Seal of the King (12 page)

They turned
and headed to Aurora’s room. She pulled down the blankets, and fixed the pillows so they could lie down. They climbed into the bed, and this time he rested his head on her shoulder. Her arm around him, she gently stroked his head and lightly kissed his forehead. She could feel his pain as he sought comfort in her arms. Whether Artemis killed himself or not David felt responsible. Then he said to her in barely more than a whisper “I didn’t mean to.”

She said in a tender voice “I know
.” Laying there in silence it wasn’t long until they were both asleep.

Aurora awoke slightly stunned. The room was filled with daylight, and she was alone. She got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. She came out, and stood looking at the clothes lying on the dresser. Her leather traveling clothes looked so worn, and unladylike next to the clothes she had borrowed from his mother. She stood there feeling foolish. She knew where they were going ladylike would not serve her well. She liked looking nice for him, but she knew things were about to change. The brief respite she had enjoyed, as tumultuous as it was, would soon be at an end. Suddenly there was a soft knock at the door.

“Aurora, are you awake?” She heard David’s voice.

She felt warm inside at the thought that he would not leave her alone for long and that he was her protector just as she would be his. She also marveled at how much respect he showed her. He had stayed in bed with her all night, and just held her. Now, here he was in his own home, asking her permission to enter the room.

“Come in
, I’m awake.” She said to the door.

David walked in with a tray holding two plates of food, some coffee
, and juice. “I thought I’d bring you some breakfast.” He said with a smile. “Our keepers are cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I’m afraid we won’t have a moment’s peace if we go in there to eat”. He set the tray down on the dresser and turned to her. She walked over to him, and without hesitation threw her arms around him, and kissed him full on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her in return. She melted in his embrace, and then buried her face in his chest.

“Good morning
,” he said, “I guess I should bring you breakfast every day.”

She looked up at him her face flush “I’m sorry….
I don’t know…. I” she stammered.

“Sh
.” He said softly. “I can’t imagine a better way to start the day.” Standing there holding each other they were surprised by a voice at the door.

“Um, excuse me
.” Aunt Molly said, with a cat that ate the canary grin on her face. Both of them now red in the face, she went on “when you two are finished getting…. Um ready. We were hoping to talk to you.” 

David grimaced
, “We’ll be there shortly. Thank you, Aunt Molly.” Turning to Aurora he added, “Now she’ll be insufferable.” They both laughed.

They ate their breakfast
, and talked about what they wanted to bring with them. When they were finished, David left her to get dressed. She decided to wear the borrowed clothes a little longer. Then she headed out to find him. She strode confidentially into the room surveying the group, and saw David wasn’t there, “Excuse me, where’s David?” She asked.

“He’s in the back with his father
. Can you please tell him we’re all waiting?” Asked Molly.

“I’ll be happy to
.” She replied. She approached the room, and saw the door was shut, hesitantly she knocked softly, and asked “David are you in there?”

From behind the door, she heard him say
, “Yes, please come in Aurora.”

She walked in
, and David and his father were sitting on the bed next to each other. They both stood as she entered.

“Come sit down here with David, I have something for the two of you.” Gabe said to her. The two of them sat down, Aurora looked at David questioningly
, and he raised his eyebrows to say he had no idea.

Gabe went to the dresser
, and was rummaging around in one of the drawers, then said to himself, “Ah, here you are.” He turned to the two of them and smiled. “The night my wife, your mother, was taken. We didn’t take anything with us that would identify our connection to the council.” Gabe held out his hand and in it were two beautiful matching crosses. He reached down and picked up the first by the chain. “These crosses were mine and your mother’s. We left them here that day. I want the two of you to have them for protection, and as a reminder; a reminder that even in your darkest hour you are never alone.” He took the first cross, and held the chain wide so he could place it on David’s head.

Then he took the second
, and reached towards Aurora, her eyes on the verge of tears she said, “Oh, it’s too much for you to give me something so precious.”

Gabe
smiled and said, “I’m willing to give you the most precious thing I have, my son, what is a necklace compared to that?”

Then he placed the chain around her neck as a tear ran down her cheek. Gabe reached out his hands
, and placed one on each of their shoulders, and spoke “if I have found any small favor with my Lord may he bestow his blessing upon you both. May he protect you always in the face of evil, may he grant you success in all your endeavors, may he bless you with wisdom and courage, and fill you with his spirit.” He lifted his hands from them, and David and Aurora stood.

"Thank you Dad,"
David said. Then Aurora reached out and embraced Gabe.

“Oh yes thank you for showing me such kindness.” Aurora said.

Gabe leaned back to look at her “you are welcome my child, now God’s speed on your journey. We better get out there before Molly and Michael come storming in here.”

David
and Aurora smiled, and with that they headed to the living room. Everyone was waiting, Molly giving them a reproachful look. Molly opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Gabe before she started. “Molly you wouldn’t deny me a moment alone with my son at such a time as this? Would you?”

Molly
, looking disarmed, replied, “No, of course not, Gabe. But we better get started. Time is not on our side.”

The three of them moved in
, and took the empty places left for them then Michael spoke, “As it is written, when two or more gather in his name he is with them.” Michael paused as everyone joined hands with those around them. David and Aurora felt a charge ripple through them like static electricity filling the air. “Lord we seek your blessings, in this late hour we ask you to guide us to your will. We stand against the evil one in your name. Glory to you and your kingdom forever. AMEN.”

They all stood
, and when they released their hands the air went still again. Michael spoke “You all know what you have to do. May the Lord be with you.”

The group began to scatter
, and many of them headed to the door to leave. Michael came over to David and Aurora, and asked “Are you ready?”

