"So the first question still stands . . . why?"

"He was treating the Brackin people poorly on the job. He even pushed aside an old man! He was not such a saint like everyone thought, I guess. I could not stand by and watch. To think that my people actually tolerated this behavior! I got mad and threw a rock; it wasn't supposed to kill him, just to get his attention and teach him a lesson. I had forgotten my own strength. That is why I was banished originally." The story slowly came back to me as I recollected him telling Alden the story when they had first met, with either not knowing about the others' role in his brothers' life, or death. 

"It makes sense. I really wish Alden would come back and that everything would be alright."

Rhythmus took a step forward between the two of us. "It will be, eventually. Soon enough. Patience, my lady." 

I looked out the window towards the direction that Alden had run off to. "I hope so, Rhythmus." 

Forty-Six - Alden

When we had finally reached Tristram's homeland we were met by several guards. Rhythmus pushed his way through, explaining our situation and why we had Roman with us, and the guards let us through with a shrug. Once past the boarder it was surprising to see so many people, just out enjoying the day or buying food, it was the complete opposite of the desolation back home. For the first time, I think I realized my people were the ones becoming instinct; we are not so evenly matched as Lesion may have thought, which would be why so many Virdians are in our camps.

As we passed the townsfolk, everyone grew quiet, giving us mostly confused looks, with a few scowls from the older generations. I glanced back at Roman, he looked even more uncomfortable than I felt, which is saying a lot.

Rhythmus put a gnarled hand on Roman's shoulder. "Do not worry, friend, they cannot harm you while I'm around."

Roman looked unsure about that, but loosened up any way. After passing a few beggars and an old lady selling pillows we found ourselves at the place Tristram was meant to be. Rhythmus gave a rather slow but loud knock on the wooden door, and panicked scurrying could be heard from within. Tristram threw the door open, looking clumsy in his fine clothing.

"Alden!" He exclaimed, giving me a friendly punch in the arm, causing me to practically fall over.

"Hey--"

"You!" Roman yelled, drawing his scimitar and lunging for Tristram, the rest of his words coming out in unrecognizable screams. Several guards came up and seized him, but he continued to kick wildly and scream until his face was completely red. "You traitor! How could you? How could you? He was my best friend!"

Tristram's face went white, and everyone else had no clue what was going on.

Roman looked right at me. "How do you not know you're working for the man who killed your brother? How could you be such a traitor?"

I looked at Tristram and his face seemed to grow even paler. "No." was all I could manage before Tristram began to profusely apologize.

"You don't understand..." He said, but the rest of his words didn't reach my ears.

I felt I should have known, back in the forest when I first met him it crossed my mind, but I had been so malnourished at that point it all seemed like a bizarre dream. I looked at Tristram, and then to Rhythmus. What was my reaction supposed to be? Why was I not trying to avenge my brother like Roman had tried to do? I was hardly aware of the fact that my feet were taking me away, and that warm tears had made their way out of my eyes. I just had to get away.

Forty Five - Tristram

     King Pontus' eyes filled with understanding and horror as I told him of Lesion's plot to take over the three kingdoms. I also told him that his adviser was manipulating him and had probably killed his father. At the end of my explanation, he simply said "thank you, I need to think about this," and left. and left back towards the castle. After a minute, Elane came from the same direction but without any flowers.
 
     "What did you do Tristram?" she said sternly. Surprised at her tone, I searched for an eloquent answer. I failed. "I told him he was a pawn and started a war so Lesion could take over our kingdom" I blurted out. Elane punched my shoulder. "Idiot!" she shouted. "You have no idea how fragile my brother is! Would anyone react well to being told they are incompetent at being king? Pontus wants to be king even less than you but he is doing it because he wants to make our dad proud!"
     "Elane, why didn't you tell me any of this before? Had I known he was being manipulated in the first place, our entire plan would have changed."
     "You never bothered to ask. You never thought that I, the king's sister who lives in the castle, might have information that would help you stop this war."
     "That's a ridiculous reason, everything would have gone smoother if you had just told us. I wouldn't have to marry you if I knew your brother was on our side."

