"Was that what you two were arguing about?" Kael asked. Ewan nodded turning
his eyes to gaze into the fire. "Would you have fought him if I hadn't
stopped you?" Ewan could still feel the anger coursing through his body.
How he stood there brimming with rage. How close he came to losing what
little thread of control he had on his anger. Ready to unleash his
frustration and hatred out on Kellan. Ewan looked down at his hands, inside
were the faint crescent imprints of is fingernails imbedded into his palm.
Ewan let out a long sigh as he realized that yes he would have fought
Kellan if Kael had not been there.
"Ewan, you know better then to let Kellan get to you. You've done well enough to ignore him before." Ewan looked up at Kael. There was no mistaking the pain in those eyes. "It was different this time, Kael." Ewan averted his eyes to the floor. Most of what Kellan had said was true. Kael leaned over to place a hand around Ewan's neck, tugging lightly until the young man looked and locked his gaze with his. "Do not let Kellan's words bother you, Ewan. They were just words. You have family here with Fiona, me, and Lazar. You know I love you as if you were my own son, my own blood." Ewan grinned.
Kael gave an affectionate squeeze before letting go. Ewan got up and stared down at the man who had been the closet Ewan had to a father. It meant a lot to hear Kael express his feelings that way. That Kael considers him as a son he never had and that he was indeed a part of his small family. Ewan never had a doubt he knew his place here. Sadly, it was all mere words. Kellan was right he did not belong here. He had always felt out of place, an outcast. He was not sure where he belonged. Kael could see the struggle raging on inside the young man.
"But I am not of your blood, Kael. I am not of anyone's blood. All that I have left of my past is this ring." Ewan held up the ring that hung around his neck. "I do not mean to sound ungrateful. I am honored that you took and accepted me into your life." Ewan paused trying to find the right words to express the emptiness he felt. " I...I just don't feel I belong here and you know it as much as I do." Kael reluctantly nodded his head. He was blessed to have grown up with a family and then later having a family of his own. He could not begin to understand or know what Ewan was going through. The boy had grown up truly alone and to make things worst he hand no memory of a past.
The door of the house suddenly opened and Fiona walked in. Beaming as she spotted Ewan near the fireplace. She had grown quite much in the past six years. Kael always said that Fiona was the spitting image of her mother when she was thirteen. She was slender, tall, and beautiful. They both watched as Fiona close the door behind her and walked towards them, hands behind her back. As she moved closer, Fiona's smile faded into a shy smirk.
Kael watched Fiona approach Ewan. There were no mistaking Fiona's feelings for Ewan. He had that same look of love towards Fiona's mother when they were younger. However, Kael could see that Ewan did not return the feeling. He had always considered Fiona as a sister and it never went beyond that. It was no secret that some of the females in the village had their eyes set on Ewan. None of them seemed to have sparked any interest in the young man's eyes. At first Kael wondered if the boy had an interest in girls at all. Some men his age were already fathering children. God knows when the opportunity arose; Kael had immediately indulged in his desires. They never discussed it before and Kael never bothered to push the subject.
It was until one night while they sat in front of the fire, something they always done together after a long day of training, Ewan spoke out unexpectedly. "How do you know when you're in love with someone, Kael?" The question caught him off guard for a moment. He stared at Ewan, who's gaze never faltered from the fire, his hand clutching the ring around his neck. His mouth began to move up and down but there were no words. It was a shame that Lazar was not here, Kael would have told him to ask the old man. Unfortunately, Lazar was not here and Ewan had asked him. Kael stumbled over the words as he tried to explain what one feels when they are in love.
He couldn't understand why it was so hard to explain. It would have been easier if Ewan asked him to explain the many different ways of disabling your enemy with your bare hands. Ewan could see that the subject of love was difficult for Kael. "Where you in love with your wife, Kael." Kael beamed and the subject of love was not so hard now. "Yes I loved her very much. I still do and I always will until I die." Kael's harden features soften as he recalled the love of his life.
