Heed My Warnings And Survive
Chapter Eighteen: Reluctant Homecomings

Chapter Eighteen

Reluctant Homecomings

After leaving the forest, and saying farewell to Allah. It didn’t take long for us to reach Tarni’s castle town. We arrived late in the night, and Coan suggested we stay at his, and Phonwhin’s home, and I was too exhausted to argue. They’re home was sizable, and would comfortably fit all of us. As soon as we were shown where we could sleep, I flopped on the bed, and stayed there until morning.

When I woke there was a bath of warm water waiting for me. I smiled. As I undressed I glanced at the looking glass on the wall, and barely recognized myself. My hair had grown considerably longer, it now nearly reached my shoulders, and I had A light scruff on my face, my torso had also gotten more toned then it had been, and I had lost weight from lack of food, my hands were rough, and callused, as were my feet. As I examined myself I noticed on the table under the mirror was a bowl of water, some sheers, and a razor blade.

I finished cleaning up quickly, and when I looked back in the mirror I recognized my face once more.

After dressing I exited my room, and entered the dining area.

“Well well, look who finally decided to wake,” Finley said, from where he sat. He had cut his hair shorter, then I’d ever seen it, but it suited him well, and made him look older, which also suited him well. I looked to Kiara as well, and butterflies filled my chest. She was clean, her face was positively glowing, she was in an elegant, but practical light blue dress, and she had cut her hair. It was now just above her shoulders, and she had pinned the front strands behind her head, with a golden pin shaped as a leaf. She looked beautiful.

“Come join us. We’ve got hot biscuits,” Phonwhin said. I sat between Kiara, and Finley.

“How did you sleep?” Coan asked.

“Well thank you,” I responded. Coan nodded satisfactorily, and we dug in.

When we finished, we sat around the table, talking, and laughing over our few days of adventure, and as I remembered the day we met Coan, and Phonwhin, I lamented the loss of a family, but rejoiced in the gain of a new one. I hadn’t talked much, I was only listening. Not long after, Finley decided it was time to strengthen his sword skills, Coan agreed to spar with him, and Phonwhin went to wash our dishes.

“What are you thinking of?” Kiara asked, once we were alone. I looked at her.

“I was thinking of my family,” I said. She gave me a sad smile. “I was thinking of how the day we met Coan, and Phonwhin is bittersweet.” She tilted her head. “On that day I lost my family, but I gained a new one. Somehow Coan, and Phonwhin completed our little family.” Kiara smiled. “We’re family then?” She said, a small laugh escaping her lip, and I knew what she was asking. I smiled.

“Yes. but you’re not the same as the rest. There’s a love I hold, that belongs only to you.” My face flushed as I said that, and my chest got fluttery. Kiara’s face flushed as well.

“Then,” She paused, scared to say the next words.

“I love you,” I finished her sentence. She smiled.

“Feel the same. I wanted to tell you when we dances, but,”

“Finley,” I said. She nodded, and laughed. “You do know though?” I said. She nodded.

“I’ll wait. We have to defeat our enemies before anything can come from this,” she said. I nodded. As much as I wanted to sweep her off her feet then, and there, if i did, I wouldn’t be able to bear it if something happened to her, and I couldn’t cause her pain if something happened to me, so until there was no longer a threat to my life, we would hold off on the wedding bells. That was the moment I realized what my first dream of the future had meant. I was the man playing with the boy that Kiara was watching, and the boy, and the baby in Kiara’s womb were our children, and I would do anything to preserve that future.

After our confessions of mutual adoration, we exited the house, into the yard where Finley, and Coan were sparring

After our confessions of mutual adoration, we exited the house, into the yard where Finley, and Coan were sparring, and Phonwhin was observing.

“Wow Fin, you recovered quickly,” I said, watching him twist, and turn with the skill I was used to seeing from him, albeit a little less, but close enough.

“You know me,” he said panting. “I’ve always healed quick.” Kiara laughed.

“What about you Draven?” Phonwhin said. “Would you like to spar?” she said, holding a sword out to me. I held out my hands.

