This is the last chapter for this story. :')
*.*.*
Parker arrived in the Portal Realm, beside himself with worry. So much was happening to him all at once. First, he had to leave Kyrria, just so his great-great-grandchild Autumn Dooley could survive, and now this?
How much more did he have to suffer through?
He took in deep breaths, as he made his way to the stone basin. He clasped the stone rim of the basin, trying to gather his thoughts. Wasn't there a day when his life could slow down? Just for a moment. Why did all this have to occur in his late 40s and early 50s?
"Hey Parker, you all right?" Tobias asked, pulling Parker away from the basin. It was then that Parker grabbed Tobias' waistcoat, dragging the poor hobbit against the basin in fury and worriment. "Whoa whoa! What did I do?"
"Why do you send me on one crazy quest after another?" Parker asked, intensely, his red eyes beginning to resurface. "Huh? What did I do to deserve this?"
"Parker, release him!" Eliza screamed loudly.
Parker retracted, his eyes returning to their yellow color. He let go of Tobias' waistcoat, troubled over what he'd done. "I'm sorry. Maranguan's coming back. I don't have much time before he returns."
Tobias nodded. Eliza couldn't believe this. The creature who Parker was holding in inside him was resurfacing. Why?
"Isn't there a way we can stop Maranguan before he comes back?" Eliza asked, cautiously.
"No!" Parker hushed. "I'm afraid there's not." He sighed in agony. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do." He collapsed on the grassy ground, agonizing over what he'd just went through. "What am I to do?"
"Tell me what you learned first before we talk about Maranguan," Tobias asked, calmly.
Parker looked up at Tobias, seeing the concern in his eyes. Deep down, he knew Tobias was good, but Maranguan just wanted to come out and play. Was it always meant to be like this?
Was there no hope for our poor dragonoid? Parker feared he might not get the answers he sought.
He nodded, deciding to trust Tobias' word.
"Melisandre's responsible for this. Aslan sent her to cause the Land of Talking Animals to fall into ruin. I need to go there to find out what's happening, and if there's a way to free Qua'ra and her family, before the temples fall," Parker explained the situation to them.
"Maybe Qua'ra and her family could stay here," Eliza suggested. "We could find them safe shelter in the next Age. The Second Age. I hear it's different than what we've went through, but maybe there's hope."
"All right, but those who are surviving to the Third Age need to come here. That's all I ask for," Tobias said, calmly.
"What of Alindor? What of him? Should he know Melisandre's doings? Who is he anyway?" Parker asked, confused.
"Alindor's here," Aslan said, revealing a golden house cat standing beside him.
Parker stared at the golden house cat in shock. This golden house cat wore brown robes. Strange. But maybe there was more to this golden house cat than met the eye.
"Parker Dooley, meet Alindor," Aslan said, calmly. "It seems Qua'ra already heard rumors about him, ever since he entered the Land of Talking Animals. Rumors don't leave the Shadow Empire. They enter it. That's how Qua'ra found out about our new friend. Alindor, the Druid King, meet Parker Dooley. He's also called Maranguan when he's evil."
Parker and Alindor stared at each other in silence for a few moments. Neither knew what to say, but both knew something was afoot that they weren't telling the other. In the end, they both knew what to say.
"Hi," Alindor said, timidly, wondering if this was right.
"Hello," Parker said, ending the conversation right then and there.
*.*.*
References:
Kyrria is the kingdom in Gail Carson Levine's book, Ella Enchanted.
-x-
Well, that was a straightforward ending. :)
Thanks everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this fanfic until the end. It is much appreciated. :)
Next story, Parker follows Alindor to the Land of Talking Animals. So, it should be interesting. :)
I'll see everyone in the next story. Bye! :)
Aria Breuer