Well, you should all be happy to know that one of my friends (who happens to like this story) has agreed to let me use his computer so that I can continue to post these stories :-)
So this chapter begins with a Thanks to my bud David!
Part V was shorter than I wanted, but that's because this is the time for some of the background you will need to fully appreciate what's going on. Heh heh, so I kinda call Part VI: The explanation. ;-)
And so, as Promised.....
Part VI
His Royal Majesty, King Kail the 14th, sat in his pavilion totally numb. He had loved his son Ethan more than anything. His second son had been the most caring and gentle boy Kail had ever known. `So very much like his mother', he had thought on more than one occasion.
His wife, Julia, had been one of the greatest Healers in the Kingdom. When she had given birth to Ethan, he had been Still-born. Kail had known what she had intended from the time she looked at him, and back down to his son. Tears in her eyes, the Queen lifted he dead son in her arms and kissed him gently on the lips...
And breathed into him her own life.
The baby Ethan opened his eyes and looked right at the mother who had given him birth, and then given her life so that he might have one of his own. He hiccuped gently, and reached his curled hand out to touch her cheek. He never cried once as a baby. Kail's crushing grief had been eased by the knowledge that, in a very real way, his wife lived on in Ethan.
Kail contented himself with raising his two sons as well as he could. He taught his eldest son, Bruen, the ins and outs of statecraft, tactics, and the warrior's ways. Bruen was as tough as Ethan was gentle, and he watched over his younger brother like a Dragon over her eggs. He would always be there for Ethan when Kail could not. Kail had been proud of Bruen.
Bruen always knew that he would eventually have to marry the Elven Prince, and even though he had no interest in men, he was happy to do his duty to his people. He had been in love with a lovely young War Mage and had been intending to keep her as his concubine after his marriage had gone through. Unfortunately, Bruen's protective nature led him to challenge a knight who had insulted his love by calling her "the Prince's Whore". The knight, who not as skilled as the Prince, was more than willing to stoop to dirty tactics in order to win. He had poisoned his blade, and had killed the Prince when the venom started to weaken him.
Ethan had blossomed as a Mage. He was skilled in the healing arts, and many of his teachers said that he would one day surpass his mother. Shy and retiring, the gentle boy always went out of his way to ease the hurts of others, and make peace from conflict.
Kail could even remember when Ethan had run to his brother's side. He had tried to work his magic on Bruen and heal him. It was Ethan who felt the poison that stole his brother's life, and it was the only time Kail had ever seen fury in those eyes.
Ethan's accusation had no sooner left his lips, than Annea's spell blew fire at the knight. His screams had filled the halls of the Royal Palace and no one, not even the knight's family, had protested.
Kail's pride and love for Ethan grew after he was named Heir. Ethan had stood upon the dais and declared that after his marriage to the Elven Prince, he would adopt the unborn child that Annea bore. Bruen's child.
Ethan was regarded as a better choice for the marriage by most of the court. It was no secret that the Prince was gay, and his gentle nature, and abilities as a healer and negotiator would be well respected by the Elves.
The survivors of the Ork ambush told of how the Orks had taken them completely by surprise. There was no chance of survival for anyone, not even the Paladin's who fought to protect the Prince. Ethan had offered himself to the Ork Shaman who had attacked in return for the lives of the rest of the party. The Ork had agreed, and the others had been allowed to leave; But only after they had watched Ethan die, burned slowly to death by the Ork's magic.
Until today, Kail had buried his grief under the hate and anger he had for the Orks. He focused on the war, and tried not to deal with his loss. Then he has seen the Stranger. So like Ethan, a perfect match, the eyes, hair, even the way he smiled was identical to his son. Seeing that boy reminded him of what he had lost. First his wife, then his eldest son, then his youngest son and what was left of his wife. Kail now had nothing left of his family save Annea who he had adopted, and the son she bore.
Kail looked over at Lance who stood by the entrance to his Pavilion, watching him. "Lance..." he said haltingly "You were there, were you not, when Ethan died?"
"Yes my Liege." came the nearly silent reply.
"You never told my why you stayed behind when the others left. Why you gathered my son's ashes. Why you have never told me what you did with them."
"No my King, I have not"
Kail looked at the Paladin. "And if I commanded you to? What would you do then?"
Lance looked extremely uncomfortable, almost in pain. "I can only hope that you never do..."
Kail frowned. "I won't command you Lance, but I would like to have what little I could of my son. I loved him."
Lance nodded. "Perhaps my Lord, this stranger is a sign. Perhaps he is more than just a human traveling with the Elf Prince. Maybe he has a part of Ethan within him.."
Kail was troubled by that thought. Was it possible that he had underestimated Ethan, had he found a way to return to them? "Why do you say this Lance? Do you see something in this boy that I do not?"
Lance turned, and left the Pavilion, Leaving Kail with only a few simple, and yet powerful words.
"You aren't the only person who Loved Ethan...."
Yes, I know, this one is short too. but you can really think of part 5 & 6 as being one chapter if it makes you feel better. :-)
That said, Stay tuned for part VII which should be up by this coming Saturday.
And thanks again for the letters. If you have any suggestions, or thoughts on what you might want to see, you can Email me at Blade_singer@go.com, or get me on AIM under the Bladesong1 Screen name. I love to talk :-)
See ya all! Corey