Written By Jase Darien Dakota

A gentle rain falls upon the small kingdom of Velkstool. The rain goes unnoticed as a war rages between Velkstool and the neighboring enemy the Kingdom of Tristdam. The two kingdoms have been waging a great but dark, and secret war for many ages. The Tristdam would twist and plot all the while the Velkstool would use assassination and brute force to get their gains. Finally a savior came by the name of Dameon Darklight. He rose in the ranks of the Velkstool and soon helped them win the battle of Versky.

As most know, the Battle of Versky the Velkstool warded off the Tristdam until the Tristdam swore to never return as long as Darklight lived.

Only the castle of Velkstool and its King and Queen were to know that Dameon Darklight was the one who conquered Tristdam. He was never acknowledged for fear he might be killed and Tristdam return.

Our story does not begin with a war or death. It begins in the small village below the castle Velkstool. Where Dameon Darklight settled down and married a bright and beautiful young girl named Abbelgal Troy.

They shared a few months of unparalleled love until Abbelgal gave birth to two children by the names of Darien and Alicia. Dameon then took on a farm and began farming. His neighbor, Clod Duberstien was his greatest ally back in the war. Clod as well married and became a farmer and a father to Darien’s best friend by the name of Meagan.

It is Darien and Meagan’s story that is recorded here for you to read.

“That twas not a nice move Darien,” His enemy spoke.

“Always expect the unexpected, you Tristdam dog!” With his insult flung, Darien’s enemy rolls her eyes and lunges forward. Darien sides steps and stabs at her back. She turns and grabs the end of the sword and snaps it off.

“Hey! That twas not fair!” Darien mockingly glares at Meagan as he drops the broken stick they always use to play with. Meagan sticks her tongue out at Darien.

“Don’t call me a dog and I’ll play fair Dork.” She snickers at calling him the nickname she gave him years ago.

“Darien! Meagan! Alicia and your father returned.” Both Darien and Meagan smile. While being two years younger than his eighteen year old sister, Darien was smart enough to know, whenever his sister returned from the village she always brought with her presents for Meagan and him.

“Beat’cha home Meggie!” Darien bursts away full speed as Meagan sticks her tongue out at him and races to join him.

Meagan and Darien’s families were close enough that it was more like one family than two were. They lived but one half-hour walk away and Meagan was always around Darien wherever he may be.

They raced back home. Meagan always seemingly wins when they raced. Even though everyone knows Darien is much faster than anyone in the village is.

Meagan was first to see Alicia and Dameon’s sad expressions as Darien soon caught up.

“What is wrong Alicia?” Meagan asked somewhat hiding her concern.

“It’s the queen. She has been slain late last night as she slept. The king has put a bounty out to find who has done this deed.” Darien’s father spoke up before his daughter.

“Oh my...” Darien’s mother said under her breath. Darien looked at his father seeing something hidden in his eyes. Meagan looked down falling silent as she usually does with bad news.

“Well come now, as tragic as that is, I got presents fer you two.” Alicia always the one to look past the bad and insert the good. Darien smiles a little as he’s handed a long wooden box and Meagan apes the smile as she's handed a small black box. Dameon and Abbegal both smile and go to unpack the horses and talk as Alicia smiles watching the younger two.

Meagan opened her small box to reveal a small gold ring with a few small stones set in it.

“Oh wow... Alicia you couldn't afford this...” Meagan looked at Alicia stunned as Alicia smiled.

“It’s all right. I don’t get to spoil you that often, Darien do you like your present?” Alicia smiled warmly in her sisterly way.

Darien looked in his long box stunned at what’s inside.

“This is really for me?” Darien stuttered out in complete surprise.

“Well of course silly, all men need a sword to call their own, as well as women need their own jewelry,” that was Alicia’s philosophy for life. Women stay home and men go and kill things.

“Thank you so much sister!” Darien takes out his new sword and runs through a few slashes and such as Alicia laughs and drapes an arm over Meagan’s shoulders.

“Come on Meagan, Let’s let Darry play with his new toy as we go and start dinner,” Meagan hated cooking and wasn’t very good at it but Alicia was determined to make a woman out of her. Meagan gave Darien the “please help me” look as Alicia steers Meagan awn and Darien laughs.

“Darien, Come over here please son,” Dameon, Darien’s father and mentor’s voice calls to him. Darien sheaths the new sword and walks over to his father.

“You wear the sword well my son,” Darien could instantly tell the seriousness in his father’s voice.

“I learned it from you father,: that earned a small but very proud smile from Dameon as he rested a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Darien bad times have befallen the kingdom. The King has recalled all his most trusted knights to his side. Therefore I must ask you my son, to grow up over night and take over the family, for I must go and serve my king as does Clod. I need you to take over and protect your mother, sister and Meagan and her mother. I can only trust you,” his father looks deep into his son’s scared eyes.

“B....b........but father I...” a mixture of emotions run through Darien," why must you go?” Dameon takes a deep breath.

“I once was a great warrior under the king and was once his greatest knight. He needs me now in the sad, dark time. You must protect our family. You have a duty to the family as have a duty to my king. Do you understand?” slowly Darien nods seeming to grow up in those few seconds.

“ Yes father I understand. I shall protect them as you have till you return.” Dameon smiles and hugs his son.

“go on now to supper, I have to go to Clod and Emma’s and invite them over for dinner. Tell y our mother I’ll be back shortly,” Darien nods and runs off towards the house.

