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.

Forty-Three - Alden

Roman and I had run from the tent as fast as we could, racing quickly towards the tall mountains. The terrain grew firmer and uneven, causing my footing be less stable, and the hunger and dehydration that I felt was almost all-consuming, but Roman kept nudging me forward.

Eventually there was a small stream of water that seemed to separate the loose dirt from our Palkin territory and a lush, green and rocky terrain of the mountains that stood between the Northeast border of my home, and the Northwest border of what must be Tristram's. I collapsed at the water's edge, and with shaking hands tried to get the water into my mouth. The trembling of my hands made drinking difficult, and I was lucky to get a good swallow all the way to my lips. A despair seemed to take me over once again. Was this my life now? Grateful for a sip of muddy water?

I sat and stared at the flowing stream, imagining what life might have been like if I were a fish or some other aquatic creature. Maybe it would have been shorter, but it would have been less painful too.

"We need to keep moving." Roman insisted, tugging up on my arm.

"I'm tired of moving." I complained, using my weight to free my arm. "All I ever do is run and abandon people."

Roman knelt down, his face like stone, a common facial expression amongst the Palkin soldiers. "I don't care. You don't get to play momma's boy any more, this is war. Do you think I never wanted to just stay home instead of trampling across borders? Wouldn't it have been great if I could sit around instead of having to miss every big day in the lives of my sisters just because Callow said so? How about the day I had to leave camp just to watch my best friend killed?" Roman grabbed the back of my tunic and forced me up. "My sisters died while I was fighting this stupid war because they didn't have any food, and I could have saved them." He said with an air of defeat, and a wetness in his eyes. "I played with girls and did my duty, and my sisters died. I'm not going to make that mistake again." With a light shove I had been pushed across the stream and was moving once again towards the mountains.

We walked in silence for a long while, neither of us sure what to say after that. "I'm sorry about your sisters." I finally said, still refraining from looking his way.

Roman let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry about your brother."

I looked to Roman now with a sense of urgency. "Wait, you know what happened to my brother?"

Roman seemed to look at me with pity. "I--" he started, but the sounds of the animals around us suddenly became quiet. Roman held a finger to his mouth and drew his scimitar. Three Viridian men dropped from nearby trees, each wielding a sword and quickly circling in on us. One made a quick swipe at Roman, leaving a shallow cut just beneath his ear, while another knocked the scimitar from Roman's hands. I scrambled for anything like a rock, but came up short, and with a quick kick to the ribs.

Just as I was about to suggest we run through them the ground began to shake, knocking all of us onto the ground. Once the ground had stopped moving I looked up to find the Viridian men dead, and a younger man standing above them. "Who are you?" I asked indignantly, but he simply stepped to the side revealing both Rhythmus and Tarka. "Tarka?" I gasped. Roman quickly went for his scimitar, but I grabbed his arm. "It's okay, they're friends."

"Friends?" He asked in disbelief, eyebrows deeply furrowed.

"Yes," I assured. "Friends."

"Ah." He sighed. "I remember the girl now..." He said, a smirk obvious in his voice.

"Seriously?" I groaned.

Forty-Two - Tristram

The decision to remove my charges for murder were unanimous as well as the decision to to place me, once again, as captain of the guard and a member of the war council. I was able to move back into my old home near the palace, permitted to walk freely, allowed to shop, play, and converse with my old friends. But two things needed to be done first: I needed to marry Elane and reveal King Pontus to be acting against the good of the Brackin People. Galea had been working the latter since we entered the city and had started to dig up some evidence. I was to focus on Elane, a task I was more than willing to partake. 

In celebration of my freedom, I took Elane to our favorite spot: in a meadow next to the creek just outside the city walls. it was here that we first met. I was around 15, having recently joined the city guard. After my watch, I would go sit in the meadow and wash my armor in the creek. Elane's room in the castle overlooked this meadow and she would often walk around it collecting flowers. On that day, she was wearing her favorite white dress and had her blonde hair braided. The sun was out so her jasper eyes shimmered. She had decided to pick only yellow lilies too; she would only pick one type of flower each day, that way they would all be picked equally she said. I was lying on the sandbank when she appeared standing over me with the most curious grin. Every boy my age new of Elane and all hoped to marry her so I did what every teenager would do: I ran. I returned to the creek the next day and found Elane waiting. I set down a ways off from her and she didn't move any closer. The next day she brought her own laundry to do as I washed my armor. After about a week, I would move farther up the creek when I washed my armor, closer to her. A month later I finally said hi. She pretended to run away just to make fun of me. She smelled like lavender that day

Our first date had been in this meadow and she always meet me here when she had a bad day. It was like our private spot, though she always had a royal guard or two with her. Even now as I carried a picnic to our spot, we each had three soldiers. We sat down at our laundry spot and I unpacked lunch: pumpkin stew and fresh celery. It had been so long since we had been there... Everything felt right in the world now that I was back. It was like the war didn't exist, only Elane and this meadow. Only the guards and my brand (now seared with an x to signify my reinstatement) served as proof to the contrary. Elane looked as happy as I was and we ate in joyous silence.

