Chapter FIFTY-SIX: Clearwater-RHEN

...

Two days later...

In a dark but calm setting with luminescent purple light...in the corner of a teal colored patch of land, Tailor found himself knowing he was being called here.

He turned in every directions, but unable to move far. He suddenly saw the Dreamer, fallen on the eerie ground.

"Tailor...I have found you," Talia said with a faint smile, springing to her feet and running up to him, embracing him. He could tell something was terribly wrong.

"Priestess Talia, you have returned to us!" he said cheerfully, then realized it was not real, but a dream. He still held Rhen in his arms, but knew it was not really the girl.

"Oh, sweet, noble Tailor...I am not able to return...I have been sworn to never mention the Child's existence. You must take her where the Demon will not think to look...You...You must raise her as your own...She cannot be told who she is...or learn of her past until she is ready," Talia wept, her cries echoed in the Dream Realm, magnifying the sound. "I tried to find Devin, but he is lost...You were right...I shouldn't have looked for him...I tried to return, but I am not allowed to leave the Dreamworld because of all the nightmares... Her destiny is not with the sun priest and I...It is with you."

"I am so sorry, Talia," Tailor choked, seeing that she was shattered. Her eyes wide with similar grief he had only seen come from the Queen of Thais. He looked at dream-Rhen in his arms, wondering now what he was going to do when he awoke in the Highlands—in the middle of nowhere.

"I could not find the Druid's temple, Priestess. I have searched since you left. I am lost with R—"

"—With your daughter," Talia said, tears running down her face not wanting Tailor to speak her name as the nightmares were surely near and could listen. Knowing as well too, that she would have to forget the girl's name to protect her..."Just know that you are safe on the Western Isle. It matters naught where you choose to live...Just keep her safe."

"I promise...I will find the safest place for us in all the Land," Tailor affirmed, wishing the dream would not end as he felt so safe and content with the Priestess at his side.

"Tailor, I shall watch over you and the Child's dreams...Until we meet again, dear friend," Talia said, resigned, lovingly caressing the dream-girl in his arms. She leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek...

...but he awoke the next minute to the loud screeching of a loud bird—a Nemesis.

..

Daylight...

Tailor awoke under the shade of a tree. Rain water splashing down, yet wild creatures still lurking.

"Of course I awake during the best part of a dream," he mumbled to himself, bummed out.

He looked down at his new daughter, sleeping soundly against his chest. Her tiny face flushed red.

His hand moved to her forehead. The girl had a slight fever and she was famished. He looked for ointment or anything he had for ailments, but had none left. The only food around them were the ripe red apples from the apple trees he was already sick of eating, and much too difficult for the baby to eat.

There was no need to look for the elusive Druid's Shrine any longer, he just needed to find a village soon, he thought, as he got up, remembering his dream. He had given up on finding the temple after getting lost in the Highland cliffs and was relieved it was no longer their destination.

However, the former knight was no longer sure whether to go up or down. The sky was beginning to clear slightly. He decided going upward as he was almost to the top anyway, and it would be easier to see from above and search for any villages that may be near.

..

When he reached closer to the top, a thick cloud cover formed and rain began to pour again.

The girl cried. He tried to comfort her, but her fever had only grown worse.

"There, there, Rhen. I shall find us food and a healer," Tailor spoke to her confidently. He knew he needed shelter right away. To the left side of the next cliff top, he saw a cave. He quickly climbed up the slippery rocks and went inside as the rain water fell harder.

Once inside the dark cave, Tailor realized it went on; though, now unsure if he should continue within the cave or if he should just wait for the rain to subside and head back down. He suddenly remembered he still had some glowberries from Talia in his pocket, and decided to explore.

He realized it was not a long cave at all, and it had an opening on the other side. He went through and found a narrow path that continued upward. The rain had slowed to a trickle. A sign was posted beside the upward path with the word, "Clearwater".

He could smell the scent of fresh bread coming from somewhere and followed the wonderful smell.