I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth. Elane gave me a cold glare and said, "so you don't want to be married now, is that right? or is it that you feel like you HAVE to marry me?! Am I just part of your civic duty?! Well now that you know my brother is good, you don't have to marry me. You've escaped your horrible fate!"
     "No, I mean yes, I mean..." She threw up her arms, giving up, and stormed off back towards the castle. "Elane!" I called after her, "wait please! I love you, of course I want to marry you, but not under these circumstances. I want our wedding to be festive, not marred by a war. Most of all, I don't want to be king. Yes, I want to marry you, but I wish it could be done under better circumstances." She turned around sharply, "Tristram, get over yourself! I don't need a big wedding, I just want to be married to you, but only if you really want to be married to me." She started to cry; twin streams that raced down her face, though they didn't obstruct her speech. "We've been friends for ages, more than friends almost as long! Don't you think it is about time? I don't care about the circumstances, all I want is you and me at a wedding altar. Maybe a couple friends and family."

I paused for a moment, taking time to recompose myself and understand the situation. "I'm sorry Elane, I should have asked you about your brother first thing. I'm sorry I didn't take into consideration his feelings as being king. I'm sorry I didn't ask you about our wedding but assumed I knew you completely." I held her close and murmured into her hair, "I absolutely want to marry you, I've just been afraid that I wouldn't be good enough for you."
     "That's all I needed to hear." After a minute, she removed herself from my arms. she was smiling a little and the pain in her eyes faded away. "So," I said, "is there anything else I should know: about your brother, the advisor, or the war?"
     "No, I've basically told you all there is." A sheepish grin spread on her face."So how about tomorrow?" I looked at her, puzzled, then understanding came. "Yeah Elane, we can get married tomorrow."
 

Forty-Four - Tarka

I could not have been more relieved, excited, or full of dopamine as I did in the moment I ran and jumped into Alden's sweet welcoming embrace.

We stood silent for a moment, with arms wrapped around the other tightly, simply enjoying the other's nearness, until we heard someone clear their throat. We let go to see who was the intruder of the moment we were enjoying. Roman stepped towards me while speaking to everyone: "Thank you for coming to our aid. We might not have escaped again. I am . . . utterly grateful for your presence here," he added a little bit of dramatic flair to the last statement and tried to grab my hand. I drew back both of my hands and hid them away behind my back as I looked to Rhythmus while he gave his comment. "Oh, I too am glad that we came at the exact time we were supposed to. Funny how things happen like that."

Alden stepped closer to me, stepping in between Roman and I. "Now for a plan . . . We've got to get back to Brackin territory and help Tristram."

"Yes, by all means, we must make haste to our dear friend," Rhythmus agreed. "Onward!"

The barrier of the mountains seemed to be more of a challenge now than they were before. I was so tired of running around, of walking back and forth across the different territories. I wanted to be planted somewhere, anywhere, it didn't matter as long as I had my friends and loved ones by my side. I wanted peace in the world. I wanted Lesion dead. I wanted everyone safe. No more killing, no more madness.

We trudged through the valley in between the mountains once again. I could tell that I was not the only one who was tired (literally and mentally) of all the traveling. We would walk through several villages, catching the stares of the townspeople as we passed by. We did look like a funny bunch: a Viridian girl, two young Palkin men, a guardian, and a Brackin all walking together. Some saluted us as we passed by, which was an odd thing to experience. However, after it happened, it made me think of how there are several others who are scared of the fighting between the Brackins and the Palkins. I guess we as a group represented unity and peace to them.

Roman would also try to flirt with me and touch me; I avoided him as much as I could. I would also look over at Alden and give him looks that screamed, "Help me!" His facial expressions always had a look of sympathy and annoyance. I continued to wonder what was going on inside his head.

One night, we sat around a small fire because the nights had begun to get more chilly. Roman had plopped down next to me, and I tried to scoot as far away from him as I could. Alden saw what was happening and came over to sit next to me, to rescue me temporarily from my tormentor. I laid my head on his shoulder, and then realizing soon after what I was doing, I jerked my head up and looked at him apologetically. He turned up the corners of his mouth and patted his shoulder with his hand, giving me an official invitation. Relieved, I accepted it, and I couldn't have been happier.