Halfway through eating, we heard footsteps coming up over the hill. King Pontus appeared at the ridge, smiled when he saw us, and started to walk down. He was eight years older than Elane, very built with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He had a face that conveyed kindness and strength. "Tristram," he called, " Sorry for interrupting but I have been longing to see you!"
"Hello my king," I said as I bowed.
"None of that Tristram, you are like family. Call me Pontus like my sister." He glanced at Elane and smiled."Sorry Elane, but can I borrow Tristram for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Elane said, "I'll go pick some flowers. I'm thinking of picking some sweetpea today.

After Elane crossed the ridge, Pontus turned to me expectantly. After a few moments he asked, "Don't you have any questions to ask me?" he pointed a thumb in the direction Elane had walked off. Being Elane's brother, he knew of our relationship. Also, with Elane's dad dead, Pontus was now her caretaker and the one I should ask if I wanted to marry her. The suddenness of the question threw me off guard and my tongue refused to work properly. I stuttered and Pontus started to laugh. A happy laugh, not one of ridicule. He smiled at me saying, "Tristram, you have permission to marry Elane, you've always had it from me. How I wish you had married sooner! Then I wouldn't be the king in this aweful war." His mood fell.
"Thank you Pontus," I managed. I didn't mention the king comment. I had not known Pontus well before my banishment but I had never heard anything bad about him. This meeting here seemed to confirm a fear I had had since I heard he was king. Pontus was a pawn, he had no idea he was being manipulated by the Viridi. I wasn't sure if this made our job easier or harder but I decided to risk everything.

"Pontus, I have something to tell you. Have you ever meet Lesion?"

Forty-One - Tarka

My legs could not walk or run fast enough for me to get to Alden as soon as I wanted. There was nothing more I desired than to kill the snake of a man Lesion and have Alden safe and sound, sitting next to me.

I could hear Rhythmus breathing heavily behind me. "Slow down my dear girl! We are all anxious to get to our friend. But my old bones aren't as swift as they used to be." I slowed my pace and turned around to flash him a half smile. His eye contact with me made me realize that he knew what was going through my spinning head and softened heart.

Despite everything I have gone through in the past year, in the short amount of time that I had known him, Alden had kept me from letting my heart go bitter. His boyish ways and shining eyes gave me a glimpse of hope: hope for what was to come and peace because there was still good left in the world. It may be a small bit, but that little ray of sunshine has been my salvation.

We took a water break when we found the river again. "All we have to do is follow this back to Lesion's camp."

Askimi nodded. "It shouldn't be too far from us now. Hopefully they haven't done anything to the poor kid."

That statement made me stand up. "All the more reason to get going as quickly as we can," I stated. Askimi got up and led the way.

Rhythmus kept in pace with me for a good few minutes, and then we naturally started to slip away little by little from Askimi's pace. Still following him from a distance, Rhythmus spoke quietly. "It will be alright, you'll see. You three are doing a marvelous job and have already gotten most to join forces with us!"

"Yes, but we still have to defeat Lesion before his army does any damage," I stated looking down at my trudging feet.

"I know that's not your primary concern at the moment."

I turned to him and saw his slightly raised eyebrows and somewhat of a smirk. "You're a beautiful young woman, Tarka. And a strong one at that. You think you are able to put a mask on and nobody will be able to see you, figure you out. Your eyes speak what the rest of you keeps hidden."

"I was afraid of that. That used to be my worst fear, you know."

"Is it not anymore?"

"No. I mean, not really. I still care deeply if people are able to find things out about me, such as how I'm feeling. But . . ." I turned to face him again. "That's not my primary concern anymore."

The corners of his wide mouth turned upward. "I know your feelings, Tarka. They are noble ones. Do not be afraid of them. But don't act rashly with them either." I nodded in agreement.

We both quickened our pace to catch up with Askimi, who realized we were lagging but didn't give much thought to why. When we got closer to the campsite, we the trio crouched down as much as possible while walking briskly. At the edge of the trees where the campsite started, we stopped and looked around for any potential sign of where Alden could be.

I happened to look over to my left and saw two figures running off to the other side of the tents. Could it be...?

An angry yell came from a tent to my right. "AUGH! Where did the Palkin boy go? Why did you not stand guard like I told you to?!" came an all too familiar voice. A poor soldier was getting lashed out on by the Viridian snake. "I--I'm sorry! I just had to --" A slap reached my ears before the soldier could finish. "You idiot! You let them get away! Go find them, or I shall do things much worse than what I have done to you now." The soldier ran off towards the trees where the two figures had gone.

Askimi, Rhythmus, and I looked at each other in wonder. Who had rescued Alden? Who was running off with him at that moment?

And how were we ever going to find him?