Epilogue: When Love Takes Root
Disclaimer: Not mine
"Mother, I don't want to be a knight. I want to be a lady." Keladry yelled at her insistence mother.
"Why can't you be more like your sisters," Her mother yelled back, "They all our knights, serving their King and Kingdom. You are your grandmother's namesake and you won't even follow in her footsteps."
"Mary, let me speak with the girl," Keladry of Queenscove told her daughter.
"Yes, mamma." Mary of Goldenlake moved back into the manor home of her parent's country estate.
An aged Kel moved to sit next to her youngest granddaughter.
"Keladry, I know your mother wishes for you to follow in my footsteps and for that I've led her wrong," Kel spoke in soft tones, "I became a knight because I wanted to even when everyone said I couldn't do it. It was hard and it took a lot of courage to do that and sometimes I just wanted to quit but I had the support of my family. Your family will support you in whatever you choose to do. It's what I stand for and I shall not let any descendent of mine not be allowed to follow their dream. Be who you are and follow your own dream."
"I announce Lady Keladry of Goldenlake, Sirs Jasson, Mary, Alanna, and Margret of Goldenlake, and Sir Keladry of Queenscove."
Younger Keladry was making her first appearance at court with her family right by her side.
As the evening wore on and the excitement drew to a close, Kel took her granddaughter on a short walk to ask her if she was truly happy.
"That was the best night of my life, grandmamma. Me, a lady of the court, my dream has finally come true," Keladry whirled around.
"You are happy then." Kel asked.
"More than I ever dreamed of."
"I wish your grandfather was here to see this. He would be so proud."
"I do to."
"I will die a happy woman now that my family is happy."
"You don't mean…"
"Yes, child, I'm dying. I've known for a while now. It is my time to join Neal in the heavens but it's your time to shine, my child, and all the more reason for me to leave now."
"But there's still so much I wanted to learn from you."
"Keladry, if there's one thing I've learned from life is that I shall never be a lady so there for I can no longer be of service. I have served my kingdom and my king and I have lived a full and happy life. It is time for me to go to the Black God. You, my dear, have a whole new life ahead of you. Besides, I noticed the prince couldn't keep his eyes off you."
"Really you think so," Keladry exclaimed, her mind off her grandmother's soon departure.
"Yes, child, but stick close to your heart."
"You aren't going to see the morning, are you," Keladry asked sadly.
"I am afraid not but I do not fear the death. I have lost that fear many times over. I shall miss you dearly, heart, but never think I am far."
Keladry kissed her dying grandmother on the cheek and helped her off to bed.
"Goodnight, Grandmamma. I shall cherish you always."
Keladry of Queenscove, formerly of Mindelin closed her eyes for the last time, leaving the earth behind for the stars and her beloved, knowing she left her mark on the world.
A/N Well that's that the end of a saga, well for me at least. The last chapter of What Was Once Lost. This story of Kel comes to a close but a new chapter opens in the form of a sequel, The Heart of a Lady, soon to follow of the adventures of Keladry of Goldenlake as she lives her dream plus a between the lines story of how she got there titled, Wandering Meadows.
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For now Goodnight and Happy Reading,
Signing Off,
Potterchickeydey, now Tylersgirl080808