They looked at each other
, then David spoke, “Almost, we just need to change into some traveling clothes, collect our packs, and we’ll head out.”

“
We’ve prepared some food, dried meat, biscuits, and other assorted items for you to take. Is there anything else you can think of?”

“How did Artemis get past the seal?”

“He was not possessed yet. Sadly what he was about to do, he was doing of his own free will. It would have sealed his fate, and bound him to the Dark One forever.”

“Will you be staying here?”

“Of course, I gave you my word. A group of us will remain here not only to help look after your father, but, God willing, to see you return.”

Michael gave him a smile
, and David asked, “You mean this isn’t a one-way trip?”

Michael reached out
, and placed a hand on David and Aurora’s shoulders, and said, “I truly hope not.”

David turned to his father
, and said, “Dad we’re going to go to your room, and get some clothes for Aurora if you don’t mind?”

“Of course, son.”

The two of them headed back to the room, and Aurora said a little sheepishly, “You don’t like my traveling clothes?”

David
, giving her a warm smile said, “I love seeing you in your traveling clothes. Although, I’m afraid you’d be more recognizable wearing them, don’t you?”

Aurora, slightly embarrassed, flipped her hair back nervously
, and said, “I guess you’re right.”

David asked “What would a woman who isn’t as exceptional as you wear?” He smiled a little mischievously at her knowing he was pressing a small advantage.

Aurora hit him lightly on the arm “stop teasing me. You need to be serious now.” David laughed.

After looking through drawers
, and the closet Aurora seemed satisfied. David left her to change while he went to find some clothes to complement hers. David found some dark pants he wore on the farm, and a black shirt. He knew, from what she told him that if his clothes were too well kept, they would stand out. He chose the dark colors thinking they would be less visible traveling at night allowing them to avoid as many people as possible. He had also gotten out his and his mother’s long leather traveling coats. They came down below the knees, and not only offered protection from wind and rain, but also had a lot of inside pockets for keeping things safe. He had a weathered leather backpack that would do well for supplies, extra clothing, and a few other items. He would have liked to take a regular camping pack, but thought it would draw unwanted attention.

They both entered the hallway at the same time. Aurora was wearing a simple pale blue dress that laced up
its front and ran down below her knees. She had on his mother’s tall boots that ran up under the bottom of the dress. Her hair hanging free now, falling over her shoulders caught the little light in the hallway and shimmered slightly. The sleeves of the dress came down just below her elbows. In her hand she held her pack and the traveling coat. He walked up to her and slid his arm around her waist. She put her hand to his chest looking flustered.

He leaned in as if to kiss her then shifted his head to whisper in her ear “I feel leather under your dress
. Your traveling clothes, perhaps?”

He leaned back
, and she looked up at him confidently “You didn’t think I was going to go out there unprepared did you?”

”
Never.”

They walked out to the living room together to find David’s father, Aunt Molly
, and Michael sitting together talking. All of the others had gone or were busy elsewhere.

David spoke first “I think we’re as ready as we’re going to be, so I guess it’s time for us to head out.”

Gabe asked, “Do you have an idea where to start?”

“I’m going to go to the clearing up on the northeast ridge where I found Aurora, you said there are places where the divide between the worlds is smaller, perhaps, that’s one of them. When we get there we’ll see what we find.”

Gabe smiled at him, and then Michael stood and said, “I hope to see you again soon young man.”

Aunt Molly got up as well
, and gave him a loving hug saying “you be careful out there.” Then she went, and hugged Aurora saying “please try, and keep him out of trouble.”

“I will.”

Gabe standing now, hugged his son without saying a word; afraid he would betray his fear of losing him. Then he hugged Aurora, and said, “Goodbye dear, I truly hope to see you again.”

Afraid if they waited too long it might be impossible to leave, David took Aurora by the hand
and led her to the door. Taking one last look back at the three of them standing there, he smiled reassuringly, turned, and left. He walked to the door of his Jeep, still parked where it landed just after their narrow escape, and opened the passenger door for Aurora. He held out a hand to help her up, and said to her “Are you ready?” She nodded, and he closed the door. They drove in silence up the road towards the clearing both lost in thought. David pulled the car to a stop, and left the keys in the ignition, he wouldn’t need them where they were going. He turned to Aurora, and reached out a hand, she took his in hers, “There’s no turning back now.”

“I don’t think there ever really was.”

He nodded slightly, and said, mustering a cheery voice “and, so it begins.”

She didn’t wait for him this time. They climbed out of the car, shut the doors
, and headed up the trail. As they approached the edge of the clearing, he heard the whistle. He pushed Aurora gently away from him, and the arrow sliced through the air between them. Aurora’s expression after seeing the arrow pass by turned from dismay at being pushed to her warrior gaze. Being back in her element, wearing her traveling clothes covered as they were, created a transformation inside her, and she became fluid motion. As David turned to spot her would be attacker, he marveled at how in a seamless movement Aurora had unsheathed her bow, knocked an arrow, and spun to aim, and fire. Her arrow hit its mark with astonishing speed catching her would be assassin dead center in the chest. They ran over to him keeping an eye on the surroundings, wary of any other assailants. David had knelt down to check his pulse when suddenly there was an unearthly scream as the demon inside this form escaped, and shattered in front of them.

Looking at his arrows lying on the ground David
said, “These are the same ones used last night. I’m guessing he was the one who tried to kill you then too.”

Aurora still scanning the area
said, “I believe you’re right. I don’t think there’s anyone else around.”

David agreed
, “I don’t think so either, but we should get going.” She nodded in agreement. They headed back to the clearing, and before they stepped into the open David stopped, placing a hand on her. “I sense something about this place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but take my hand, and no matter what don’t let go.”