––––––––
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months since I had that premonition of Shaw. I tried to ease my worry by reminding myself that Charis said he was going to be fine. I was certain her visions were far more powerful than my thirty second blips, but I still couldn't shake the picture of that army charging across the body strewn plain with weapons raised. I was in a constant state of worry. Things continued as they had before, but I had an impending sense of doom. I was sure any minute King Tornus was going to find me and tell me that Shaw had been killed in battle.
When a messenger from Tornus rounded us all up for a meeting in the palace conference room, I was convinced the worst had happened.
I was with Tamalie when the messenger found us. We rushed to the dark room housing the round table, Markella in tow. A handful of people were already there including Charis, Latimer, and the Dwarfs.
"What's this about?" I demanded of Charis. She was sure to know. She knew everything.
"Do not worry," she said kindly, patting the seat next to her. "This has nothing to do with Shaw. The king has a visitor and he wants us all to discuss this new guest's dilemma."
I sighed in relief as I eased myself into the chair. Tamalie occupied her usual seat next to her father. Slowly, others trickled into the room. Prince Jonus walked in and made a beeline for the empty seat next to me, followed shortly by my mother. Finally, King Tornus walked in, a tiny hooded figure with him.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Luka. She is here on behalf of the Waterkins in the Lake Country," the king explained, inclining his head slightly to the little figure standing beside him. The newcomer lowered the black hood of a traveling cloak to reveal a cute little woman. She was a tad shorter than the Dwarfs, but that was where the similarities ended. Unlike them, she was not stout but very svelte. She couldn't have weighed more than seventy pounds. Her cheeks were rosy, like they were wind burned, and her skin was the tan color of someone just ending a long beach vacation. She had a very cute heart shaped face with delicate tiny features, a small button nose, and tiny pouty lips. In contrast, her hazel green eyes were larger than expected and almost perfectly round, but not disproportionate to the rest of her face. Her light ash blonde hair was cut short into a wild spiky style with longer pieces in the front that she tucked behind her miniature ears. She stood with her arms folded safely under her traveling cloak.
"Ya're not a Waterkin," Matthias accused.
"Well spotted Dwarf," Luka returned with a scoff. "It would have taken a Waterkin too long to travel here, so they sent someone who can move just a bit faster."
She removed her cloak and spread her thin arms out to shoulder height. I gasped at what I saw. I wasn't the only one shocked. Luka had wings. Thin translucent membranes stretched from her wrists to her waist that reminded me of the wings of a bat. Her amber colored outfit was a one-piece body suit designed to be conducive to the wings. The top part tied up around her neck and it was completely backless, the bottom part had long pants that looked almost like they were made of a spandex material. Her outfit surprised me because everyone else I had encountered in Meric from the Dwarfs, to the Mortifs, to the Elves all dressed similar. Granted, the Elves clothing was a bit more elegant, and the Dwarfs a bit more elaborate, but essentially all of the styles were the same. Luka's outfit was astonishingly unique.
"Ya're a Sprite," Matthias exclaimed, "but I thought ya were suppose ta be extinct?"
"And I thought Dwarfs were supposed to be intelligent," Luka replied, a touch of disgust in her voice, but she flashed a smile at Matthias. A twinkle sparked in Matthias' eyes, and I got the impression he instantly liked this Sprite. Anyone who joked and teased was a person after his own heart.
"Luka, would you please have a seat?" Tornus requested. When Luka had obliged, the king looked around the table. "Luka brings us dreadful news from our allies, the Waterkins. An army of Leviathans led by Gol'Gantar has just ravaged several of the Rancher communities in the Western Plains. This army is now moving toward the Lake Country. A small handful of Ranchers was able to reach Lakeland to warn the Waterkins and they are asking for our aid."
Instantly, I had a flashback of Shaw battling that enormous Leviathan so many months ago. Trying to picture an entire army of those beasts was almost more than I could comprehend.
