Chapter 19 (Alternate ending)
Overhead the sun beat down on two weary travellers. It had been a whole day since they had drunk clean water and four since they had last eaten, but they were free. Although their strength was fading, they were happy just to be able to kiss and hold one another and to make love when they felt like it. On the first night, they had made love twice and then slept 'till well into the next day. After that, they had traversed a vast expanse of flat grass until they found a small lake where they drank from the dirty water. It was now the third day.
"Grass, grass, more grass, when will this bloody grass give way to something else", Kari shouted half-heartedly. Amalia smiled and squeezed his hand. The sun was taking its toll on them both. Amalia sighed and then suggested they rest. There was no shade out here, but the breeze cooled their bodies, as they lay flat on the land.
They had been scared at first, that the men would somehow find them and take them back, or kill them, but there had been no such event and now the two were quite content to let themselves just drift off to sleep whenever they were tired.
After a brief rest they set off again. Kari kept muttering to himself and Amalia just smiled at his ravings. This continued for three hours, before the sun began to set. The sky was not the blood red it had seemed to go for the past few nights, it was now a pale pink with gold and orange streaks. It seemed to give the lovers hope. As the sky then continued to fade out, to the stunned amazement of Amalia and Kari, lights began to show up in the distance. There weren't many and so Kari and Amalia headed over to it.
As they got closer, the smell of cooked meat met their noses.
"God that smells good", Kari sighed. Amalia was slightly worried that when they got to their destination it would reveal the men that had taken them, however, the lights were small and in a small quantity.
"Looks safe enough", Kari said turning to her. Amalia stood still a moment and Kari turned to her. "Whatever happens, I will protect you ok?" Amalia nodded and together they walked towards, what soon turned out to be a familiar building.
The small lights glittered in the windows.
"No way, this is sheer luck", Kari began before a small man stepped out of the house. He breathed in the sir before he turned to face them. He looked into the dark for a moment before suddenly realising who they were.
"Well bless my soul, what the hell are you two doing back here. Lydia", he shouted, "come an' see who I have found". Jack's wife Lydia hurried out of the house drying her hands on a dirty apron.
Jack headed towards them and placed a hand on their weak frames.
"My god, when was the last time you two had a proper meal".
"Oh", Lydia gasped, "back so soon?" Jack gave a hearty laugh before dragging the slightly bewildered bodies of Kari and Amalia, into the house.
Kari and Amalia slept solidly for a day after gorging themselves on Lydia's cooking. Even the twin's had not woken them from their slumber. Eventually they awoke and reiterated their whole story to the family. Jack often let out little remarks such as, "dear god" and "lord if I…". Lydia on the other hand merely sat and let them finish their story before heading over to them and hugging them both.
Amalia and Kari ended up staying there for two weeks, until Jack's brother arrived. He was the head of a band of men who were wanted by the King. He was similar to his brother in every way, except that he had more scars. After being introduced to Kari and Amalia he gave his condolences and told them that they would not be able to come with him. The band of 'wanted' was disbanding, as was the government. It was all falling apart.
"This is all your doing, if I may say, young Amalia", Jack's brother put in, "after you, most of his harem escaped and then the guard disbanded, admittedly a lot still stay loyal but… you have started a revolution". Amalia was shocked at the news but relieved. If the empire was falling then it would not be long before the King did and then she would be free to go back to her home…
The word tasted do sweet to her but she knew that she only wanted to share it with Kari and here there would be too may memories. In the middle of a conversation between the men round the table Amalia spoke up. "Where are we to go?"
There was silence as all eyes turned to her. Kari put his hand on hers and started to say something before Jack's brother piped up.
"I wanted to tell you this later but now, I suppose, is as good a time as any. I am off to Karakor", everyone was silent, "It is a land where the people have different coloured skin, where the weather is mild and the people are free, the King has no rule there and I want you two to come with me. There, you can start again".
Kari turned to Amalia and stared into her eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she confirmed all of this with Jack's brother. The whole table laughed as Kari picked Amalia up in his arms and kissed her.
"Jack, get back here", his mother shouted. Her now greying hair was whipped around as the wind caught it and he just laughed, dancing in and out of her reach. Jack's father soon came up and caught him, flinging him high up into the air. His green eyes found his wife before he caught the boy and sent him inside. The husband went over to his wife and embraced her with the same affection he had 30 years ago.
"You have no idea how much I love you and…" his wife put her fingers to his lips before she kissed his.
He smiled at her as she ran her smooth fingers through his hair. "You", the wife began, "saved me from a life of punishment and, although the journey to here was treacherous, I am so glad we did it my love".
"Amalia, the day I stop loving you…"
"Or I you Kari"
"Is the day we die", they said in unison as the sun set behind them.