Forgiveness
"Rider coming" shouted a stableboy. Alton rode through the gates of the castle, dismounted and handed the reins to the stableboy. He surveyed the castle grounds and spotted a figure clad in green standing at the castle gates. He strode towards the figure, hoping it was Karigan.
Karigan rushed towards the castle gates from the Rider offices where she was doing paperwork for Captain Mapstone. As she arrived, she saw Alton dismount and the stableboy leading Night Hawk to the stables. She felt slightly overwhelmed. What should she do that won't intimidate Alton? She took a deep breathe waiting for him to reach her.
Alton stopped in front of the castle steps leading to the gates. Karigan stood on the top in front of the guards. She looked somewhat different. She still had the long, reddish brown hair but she looked more confidant and just different. But now she looked as if she was going to cry. He waited for her to speak.
"I'm so glad you came back, Alton," she said, a drop of tear ran down her cheek. "But why? Why did you do that?"
"Karigan, I'm so sorry, I can explain," stammered Alton, of all the reactions he has been expecting, it was not one of them. "Let's go for a walk and I'll explain."
To his surprise, Karigan smiled. They walked in companiable silence through the gardens. Alton didn't know how to start and Karigan did not press him to.
"It's like this, when that Sergeant knocked me off the Wall into Blackveil, I was very ill and didn't know what was happening. I tried to protect myself using my brooch, creating a shield. But the shield won't work if I fell asleep. Sometime during my sleep, I think that thing," He shuddered. Karigan nodded sympathetically. Alton continued. " It went into my mind and somehow brought me back across the Wall. And that's when…..when I saw the horrible vision. You weren't really there, it was just that thing." Alton shuddered again.
"Do you think I will forgive you? Did you really think that I want to destroy the wall?" Karigan's tone was expressionless.
"I…..I…..didn't know what was going on. I was just frustrated and depressed and," stuttered Alton, at loss for words. He looked perplexed.
"I forgive you Alton," said Karigan, smiling. She put a hand soothingly on his shoulder. "I am also at fault for not understanding the matter."
"No..no I am the one who should be sorry," cried Alton. Karigan laughed, a very pleasant sound to Alton's ears.
"Let's say we both are at fault," she said a matter-of-factly. "So are you coming the Spring Festival in a week's time?"
"I'm staying here for a while," replied Alton, thoroughly relieved. "Are you?"
"Have too, I've been given an invitation from the King and an order from my father," she stated, reluctantly. "I never do well at those festivals. But it's never wise to refuse the King."
"Why does your father order you to?" asked Alton, curious. Her response was bewildering.
"We are friends, right?" said Karigan, turning around to face him.
"Yes, why?" said Alton, bewildered.
"My father wants..wants me to …..get married," she answered awkwardly. Alton looked her in the eye. His gaze was so intense that made Karigan turn away, murmuring about unfinished paperwork.
King Zachary looked out of his study window that gave a great view of the castle gardens. He was surprised to see Karigan in the gardens. He saw her much more in the stables than in the gardens. But he was even more surprised when he saw Alton with her. They both seems to be in high spirits. To Zachary, seeing Karigan with Alton only dampened his spirits. He sighed, however much he loved Karigan, he can never be with her. He had no intentions about making her his mistress. But still seeing Karigan and Alton made him slightly jealous.