"The Waterkins do not have a grand army. They only have a small handful of soldiers. It won't take long before the Leviathans annihilate them," Luka added.
"I have a question," I stated sheepishly, "who is Gol'Gantar?"
"Gol'Gantar is the leader of the Leviathans and is the largest and fiercest among their race. He has fought for Leticia since the beginning," Jonus answered.
"If Gol'Gantar's army is striking as far north as the Waterkin's Lake Country, then Leticia must be preparing to take on all of Meric," Latimer said, dread heavy in his voice.
"Yes," Jonus agreed, "she has a legion of human troops attacking the Giants in the east, and now she's advancing this Leviathan army in the west."
"That is another reason why Queen Dezmauda sent me to you King Tornus," Luka interjected. "If Leticia conquers the Lake Country, then it is only a matter of time before she attacks this region."
"Do not fret, my dear," Tornus said, placing a hand on Luka's tiny shoulder. "I have already decided to send a vast battalion of our troops to the Waterkins. I have assembled this group to see who among them will join the soldiers."
All three Dwarfs shot their hands in the air. Markella looked at me, her internal struggle between wanting to go to battle and the promise she had made to Shaw clear in her eyes.
"I will go, Father," Jonus announced.
"I would like to go also," Tamalie added quickly.
"I'm going to go, too," I said.
It took less than one heartbeat before the entire table broke out into avid disapproval. There was so much squabbling that it was near impossible to understand what one person was saying, but I pretty much got the gist that I wasn't allowed to go anywhere near this battle.
"Hey!" I had to shout to be heard over the din. "I am going. I'm supposed to be the Savior of Meric. There is no possible way I can do this if I stay hidden here. People need help. I am going to help them. And I would like to see any of you try and stop me." Everyone looked at me in surprise. I even surprised myself a bit.
"I will stop you," Prince Jonus stated, his voice brokering no room for argument.
"Oh, really?" I raised my hand toward the empty chair at the table, and it levitated off the ground. I whipped it through the air and stopped it just inches from his face. His eyes were closed, his hands up protectively in front of him. He opened one eye, then the next. I shot him a sly smile and lowered the chair.
"You are right, Christina. No one can stop you, but not because of your powers. No one can stop you because it is your choice to make," King Tornus said. "I will go, which means that Latimer will need to stay behind. Since both my son and I will be heading off to war, Queen Lorna, I would ask that you stay behind as well. I will suggest to the people that if both Jonus and I fall during this endeavor, you should become the next steward after Latimer is crowned." Lorna opened her mouth to protest, but the king pressed on. "Markella, I assume you will be joining us." Markella nodded, and the king continued, "What about you, Charis?"
"I will also be joining this quest."
"Excellent," Tornus said. "We will leave first thing in the morning. It will take us near an entire month to travel that far. Do you think the Waterkins can last that long?" he asked Luka.
Luka frowned and replied, "Queen Dezmauda believes that it will take the Leviathans almost that long to lumber up to Lakeland. They move slowly when they march in a group. I am certain your voyage will not be in vain. You will be able to help the Waterkins."
Dinner that evening was a morose affair. No one talked much in anticipation of tomorrow's departure. My mind wondered until it landed upon its favorite topic, Shaw. I pondered where he was right now. Was he still with the Giants? Was he making his way back to us? What would he think when he found out I went to war? I was certain he would be furious. I was so engrossed in thinking about him that when I heard his voice I was sure I had imagined it.
"Planning to march off to war without me?"
I whipped around in my seat to face the entrance to the dining room. There he was, standing in the door even more handsome than the memories I had been playing over in my mind for the past five months. It took every ounce of strength I had not to rush up to him and embrace him. Every fiber in my body yearned to kiss him more passionately then anyone had ever kissed before, and I wanted to wrap my arms so tightly around him that it would be impossible to let go. But I restrained myself and stayed planted firmly in my seat. That was until his incredible blue eyes found me. He spoke to King Tornus when he entered the dining room, but he surveyed the table, and when his gaze met mine the smile he wore ripped open into the most welcoming grin I had ever seen on his face. I couldn't contain myself. I leapt to my feet and threw my arms around his neck.