"Hello?!" he said, but heard no response.

As he looked around at what appeared to be a recently abandoned village. There were a few homes, but most were boarded up. Attempting to find shelter, he tried breaking into one that said Inn.

"Pardon, sir! What are you doing?" a woman cried to him as he slammed into the Inn's locked door.

"Erm...I was only looking for an Inn..." Tailor answered as he turned slowly to face the villager. A young lovely woman with faded red hair loosely pulled back and slight freckles on her pretty cheekbones, waved a rolling pin at him. She wore a humble but youthful red dress and a white apron wrapped around her petite frame. "Sorry!...I'm Tailor Darzon, m'lady...This is my las—I mean my daughter Rhen...Rhen Darzon." He grinned bittersweetly over the sound of his surname now belonging to the princess—his daughter.

"You can call me Marion, like the flowers of this valley...We have no Inn here...Not for some time," the woman said, but dropped her rolling pin upon seeing the sick girl in his arms.

"Please, come with me," she panted, leading the way now. Tailor's eyes gazed at the woman's kind but sharp soft brown eyes as she turned to him. "You shouldn't be in the rain with a baby."

"No, I guess not," Tailor said to her as they went inside a small bakery nearby. "Are you the only villager in this town?"

"My grandfather and I live here...Many of the villagers fled when they saw fireballs falling from the skies, moons ago...We could not flee though," the woman said as she broke bread and haunch for Tailor. She poured him strong apple cider too.

Tailor sat down and ate and drank, thankful for the young woman's hospitality. "Not quite ale, but it's wonderful," he said as he finished his drink.

He still held Rhen close to him—unable to relax even after a drink—unable to forget all the traumatic events of the last few days.

Marion smiled warmly at him as she looked through cabinets for food and remedies. Tailor's serious expression, widened to a timid smile.

Slowly, Tailor loosened his protective hold on Rhen. Marion took the girl from him and held her close and tried to warm her near the oven where the bread baked. Her hand rubbed against the girl's soft blanket and clothing.

"Your daughter is beautiful, knight, " Marion said as she gave the girl salve and tenderly cradled her. Sadness extended across the woman's eyes. She went on to prepare a mash of warm soft bread, apples, nutrients, and milk, while holding the girl in one arm.

"Rhen looks nothing like you," Marion commented matter-of-factly, but smiled contently at the infant girl while feeding her carefully in her arms.

"Err...I guess not...I suppose she looks more like her mother...and grandmother, too," Tailor said, quietly remembering his late Queen and the late Queen Mother Alisandra, wondering how much he should share with his new acquaintance. "She is gone now. The girl is an orphan."

"She is no orphan if she still has a father..." Marion pointed out.

"I suppose not," Tailor said, gritting his teeth, now smiling nervously at the village girl. He scratched the back of his head, feeling self-conscience. He was sure now the woman had figured him out, thinking the truth was perhaps written all over his pallid weary face.

"You are not her true father, are you?" Marion said suddenly, after a few moments.

"No, I am not," Tailor said honestly, surprised she figured him out so quickly, as well as amazed by her wisdom. "...But she is my daughter now."

"Yes, of course she is," Marion replied warmly and gave Rhen back to Tailor. He noticed her temperature was down a lot. "Much has happened in the world. It is very noble of you to take on another's child...She could have grown up to be a street urchin if she had no one, or perhaps worse."

Her hand went to his hand. She gazed tenderly at him, but she pulled away when she hurried away to pull out more bread out of the firebrick oven. The loaves came out over-baked, toasted dark brown.

"They look delicious," Tailor genuinely complimented. He was flushed in the face after her warm touch.

"No, they're not. They're over-baked...I am not a baker, actually...I'm a seamstress," she admitted, appearing a little embarrassed by her baking mishap.

"Amazing," he said."I also enjoy handcrafts, m'lady...If there are any shoes you need mended, I can make them look brand new...Any material: leather, wood, metal, even glass." He was happy the lovely woman and him had something in common.

