Wielder's Fate (52 page)

At first a look of confusion passed over Traven’s face.  His eyes then widened slightly with understanding as a slight redness rose to his cheeks.  The young wielder reached forward and gently grabbed her hand.  A shock of energy coursed up her arm and through her body at the feel of his touch.  His strong, calloused hand felt even better than she had remembered.

“When you say that, are you being serious?” Traven asked in a slightly shaky voice.

“Yes,” she replied as she put her other hand on top of his.  She knew she needed to fully explain her thoughts and feelings without the numerous contradictions that had been present in the letter she had previously sent him.  “You have saved my life several times, protected my country from numerous enemies, and never abused the immense power you possess.  I must admit that I am in awe of all that you have done.  I have often thought of you and worried for your well being since you first risked your life to save mine.  I have struggled with the idea of how I could ever repay you for all that you have done for me.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Traven quickly said, interrupting her.

“I know,” she replied.  “At first I thought my feelings towards you were nothing more than gratitude, but the longer I thought about them, the more I realized there were other feelings present as well.  I began to recognize the love I felt for you.  I tried to ignore the feelings, but they kept growing.  I finally came to the point where I could deny them no longer.  My love for you is deep enough that I ended my engagement to Gavin.”  She then paused before continuing and took a deep breath.  “I hope your feelings for me are as strong as mine are for you.”

Kalista waited anxiously for Traven’s reply.  He had already confessed his love for her and had shown that love multiple times by saving her life.  Nevertheless, she needed to know that he was serious about making a long term commitment to her.  She was expected to marry soon, but had terminated her engagement to a good man because she could not say that she loved him.  She had strong feelings for Traven but wouldn’t allow herself to demean her station as princess with a frivolous relationship.  Traven glanced away from her intense stare and looked at the floor.  Her heart sank.  Was it possible he did not want to marry her?

“All I’ve ever wanted from you was your love,” Traven began while still staring at the ground, “but it was hard for me to imagine that you could ever love a commoner like me.”  He looked up with glistening eyes.  “I’ve dreamed of you almost every night since I left Calyn.  My visions often included me wearing the crown of Kalia with you standing firmly by my side to guide me.  I didn’t dare to hope that the visions were literally showing me my future, but deep down I wished that somehow my future did include you.  When you said you loved me the other night, the words from your lips were the sweetest melody I had ever heard.  I wondered if our fates were truly intertwined.”  He paused and leaned closer to her.  “To answer your question, my feelings for you transcend my feelings for all else.  My feelings for you are as strong as yours are for me, if not stronger.  Kalista, I love you and will love you forever.”

The strength with which Traven pronounced his feelings and the intensity of his eyes left no doubt in her mind that he meant every word he had said.  Tears sprang to her eyes at the joy that filled her heart.  The young wielder reached up with his free hand and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.  She closed her eyes and smiled as she felt his firm hand against her cheek.

Upon opening them, her eyes locked with Traven’s.  For the moment, nothing else in the world existed.  Her pulse began racing as his hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck.  Traven smiled sweetly as he leaned forward and gently pulled her head towards his.  She offered no resistance as the space between their lips vanished.  The warm touch of his lips against hers filled her with unexplainable joy and chased away any doubts about her future happiness.  He was the one.

43

The battle at Kavar lasted five more nights.  It had been expected that the galdaks would retreat after the first night or two without their wielder, but they kept coming night after night.  There were several small groups of the creatures that deserted the rest of the horde and headed north, but the majority of the warriors were determined to fight to the death.  By the end of the fifth night, no galdak was left standing.

The next few days were spent burying and burning all the corpses as they cleaned up the battlefield.  The celebrations were then held.  The soldiers of the Kalian Army were regarded as mighty heroes, and the elven warriors were treated as saviors.  Above all, Traven was adored as an equal to the beloved High King of all the land.  Another ten days saw the departure of the elven army, the reverse exodus of many of the citizens of Candus, and the beginning of the rebuilding of the walls of Kavar.

