Ch. 7: Who Is Eric?
Twenty-two years earlier…
"Cawden," the young servant turned around to see his friend, Sir Darrin exiting out of his chambers with a smile of pure joy across his face. "It's a boy," Darrin clapped his friend's shoulder. Cawden smiled at his friend for this was the first-born child and recently the king had a beautiful baby girl.
"I'm happy for you, Darrin," Cawden told his friend, "what will you name him?"
"I'm not sure nor is Amelia but soon we will name him."
Cawden gave a hearty laugh before Darrin gestured for him to meet his son. Cawden slowly followed Darrin into the bedroom to see Amelia quietly cradling their newborn son. Hearing the door open, Amelia looked up and smiled at the men entering. "It's okay, he's asleep," she whispered as Cawden took a seat by the bedside while Darrin sat on the bed.
Quietly and gently, Amelia handed their baby to her husband. Darrin cradled him for a moment before handing Cawden the child.
Cawden gently cradled him, looking down at the boy. He had the dark brown hair like his father's but as the baby opened his eyes a bit; he could also see that the baby inherited his mother's beautiful hazel eyes. Following with this, he noticed that the baby boy had a mark on its shoulder.
A sword shaped one.
"He bears the mark," Cawden whispered.
Darrin nodded before taking his son back into his arms. He kissed his forehead as he stated, "He will continue the bloodline like I did and his forefathers did before him."
"The king will be delighted that the princess will have a friend then a good husband," Cawden joked lightly.
Darrin chuckled while Amelia gently hit Cawden's shoulder. She cradled her son as she hushed the two men, "We don't need to talk about marriage when he was only born several hours ago."
"Of course dear."
"My apologies, Amelia."
However, both men knew how true it was. Darrin had been close friends to the king and queen since he became a knight and the king's most loyal guardian. When it was announce that the queen was pregnant, the king hoped for either a boy or a girl for a boy could rule but a girl could marry Darrin's child who would also protect the princess.
The mark the child bared was the sign of the Warrior blood that ran through his veins. This bloodline meant that he would become a great warrior and also a great man, it meant that he was suppose to protect the princess with his life. However, it was also inevitable that the princess and warrior or guardian, as it was call now, to fall in love.
Amelia was a princess in another kingdom, Darrin became her guardian then a dear friend, and finally the two fell in love. They were married and soon they had their son. It was the happiest time for both of them.
That was until everything went wrong.
Y&S
It was late one night, several days after Darrin's son was born when intruders came. Darrin and Cawden were on the west side of the castle when the news came to them.
These intruders were dressed in black, requesting to see Darrin immediately. There was a sense of darkness toward this statement and Darrin ran with Cawden to his wife and child. For weeks, prior to his son's birth, Darrin heard rumors that someone wanted to kill Darrin or at least, his son if it turned out to be a son.
Darrin ran through the door with Amelia looking at him gravely. She knew what was going to happen as she clutched her son softly. She kissed his forehead before handing him to Darrin.
The guardian looked down at his son then at Cawden. "You must hide him," he told his friend, "he must be safe from this world."
"Why me," Cawden asked.
Darrin looked down at his son, kissing his forehead also. "I trust you," Darrin quietly whispered as he handed his son to Cawden.
Cawden wrapped the boy against him before looking up at his friends then down at their son. "Your son will be safe, I promise," he vowed before he left the room. He ran down the staircase to reach the stable, hopping on his horse.
He looked around before glancing at the forest. The baby began to cry but Cawden hushed the baby by rocking him, whispering reassuring things to him. He then glanced up and rode into the forest.
He rode for hours into the night, searching a place to hide the baby. It was then he found a cottage in the middle of the forest. Cawden looked around in astonishment for it was isolated from the world outside of the forest. He was shock that there was even life here but he could see a carriage and two horses roaming the grounds.
Slowly Cawden approached the cottage before hopping of the horse. He carried the baby toward the doorstep before placing him down. The baby looked up at him curiously, as Cawden wrapped him securely in his blanket before he whispered softly, "You will be safe, little one. One day soon, I hope that you will find your way back." He then looked at the cottage, "This will soon be your world but you will always bear your father's mark and I hope soon you will see the princess." He then bent down, smiling. "Be strong, little one," he whispered. Cawden then stood back up before knocking at the door and running behind a bush.
Cawden watched as the door opened to reveal a young dwarf looking down at the baby. He lifted him up, smiling at him as the baby began to cry gently as he brought the small baby in. Cawden smiled gently and all he hoped that this baby would be safe.
Twenty-two years later…
Eric looked down at Kaelyn. He smiled softly at her as he pushed a strand of her hair back before walking back to his hammock. He slipped back into it before he looked over at Kaelyn. There was in urge in him to protect her, to be her friend, and yet, he felt a weird feeling in his gut. They felt like butterflies and it was so unfamiliar to him that it scared him a bit.
He shook his head, he would have to figure it out later but for now, he would have to sleep for they would be home soon.
Okay, I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooo sorry this took so long. I got really busy that I couldn't type so I finally got some free time and here we go! Anyways, Review, PM, etc.
This answers who Eric is…but like I'm going to make it this easy…
