A Timely Visit

2 days passed and Gulbrandt was awake and taking tea and broth. Deshane still wasnt speaking to Calene nor did he speak much to Laenaya. Laenaya saw what it took to live in a place like this. Both Deshane and Calene and even Kaled’s days were filled with chores and things that needed to get done. It seemed there was always something that needed doing and for the most part if it was left undone their likely wasn’t time that day to do it. Deshane, Calene and Laenaya and Kaled were at the dinner table eating chicken and vegetables. Deshane still said nothing and ate in silence as the two women talked.

“Gulbrandt’s looking much better Calene, I think another few days he will be up and around,” Laenaya said confidently. Confidently and also with a sense of relief. Kaled was surprisingly talkative as well and excited about going to the city. “Auntie Laen..ya Are we really going to Minas Trith?” He said with a grin. When he said that though Deshane tossed his fork down, left the table and stomped away and went outside to have a smoke.

Laenaya helped out with whatever she could around the house. She helped wash and fold laundry and do dishes and even helped to prepare dinner. Laenaya took notice that Deshane still didn't seem very happy. Calene was doing her best to be a good hostess, despite her husband's foul mood. Laenaya tried not to get in the way and to be as unobtrusive as possible. After all she and Brandt did show up unannounced and Brandt was badly injured and needed care.

That evening as they ate dinner together Kaled seemed very excited and interested in the city. Unfortunately, that set off Deshane who left the house in a huff. Calene looked like she was going to get up, but Laenaya motioned for her to sit. She stepped outside and was quiet a moment before speaking to Deshane.

"Even though you and I don't know each other very well I know that you love my sister very much and I can tell you that she loves you more than you could ever know. I understand that you want to protect both Calene and Kaled, but you can't just hide them away here. Our family has always been very close and for her to agree to move out here with you must mean that she loves you, but she's not asking for much. Just a visit with her family."

Deshane didn’t expect to see Laenaya nor did he expect her to talk to him. He was about to light his pipe when he heard her come out and he turned to face her as he lit it then waved out the flaming tinder. He listened to what she said but like Calene, she was under the impression that the city was safe. “Your naivety is alarming Laenaya. Considering that you nearly lost your life. Yours and that of your husband. The queen was poisoned, your sister in law almost murdered and hundreds of guards and thousands of soldiers all over the city and the palace. No man or woman has come close to Calene nor Kaled since we came here” he said with a voice that grated like a metal file. “You think I like keeping her from those she loves? Well I dont. But away from here...I cant protect her Laenaya!” He growled. “Just like Gulbrandt couldn’t protect you,” He said grimly to remind her of what she had just been through and then something occurred to him.

“Why are YOU in the city? Don’t you live in Gehenna? Was he not enough for you either?” He said an
d there was no mistaking it. He did have real hurt in his eyes then but only lasted for a moment.

Laenaya blinked as Deshane lashed out at her. She was visibly taken aback and her eyes searched his face as he continued on. She was shocked and began to become upset. She had been through a lot in the past few days. She wanted to yell at him or cry, but out of respect for her sister she kept her feelings inside. This was a trying time for them all and she didn't want to risk her relationship with her brother-in-law over this. Instead, she just walked away and walked back inside.

Later that night Calene prepared for bed. She had heard everything Deshane had said to Laenaya and had been thinking about it all night. She changed into her night gown and then brushed out her hair and applied some cream to her hands before getting into bed next to Deshane. She was quiet a while before finally speaking softly.

"I won't go."

Deshane actually flinched at her words and they had been unexpected. He had been facing away from her but now he shifted onto his back and sat up on the headboard. “Bah, you’ll go...You’ll go or you’ll hold it against me likely forever. I will never be happy about it no matter what you say or do but you’ll go and take Kaled with you,” He said and he did sound angry.

Calene now started to get angry and she sat up and looked at him. "What am I supposed to do Deshane? I say I want to go and you get angry and tell me to stay. I then say that I WILL stay and you get angry again and tell me to go! We've gotten through a lot of things together and I don't want this one thing to be what kills our marriage. So tell me what you want me to do!!" Calene didn't anger very easily, but whenever she did get angry it usually only led to sex because Deshane seemed to get turned on when she yelled at him.