Traven didn’t go north with the elves or remain in Kavar.  Instead, he took his journey to the southeast, accompanied by his future bride, his two devoted servants, and a small retinue of Kalista’s guards and servants.  After a few days of traveling, he found himself nearing his hometown of Oak Tree.  Everything looked exactly the same as he remembered.  It was hard for him to believe he hadn’t even been away for a full year.  He felt as if an entire lifetime had passed since he had set out for Calyn at the end of the previous summer.  Yet, as he entered the small town, all appeared as if nothing there had changed in the slightest.

“So this is where it all began,” Kalista said at his side.

“Almost,” he replied.  “My grandparents’ cottage is a little way outside of the village.”

He smiled and waved to those he recognized as a crowd began to form to see who was visiting.  At first, he was taken aback by the surprised stares he received, but then he realized he must look quite different than when he had left.  He supposed the presence of the royal guards had something to do with it as well.  It was doubtful that anyone would recognize Kalista as the princess.  She was dressed in fine clothing but nothing to suggest that she was royalty.

Traven led the group past the large oak tree in the center of the village and back out into the forest without stopping to talk to anyone.  He had come for the single purpose of seeing his grandparents and introducing Kalista to them.  As he continued down the trail, Traven suddenly realized how nervous he felt.  He was excited to see his grandparents after such a long absence but hadn’t expected the mixture of emotions coursing through him.  He didn’t doubt they would approve of Kalista but wondered how they would respond to everything that had happened.

At last, the cottage came into view through the trees.  He pulled up, bringing the party to a halt.  Kalista excitedly stared at the small cottage in the distance, while Darian and Giselle happily inspected the trees all around them.  Traven took a deep breath.

“This is it,” he announced.

“We did not come this far just to stare at it, did we?” Darian offered from behind.

Traven shook his head and urged Pennon forward.  He pulled up at the edge of the cleared area that surrounded the cottage.  After dismounting, he helped Kalista down as well.  She smiled excitedly and squeezed his hand as they walked to the door.  The breeze changed to blow in their direction, bringing with it the smell of his grandmother’s cooking.  The smells, sights, and sounds brought back a flood of happy memories.  He smiled at the pleasant thoughts and knocked at the door.  His grandparents would be so surprised to see him.

They didn’t have to wait long before the door was opened by his grandmother.  She took one astonished look at him before breaking into a huge smile and throwing her arms around him excitedly.  Traven hugged his grandmother tightly as tears threatened to escape his eyes.  It felt great to feel her loving embrace again.

“Who is it?” his grandfather called from inside.

“Traven!” his grandmother shouted elatedly as she let go of him and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Traven?” the voice from inside asked gruffly.  “Well, it’s about time the boy came to visit us.  He could have at least sent a letter ahead to let us know he was coming.”

Traven smiled as his grandfather slowly made his way to the door.  He sounded the same as he always had.

“Mind your manners,” his grandmother scolded as her husband came into view.  “He has a pretty young lady with him.”

“I don’t care who . . .” his grandfather began before trailing off as he looked outside.  He looked from Traven to Kalista and then past them to the rest of the party.  A large grin broke out on his face.  “I see.  Won’t you come in?”

Traven led Kalista into the modest home he had grown up in.  He smiled at the familiar furniture and smells.  The cottage was tiny and simple compared to the rooms of the palaces he had stayed in, but it felt more warm and comfortable.

“Sorry about the mess.  I would have cleaned up if I had known there would be company,” his grandmother said as she quickly picked up several objects that had been resting on the kitchen table.  “Please sit down.”

Traven chuckled to himself as Kalista and he sat down at the table.  The cottage was completely clean, just as his grandmother always kept it.  His two beloved grandparents sat down at the table across from him.

“So what brings you here?” his grandmother asked politely.

“I wanted to introduce you to Kalista,” Traven began.  “We plan to be married this fall and wanted to personally invite you to our wedding.”

