Will and the Word

Chapter Eight

Belgarion rode back toward the farm and easily caught up to his companions. Silk noticed his contemplative face "I know that face. That is the face of a worried father."

"I am worried Silk. There was no fear in the boys' eyes and there were six of us." Belgarion muttered "I am worried for him he put himself between perceived danger and Beldaran as if his life meant nothing. The way he speaks of himself or perhaps does not speak of himself is concerning."

"Whatever he did to defend Beldaran and himself was impressive" Silk admitted "What do you think Mandorallen?"

"There is no life in his eyes. He has seen war" Mandorallen spoke softly "I am the mightiest knight on life and Her majesty Ce'Nedra's champion and I do not think I would live through a fight with him. He has nothing to lose."

"While I respect him for defending Beldaran" Geran stated carefully "I saw nothing to fear."

"Anyone us of could take him," Edrik said somewhat haughtily I doubt he has any real training with a sword."

"He did not need training with a blade he has power." Rhodar who unlike his namesake was thin and athletic "Whatever power he has it maybe he is a sorcerer like Belgareth or Polgara. No offense intended your Majesty"

"None taken Rhodar" Belgarion murmured before turning to his son "You saw nothing to fear because he did not want to fight only to protect your sister. Nor could you feel the storm raging around him. He has power to burn."

"Yes, he does" Came the quiet voice of Poledra who had met them at the top of the hill looking down on the cottage "His powers are immense. So immense that Aldur is speaking with him and Beldaran right now. He will likely be the next disciple of Aldur after my granddaughter that is."

Belgarion sighed and then his shoulders slumped "I had hoped she would not pursue that path. After reading Both Grandfathers and aunt Polgara's books" Belgarion broke off as he felt a buildup of power the way they had come and as suddenly as it built it was gone "I did not want that life for her."

"What kind of life is that Belgarion?" Poledra asked wondering what was going through her grandson's head

"A life of Loss grandmother seeing everyone she cares for growing old and dying" Belgarion muttered that which had been on his mind for a while now "While Ce'nedra will live as long as her tree will. I do not want to imagine my life without her in it. I saw what losing you did to grandfather. I do not want that for me or Beldaran." Belgarion finished avoiding everyone's eyes.

"We will discuss this later as a family grandson" Poledra stated with an arched eye "in the meantime one suggests you talk to your mate she has been chomping at the bit to meet the young man."

"Yes Grandmother," Belgarion said wondering if she remembered that he was a king

'yes, young one I still remember you are a pack leader' he heard in the vaults of his mind 'and today your pack grew!'

They dismounted and escorted Poledra down the hill to be met in the courtyard by the rest of his family Asrana and Lyssa went to Edrik and Rhodar while Eleanora extended her arm to Geran and the three of them walked the horses to the stable. Poledra turned into a wolf and loped back toward their tower leaving Belgarion alone with his wife.

Ce'nedra ever impatient "Well you have met him what did you think"

"He is a broken man Ce'nedra the others could not see it or feel it but the moment he stepped between us and Beldaran … I got the feeling like he was drawing a line in the sand and saying never again." Belgarion said looking off the way they came "The Orb did something to him something it had done to me when we were leaving Cthol Murgos it read all of his memories forcing him to relive them…" he broke off. "The pain he felt was raw and visceral Beldaran, was expecting him to break but not for a time when I left, they were still at the tree he was in tears and she was comforting him."

Ce'nedra looked at her husband and then looked up the hill and saw her daughter leading a young man down the slope they were holding hands fondly He had thick and wild black hair and he got closer she could see he had a scar on his brow and vibrant green eyes whatever he was saying Beldaran was attentive. She could also see that he was painfully thin and dressed very strangely. Remembering that he also had power she imagined him bearded, booked, and robed as she once did her husband and found the image amusing. She reached out and tapped her husband getting his attention she pointed up the hill. Belgarion who had been lost in thought looked and was relieved snaked a hand around his wife's waist he leaned down and whispered in her ear "Beldaran is bringing a boy home to meet her parents."

Ce'nedra rolled her eyes and stifled an involuntary giggle "How do you feel about her choice?"

"Better than any of the so-called suitors the bear cult was trying to fob off on us," Garion said hugging his wife.

Up the hill Beldaran looked down and saw her parents being as they normally are very loving and close, they were also speaking and laughing "Are you ready for this?"

"No, but that has never stopped me from doing anything as you well know" Harry quipped all the while mentally preparing himself for what was about to happen "Your highness Beldaran would you do me the honor of allowing me…"

Beldaran interrupted him by pulling him down and kissing him rather thoroughly catching Harry, and her parents off guard.

She lessened the kiss and whispered "that is a yes. However, our second date will be while we are in Tol Honeth. I know this nice little place for a picnic."

"I look forward to it," Harry said as he looked up and seeing the looks on her parents seeing the look of surprise on their face he smirked, "I think we broke them"

"I would say so." Beldaran said "let's." all hell broke loose in an instant.

