by Suchan deFamine
Chapter Five.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: ….nothing! Just thanks to everyone and anyone who reviewed! But this chapter, you finally get to learn his name! :D
Disclaimer: Roland, I guess, and Baron Yalfom, and his son, and the previous Baroness Yalfom are all JK Rowling's creations. However, the Princess of Denna, the current Baroness Yalfom, Gareth, and anyone else you can't connect to HP is mine.
I own a nice set of all five of the books that are out already, but, unfortunately, that does not mean that I own Harry Potter and "aww 'is fwenz." Hm. Maybe I should try and sneak Stan Turnpike or whatever his name is into the story somehow…
Anyway. Onwards!
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Happily Never After : Chapter FiveoOoOoOoOo
I heard a whispered inhale behind me. "Wow… it is beautiful…."
We stood on the horse facing south, but the sky was alive in colour, and it was, indeed, the most gorgeous sunset God had ever painted.
"Come. We have much ground to cover before midday," I said softly. I had taken back the reins about two hours prior, so that he could take his turn in resting, having driven through the night while I slept.
His arms still wrapped comfortably around my waist (lest he fall off, of course. Stop looking at me like that!) and the quiet, immaculate head rested on my back. As we journeyed on towards the sun, my thoughts reeled back to the night before.
The decision had been made. We were leaving this place and never coming back.
I was just about to harness a strong, white and brown stallion when I had a sudden thought. I turned to him, standing a few feet behind me with some reins.
"You know, I don't even really know your name," I said, running my fingers through the horse's mane. "I've only ever called you 'sir' or something of the like."
He stared at the leather straps in his grasp and stated, "Just call me Marcus."
I smiled. "Alright, Marcus," I replied, checking the saddle. "Let's ride to freedom."
We mounted the horse and galloped out of the front gates as fast as Amaranth would carry us…I was brought back to reality by Marcus mumbling something aloud in his slumber.
"Nnn… Roland?"
"Yes?"
"Where are we?"
"Somewhere slightly west of the Den river. We should arrive at Denna by midday."
He smiled into my back. "Good. My derriere is aching like anything." And he slept on.
I couldn't help but smile, shake my head, and lead Amaranth farther East.
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I hadn't lied. By the time the sun was over our heads, I could see the front gates of the kingdom of Denna. There we could find rest, food, shelter, and someone could see to Amaranth because I had accidentally harnessed him with Bethseda's reins. She was a petite, golden mare with a narrow nose.
Poor Amaranth must be asphyxiating by now.
The guards stopped us at the gates.
"Halt! You there. What is your business?" one of them snarled.
Behind me, Marcus jolted awake and rubbed his eyes of sleep.
"Begging your pardon sir, but we are only two weary travelers in need of rest and a meal," I said contritely as I could.
"Where from are you?"
"We come from the …the…land of Sentron, from the South." I only hoped that Denna was not currently on bad terms with the Sentroni..
He conferenced with the other one and a moment later they stepped aside and allowed us to pass.
"Go on. There is an inn not too far from the marketplace. You will be able to fill your needs there."
I nodded. "Thank you, sirs. Good day."
They grunted in reply. I heeled Amaranth into motion and we set off past the gate and into the bustling marketplace.
Just as the iron gates were creaking closed, I heard one of the burly guards mutter to the other, "Doesn't he look like one of them Yalfoms?"
"Which one?"
"The blond one, 'ere."
"You say that about everyone, Samson."
SLAM.
"Roland…" I turned slightly to show I was listening. "We are horribly mismatched. You are still wearing your performance costume, and this was my best set of trousers."
"Was?"
"I fell off Amaranth in the forest, remember?"
I smiled wryly. "Ah, yes. Right into that puddle."
"They shall never come clean…"
"We shan't have to worry about that," I assured him. "We will trade our garb for something less…unique, I suppose, so we can blend in with the rest of the people."
He sighed. "One drawback of running away from home, I suppose."
We came to the inn, with a sign above, swinging in the breeze, that read "The Paper Lantern". I stopped Amaranth and helped Marcus down. He was incredibly tiny, and looked as if he had never been exposed to the sun. But his grey eyes flashed happiness, and that was better than the cold, emotionless crystals I had grown accustomed to staring at back at the castle.
"But," I contradicted as I knocked on the door, "there are many more positives, I can assure you."
The door opened and a kindly old lady by the name of Marianna led us to a table and set some soup and bread in front of us. The hardships of our journey were soon forgotten as we settled into the best meal we had had for ages.
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End Chapter Five.
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YAY! Let me know how this is coming! And happy halloween, to those of you who choose to celebrate it!....four days late...