"What does it feel like?" Ewan asked as held on to his ring.
"It is difficult to explain, Ewan. But I'll try my best." Kael began telling Ewan his experience with his own beloved. Ewan sat there listening, letting things sink in. As always it did not take Ewan long to understand. "I would have done anything for her. She was everything to me." Ewan could sense the sadness in Kael's voice. He got up and gave Kael a reassuring pat on the back. "Thank you, Kael. I know it was difficult for you to share this with me." Kael nodded his head. "Do you, uh, need me to tell you how people, uh," Kael stammered a bit, "express how they feel?" Ewan blushed and shook his head. "That I know. I, uh, happened to cross a couple out in the forest one evening." Kael began to laugh seeing Ewan's face burning with embarrassment. Deep down he was grateful he did not have to explain the physical aspects. Nevertheless, there was one advice Ewan needed to know. "Ewan just remember do not confuse love with lust." Ewan heeded to Kael's advice.
"So who is this person you are in love with? Is it someone from the village?" Kael's curiosity now piqued.
Ewan's smile broadens as he rubbed the ring. "Its no one you know. She's not from the village." Kael let out a small sigh; relieved to hear it was a girl. "Oh, then who is this girl that's captured your heart?" Kael lightly teased. "She is the woman of my dreams." Ewan's voice took on an enchanted tone as he described her to Kael. Ewan closed his eyes to see her standing there. "There are no words that would describe her beauty. Her hair the color of auburn, her creamy skin, and eyes as green as the sea. Physically, no one compares to her. She's strong yet gentle." Kael smiled at the hitch in Ewan's voice. "She has a warrior's spirit: stubborn and brave; which in turn conceals her vulnerability. Her will is strong." Ewan opened his eyes and stared directly into Kael's eyes. "She is the one. The one I will live and die for."
Kael smiled, "Well Ewan I don't think you needed me to tell you about love. It seems to me that you already know." Ewan beamed. "Is she also the one you are waiting for?" The younger man smiled shyly at the insinuation. It was true he was saving himself for the wielder. A life of celibacy. It was not hard for him to starve off his lust for the flesh. For no one in the village held his interest unlike the green eyed wielder. Ewan had always looked forward to his dreams about her. "She will be my first, my only, my all, Kael." Kael nodded his head. A new sense of respect had formed as he listened to Ewan. It showed he had great discipline and a strong belief in his destiny. In addition, the love he had for this mysterious woman.
"Here Ewan I picked these for you." Fiona's voice pulled Kael out of his thoughts. She had presented a handful of flowers she had picked earlier that day. His little girl's heart was going to be broken. He knew Ewan wasn't at fault. Things had just happened. Fiona is too young to realize and understand that Ewan's heart already belonged to someone else. Perhaps in time, Fiona's infatuation with Ewan will pass and will find someone else when she gets older. For now, Kael sadly watched the exchange.
Ewan had yet to recover from the throes of emotional pain. Though Fiona's gesture was sweet, he could not bring himself to accept them. He looked down at the girl in front of him. Even after six years, the feeling was still there nagging him in the back of his mind. In time, they had become friends but nothing more. Ewan neither said nor showed that he felt anything beyond friendship. He spent most of his time training or alone. Ewan did not want to hurt Fiona but he still could not accept her gift. He looked over at Kael expressing his apology with his eyes and Kael nodded, understanding.
"Thank you, Fiona." Ewan whispered. He lowered his head and walked out of the house without taking the flowers. Fiona turned to stare at the closed door. She was about to chase after him, wanting an explanation why he refused her, when her father's commanding voice stopped her. "Fiona! Let him be." Fiona turned tear-glazed eyes. "But papa why won't he." Kael got up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hugging her to his side. "Ewan has a lot on his mind. Just let him be. All right?" Fiona wrapped her arms around her father, hugging him back. Her eyes still stared at the closed door.
