Chapter 39: Chapter 39

The kicked-up pebbles Thorin stirred with his boots bounced along the dirt path, and he puffed out his cheeks before he turned to Haldir. “So, tell me that all the stories about Daniel Darke aren’t true. Tell me we’re not strolling directly into a slaughterhouse. I mean, he can’t be all that bad, right?”

A sneaky smirk rose on the side of his mouth that Thorin couldn’t see as he pulled on his straps and stared down the path. “Daniel can be quite a scary man when he’s properly provoked.”

His eyes followed the sinking feeling in his gut as Thorin groaned at the Viking’s vagueness. “He was kind to Imara, though. I mean, he was quite interested in bringing us all here.”

The immortal human’s reddish-blonde brows furrowed as he shook his head and glanced over at Thorin. “Daniel is amassing an army. He’ll want Ben to join him, no doubt, but I don’t recall him asking for a retired lecturer.”

Ben skipped and booted a rock into the distance, then sighed as his one moment of entertainment vanished into the trees. “That’s too goddamn bad. All I want is Imara; I give nary a shit about Daniel fucking Darke or his army.”

A sudden burst of fear came out as a laugh from Haldir’s mouth, and he rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “Bury those thoughts down deep. Daniel’s not one to be trifled with. He’s quite kind to me because I saved his wife long ago, but even I don’t truly trust him not to burn me alive. He’s possibly the one person I do fear.”

His jaw clenched as Thorin shook his head and rolled his eyes to the forest. “Well, isn’t that lovely?”

Haldir traded an amused glance with Ben before he shrugged. “His family is everything to him, so be respectful. Not that I guess I need to tell such fine Southern gentleman that, but Daniel has no patience when it comes to them. So, as I said, keep your thoughts buried deep inside you. Just remember that you got Sweet Girl waiting on you and hear whatever he’s got to say so we can get to her.”

After a week or so of trudging along the forest path, they came to the clearing that signaled the Darke Kingdom’s border. The thumps of Lord Commander Agamori’s horseback riders beat the ground underneath them, and Haldir waved his arm when they appeared over the hill. “Calvary’s here, boys.”

The horses surrounded them, and the handsome soldier removed his helmet. “Where have you been, old man?” Eason jumped down from his horse and threw his arms around Haldir, then patted his back before releasing him.”

Haldir pushed his fist into the knight’s chin. “Still ugly, I see.”

He pushed his long, sun-bleached hair off his shoulder and clicked his tongue through his toothy grin. “The ladies don’t seem to think so, Haldir.”

The white-haired Commander cleared his throat and gave them both a disapproving eyebrow. “Are you two quite finished? His Majesty awaits, and, in case you’ve forgotten, he doesn’t like to be kept waiting for long.”

The castle doors opened to them, and Haldir nodded inside as he bent his fingers for them to follow. “This way.”

The castle he’d seen in so many dreams now surrounding him, Ben’s eyes made their way to the mural above him, and he smirked at the faces that stared back at him. “I guess that was real.” A sudden gust of wind swept through the foyer, and he gasped as he grabbed Thorin’s arm. “She was here. I can smell her.”

Thorin rubbed Ben’s shoulder as his eyes darted around at the people watching them. “Well, let’s go find out what he wants so we can get the hell out of here. This place creeps me out.”

Daniel rose from his seat and snapped his fingers rapidly, then waved them over to his table. Haldir lowered his head to Daniel and Rosemary. “Your Majesties.”

The King wagged his finger and narrowed his eyes as the men approached. “I’ve told you before, you can call me Daniel.”

Haldir smiled and motioned towards Ben with his head. “Daniel. This is…”

“Thorin and Ben, yes, I know.” Daniel looked the two men over then pushed his black wavy hair off his face before offering his hand to Ben. “I’ve been waiting a very long time to meet you.”

Ben shook his hand and nodded, then backed away, making Thorin roll his eyes at his rudeness. He held out his hand to the Darke King then moved the other over his heart. “Your Majesty, thank you for taking care of Imara as you have.” He glanced back at Ben, who shifted on his feet and looked around the hall. “We’re very grateful.”