"Get your hands off my sister" an outraged Geran yelled as strode up the hill. Rhodar and Edrik moved to accompany him but were grabbed by their respective ladies who were quite cross with them.

Harry groaned 'great the protective older brother' "Geran, do not do this" Eleanora said but Geran was not stopping this boy had his hands on his sister as he stalked up the hill, he drew his sword.

Before Beldaran could do anything, Harry had put himself again between Her and her family "Geran is it?" Harry asked gently hoping it would diffuse whatever this was

"Geran of Riva, release your hold on my sister" Geran Snarled "Now"

Harry looked over his shoulder "Is he for real? Like I have any Hold over you." He did not bother to wait for an answer "Umm this may come as a shock to you but I have no hold over your sister, on the contrary, she has a hold over me as my physician well as her status as a princess. Given that I am no one" again Beldaran slapped him in the back of the head "Fine, I am Harry James Potter-Black Duke of Gryffindor. However, because I was not born in this universe, I doubt my title carries any weight here."

"Let my sister go," Geran demanded advancing on Harry

"Look I don't want to fight you. I do not control what she does. It is the other way around" Harry smiled for a moment then sighed "I am going to ask only once Put up your sword. There is no quarrel between us lest you bring it."

"Geran!" a voice snapped out every turned toward the cottage seeing Polgara standing in the doorway her eyes flashing gave Geran a moment pauses then he decided his actions were right continued his advanced his blade coming up only for Harry stun him in mid-wing "Stupefy, Incarcerous, Leviosa" he whispered and unlike his oath, these three spells made almost no sound that any of the sorcerers could hear. Turning back to Beldaran who was shocked at just how efficiently he had dealt with her brother "Sorry I did not want to fight him."

Belgarion and Ce'nedra were both beyond mortified they stepped forward to meet the pair who had Geran in tow. Ce'nedra could see the look of dread on the young man's face. She broke from her husband's side and Harry started to cringe thinking he was about to get yelled at was surprised when the small woman swept him into a hug "I am sorry my son did that he was out of line." Harry was comparing all the hugs he had ever received and this was truly the hug of a mother "Can you put Geran down" Ce'nedra asked taking her son's blade and handing it to his father "he cannot be trusted with this just now. hold onto it, please?

Harry nodded placed a hand on Geran's head "enervate! Sorry mate did not mean to embarrass you in front of your family and friends. However, your parents and your lady probably want a word with you! Finite!" the bonds that held Geran disappeared and Geran came to lying on the ground and knew he was in it up to his neck given his mother's look. He looked to his father who looked down before grabbing his wife and pulling her to him.

"I am sorry Harry I had to know you would defend my sister even from me she deserves no less," Geran admitted.

"A test," Harry said the disbelief on his face evident "Were you dropped on your head as a child? I could have killed you accidentally. Beldaran maybe you can explain I need to clear my head and set up my tent with so many people here I will need other sleeping arrangements please give me some time to think I will see you all for lunch. Lady Polgara will you or Durnik need me for anything around the farm."

"Not today Harry we have everything under control we will see you for lunch" She called out Harry nodded in return reached into his pouch and pulled the tent moved 25 feet away and with a wave of his hand he set it up and then went in. leaving everyone to deal with the aftermath of their first real meeting.

Beldaran looked at her brother "What is wrong with you why would you threaten someone who you have never met and had never to the best of your knowledge hurt anyone?" Beldaran huffed before turning to her father "You did not think of this yourselves neither of you is smart enough so tell me who."

"Eriond thought of this though now I am thinking it was to make sure we did not do something worse" Belgarion admitted."

"It answered the question I want to know" Geran admitted happily "My appraisal of him was wrong as well What I am wondering is why my two best friends let me go alone he said glaring at Rhodar and Edrik. Only to be answered by Asrana

"We dealt his power last week we thought he had a control problem and did not want anyone to be injured because you carry brain the same place your sword resides." Asrana scolded her older cousin "We like him he is very polite not like some of the boys we see at court."

"Besides I like Rhodar in one piece" Lyssa admitted "It was a fools' errand"

"Well, Mother how did he measure up," Beldaran asked

"He surpassed my expectations and he is easy on the eyes," Ce'nedra said smirking at her husband. "We will talk later about it. Garion what are your thoughts."

"I am still concerned" Belgarion admitted "He had no way of knowing Asrana and Lyssa would distract the boys. He was Unarmed at possible three to one odds."

They were interrupted by a throat-clearing "While I understand your worry Your majesty you did not bring enough people to even the odds. Now I would not want to get into it with you, or your older family members alone, or as a whole. The destruction we could unleash would be next-level bad for any area we would be in. If you would like your majesties, I can prove it to you, Beldaran can come along if she would like." Harry stated as he turned back passing his tent. Belgarion and Ce'nedra nodded and looked to their daughter who moved to catch up to Harry.