At the top of the steep hill, Ewan sat against the large tree trunk, watching the sun slowly descend over the horizon. He closed his eyes and lifted his face against the orange rays of light. Trying to capture what little warmth there were left from the sun before it disappeared and the chill of the night arrived. With his eyes, still closed images of the beautiful wielder's face ran through his mind. Easing the unsettling feelings that Kellan had invoked earlier. The wielder, whom he has yet to meet, had always made him feel better. It was funny that a person from his dreams was the one responsible for chasing away all the pain he had felt.
Ewan felt rather then see the sun vanish behind the horizon. When finally he opened his eyes the sky had turned darker and the night was getting colder. Ewan leaned heavily back against the tree trunk. He began to examine the lands from the top of the hill. To the right was the house and to his left he could see the main road. He remembered watching Lazar walk down that road, leaving him for the wielder.
. 'He abandoned you'.
For a moment, Ewan believed Kellan. That Lazar had abandoned him and that Kael only took him in because of Lazar.
. 'You are never abandoned'.
Lazar's voice rang in his mind and heart. Reminding him to have faith and believe in himself. Ewan sighed and whispered into the chilly night, "I miss you, Lazar."
. 'I'll be near. I'm always near'.
Ewan grinned at the sound of Lazar's voice. He did not bother looking around for the source. He knows Lazar was not there, physically that is. Nevertheless, the old man's presence was always around. Ewan reached up untie the old twine that hung around his neck. He took out the silver ring and examined the ring between his fingers. The small blue stone swirled slightly and the glow faded away in the blink of an eye. He was not sure what had just happened. Ewan blinked several times and shook his head. Instead of placing the ring back on the old twine, he tried it on ever finger. He slipped the ring onto his right forefinger. It was still a bit loose so he placed it on his thumb instead. It was not a perfect fit but it was better then having it hang around his neck.
After slipping, the ring on Ewan felt different. He could not quite place it but he felt calmer. The feelings from his encounter with Kellan and his talk with Kael were not as painful as before. In the distance, he could hear Kael call out to him. No one bothered him while he was up here. It was his sanctuary, an escape from everything and everyone. Besides the steep incline of the hill made it difficult for others to climb. It was the perfect place for him. Ewan got up and looked out into the horizon on last time. He smiled into the night air. Soon he would be leaving this land and out into the world to fulfill his destiny.
"Ewan, you know better then to let Kellan get to you. You've done well enough to ignore him before." Ewan looked up at Kael. There was no mistaking the pain in those eyes. "It was different this time, Kael." Ewan averted his eyes to the floor. Most of what Kellan had said was true. Kael leaned over to place a hand around Ewan's neck, tugging lightly until the young man looked and locked his gaze with his. "Do not let Kellan's words bother you, Ewan. They were just words. You have family here with Fiona, me, and Lazar. You know I love you as if you were my own son, my own blood." Ewan grinned.
Kael gave an affectionate squeeze before letting go. Ewan got up and stared down at the man who had been the closet Ewan had to a father. It meant a lot to hear Kael express his feelings that way. That Kael considers him as a son he never had and that he was indeed a part of his small family. Ewan never had a doubt he knew his place here. Sadly, it was all mere words. Kellan was right he did not belong here. He had always felt out of place, an outcast. He was not sure where he belonged. Kael could see the struggle raging on inside the young man.
"But I am not of your blood, Kael. I am not of anyone's blood. All that I have left of my past is this ring." Ewan held up the ring that hung around his neck. "I do not mean to sound ungrateful. I am honored that you took and accepted me into your life." Ewan paused trying to find the right words to express the emptiness he felt. " I...I just don't feel I belong here and you know it as much as I do." Kael reluctantly nodded his head. He was blessed to have grown up with a family and then later having a family of his own. He could not begin to understand or know what Ewan was going through. The boy had grown up truly alone and to make things worst he hand no memory of a past.