“Come along now, I only just bathed,” I said. Phonwhin gestured with the sword. I sighed, and took the sword, and readied myself for Phonwhin’s strike. She hit hard, and I stumbled, but regained my footing quickly. I was on the defensive, but I went on the offensive, striking, hard, and quick, not giving her a chance, and the only reason I bested her was that I surprised her. she laughed as her sword hit the ground.

“Impressive, but remember surprises only happen once, so never reveal all your cards,” She advised. I nodded, and we(whoa whoa whoa) readied once more.

We spared for hours, and I lost every time, but I was getting better. Finley on the other hand was very evenly matched with Coan, and ultimately won more than Coan, even with his injury. Kiara had been practicing her marksmanship, and did very well.

I collapsed onto the soft grass, panting, and sweaty, Finley sat beside me.

“Tired?” He asked, also panting. I nodded.

“I need water,” I said.

“Don’t worry Coan went to get some.” I laid back on the grass, closing my eyes and remembering the moment I had shared with Kiara that morning. I smiled at the thought. “What’s made you so pleasant today?” He inquired. I sat up, and looked to Kiara, who was still practicing her archery. Finley smiled. “You told her, didn’t you?” He had a weird way of knowing exactly what I was thinking, but I suppose that’s what came with a lifelong friend. I nodded answering his question. “And she felt the same I’m guessing?” I nodded once more. “I applaud your choice. She is truly worthy of you.” I smiled.

“Even the Zebies would be worthy of me. I only need to make sure I’m worthy enough for her,” I said. Finley patted my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, you will be,” He said reassuringly.

“Thanks Fin.”

We decided to go into town to get supplies, and Phonwhin, and Coan stayed back to make dinner. Kiara was nervous that someone would recognize her. I reassured her, but she insisted on covering her head with a cloak. We entered the town getting food, water skins, and other supplies we needed. One shop we entered was a sanitary shop, where they sold soaps, sheers for hair cutting, razor blades, and so on. We went to the counter to pay, and the woman behind eyed us suspiciously. I assumed it was because Kiara flatly refused to put her hood down, and it was evident we were all armed, so I ignored it, and we set our things on the counter. When she saw Kiara’s hand, she whispered something to the boy next to her, he nodded, and left.

“Four gold pieces please,” She said smiling. I paid and we left the shop, only to be greeted by five armed guards.

“Halt!” One of them said, stepping forward. We did as he said, albeit a little confused.

“Did we do something wrong? If so please inform us, and we’ll rectify it,” Finley said, stepping forward as well. The guard motioned for Kiara to step forward, and she did. He grabbed her hand.

“This is the princess’ ring,” He said in a low tone. “Did you steal it?” Kiara shook her head.

“No, I found it,” She said. The guard looked skeptical.

“She wouldn’t part with it, you would have had to take it from her dead body.” My stomach jolted at that sentence, and I wanted to puke.

“I didn’t kill her, I just found it on the ground, and I liked the look of it,” Kiara argued. Keeping the skeptical look firmly on his face, the guard ripped off Kiara’s hood. A look of recognition flashed through the man’s eyes. He grabbed her wrist’s.

“The princess has been found, arrest these men, they must be the ones that took her. I’ll take the princess back to the castle,” He said, turning away.

“Wait. No! I left on my own. Balor please, leave them be they didn’t do anything,” Kiara said desperately. “I’ll go back quietly, just leave them.” The man Balor ignored her. I didn’t resist the men arresting me, I was confident we could get out of this.

“Just explain to your father. Make him understand,” I called to her as she was dragged away. “Don’t fight love.” At my words Kiara’s eyes teared, and she nodded.

It didn’t take long for us to reach the castle. We were led through the halls to the courtroom, where the king sat, his queen beside him, his son the prince standing on one side, and on the other standing behind the queen was Kiara. She was wearing a deep purple dress, ordained with gold details, and her hair had been put into a lowset bun. How they had accomplished that in so little time was a mystery to me, but alas they had, and I missed her trousers, and messy hair. She looked annoyed having to be there, but I was glad she was. We got to the middle of the room, and were roughly pushed to our knees. I grunted as pain shot through my knees. Kiara tried to step forward, but the queen grabbed her arm to hold her back. The king stood, and faced us.