Deshane actually flinched at her words as they had been unexpected. He had been facing away from her but now he shifted onto his back and sat up on the headboard next to her. “Bah, you’ll go...You’ll go or you’ll hold it against me likely forever. I will never be happy about it no matter what you say or do but you’ll go and take Kaled with you,” He said and he did sound angry and tried to moderate his tone. It was difficult do to the sheer amount of anxiety he felt about this but Laenaya had made some good points.

“Im...I’m worried you’ll go, see your family, see the city and have comforts and servants again...I’m...I’m worried you’ll want to stay like Laenaya and Gulbrandt have. “I’m living the way I want to Calene,” he said and his voice had a worried cast to it now. “I’ve built you a home, a garden, a place to call our own. I know its hard work and we do everything ourselves but...but I like doing for myself...and for you,” he said honestly as he turned up his palms and looked at them. They were hard, calloused hands.

So here is the truth about his feelings, Calene thought to herself as she listened to Deshane. It broke her heart for her to think that he believed that would happen. She watched him as he looked at his hands and then she took one of them into her own and kissed it before pressing it against her cheek and looking into his eyes. "I will always return to you Deshane. This is my home...you are my home. This is a hard life, but I would choose no other because this life I'm with you. I love you more than I could ever possibly say. You are my hero and my husband and my life is at your side."

Deshane was still concerned, there was the matter of her and Kaled’s safety that he’d never truly be satisfied with but he could not change Calene. He could not and he would not. He pulled her atop him and he smiled as she straddled him. He helped her draw her shift over her head and then he availed himself of her breasts as he made love to her.

The next morning he had gone out to hunt and check on the traps and snares. He took Kaled with him and dropped him off at the river to catch a few fish for the smokehouse. At Laenaya’s request Calene had deshane move a cot into Gulbrandt’s room and this morning he had asked for a bit of porridge instead of just broth. Proof that his strength and appetite were returning. A very good sign.

In the following days Gulbrandt began to actually get up out of bed and walk around. His wounds were healing well and he was able to dress himself and eat at the table with everyone else. He had said he was well enough to ride and they had all decided to leave tomorrow morning which came all too soon for Deshane who would have to stay behind and tend their animals.

He helped pack the horses and the mule and he saddled Kaled’s red pony he called Cinna. Gulbrandt and Laenaya were in the front side by side and their mule was tethered to Laenaya’s mare. Next to it was Kaled and at the back was Calene. Deshane had helped her mount her bay stallion and moved up to her. “I’ll miss you wife,” He said as he looked up to her. “Take care of our boy and take care of you,” He said warmly and squeezed her thigh.

Calene had not been away from her husband like this since they first came together to their new home. On occasion Deshane would still perform the work he used to when he had been tasked with finding her, but mostly they remained together at their house and tended to their animals and crops. Calene was excited about going home and seeing her family, but at the same time she felt slightly upset at the thought of being away from her husband. She had ever confidence that they would be alright, but she knew he would still worry. She looked down at him and smiled warmly at him when he squeezed her thigh. "I will miss you too. We will only stay a few weeks and then Brandt will escort us home. In the meantime don't go rescuing another princess and fall in love with her."

Deshane almost chuckled at that and his eyes even got a little misty it seemed. “No chance for you take all my love and passion in this world with you,” he said and then stepped back a few steps and moved over to Kaled. He whispered a few words to his son and Kaled nodded then Deshane leaned down and hugged him. After that he stepped back.

“Be vigilant on the road, and be wary of any who approach,” Deshane said to everyone. Calene had her bow and sword tied to her horse so that they were easy to hand if trouble found them as well as Gulbrandt and Laenaya. With that Laenaya kicked her horse forward and all of the horses began to move away. As Calene looked back Deshane raised his hand to her. He only moved again when they were no longer visible in the morning mist.

