The Finality of Goodbye
Sitting on the golden hills facing the city her eyes were closed and her mind far from its borders.
The crashing waves in sync with the beating of her heart and the blood and magic pulsing through her veins.
She allowed herself to fly away from all that was before her. Smiles of long forgotten memories raced through her mind. A time of naive happiness.
But reality crashed upon these faces as some died, left her alone. She watched them die in battle; she watched them leave to a life of happiness. Something she feared she would never know.
She felt the hand of Blaise on her cheek and she leaned into the caress. "I am with you my love…" He whispered before he too faded.
She gasped and opened her eyes. Since when did her meditations turn into nightmares?
Letting her eyes focus she looked on the city. Lights were lit as though guarding them from the darkness of night. But she knew of the darkness coming that no light could guard them of. Her only hope was to stop it before it reached those she loved, and the people of her country.
She had felt him creep into the country's borders. She felt the evil that slipped past its defenses. This is why she decided to leave tomorrow.
Only Rashidi should know of their whereabouts, as to protect those who did not need to know. Draco, she thought, was one of these. She hated to leave without his knowledge; for she knew he would worry once she was gone. But perhaps it was better this way, as he would not fight her upon her departure.
She stood and looked to the castle. She wanted so much to leave, to do this herself as she was meant to. But they would not allow it and she did not know if she was strong enough to go alone. Completely alone. She knew in the end, however, that it would be her. Her alone for it was her path and her destiny.
She walked down to the castle seeing the people closing their houses and businesses for the night, allowing her pace to remain a stroll she turned a corner to see Blaise walking towards her.
"I had a feeling I'd find you out here." She could only nod as he came to stand in front of her. "He knows. I do not know how, but he knows you are leaving and he is angry." She studied his eyes and knew exactly whom he spoke of.
She began walking again towards the castle, but her walk soon turned into a run. Blaise had not followed her. She did not know whether to curse him or thank him for that.
Reaching the gates she waited as guards allowed them to open. She ran to the doors and stood in the hall. There her brother stood speaking in hushed voices to Rashidi.
It was him, it had to be. Rashidi had let her secret fall. His stormy eyes met her own and she could see the anger flow from him. He walked quickly toward her and grabbed her arm. "We will speak in private." He said walking still holding her arm as though she would run from him.
He led her to his study and slammed the door after them. "You were not even planning on telling me!" He spoke in anger. Her eyes not meeting his at first as he ranted and yelled at her.
"You do not seem to understand." She said calmly.
"Not understand!? Then enlighten me, dear sister! Tell me what it is I do not understand!"
"This is my path and I will not lead you down it. You have a country to rule, and it will become exceedingly difficult now that he is back in its lands."
"Who? Who is back in its lands? Explain to me what this darkness is?"
"It is of our families past. It is our ancestor."
"Our ancestor? Katherine, we are all that is left of our family line. How is it that our ancestor is the one causing this darkness?" She sighed and looked away from him.
The sun had set completely and the moon was shining its rays into the study. "You ask too much of me Draco. I have too much on my shoulders already and I will not place you there as well. The less you know the better, but it is tomorrow that I must leave. And it is tomorrow that you will continue to rule this country."
"NO!" He yelled slamming his fist onto the desk. "Why do you insist on keeping such secrets from me? Why do you wish to keep me from your life? You are all I have left and I will not loose you. Do you understand me!?" He grabbed her upper arms harshly shaking her, though she did not flinch and simply met his gaze.
"Draco, we have been through much and all through it I have not lied to you once. You will not loose me." Her voice was soothing, and soft as though meant to allow him rest. He let loose his grip on her and turned away.
"Do you not trust me?" He asked.
"I do, though I fear it you who do not trust me." He turned around to face her once more. A sigh escaped his lips as though proclaiming his defeat.
"Then you will take another with you. I have heard Jabari and Blaise will be joining you. Abbas will as well."
"No." She spoke firmly. "I will not put another life in danger. I will not risk yet another soldier when this is my fight."
"Abbas will go if only to protect the princess from her own foolishness."
"Yes, he will go out of duty to his country, not out of desire or want." She was angry now. She already had two with her that she knew she would feel the responsibility over, but not another.
"Then he will only be following his princess in that since."
"In what since?" She asked confused.
"In the since that you are doing the same. In the since that you do not want nor desire to fulfill this destiny this path, but you do it because you know it needs to be done, and unfortunately by you. Abbas will do the same, for he knows it needs to be done." She looked away as he spoke; not wanting to hear what came from his lips.
"Fine he shall come, but only if it is his decision not your order."
"Fine." He agreed. She went to leave the room hoping for some sleep, but Draco stopped her.
"Do…do not leave without saying goodbye." She looked to see the worry in his eyes.
She nodded and left for her own rooms only hoping that sleep would claim her for the rest of the night.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
He paced back and forth the early rays of the morning lights creeping through the windows.
"Waring a hole in the floor?" She said from her spot near the corner. He turned to her only to smile though she could not mistake the worry in his eyes. Her features became serious as she stepped towards him. "What is it?"
"They are leaving." She nodded.
"Yes, I know…but this is not what's troubling you." She said reading worry in his eyes.
"It means we are leaving also." She didn't speak as he lifted a hand to place a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Do you fear what we are about to do?" She asked, his face became a mixture of emotions at this and she could not easily read it.
"I fear the unknown, and that this unknown that we knowingly walk into will take you away from me." He whispered kissing her forehead.
