Kayley wasted no time grabbing a kitchen knife and headed for the door. As she exited the small cottage house, Garrett followed her with unease. The wagon was approaching and Kayley was hoping for a brighter outcome than her mind was telling her it could be.
The wagon came to a stop.
"Hello?" called Kayley, as she slowly approached the stationary vehicle, her weapon poised for any surprise attack there might be.
No answer.
Kayley mustered the courage to inspect the contents of the wagon . . . and with no luck. The thing was empty – but how?
"Strange . . ." admitted Garrett. He used his wooden staff to poke and prod about the wagon, probably searching for a hidden door somewhere.
"Garrett . . . I think this is a note," said Kayley, grabbing a piece of cloth that had been nailed to the wagon's interior.
"What does it say?" Garrett's countenance is nothing but perplexed. Nothing is making sense. But then again, don't the greatest adventures in life start off as nonsense?
"I don't know . . . it's written in some form of scratches and weird circles. Seems like someone's quill wasn't working all that great," amused Kayley, her faint smile returning a tad bit. She had to make some humor out of something horrendous like this, right?
"Ah," exclaimed Garrett, "Dragon Tongue."
"Dragon Tongue? You mean, the dragon's have a language?" questioned Kayley. Garrett pondered his thoughts in silence. He wasn't ignoring Kayley's question, he was simply trying to answer it in sensible words that he could make sense of and most likely provide reason to accommodate it. "But . . . they can't write! . . . Can they?"
"I think it's time we paid our fire-breathing lizards a little visit . . . " ginned Garrett. He smiled at the friendly reunion part, but the other part . . . was something even the mighty, intelligible Garrett could not grasp. "I'll have a word with King Arthur tomorrow about lending us a transport wagon and the means of all of this, but for now, why don't you and I take some time to relax and enjoy today, shall we?"
Of course, Kayley's always up for an adventure. She knew the place he was planning on spending the day at with her. A beautiful cave-like structure hidden behind a water fall. It was the one place that Kayley actually loved about the Forbidden Forest – besides the fact that Garrett nearly died in that same spot when he suffered an injury to his mid section. Thank god for magical healing leaves, right?
After Garrett pushed the eery wagon into the nearby pasture, they packed a basket full of food and were off into the Forest. Yes, the forest is forbidden, but when you're friends with the King you could pretty much call everything within limits (especially a great cottage home by the sea and close to the waterfall in the Forbidden Forest!). Though, Kayley and Garrett never once thought about taking advantage of their new-found friendship with Arthur. They were nothing like Ruber and his men. Nothing.
After an hour or so of walking, chatting, teasing, and nature-seeing, they found the place they were looking for. Beautiful, as one might call it. Technically, it gave "beautiful" a whole new meaning. It was one of those places where you can't describe it so you start using generic words like "awesome", "pretty", or "amazing".
They settled down on the banks of the waterfall and started to enjoy the scenery – take some pressure off of all the memories that were starting to resurface because of that wagon.
Garrett smiled at Kayley. She hardly noticed because she was going on about something her mother used to tell her about mixing this thing with that and how to not do this thing and that. Don't get me wrong, he always listened about "this thing and that" and paid attention to her, but sometimes he just got caught up listening to her voice. Not her words, but her voice. A soothing, relaxing, gorgeous tone. He couldn't help what he did next.
He took her up gently by the arm, pulled her close to him, and gave her the most meaningful kiss he's ever been able to establish since the wedding. Usually, Kayley would be laughing, smiling, and kissing him back, but something was off. Something was different, and Garrett could feel it. Kayley stood stiffly in his arms, shaking.
"Kayley, what's wrong? You're shaking dear . . ." Garrett probed her face, trying to feel what her face was expressing since she wasn't talking anymore.
All in one motion, she thrust forward and threw up everywhere. Her skin was fading from the bright, flushy pink she was into a pale, white color. If Garrett could see, he would say she looked sick to the bone.
He picked her up wedding style and completely left the picnic supplies – nothing mattered more than to get Kayley home. He rushed through the trees, the stumps, and under the low tree branches. He knew the forest and all its tricks and surprises. He didn't need another pair of eyes watching over him.
When they were back to the cottage, Garrett put Kayley in the bedroom and told her to rest, despite her retaliation. He didn't know what was going on, and neither did she. All he knew was that he had to do something.
"Ayden!" Garrett shouted. "AYDEN!"
Garrett had to whistle for him to respond. When Ayden arrived, Garrett hurriedly sent him to fetch a doctor.
"Kayley, dear, how are you feeling?"
"I don't know . . . honestly . . . but I kind of have this funny feeling,"
"What do you mean?" inquired Garrett.
"I'm feeling sort of . . . pregnant," blurted Kayley. "I mean, I've been craving food all week, I can't remember the last time I didn't go pee, and I just let my anger out on you not too long ago . . ."
"Wow . . . we're having a baby!" Garrett proclaimed.
"Yeah," said Kayley, "a baby . . ."