The morning carried a chill in the air but there was almost no wind. Once the mist had burned off and the sun rose the temperature became much warmer almost to the point of being uncomfortable in leather and furs. Kaled looked like a young prince in his brown leather and fox furs. He had a long knife on his hip with a deer antler handle that his father had made for him. Deshane had showed him a little of how to use it as well as how to track and other outdoorsman skills. He was quite an intelligent boy and he had a kind way about him that even the animals of the forest seemed to understand. Either he kept them as pets or he theirs and often they’d allow him to touch them or feed them by his own hand. Gulbrandt still seemed to sit his saddle uncomfortably but even as Laenaya asked him if he wanted to stop he shook his head and they continued on. By mid-day they did decide to stop and they all dismounted to get a drink and have a small meal.

Kaled didn’t understand why they were going to the city exactly but he was so excited about going he could barely contain himself. “Mother if our fam-ly is in the city, why arent we not there to?” He asked her as he gnawed on a chunk of bread. “Aunt Laen-ya says that uh...my cousn...um, Elfwine? Is bout my age,” He said as he tried to reason out why they didn’t live with everyone else. He liked the forest and the river and the animals but sometimes...he was lonely to.

Calene looked back at her husband as they set off and she felt a few tears come to her eyes. But she knew this would be good for her. She hadn’t been home in a few years and with everything that had happened she wanted to see her family. It would also be good for Kaled to meet his grandparents and his aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was excited to be able to show him where she had grown up and where he was born. As she looked over at him she couldn’t believe how big he was getting. His father had been teaching him a few things and they were both so proud of him. He was growing up too quickly for her liking. She regretted not telling Deshane she was pregnant again but she felt it would have only added to his worries.

That afternoon they stopped for a mid-day meal. Brandt was still recovering and needed the rest, even if he said he was alright. As they are Kaled began to wither about the city and why they didn’t live there. “Well you were born there, but your father and I decided to live away from the city and have a quieter life. I’m happy to be able to show you where I grew up and introduce you to your aunts, uncles, and cousins. I know they will love you...your grandparents too.”

As they are and the women watered the horses Kaled moved just inside of one of the tree lines on the east side of the road. Laenaya has just finished checking on Gulbrandt before she moved to help Calene with the horses. “Eldarion and Kressara will not be there. They are at the front far to the North fighting the Northmen, Easterlings and a people called the Woses, thoigh Ive never heard of them,” she said as she held the small bucket. “A short, stout people unlike Dwarves with wide faces and large, broad noses. I saw a drawing once and father has several artifacts of some village he had been to long ago. A mystical, reclusive people,” she said. “I suppose you haven’t heard that Kressara has married...but details to whom are somewhat...muddled,” she said and paused as she thought about that. “Not a Northman but a man raised by them though clearly of the old blood from what Kressara says,” Laenaya said.

Calene wished that Eldarion and Kressara would be there, but at least she would see her parents, Elfwine, Calista, Ariana and their children. She was surprised to hear that their father had allowed Eldarion to join the fighting. He was the direct heir to the throne after all. The fighting must be getting worse if he was willing to let his only son join the battles. It was difficult to think of such things, but he and Calista did have two sons so if something were to happen to him at least the throne would be secure. She was busy thinking about this until Laenaya dropped this bombshell on her that Kressara had gotten married. Her eyes doubled in size and she turned and looked at her older sister. "She got married?!" She was even more shocked to learn that the man she married might have Dunedain blood. Deshane did as well so if it proved to be true then that would help keep the bloodline alive. "I can't believe she got married. Last I heard she was with Gowen."

Laenaya shook her head. “Nope, Gowen wanted her to settle down and be his wife but she refused and ended up marrying another,” she said and tried to recall who the woman was. “Gulbrandt and I have made a life of it in the city and I think we’ve decided to remain there,” she said. “Uncle Beren And Ithilwen is still in Gehenna though and I doubt they’ll ever leave,” she added.