“Oh my,” his grandmother almost shouted as she put a hand to her mouth.  “When did you grow up?  I can’t believe you’re engaged to be married.”

“Are you sure you want to marry him?” his grandfather added, directing the question at Kalista.  “I can tell you stories that might make you change your mind.”

Traven rolled his eyes as Kalista laughed.

“Stop that,” his grandmother said as she lightly swatted her husband’s shoulder.  “Congratulations to the both of you,” she said cheerily as she reached across and grabbed both of their hands.  “Where will the wedding be taking place?”

“At the Royal Palace of Calyn,” Kalista answered with a smile.

“At the palace?” his grandfather asked with surprise.

“Yes, I have a lot to tell you,” Traven said with a grin.  “You won’t believe all that has happened since I left.”

* * * * *

They spent the next day with Traven’s grandparents before returning to Kavar.  His grandparents were excited to get to know Kalista and astonished to hear all that had happened.  They had received his letter and the jewels he had sent them and knew that he had joined the Royal Army and saved the princess after she had been kidnapped.  However, they were stunned to learn that he was a wielder, a Hero of Kalia, and a general in the army.  They could hardly believe their grandson had been instrumental in saving the kingdom and would be marrying the princess.  They were so proud of all that he had accomplished and become and promised that they would be in Calyn for the wedding.

From Oak Tree, their party returned to Kavar and restocked supplies before beginning the journey to Calyn.  They met up with the High King and a sizable army of reinforcements ten days after leaving Kavar.  The High King had already been apprised that the battle had been won but was continuing his march to Kavar to bring the city supplies and to reunite with his daughter.

The High King was surprised to find Kalista traveling without Gavin and even more surprised to discover that the engagement had been called off without consulting him first.  Traven waited tensely for what seemed like an eternity as Kalista met privately with her father in his tent.  The princess finally emerged and told Traven that the High King wanted to speak with him.  She didn’t appear upset, so he knew the conversation must have gone okay.  Regardless, he was still quite nervous as he entered the High King’s tent.

The large tent was lavishly furnished with rugs and fine furniture.  As he walked inside, he was instantly reminded of the wealth and power of the man he would be talking with.  He supposed he would be nervous to meet the father of his future bride even if he wasn’t also the High King of all Kalia.  Facing both at the same time was almost overwhelming.  The High King stood at the far end of the front room with his hands clasped behind his back.  Traven walked over to him and bowed deeply.  He then rose and waited for the High King to speak.  The dignified monarch looked him over for several moments before speaking.

“You are the Wielder Traven,” the High King stated.  “You grew up in the village of Oak Tree being raised predominately by your grandparents and working as a lumberjack.  Last fall you attended the Merchant Academy of Calyn before being expelled and joining the Royal Army.  You later rescued my daughter from an assassin, traveled to Faldor’s Keep in search of a secret weapon, and learned that you were a wielder.  After having developed your powers, you journeyed to Candus, saved my daughter again, and defeated the Wielder Kadrak.  You were promoted to the rank of general and named a Hero of Kalia.  You then travelled to the mysterious land of the elves where you forged an alliance before returning to defeat the galdak wielder and horde at Kavar.  Have I missed anything?”

“That mostly sums it up, Your Majesty,” Traven replied.  The High King seemed well informed as to the details of his life.

“During this time, you also managed to woo my daughter and steal her away from her fiancé and the man I had chosen to follow me in ruling Kalia.”

“That was not my intention,” he replied carefully.

“My daughter informs me that your intention is to marry her.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.  With your permission, I desire to wed your daughter.”

“This is where we have a problem,” the High King said as he unclasped his hands and pointed at Traven.  “Before I give my permission, I must be assured of several things.  First, as the High King, I must choose a successor worthy of ruling the kingdom in my stead.  You are obviously brave, powerful, and persuasive.  Those are all important qualities of a king, but there are many other qualities a ruler must possess.  The question is whether or not you possess these other qualities.”