"You know that will never be." She stood on her toes and kissed him lightly, reassuring him so. "Come, I do not want to miss them." She said a small smile on her lips. Taking his hand tightly in hers. She turned to walk to the arrival room, but he stopped her, pulling her back to him.
He looked into her eyes as though reading her mind. The worry still very evident in his eyes. "If you tell me right now, that this is the path the destiny you choose then I will follow you anywhere. But…but if you have any hesitation of it…any doubts do not make us choose this path."
She wanted to tell him that she had changed her mind. That this wasn't the path for her, for them. That they could safely stay at the castle, but she knew she couldn't and fooling herself as such would do well for no one.
Sighing she looked up once more at him. "I do not wish for this to be my path, but it is what has been laid out before me. I want nothing more to be done with it all, to live my life…to have happiness."
"I would give you the moon if I could." He whispered before kissing her again.
She looked up at him. "I know."
With this they made their way to the arrival room, where ironically her parents and her godfather were departing.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!
He stared at Rashidi. "You would let her go, taking your own son along with her into the very mouth of danger?"
"I know what needs to be done. My son willingly goes with Princess Katherine."
"Does he? Or did you order him to go?" Draco felt the guilt. Against his sister's wishes and behind her back he ordered Abbas to accompany her.
"He knows the part he must play in this as does Abbas. They will not fail us, nor the princess." Rashidi reasoned.
Draco could only nod as he looked out the window of his study. He could see in the distance four horses being brought to the front doors of the castle. They would leave soon. His mind told him it had to be done. This was his sister's fate and not even he could protect her from it. But his heart…his heart begged to protect her, to lock her in the highest tower and keep her there until he could vanquish the evil himself.
"It is her path." Rashidi spoke as though reading Draco's thoughts.
"And I cannot stop what has already begun." Draco finished
There was a knock on the door. Adofo entered. "My king, they are ready to leave."
Draco nodded and turned to face Adofo who also carried the look of worry and apprehension in his eyes. The entire castle knew of the princess's departure no matter how hard they had tried to keep it quiet. They knew not why, but they knew enough to be worried.
"My King, permission to speak freely?"
"Of course Adofo, you know your opinion is always highly respected." Adofo nodded.
"I am requesting to guide the princess and company through the city of Calantha. I realize my duty now lies here and I cannot make the entire journey with them, but I know the danger of this city." Draco narrowed his eyes at Adofo.
"The dangers? How is it I have not been told of this?" He turned to look to Rashidi.
"Evil and dark magic has been steadily rising in the city of Calantha. No matter how hard we fight against, the city once beautifully portraying it name of tree blossoms has become dark and evil looms in its shadows." Explained Rashidi.
"And you allow her to journey through it? Can she not go around?"
"No, there is no other way. She must go through Calantha to reach her destination." Rashidi explained.
Draco's eyes turned once again on Adofo. "Then yes, accompany them through Calantha." Adofo bowed and exited the king's study.
!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!
She watched as a fifth horse was brought to the front doors. "Excuse me, only four were needed."
The servant bowed low to the princess. "The king requested another, my Princess." She hesitated, but nodded, wondering just what Draco was up to.
She didn't have to wait long to figure it out. A group walked towards her, her three companions, Rashidi, Draco, and Adofo.
"Draco? A fifth horse?" She asked an eyebrow raised.
"Adofo has requested to go with you through Calantha. I have agreed." She nodded and beckoned him away from the others.
"You send another down this path." She hissed.
"He sends himself. He came to me with such wishes." Her eyes widened. "He chooses this path for himself would you deny him his own choice?"
"If this choice could get him killed, then yes."
"What's done is done. Welcome the extra protection so you may be on your way." She shook her head. "Do not part angry, Katherine. For if…if this is the last time, I do not wish to remember you like this." He swallowed hard.
"My dear brother." Her voice softened with her words. "I do not wish to part as such either." They walked back to the others.
"You are packed and ready then Adofo?" He nodded and mounted his own horse next to Abbas and Jabari.
Blaise spoke a farewell to Draco and gave a nod to Rashidi before climbing onto his. She was the last. She turned to Rashidi first.
"I will keep your son safe." He nodded already knowing this. "I will return and all will return to peace."
"I can only hope." He replied. She then hugged him in thanks and turned back to her brother.
"I do not know the date of our next meeting. I will not say goodbye for it is too final." He could only nod at her words. She finally sighed and hugged him whispering. "Calo anor na ven." She pulled away from him and he gave her a look of confusion. "May the sun shine on your road." She translated.
Worry filled his eyes. "Stay safe, Katherine and return." She nodded and kissed his cheek before turning to her own horse. She climbed onto it and turned to face her brother, before turning away and allowing the road to take her away.
With cloaks over their heads and hiding their faces they walked their horses through the streets of Medora. Some looked on in wonder, others simply thought them travelers.
They finally reached the hills of gold causing Katherine to stop and look behind her. The city busy with its daily routine oblivious to the danger five people walked into. She closed her eyes and heard the waves of the ocean above all the city noises.
"Katherine." She heard Blaise's voice causing her to smile.
"I will protect them." She turned to face him. "With my life I will ensure their happiness."
"At the cost of your own?" He asked clearly bothered by the words she spoke.
"The cost of my own happiness is small compared to the cost of theirs." She whispered taking one last look at the city before turning her horse and following them down the hills of gold.