CH 12: REUNITED AT LAST

Keldo and Celia watched in terror as Strailoch hauled Kestra out of the cell and had her blindfolded. They knew they couldn't do anything to protect their daughter as they saw her being forced down the corridor and out of view.

"Your daughter is quite lovely, Keldo. She looks so much like you." A Morvaie growled as he stepped out of the shadows. "It will be a pleasure being your guard. The Dark One has ordered me to move you farther down the corridor. He is afraid that your daughter might try to free you." The Morvaie unlocked the door and stepped into the cell.

Celia stood up and inched backward towards Keldo, never taking her eyes off him. "Who is the Dark One, Morvaie?" Celia asked. Her voice sounded more courageous than she felt.

The Morvaie just smiled, showing his pointed teeth. He casually walked towards them with a Cursed Blade drawn. He grabbed Celia's arm with his free hand and pulled her towards him.

"If you come with me quietly, Keldo, Celia will not be harmed," the Morvaie spoke, placing his Cursed Blade under her chin.

Keldo silently followed him out of the cell and down the corridor. Keldo heard the roar of a dragon getting louder as they continued. He identified the figure at the end of the hall as Boaoen. He believed Boaoen had escaped the Morvaie race, but in reality, they took him captive. Spotting an open cell door beside him, he realized Morvaie was motioning for Keldo to go in.

Once Keldo entered, the Morvaie pushed Celia in towards him. "You know, I used to be your daughter's guard. Until Gallix knocked me unconscious and locked me in his cell, as she tried to escape." The Morvaie continued, locking the cell. "It's a real shame that Kestra can't escape now. Gallix is dead, and Strailoch is her own personal guard. Oh, how I'm going to miss seeing her. She is a little vixen and has quite the personality. Do you want to know some things I have told her?"

Keldo felt his fingertips burning with magic. He sensed it running through his veins. He was going to kill this Morvaie and rescue Kestra and Boaoen. The Morvaie could realize blue sparks emerging from Keldo's fingers.

"Do you really want to do that, Keldo? I'm sure the Dark One would be interested in hearing that you tried to kill me and escape. Do you know what he would do? He would enjoy making Kestra suffer for your actions." The Morvaie declared, watching the sparks subside. "Now you are understanding." He stated before walking away.

Keldo and Celia took a moment to review their surroundings. They noticed that their new prison was large enough to house a full-grown dragon. When they saw the two cots that were on the opposite side, they started towards them. Approaching, they saw and heard the unthinkable.

"Keldo?" a deep voice asked. "Is that really you?"

"Boaoen?" Celia whispered.

"Yes." Boaoen said.

Keldo and Celia watched in fear as the dragon stepped into the light. There were scars all over the midnight black dragon's body from whips and other forms of torture. Keldo couldn't help but smile to see his old friend alive.

"Boaoen, what happened to you?" Keldo asked, acknowledging the scars.

"Volspec and the Dark One." Boaoen whispered sadly. "What are you doing here, Keldo? Don't tell me that the Dark One captured you."

"I'm afraid so, Boaoen." Just as Keldo was speaking, he got interrupted by mentioning the capture of Kestra and Sylvaria.

"Who did you say?" Boaoen asked, surprised.

"Our daughter, Kestra, and your daughter, Sylvaria." Keldo replied.

"Sylvaria is alive?" Boaoen asked, shocked. "You raised her, Keldo? I knew you wouldn't fail me." Boaoen smiled. "It has been such a long time. Tell me everything about what has happened since the last time we talked."

"Where do we start, Boaoen?" Keldo asked, sitting down on the cot. "The day we went to the Blacken Mountains, we saw nothing but death. I ordered my soldiers to search everywhere along the mountains, including by the ocean. All that they found was Sylvaria, and a young dragon flying the skies, looking for refuge. I remembered him as Mintdine. I knew you'd want me to raise her as though she were my own.

"Sylvaria quickly became Kestra's best friend, as you can imagine. They did everything together. When Kestra would train on the battlefield, you can bet that Sylvaria was next to her, giving her moral support."