He held me for a long moment and I breathed against his neck, "You're back."
His only response was to squeeze me a little bit tighter, and then he released me. This was when I realized he wasn't alone. I had been so preoccupied focusing on him that I didn't notice the two enormous people flanking him on either side. They instantly reminded me of Andre The Giant. Only these two were bigger. They had to be close to eight feet tall and over four hundred pounds. Even more surprising was that one of them was a woman. She was only slightly smaller than the man.
"Everyone," Shaw began, "this is Arjun and Dagmar they have come from the Giant nation to help Christina fulfill her destiny."
His smile reassured me, and I apprehensively approached the male Giant Shaw had called Arjun. I extended my hand to shake his and found his enormous hand completely engulfed mine. I felt like a resident of Lilliput when they encountered Gulliver. It was the same experience when I shook Dagmar's hand.
Both Giants had thick curly black hair. Arjun's was cut short, but he had woolly muttonchops extending on either side of his face. Dagmar's was shoulder length with colorful strings braided into different strands. They both had dark brown eyes and their skin was a rusty brown color. Their clothes mirrored the rest of the Meric people, only the colors of their outfits were all varying shades of brown.
"You are most welcome, Giant friends," King Tornus said and motioned for them to join us for the remainder of dinner. It was comical to see the Giants next to Luka. Compared to Shaw, the Giants weren't that much different than the Dwarfs compared to me.
"Thank you King Tornus," Arjun boomed in a voice so deep I wouldn't have been surprised if the plates on the table shook.
Once everyone was settled, the king explained everything that had happened over in the Lake Country, and our plans to aid in the battle. Shaw listened with rapped attention. I was only half listening. My attention was focused on Shaw's face, and the feelings of pure elation his return created. It was a strange sensation, knowing we were preparing to go to war yet being so happy.
He turned to me, his expression serious. "I don't think that is such a good idea."
It took me a moment to realize King Tornus had just told him I planned on joining the battle.
I pursed my lips, unsure what to say. I didn't have the same confidence around Shaw that I had when Jonus rebuked me. Finally, I stammered, "A lot has happened since you've been gone. My powers have grown and Prince Jonus has helped with my sword fighting." I sounded like a pleading child.
"Christina, I believe you, but I still don't think this is a good idea." He paused, placing his hand on top of mine that rested on the table. "I just have a bad feeling about you being on this mission." He finished gravely, looking to Charis. But, Charis offered no guidance.
The rest of dinner was eaten quietly, and people filtered off to bed early in preparation for tomorrow's departure. Prince Jonus lingered with the intention of walking me back to my room, but Shaw hadn't left yet, and I was desperate to soak up as much of his time as possible.
Jonus finally asked, "Christina would you like me to escort you to your room?"
"Actually, Jonus, I hoped to talk to Christina before bed. If you don't mind, I will walk her," Shaw said and my heart jumped into my throat. Shaw wanted extra time with me.
Jonus looked at both of us, his expression blank. He cleared his throat before stating, "I hope you both have a nice evening." Then he turned and walked out of the room.
The dining room slowly emptied, and once the last person had exited, Shaw turned to me. "I know I can't tell you what to do, but I really don't want you coming with us tomorrow. This is a battle we can't hope to win. A Leviathan army is quite simply a juggernaut. You saw how difficult it was for me to battle just one, multiply that by thousands."
I opened my mouth to retort, but he placed two fingers to my lips. "I know what you're going to say, and I understand that as the Savior you feel obligated to help, but I don't think I can handle you being there."
I squinted and tilted my head. He grunted in frustration, jumped to his feet and paced beside the table. I twisted in my chair, and leaned on the back, watching him.