Needing a break from baking, Marion went over to sit beside them.

"... I suppose I should share a bit about myself and this village. I have never been able to leave Clearwater. I cannot leave. I fell as a child down the cliff side and was badly injured...I believed I had butterfly wings and could fly, just as the fairytales of the kingdom in the sky...I survived though. However, I shall never bear children of my own, the village healer told me so long ago...I have not married for that reason...It is impossible for me to go down the mountains...Grandpa pa is also stuck up here with me. He is too old to climb down.

"As for Clearwater, the village has been abandoned for many moons now, and will be until the rains stop as it is difficult to climb the cliff sides when the rocks are slippery...No villager will return up here until it is safe again."

"Oh, I see...My handmade leather boots kept me from slipping on the way up, so I have no problem going up or down...I guess I'll only be here a little while longer...We do not want to impose on your kindness, m'lady," Tailor said, but did not really want to leave as they had nowhere else to go. She had shared a lot, yet he had no idea how to explain his past without scaring her off or believing him cursed.

"It's no trouble at all," Marion said, her face flushed, making the slight freckles more obvious. "You may stay here...with me, if you wish."

The two stared at each other for a short time, not really needing to speak, but happily enjoying each other's company. She poured them each another cup of strong apple cider.

"...You are too lovely not be married," Tailor complimented suddenly. "I guess not being able to leave this place does not help."

"No, it does not help at all," she said, sadness in her expression once more. She went to them again, this time, she felt over the girl's blankets and clothing again, curiosity getting to her, "Now tell me how does a child you have saved, come dressed with the most elegant fabrics I have ever felt in my life?"

Now looking down at Rhen, he was surprised at how Marion caught on to this particular fine detail most would have never noticed. He did not want to over share at this point—it was all too much already. "I am sorry, Marion...It's more than I can handle right now."

"Forgive me, I should be letting you relax after the long journey up," she said. " I do not mean to pry. I am sure you would like to rest and feel comfortable here...There is an abandoned cottage for sale you may stay in. I think you'll find it to your liking...It's one of the biggest cottages in all of Clearwater."

Tailor quickly pulled some of the gems Alicia had entrusted him. "I would like to buy it. Will this do?" he said, pulling out 3 rubies and 2 emeralds; he laid them on the table for her to see. He was certain Clearwater would be their new home.

Marion, looked at him perplexed. It was a small fortune he was offering for an ordinary cottage, "Please keep your small treasure...I'm not sure if the owner will ever return. If he does, I am sure he would give you a good deal."

"Oh, I did not realize it was a small treasure," Tailor said, realizing himself to be naive of the value of the gems. He was a peasant most of his life, and now he just gave the strange woman something else to be suspicious about.

"I shall show you to your cottage," she said, grabbing a basket she used to gather flowers, to place Rhen inside, to carry her over.

The baby looked up at Marion and smiled. Baby Rhen grabbed the young woman's hand and smiled cheerfully, alert, wriggling her feet, pulling at Marion and trying to get her attention. The girl very much wanted to play now that she was feeling better.

"I guess she really likes you there," Tailor said, happy the baby seemed much more livelier and playful compared to the last few days. The woman had effortlessly nursed her back to health, he noticed, admiring her gentleness.

"She's amazing...I have never seen a prettier child," Marion praised, being the one to hold the basket as they walked outside. Her eyes remained fixated on the girl's striking lilac eyes.

..

The sun was now setting over the mountains. The warm orange light made the valley glow. Tailor looked at Marion, a little unsure how to best express how he was feeling.

"Erm...I forgot to mention I have no wife either...I guess Rhen will have to grow up without a mother," Tailor said carefully. He could hear pounding heartbeat on the mail covering his sleeve. He had never been so bold before.

They arrived in the middle of the village, only steps away from the bakery, and went over to the outside of a large cottage with a picket wooden fence. Marion set the basket down gently on the grass suddenly, her expression unreadable. She looked down at her feet, clasping her hands nervously. The valley wind unraveling her loose light red hair.

