The Last Druid (39 page)

“It was still so long.  I thought you might’ve forgotten
me in that time.”

He put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up so she met his eyes.  “Never,” he said.  “I may have spent the last three years in wandering, but I never once forgot about you.  I wanted you to be the first to know
as soon as I made up my mind.”

Ca
lla swallowed.  “Don’t go,” she said.

Hiran
suddenly leaned in closer.  “I do not intend to.”

She felt a pressure around her left wrist.  Surprised she backed away two steps and lifted her hand.  Her eyes widened when she saw that
Hiran had started to wrap a long, thin gold chain around her wrist, which was adorned only with a single small emerald.  With both hands he finished looping the chain around her hand and tied the ends so it was secure.

As
Calla stared at it she thought back to everything she had learned during her stay in Elenan.  She had learned of some traditions in Malc culture.  With marriages, a man who proposed to the woman he loved would tie a metal chain with some precious stone around her wrist; the color of the stone was supposed to signify the nature of his love.  The Malc described the color green as never-ending, as having a kind of permanence…

She looked back at him with wide eyes.  He was smiling at her.

“Will you have me, Calla?”

She couldn’t answer right away—she was at a loss for words. 
He had just proposed to her.  Her vision blurred and she had to fight to keep herself together.  “Yes,” she whispered finally.  “Yes.”  She put both hands behind his neck and rose up on her toes to kiss him; his hands slid along her lower back as he returned it.

Oh come on!

The cry brought them out of it.  Turning, Calla saw Lina standing in the road a few feet behind her.  The Tri-tail’s golden eyes were wide as she stared at the two, and she growled at them a little.

What is it your people say, Cal
la?
she asked. 
‘Get a room’? 
Without waiting for an answer she turned and ran back to the house, jumping over the front gate.

Laughing, Cal
la turned her attention back to Hiran.  “Come inside,” she said.  “My family will want to meet you.”

Smiling at her,
Hiran paused only to recollect his bag before he draped one arm around her shoulders.  They walked side by side to her front gate.

“Do you think it’s all really over?” Ca
lla asked as she reached for the latch.  “The darkness and all the monsters that came with it?”

“For now at least,”
Hiran replied.  “Nothing truly ends, just fades into new beginnings.  I think it is possible Elenia did not block all roads here to creatures foul in nature; there may be a time when they are able to return.  But I do not think it will happen anytime soon.”

“I hope it will never happen.”

“Never say never.”  Hiran held the gate open for her.

“We’ll see.”  Ca
lla took his hand and led him up to the house.

Author’s Note

This is my first published work.  If you have any questions, comments, or critiques you can email me at [email protected]; you can also follow me on Twitter: @Clmont1Colleen.  At the time of this publication, I have started work on a sequel and hope to have it released by the end of the year.

Thank you for reading my story!