"What do you mean you don't think you can handle my being there?"
Shaw stopped and knelt beside my chair, his face just a few inches from mine. Heat rose up in my body and my heart pounded. His eyes shifted as he studied my face, and I held my breath.
"I..." he paused and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he stared at me. Perhaps something in my face would give him the answer he sought. He parted his lips to speak.
"Sorry to interrupt," came Jonus' voice from the dining room door, not sounding the slightest bit sorry he had interrupted, "but I wondered if you would be staying at your own home, or if you would like a room in the castle for tonight?"
"No, I will be fine at my house this evening. Thank you," Shaw said, rising to his feet. He stepped away from me. "Jonus, perhaps you should walk Christina to her room after all."
"What were you going to say?" I called after Shaw.
"It's not important," he replied and he walked out of the room.
Early the next morning, I donned my newly fitted Elfin Army uniform, thrilled to be out of a skirt and in pants. The uniform consisted of black loose fitting slacks, a hunter green shirt, and a velvety black cloak. Everyone intending to make the march to the Lake Country gathered in the most amazing pasture I had ever seen. Tamalie brought me here on one of my first days in Verna Mount, but at that time there were only a few dozen unicorns scattered about. Now the fertile pasture was filled with thousands of the majestic beasts.
Charis explained to me that the unicorns worked in harmony with the Elves because the Elves worked in harmony with nature. She told me that it is hard to explain, but the Elves had a need to march the better half of their army over nine hundred miles, and the unicorns feel the need to help them. "It is simply in their nature to work together," she had said.
None of this made any sense to me, but after hearing we had to go over nine hundred miles, I was happy to be riding and not walking so I didn't question it much. I did smile when I noticed that Charis had no intention of using one of the Elves' unicorns, she would ride Gunther.
The Giants also had their own horses. Their enormous steeds were exactly like Gunther. They even had the same two horns. Arjun's horse was buckskinned and Dagmar's was a cream color. I realized Gunther must have originally been a Giant's horse before Charis acquired him. Chett made the journey with us as Cody's ride. In a way I found it comforting to have Gunther and Chett along, because I had been traveling with them for so long now.
We would be taking an army of near ten thousand soldiers and looking at all the unicorns it certainly seemed like we had enough. I prepared a dapple grey unicorn with a silver horn. Shaw was beside me with the same chestnut unicorn he had before.
"Are you sure you won't change your mind and stay here?"
"Are you sure you won't tell me what you were going to say last night?" I asked, and I was surprised by how much cynicism leaked from my voice. It had been a while since I had heard myself using such a tone.
He seemed almost embarrassed. "It was nothing. What I think isn't important. I can't change your mind."
I stared at him. How could he not realize that what he thought was of the utmost importance to me? My mind toyed around the idea that maybe, just maybe, Markella could be right. Maybe there was more to Shaw's feelings than just a duty to protect me. It was a fool's hope and it was foolish to have such hope, but still...
A moment later, while I still gawked at Shaw, Luka walked over to me. "So you're Davis' daughter."
"That's right," I replied.
"Your father was a great man. Such a loss to Meric, his death." She didn't say anything else, but there was kindness in her eyes. She turned and rode to where Tornus and Jonus spoke to Glontor.
I turned back to Shaw, but he spoke with Arjun. I wondered if I should just tell Shaw how I felt. I was weighing the pros and cons of this as King Tornus led our procession in a westward direction. It wasn't hard to let my mind wander as I rode Vista, my unicorn. Part of me really wanted to tell Shaw everything. If there was the slightest chance he had feelings for me, then it certainly was worth the risk. But then again, riding off to war certainly didn't seem like the right time. I was struck again with my own sense of duty. I needed to focus on my task here, and not my feelings. Trying to dismiss my feelings for Shaw seemed like a more daunting task than if I had to face the entire Leviathan army singlehandedly.