The young lady suddenly grabbed Tailor around his high waist, smiling vividly. Her feet kicked up lightly in the air, completely enamored, gushing.

"I WOULD LOVE TO BE RHEN'S MOTHER! " she said loudly, glee in her pitch, her whole face smiling, and voice so loud it echoed through the valley. Her sudden cuteness caused him to grin from ear to ear. "PLEASE DO NOT EVER LEAVE! I SHALL BE A WONDERFUL WIFE, TOO, TAILOR!"

"You want to marry me?" Tailor said thinking himself lucky. She was much more bolder than he.

"Of course I do!" Marion said happily.

"Aye, I would love to marry you, Marion...But who shall marry us here?" he said, now tenderly holding her chin in his hand. He wished to kiss her, but he was too much of a gentleman.

"I shall speak to my grandfather. He is the former mayor. I believe he can marry us...by tomorrow, if that's alright?! We can marry over there, just by the waterfall!" she pointed vigorously at the other end of Clearwater.

"Marion, dearest, before we marry, I need to tell you the truth...about Rhen and I," Tailor said thoughtfully, now needing to make sure his future wife knew what she was committing herself to.

She nodded eagerly, ready to know everything about them.

Marion's expression went from blissfully overjoyed, to a strong but pained one as he told her where he had just been and what had happened to them. Her eyes filled with tears as Tailor told her of the Kingdom of Thais being attacked by Ahriman...the battles that followed...of Queen Alicia's passing and dying so he and the Child could survive...of the lost and likely dead King Devin...and the Dream Priestess that saved them and helped them get this far.

"M'lady...your new daughter, Princess Rhen Pendragon, is the Chosen One. Someday she will have to leave Clearwater and perhaps meet the same fate as her parents...You must agree to raise her as your own with me, if you want to be me wife. She cannot know the awful truth until she is ready."

"Aye, she shall be ours and only ours," Marion cried, overwhelmed by all the emotions flooding her soul with sorrow. She quickly pulled Rhen out of the basket, holding her tightly; the girl molding into her own small but warm frame. "I will always be your mother, Rhen...Rhen Darzon."

Tailor breathed a deep sigh of relief. He was sure he would scare her away with so much misfortune and tragedy.

..

Marion walked him over to the cottage. She showed him what would now be their new home together.

Conveniently, there was an empty secured chest inside, where he placed the small treasures, a pair of gold hoop earnings, and the Pendragon Sigma Ring. He also placed his sword within, knowing he would never fight another battle again.

...

After making themselves home, the newly engaged pair walked all around Clearwater with their daughter and watched the sun lower over the mountains.

...

In the morning, Tailor got up early. He placed Rhen in the basket and carried her outside. The sun was barely rising over the mountains and cliffs.

Outside, Marion stood, wearing a lovely white dress and veil. She held a bouquet of fresh bright pink marionbells.

"I made this last night," she said warmly as she spun around slowly to show him. "Our daughter shall have many lovely dresses as well."

"And the best shoes," Tailor added, making her gleefully giggle.

With her arm wrapped tightly around his, the three of them walked over to the cliff top with a beautiful clear blue waterfall at the far most corner of Clearwater. A very old man, stood waiting for them on the bright green grass. He looked at the baby Tailor held, but did not ask any questions, and only smiled at the happy couple.

The old man gave Tailor his blessing to marry his granddaughter and provided the bride with a thin plain silver ring that she held up to the blue sky against the billowy clouds. He then read them vows out of an old book and pronounced them husband and wife.

...

As time went on, more villagers and newcomers moved back to Clearwater.

No one ever questioned where the young knight and child came from as the timing had been just right. All of Clearwater believed the young seamstress to have married the shoemaker and to have given birth to their one and only child while the village was nearly empty.

Tailor Darzon, Marion named after the flowers of the valley, and Rhen Pendragon (now Rhen Darzon), happily settled down in their new lives together.

End of Part 6