Kaled had found an interesting toad but didn’t touch it. He knew some toads were poisonous and it was not easy to tell which were and which were not. He didn’t k is why but something drew him further off of the fringe of the forest and deeper. He spied all sorts of animals and birds and herbs he knew were good for an infection or a stomach ache. He remarked at the trees that had more than a little damage to them and he felt along one of the thick, brown trunks. Something big had been through here but not very recently he knew and went in a bit further.

He didn’t see it when he looked straight at it. It was hidden by large stones that has since overgrown with moss. He moved to the right though along the trees and saw the cave entrance when he looked to his left. He smiled and knew it wasn’t a bears den. That and by the lack of smells it was doubtful the cave was inhabited at all. He looked back to where he had come from, a couple hundred yards back was the road. His curiosity won over caution and he stepped up to the rocks and moved inside to see what there was to see.

Calene had not really spoken to any of her sisters in a while and so she was quite interested in all of the family gossip. "So Kressara refused Gowen's marriage proposal, but ended up getting married to someone else? I wonder what the difference was. I suppose it could have been because Gowen wanted her to settle down. From what I know of her now I don't think that will be happening any time soon. I wonder how Gowen will react when he hears the news..."

At that moment she glanced over and saw that Kaled was no longer near her. She looked all around and then felt panic start to grip her. "Where's Kaled? Did you see where he went?" she asked in a slightly frantic tone.

Laenaya nodded in agreement and then looked around for him herself. Gulbrandt sat up and also looked but when Laenaya’s and his eyes locked he shook his head as well. “Kaled!” Laenaya yelled and then the two women began to Dan our around the horses and onto the edges of the road. Gulbrandt stood as the women yelled and searched but Kaled was no where to be found. “I saw him on the eastern side of the road,” Gulbrandt said and saw that Calene was near to panic. “Don’t worry Calene, we’ll find him,” he assured her and began looking at the found near the road. The women still called for him but he never appeared. “Here!...Here!” Gulbrandt pointed at the ground and looked off into the trees. “That way,” he pointed...Laenaya, wait by the horses and string your bow,” he said. “C’mon ,Calene, let’s find your boy,” Gulbrandt said as he held his side.

Kaled was looking around the cave. There was a massive skeletal body laying on its back on the floor of the cave. Barrels, crates and refuse were strewn all over the place and he saw piles of rotting clothing and piles of armor and weapons. He squatted near the head of the large skeleton and traced his finger down its skull. He had seen drawings of Trolls but he had never truly seen one. He pulled at the head and it came away easily from its neck. He hefted it up and he would have never guessed it would be so heavy! And he set it back down and decided to look around for something to help him carry it and some of the other things in here that caught his attention.

Calene's panic began to rise every second that she couldn't find him. Laenaya felt a similar panic, but it was mixed with a strange sense of familiarity as memories of Aslan being taken flooded her mind. Calene couldn't believe what was happening. She had promised Deshane she would take care of him and now he was missing and they hadn't even been gone a full day! Perhaps he was right and they shouldn't have left the safety of their home.

Suddenly, Brandt indicated that he could see where Kaled had gone and Calene could see that they went off into the trees. Laenaya knew that they all couldn't go and she nodded in agreement when her husband suggested that she stay while he and Calene went to look for Kaled. She grabbed her quiver and slung it across her back and pulled out an arrow. Meanwhile, Calene walked with Brandt further into the treeline. "Kaled!"

Kaled couldn’t believe how much stuff was there in this cave. Coins of all sorts were strewn about and in small leather pouches and there was even a small chest. And not just gold. Gems and jewelry as well though Kaled was more interested in the troll than anything else and he wished his father was there to see. He found a cloak that was still in fairly good shape and he took it along with a really nice looking knife he found near it and brought it over to the skull. He laid it out on the floor of the cave then rolled the skull onto it and wrapped it up in such a way that he was able to heft the skull over his shoulder and use his back to bare the weight of it. It was still heavy though and he grunted as he used his body to elevate it off of the ground. It wasn’t until he reached the entrance of the cave that he heard voices. Panicked, urgent voices...his mother’s voice and he winced realizing what he had just done.