"Once Kestra reached her teenage years, the Morvaies decide to rage war with us." Celia finished. "And Kestra tried to stop the Dark One on her own, the first time."

"How many times did she try to stop the Dark One by herself?" Boaoen asked, worried.

"Only once before now. She took Sylvaria with her this time, and a lot of good it did." Celia replied, throwing her hands in the air. "Now, not only does the Dark One have her and Sylvaria, but now me and Keldo, too."

"The Dark One will take Kestra with him to claim the castle." Boaoen told them. "I overheard some guards talking about it." He added when he saw Keldo and Celia looked at him with concern in their eyes.

His mind went back to his daughter. Sylvaria was alive and was here. Boaoen wondered if the Dark One would bring her down here while he took Kestra with him to claim the castle. He could only hope to be reunited with his child after so long. Thoughts of meeting her after all these years filled his mind.

"Kestra is the only one that can stop the Dark One." Celia whispered.

"W-What?" Boaoen stuttered, being brought out of his thoughts.

Keldo sighed before replying. "I'm afraid that she is Boaoen. She is the Liberator spoken of in the prophecy."

"But why her? She is so young, so innocent. Please tell me it's not true, Celia. If she is, and the Dark One finds out, I fear for her. He will never let her out of his sight. He will try to break her spirit so that she never develops the magic needed. You know this to be true." Boaoen spoke, anger in his voice.

"Boaoen, he will try. But she will not be without protection. I know a Morvaie that will do his best to keep her safe." Keldo whispered.

Celia and Boaoen looked at Keldo with shock in their eyes. What Morvaie would try to protect an elf, let alone the Princess? Keldo looked at Celia, then at Boaoen. He knew what was going through their heads. They didn't know who the Dark One was, but he did, and he wasn't about to tell them. He didn't want to worry them even more.

"Who would care that much, Keldo?" Celia asked gently, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Drave." Keldo whispered. He knew Drave loved Kestra. Why else would he join the Dark One? He did it to save her life.

"Drave? Are you kidding me, Keldo? Why would he care?" Boaoen growled.

"Are you sure? If he would try to keep her safe, why not just let her go? Why this whole thing? If he truly wanted to help her and protect her, why capture her?" Celia's voice rose ever so slightly as she spoke.

"Because he loves her and had no choice." Keldo replied softly before looking at Celia. "I know that you and Kestra have been having uneasy feelings around Drave since he escaped capture, Celia. I can tell you why."

Boaoen growled. "Why?"

"Nobody knows this except for a few chosen guards and myself. Drave didn't escape capture. They captured him. The Dark One forced Drave to join him, making him change his ways, but he couldn't make Drave change his feelings." Keldo stopped momentarily, deciding how much to say. "Drave could have easily refused to join the Dark One, and he did. At least until they figured out his feeling for her. Upon their discovery, a new plan formed. If Drave kept refusing, they would take Kestra captive and subject her to torture until he yielded."

"I don't follow Keldo." Boaoen rumbled.

"Everything that is happening right now is not because of Drave. It is because of the Dark One. If Drave didn't do what he was told, Kestra would have been in a lot more danger. Boaoen, you know the prophecy is coming true. You know they captured you to not interfere with the Dark One. Volspec didn't capture you to serve him and then Drave. He captured you to break you. To keep you from fighting against the Dark One."

"That may be true, Keldo. But I have yet to see where Drave falls into protecting Kestra."

"Did the prophesy not speak of a Protector? One who would be different, but that difference would help the Liberator until she unlocked her hidden potential?" Keldo looked at the two.

"Yes." Celia answered, still a little confused.

"That protector is Drave. Remember the argument that I had with him the day before Kestra ran off?" Keldo asked. As he watched, Celia gave a small nod. "That was him warning me. He conveyed to me the message that we were in danger. I was told about the Dark One's intentions. He had to pretend he desired the Kingdom. It was the only way he could warn us without them finding out."

Boaoen and Celia were speechless. Drave really loved Kestra. He had always loved her, always wanted to protect her from the Dark One. Those troubled feelings were a change of life. The Dark One was going to take Kestra to Kneontide with him, and they all prayed to the Guardians that Drave could travel with them.