“Do you know why you’ve been arrested?” He said. I glanced at Finley

“I know that it was for something we didn’t do,” He said, looking the king in the eye.

“You stole my daughter,”

“She left willingly,” I cut in. the king looked at me, but I didn’t for a moment take my eyes off Kiara. The king scoffed.

“She would never, she loves her home, she’s never said a word against it,” He argued. Kiara came forward.

“Father I would. I hate this place,” She said. The queen grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing darling?” She said in a sickly sweet way. Kiara glared at her.

“Release me mother. Or I shall make you,” She growled. When the queen didn’t react, Kiara hit her forearm hard, and she recoiled, letting go of Kiara’s hand. Her brother was glaring at her.

“Kiara. How could you strike your mother!” he said scoldingly.

“Do not you talk to me in such a way,” she hissed.

“Enough!” The king said loudly. “Kiara control yourself, you are embarrassing your family.” Kiara looked incredulous.

“Family?! This is what you call family? I do so hate to be the one informing you of this father, but this is not a family. In the months I’ve been gone I’ve learned more than I ever have here, and the biggest thing was what it was like to be loved. Which I have only felt from one person my entire life, and it wasn’t any of you,” She spat. The king glared at her.

“Balor. Remove her, and these men shall be executed at dawn for their corruption of my daughter.” Kiara’s eyes widened, as did mine, and Finley’s.

“Father you can’t!” Kiara said. Moving around the room to avoid Balor. “Please, they’re my family.” She covered her mouth, knowing that that word had just sealed our fate. We were dragged to our feet, and as we were being led out of the room, Kiara tried to run to us, but Balor had caught her. She reached for me, even though my hands were tied.

“I love you Kiara,” I said.

“And I you,” She responded, tears springing to her eyes, as she too was led from the room.

Darkness came swiftly, as I paced the small cell Finley, and I shared.

“You know, for such a careful guy, you seem to turn a lot of people against you,” Finley said, from the bed he sat on. I sighed and sat on the other one.

“Perhaps I’m not as careful as I thought.” I groaned.

“I shouldn’t have let her show her hands,” I muttered.

“That’s not your fault Draven. There was no way we could’ve known someone would recognize her ring,” Finley said.

“Yes but still-” he cut me off.

“There’s no use blaming yourself for things you can no longer control,” He told me. “All we can do now is try our best to get out of this.”Just then we heard the noise of the door to the dungeon open, and close. Footsteps came down the stairs, and a face appeared on the other side of the barred door.

“Good Day to you lads,” Coan said, with a grin on his face.

“Coan!” Finley said, jumping up off the bed. “You can get us out of here right?” Coan smirked.

“What? You think I came unprepared?” he said, holding up a ring of keys. I let out a relieved laugh. Coan unlocked the door, and let us out. “Put these on. I’ll tell them the king has appointed me to take you to the woods for a quiet execution,” he said, handing us each a pair of shackles. We did as Coan said, and he led us out of the castle.

We made it to the woods quickly, and Coan removed our shackles.

“Phonwhin should be here soon. She’s getting Kiara.” my heart leapt. “She doesn’t want to be here, so she’ll be continuing with you,”

“But you, and Phonwhin won’t,” I stated sadly. Coan smiled.

“As much as we’d like to lad, our home is here, and this was our destination if you remember.” I nodded, and my heart filled with sorrow, but that feeling was momentarily pushed aside when I saw Phonwhin, and Kiara. She smiled when she saw me, and ran to me, as did I. we met, and gripped each other tightly.

“Draven I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let my ring show,” she said quickly. I looked at her, keeping my arms around her waist. I brushed her cheek.

“Don’t fret darling, we’re fine.” She smiled. We released each other, and she ran to Finley, hugging him as well. Once Kiara had calmed, we bid Phonwhin, and Coan farewell, and were once again, plunging into the dark woods.