The door of the house suddenly opened and Fiona walked in. Beaming as she spotted Ewan near the fireplace. She had grown quite much in the past six years. Kael always said that Fiona was the spitting image of her mother when she was thirteen. She was slender, tall, and beautiful. They both watched as Fiona close the door behind her and walked towards them, hands behind her back. As she moved closer, Fiona's smile faded into a shy smirk.
Kael watched Fiona approach Ewan. There were no mistaking Fiona's feelings for Ewan. He had that same look of love towards Fiona's mother when they were younger. However, Kael could see that Ewan did not return the feeling. He had always considered Fiona as a sister and it never went beyond that. It was no secret that some of the females in the village had their eyes set on Ewan. None of them seemed to have sparked any interest in the young man's eyes. At first Kael wondered if the boy had an interest in girls at all. Some men his age were already fathering children. God knows when the opportunity arose; Kael had immediately indulged in his desires. They never discussed it before and Kael never bothered to push the subject.
It was until one night while they sat in front of the fire, something they always done together after a long day of training, Ewan spoke out unexpectedly. "How do you know when you're in love with someone, Kael?" The question caught him off guard for a moment. He stared at Ewan, who's gaze never faltered from the fire, his hand clutching the ring around his neck. His mouth began to move up and down but there were no words. It was a shame that Lazar was not here, Kael would have told him to ask the old man. Unfortunately, Lazar was not here and Ewan had asked him. Kael stumbled over the words as he tried to explain what one feels when they are in love.
He couldn't understand why it was so hard to explain. It would have been easier if Ewan asked him to explain the many different ways of disabling your enemy with your bare hands. Ewan could see that the subject of love was difficult for Kael. "Where you in love with your wife, Kael." Kael beamed and the subject of love was not so hard now. "Yes I loved her very much. I still do and I always will until I die." Kael's harden features soften as he recalled the love of his life.
"What does it feel like?" Ewan asked as held on to his ring.
"It is difficult to explain, Ewan. But I'll try my best." Kael began telling Ewan his experience with his own beloved. Ewan sat there listening, letting things sink in. As always it did not take Ewan long to understand. "I would have done anything for her. She was everything to me." Ewan could sense the sadness in Kael's voice. He got up and gave Kael a reassuring pat on the back. "Thank you, Kael. I know it was difficult for you to share this with me." Kael nodded his head. "Do you, uh, need me to tell you how people, uh," Kael stammered a bit, "express how they feel?" Ewan blushed and shook his head. "That I know. I, uh, happened to cross a couple out in the forest one evening." Kael began to laugh seeing Ewan's face burning with embarrassment. Deep down he was grateful he did not have to explain the physical aspects. Nevertheless, there was one advice Ewan needed to know. "Ewan just remember do not confuse love with lust." Ewan heeded to Kael's advice.
"So who is this person you are in love with? Is it someone from the village?" Kael's curiosity now piqued.
Ewan's smile broadens as he rubbed the ring. "Its no one you know. She's not from the village." Kael let out a small sigh; relieved to hear it was a girl. "Oh, then who is this girl that's captured your heart?" Kael lightly teased. "She is the woman of my dreams." Ewan's voice took on an enchanted tone as he described her to Kael. Ewan closed his eyes to see her standing there. "There are no words that would describe her beauty. Her hair the color of auburn, her creamy skin, and eyes as green as the sea. Physically, no one compares to her. She's strong yet gentle." Kael smiled at the hitch in Ewan's voice. "She has a warrior's spirit: stubborn and brave; which in turn conceals her vulnerability. Her will is strong." Ewan opened his eyes and stared directly into Kael's eyes. "She is the one. The one I will live and die for."
Kael smiled, "Well Ewan I don't think you needed me to tell you about love. It seems to me that you already know." Ewan beamed. "Is she also the one you are waiting for?" The younger man smiled shyly at the insinuation. It was true he was saving himself for the wielder. A life of celibacy. It was not hard for him to starve off his lust for the flesh. For no one in the village held his interest unlike the green eyed wielder. Ewan had always looked forward to his dreams about her. "She will be my first, my only, my all, Kael." Kael nodded his head. A new sense of respect had formed as he listened to Ewan. It showed he had great discipline and a strong belief in his destiny. In addition, the love he had for this mysterious woman.
