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Disclaimer- I don't own any of David Eddings characters. How cool would it be though, if Aphrael was real?
Chapter Three
Bhelliom walked over to the group who was staring at him. (A/N: I know that Bhelliom doesn't really have a sex, but if it is Anakha's father, then that makes it a 'he', right?)
"Blue Rose, Bhelliom, what art thou doing here?" Sparhawk asked, slipping into the archaic speech of which Bhelliom spoke.
"Greeting Anakha. I am here as I wished to see mine son and mine daughter." Bhelliom said.
"Forgive me, mine father, if I am impertinent, but I doth sense that thou is also here for another reason too." Sparhawk said to Bhelliom.
"Thou art wise, mine son. I will answer thine queries anon. First I must greet thine sister. She hath waited long enough." And with that, Bhelliom walked towards the side of the group, to where Katara stood.
Sparhawk, who had followed Bhelliom, watched as the strange woman, Katara, curtsied deeply in front of Bhelliom. She then looked up with a cheeky smile on her face.
"Hello Blue Rose. I see that thou hath come to see the Child Goddess's children. Tis strange though, that none of them yet realise that they art her's. Since they art Elenes, they doth think that they art the children of the Elene God, but Aphrael did steal their hearts and souls the instant she first met them." Katara stood and sent a sly glance at Flute. "Did you know, Divine One, that the Elene God is extremely put out with you? I mean, you've stolen half of his Church Knights, and would you believe that you also have some of his Patriarchs. Namely, Emban, Bergsten, and the main one for which he is on the verge of hating you, is none other than Archprelate Dolmant. You really should of watched your step with that one."
"Be nice." Bhelliom murmured to Katara.
"Yes mine father." Katara said meekly.
Sparhawk blanched. "Did Katara just call Bhelliom father?"
"Anakha, come here." Bhelliom called.
Sparhawk walked over to where Katara and Bhelliom stood. "Yes Blue Rose?"
"I would have thou met thy sister, Katara, the changer of destinies."
"We've met. Though I didst not know that she is mine sister."
"How didst thou meet?" Bhelliom asked curiously. "She wasn't supposed to meet thee before mine arrival."
Sparhawk looked at Katara who was looking at him, a silent plea in her eyes. He chose to ignore it. "Mine family and friends were out for a ride when we heard a scream. Sir Bevier," Sparhawk pointed at Bevier "rode off in the direction of the scream. There he found a burning hut and thine daughter fleeing from three men. One didst catch her and rip her clothing off, attempting to rape her. Sir Bevier didst stop this act and brought her back to where we had stopped to wait for him." Sparhawk explained.
Katara glared at Sparhawk. "Thanks Anakha." She spat. She flinched back when Bhelliom's gaze returned to her.
"What is this?" Bhelliom asked, dropping the archaic speech and staring hard at Katara. "How is it that you almost got raped?" Bhelliom's gaze was hard as he stared at his daughter.
"I really don't know father." Katara said, looking down.
"You and I shall speak of this later." Bhelliom's tone said not to argue. "Anakha." He said sharply.
"Yes father?" Sparhawk asked.
"Take me to this Bevier who saved my daughter. I would thank him."
Sparhawk and Bhelliom walked over to Bevier, who looked at them in surprise.
"This is Sir Bevier, Blue Rose." Sparhawk said, introducing Bevier to the world-maker.
Bevier bowed to Bhelliom. "Greetings Blue Rose." He said formally.
"Thou saved my daughter. I dost give my thanks." Bhelliom said, bowing to Bevier.
Bevier looked shocked. "Forgive me, World-Maker, but, I have no idea what thou art talking about."
"Thou saved my daughter from men who wouldst do her harm."
"Dost thou mean Katara?" Bevier asked.
"Yes, Katara is my daughter. She is the Changer of Destinies." Bhelliom said. "That is why he lives." Bhelliom pointed to Kurik. "It was his destiny to die at the hands of the one called Adus, but my daughter didst know how greatly loved he was and decided to change his destiny. She brought him back."
"Katara did that?" Aslade asked, staring at the young woman.
"Yes Aslade, I did." Katara said, smiling sadly. "I saw all that happened on the trek to Zemoch, and what happened inside the Temple of Azash. I saw all that has happened to my brother. I grew to love those around him, knowing them as well as Sparhawk does. Kurik had to die that night for if he hadn't, Sparhawk would of lost his fight against Azash. Since his fight with Azash is over, I decided to revive him, but before I could do that, the entire thing with Zalasta and Crygon had to be played out. If I had brought Kurik back before that, Zalasta would of sensed my tampering and would of taken a different path, changing many destinies at once." Katara looked at Kurik. "I hope you don't mind that I brought you back."
"It's fine. I just wish you could of warned me somehow before doing it. It's a bit of a shock being dead, then all of a sudden you're alive again." Kurik answered, smiling.
Sparhawk suddenly looked at Katara, a worried look on his face.
Flute read the look and walked over to Katara, raising her hands in a silent plea to be lifted up.
Katara smiled at the Child Goddess and lifted her into her arms. Holding Flute close, Katara smiled at her brother. "Don't worry Anakha." She said. She then looked at Flute. "I know how you operate Divine One, so I know that you have a question. What is it?"
Flute looked shocked. "Be nice." She chided. "I want to know, when you say all, do you really mean all?"
Berit, a young knight who was standing with Khalad, looked at Sparhawk, Vanion and Sephrenia. They all seemed to have a strained look on their faces. He suddenly remembered when they had been in Matherion, just after Ehlana had been taken by Krager. Danae and Aphrael had been in the same room together and were talking. Sparhawk, Sephrenia and Vanion had the same look then, that they had now. He knew something was up, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint it.
"Yes Divine One. I know all about my brother." Katara said pointedly. – It seems Aphrael, that you now have an aunt. Don't you think so too, Danae? – Katara threw the thought to Aphrael.
Aphrael frowned then smiled as she realised that that meant she had another person to love.
"Excuse me Katara?" Princess Danae said, walking over to them. "But does that mean that you're now my aunt?"
"Yes Danae, it does." Katara answered, and after placing Aphrael into Bevier's arms, she knelt down and opened her arms for a hug.