The hot blaze that burned in the fireplace lit up the air, and the last remnants of Imara clung to his skin. “She was here.” His hand rubbed at his heart.

Daniel pointed at Ben. “You’re a Lycan this time, I forgot. Yes, Imara had dinner here with us before I took her North to be with her parents.”

A whimper of a sigh came from Ben as he wiped his hand across his mouth. “Is she alright? I mean, she remembers everything?”

“She’s well. Eager to be reunited with you, of course. I’ll take you there after dinner.” Daniel held out his hand to usher them to the fireside. “Please, you can leave your things by the fire and sit at my table.”

After setting their packs along with the brick hearth, Haldir nodded to Rosemary and Damien as he took a seat across from them. “Good to see you both again.”

Rosemary smiled and rested her chin on her hand as the firelight lit up her red hair. “I’m so happy you’re here, Haldir. It’s been too long.”

Daniel’s son Damien was a handsome man with dark wavy hair that fell to his chin and the darkest brown eyes like his father. “We were beginning to think you’d never return.”

“Yes.” Haldir pointed his thumb over his shoulder to Ben and Thorin as they sat down beside him. “These two have kept me quite busy for the last hundred years or so, but we got it all sorted out now.”

Rosemary’s eyes moved to Ben, and she reached across the table and patted his hand. “Imara is just the loveliest woman; you must be very proud of her.”

He batted the tears from his eyes and cleared his throat as he nodded. “Yes, ma’am, she is. I’m very lucky to call her my wife.”

The thumping flutter in his chest synced up to the rhythm of Thorin patting his brother’s shoulder to comfort him until the pull of the white-haired witch creeping through the crowded hall caught his attention.

Her icy blue eyes met his, and it sent a shiver through his back. Seeing Sigrid approach with a rare smile on her face, the side of Haldir’s mouth curled up as he set down his cup and spoke over his shoulder to Thorin. “I told you she was a beauty, Thorin.”

Her pale cheeks flushed with the faintest hint of pink as she came to space across from Thorin. He pushed himself up and slid his hand to his chest. “Good evening, Miss.”

He mirrored her movements until they were seated, and Haldir slapped his hand to his back. “Your Highness, this is Thorin Parker. Thorin, this is Princess Sigrid.”

He cringed and shut his eyes tight to shield his thoughts, but when he opened them again, Sigrid twisted her lips and shook her head. “That doesn’t work here, not on us.”

His eyes rolled shut, and he chuckled at his stupidity. “My apologies. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

Her hand waved in front of her before she picked up her glass. “It’s alright.” After she set her cup down, her fingers slipped back and forth along the grooves of the table before looking back to Thorin. “Imara couldn’t stop talking about you. I feel as if I know you so well already.”

He looked down at his dirty hands and shook his head at his shabbiness. His lip squished between his teeth, and he glanced up to the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry I look such a mess. If I’d known I was going to run into you, I assure you I would’ve tried to be a bit more groomed.”

Daniel sat up in his chair and clasped his hands in front of him. “You know, Ben, you and I are kin.”

Ben swallowed his mouthful of food and licked the front of his teeth. “Yes, that’s what Imara told me.”

Daniel pushed himself into the seatback. “Quite distantly, of course. Actually, by rights, you have more claim to this kingdom than I do. If you had an army of your own, I might be afraid you’d snatch it from me.”

Ben set down his cup and looked into Daniel’s eyes. “I don’t care about being King; I only want to be with my wife. You see, she’s my Queen, and she’s waiting on me. So, can we stop fucking around here and go?”

Haldir closed his eyes and shook his head, but a smile curled up on Daniel’s lips, and he nodded. “I understand completely. There is something I need to show you first, Ben. The reason for bringing you here.”

Daniel cast a vision of the future in his mind, and Ben shook his head. “Yes. So, you may go to your wife, but when the time is right, I’ll call upon you both to return.”

Ben opened his eyes and pushed the tears from them, then nodded. “When the time comes, we’ll be there. I swear.”