“Kaled!” Brandt called out. “Kaled!” Calene called out a few moments later as Brandt tracked Kaled using his small footprints. “Momma, I’m here!” Kaled called out as he moved away from the cave. His voice came to the searchers ears and Brandt and Calene shifted to look at one another. It was only for a moment then Calene dashed forward toward where she thought she heard his voice. In just a few seconds she could see him through the trees. He waved at her and grinned triumphantly until he saw her face. Brandt was behind her though slower and he was certain by the look in Calene’s eyes that he wouldn’t want to be Kaled right then!

Tears were nearly in Calene's eyes. How could she let this happen?! She suddenly wished that Deshane was there more than anything in the world. He would know what to do. He always knew what to do. Her eyes darted around her as she continued to look for any sign of him, or anyone else. Had he been kidnapped?

She was about to yell out his name again, when she suddenly heard his voice call back to her. It was the sweetest sound she had ever heard and a flood of relief came over her. When she saw him and knew that he was alright that relief was quickly replaced by anger. Now, Calene didn't anger very easily, especially towards Kaled, but he would know by the look on her face that she was very angry right then.

"What were you doing?! You do NOT wander off! It is dangerous out here and something could have happened to you. I was panicked when I saw you were gone. Your father trusted me to make sure you remain safe."

Kaled dropped his burden as his mother drew closer to him. And he looked down at the ground when she began to berate him. Gulbrandt stepped up to just behind Calene and flashed an angry look at the boy but it didn’t last long. “I’m...I’m sorry momma,” Kaled said and frowned not wanting to look up at her. He rarely did anything bad. There usually wasn’t enough time to get into trouble on the farm anyway. “I..I just was exploring...and...and...and I found this cave…” He said in a pathetic voice.

Calene knew that her son was usually good for a young boy. He rarely got into trouble and she could probably count on one hand the number of times she had gotten upset with him. She didn’t like yelling at him and seeing him get upset, but he could have gotten hurt or been killed.

She walked up to him and knelt down in front of him. “I was just worried about you because I love you Kaled. If anything were to happen to you I don’t know what I would do.”

She glanced behind him and into the cave. “What’s in there?”

When Calene asked him what was in there Kaled’s eyes grew wide with remembrance of what he had found. “Oh! Look what I found!” He said as he moved to open up the cloak. As he did Gulbrandt opened and began to take a drink from his canteen. When the skull was revealed his eyes bulged and he blew out the water in a spray. He quickly looked around wildly in quick jerky movements and twisted his neck as if they were surrounded by orcs this very moment.

“It’s a troll skull,” Kaled said excitedly and did not at all see the danger that the adults apparently saw. “There’s all sorts of things in there. Armor, weapons, coins and jewels!” He said even more excitedly and his face was nearly split in two by his open mouthed smile. He drew out a large knife to show her that he had stuffed into his belt. The blade gleamed in the sunlight as if it were newly made. It had elvish runes upon the blade but Kaled could not read them.

Calene's eyes grew wide when she realized that the skull her son held in his hands was from a troll. She could tell from Brandt's reaction that he was feeling the same thing she was. They needed to get out of here...immediately. She pulled Kaled to her protectively and looked around for any sign that danger might be nearby. She knew that the trolls would not be out in the daylight, but that didn't mean they weren't somewhere deeper in the cave or that other danger might be around.

"Kaled, we need to go. You shouldn't have gone in there. I don't want you going back inside. It's dangerous. You may keep the knife you found and the skull, but we must get away from here."

Kaled blinked in confusion as Gulbrandt bent to gather up the cloak around the large skull. Calene had taken hold of his wrist and began to haul him forward. “But...but...it’s long dead! And the cave! Jewels and gold!” Kaled uttered in outrage as he was hauled forward. He tried to pull back but Calene had a grip like a vise. “Momma, please momma!” He said in desperation.

Gulbrandt’s thoughts seemed to mimic Calene’s ‘We have to go is right!’ He thought. ‘Hill trolls...here? Thank the light this one is dead!’ He thought in utter awe and alarm. Even though it was obviously long dead his head was still as if on a swivel and his heart raced to beat in time with his hastened pace through the brush and forest.