"Here Ewan I picked these for you." Fiona's voice pulled Kael out of his thoughts. She had presented a handful of flowers she had picked earlier that day. His little girl's heart was going to be broken. He knew Ewan wasn't at fault. Things had just happened. Fiona is too young to realize and understand that Ewan's heart already belonged to someone else. Perhaps in time, Fiona's infatuation with Ewan will pass and will find someone else when she gets older. For now, Kael sadly watched the exchange.
Ewan had yet to recover from the throes of emotional pain. Though Fiona's gesture was sweet, he could not bring himself to accept them. He looked down at the girl in front of him. Even after six years, the feeling was still there nagging him in the back of his mind. In time, they had become friends but nothing more. Ewan neither said nor showed that he felt anything beyond friendship. He spent most of his time training or alone. Ewan did not want to hurt Fiona but he still could not accept her gift. He looked over at Kael expressing his apology with his eyes and Kael nodded, understanding.
"Thank you, Fiona." Ewan whispered. He lowered his head and walked out of the house without taking the flowers. Fiona turned to stare at the closed door. She was about to chase after him, wanting an explanation why he refused her, when her father's commanding voice stopped her. "Fiona! Let him be." Fiona turned tear-glazed eyes. "But papa why won't he." Kael got up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hugging her to his side. "Ewan has a lot on his mind. Just let him be. All right?" Fiona wrapped her arms around her father, hugging him back. Her eyes still stared at the closed door.
At the top of the steep hill, Ewan sat against the large tree trunk, watching the sun slowly descend over the horizon. He closed his eyes and lifted his face against the orange rays of light. Trying to capture what little warmth there were left from the sun before it disappeared and the chill of the night arrived. With his eyes, still closed images of the beautiful wielder's face ran through his mind. Easing the unsettling feelings that Kellan had invoked earlier. The wielder, whom he has yet to meet, had always made him feel better. It was funny that a person from his dreams was the one responsible for chasing away all the pain he had felt.
Ewan felt rather then see the sun vanish behind the horizon. When finally he opened his eyes the sky had turned darker and the night was getting colder. Ewan leaned heavily back against the tree trunk. He began to examine the lands from the top of the hill. To the right was the house and to his left he could see the main road. He remembered watching Lazar walk down that road, leaving him for the wielder.
. 'He abandoned you'.
For a moment, Ewan believed Kellan. That Lazar had abandoned him and that Kael only took him in because of Lazar.
. 'You are never abandoned'.
Lazar's voice rang in his mind and heart. Reminding him to have faith and believe in himself. Ewan sighed and whispered into the chilly night, "I miss you, Lazar."
. 'I'll be near. I'm always near'.
Ewan grinned at the sound of Lazar's voice. He did not bother looking around for the source. He knows Lazar was not there, physically that is. Nevertheless, the old man's presence was always around. Ewan reached up untie the old twine that hung around his neck. He took out the silver ring and examined the ring between his fingers. The small blue stone swirled slightly and the glow faded away in the blink of an eye. He was not sure what had just happened. Ewan blinked several times and shook his head. Instead of placing the ring back on the old twine, he tried it on ever finger. He slipped the ring onto his right forefinger. It was still a bit loose so he placed it on his thumb instead. It was not a perfect fit but it was better then having it hang around his neck.
After slipping, the ring on Ewan felt different. He could not quite place it but he felt calmer. The feelings from his encounter with Kellan and his talk with Kael were not as painful as before. In the distance, he could hear Kael call out to him. No one bothered him while he was up here. It was his sanctuary, an escape from everything and everyone. Besides the steep incline of the hill made it difficult for others to climb. It was the perfect place for him. Ewan got up and looked out into the horizon on last time. He smiled into the night air. Soon he would be leaving this land and out into the world to fulfill his destiny.