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Later that night everyone sat at Dameon’s big dining table. It was the same as every night except this night Darien sits at the head of the table as his father finishes telling everyone what he told Darien.

“......So Clod and I will ride out to the castle at dawn and Darien will be the head of the family,” Dameon finishes with a small sigh. Darien watches his mother as she holds back tears and stays strong. as Meagan and her mother try to be strong but they soon hold each other with Clod crying. Clod hugs his beautiful wide and daughter as Abbegal and Dameon hug, Darien looks sadly at Alicia,, who somehow finds the strength to smile at him.

“I love you Abbey...” Dameon whispers to her lovely wide as she cries silently. Darien takes a deep steadying breath.

“Our fathers are strong, they taught us all we know. We’ll be strong now as they have for us in the past,” Darien looks over his family then continues,” They showed us the way and shown us our duty is to each other. They have a duty to our kingdom as we have a duty to each other,” Darien holds out his hand to Dameon, not as much his father anymore but a hero,” Father do your duty and we shall do ours.” Dameon doesn’t suppress his pride than burns for his son, as he shakes his hand, then pulls him into a hugs. Alicia once again speaks up.

“Well now wine and tears don’t make for a very good supper now does it? so let’s stop our crying and enjoy our last dinner together,” Her voice takes on her sad but cheerful tone of voice as Darien sits back down and nods. Slowly and somberly they begin to eat and tell stories as they always have.

Darien watches everyone live on and not let the news take them down to far. His eyes fall on each person then slowly settle on Meagan’s tear streaked face. He watches her put on a fake smile and laugh for everyone. Darien can’t help but smile as he remembers all Meagan and him have been through. He smiles a little more as he remembers all the time she's heard her laugh and seen her smile. He’s hidden feelings deep inside for her since they were younger. He always thought that she seen him as a big brother she wished she had. So he never admitted his feelings for her to anyone. As he watches her face glow in the firelight he makes himself a promise to always protect her from harm.

Meagan glances over at Darien and catches him staring at her and she blushes deeply. Alicia catches Meagan blushing and looks over at Jase who looks down blushing as well. Alicia’s good old sisterly instincts kick in.

“Darien why don’t you and Meagan go and wash the dishes and give mama a break,” Alicia smiles in her evil sisterly way.

“huh ...well sure I guess.....,” Darien and Meagan both stand up and start clearing away the table and taking the dishes into the kitchen.

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“So.... that was a good dinner wasn't it?” Darien asks gently as he washes the dishes handing them to her.

“Huh... it was alright....” Meagan seems quiet and drawn to herself as she dries her dishes. They wash in silence for awhile then Darien speaks up a little.

“um......Meagan.. I just want you to know... I’ll take care of you......,” He washes another dish and slowly hands it to her and as he looks at her he sees she's crying.

“Oh Meagan.,....,” He gently touches her arm. She looks up at him.

“I........I'm sorry Darien.... I just...... I’m.. scared,” Darien swallows and hugs her gently, he feels a tingle that he thinks shouldn't really be there but he holds her as she cries quietly.

“Shh shh... its ok Meagan its ok... everything will be ok, I promise, I promise.....ok?” He pulls away to look at her and she looks up at him and nods gently and he smiles.

“Come on now lets get these dishes done so 'Licia doesn't come in here and kick our rear ends,” He smiles a little at her and she nods smiling slightly.

Early the next morning just before dawn, Clod and Dameon get ready to ride out tot he castle. In silence Alicia and Darien get the horses ready, as their mothers prepare some food for the not so long journey. Clod tells Emma to pack up their things and move in with the Darklight’s to which Emma agrees and helps her husband up onto the horse. He then rides over to Darien.

“Darien, I trust you with my family, take care of them and guide them,” Clod calls down to his friend who's more than just a friend. Darien nods shaking Clod’s hand and Clod then kisses Emma’s cheek and leans down to hug Meagan then rides off.

Dameon stands with Abbegal by his horse holding each other tightly, they whispers words that are only theirs to hear as he gets on his horse and hugs Abbegal from there then rides to Alicia doing the same. He then rides to Darien and shakes his hand.

“My son, take care of them, I have faith in you, and I know that everyone will be safe. I am proud of you my son, and I love you,” Darien smiles up at his father and whispers he loves him too as Dameon then turns his horse and rides off after Clod.

Darien feels tears sting his eyes knowing and seeing the same expression worn on his family as they ride off into the coming day.

Chapter 2

Nine years later, once more a gentle rain falls as it has every night since his father left, Darien Darklight sits in the wet damp and loud tavern, nursing a local ale. He takes a drink letting the small burn run its way down his throat as he sighs heavily. He comes to the same tavern every night after the day is gone and sits in the same table way in the back within the shadows. He sits and watches the night press on, as drunks come and go. The bartender lumbers over to refill his ale.

“Blasted rain hasn't quit for nine years! Nine years! I swear God must be wanting to make us fish! And we probably would if the rain didn’t go away every night after midnight. Crops can't grow like this!,” Darien looks up at the bartender.

“My crops are growing fine sir,” He takes another drink of the refreshed ale.

“Ah yes well, for that I am glad, its a shame you had to grow up like that really is....... but at least things are going well for you aren’t they?” Darien wonders why the bartender always had to talk to him. More than likely another one of his father’s so called soldiers.

“Yes things are fine, put this on my tab please sir," The bartender nods and grumbles that he always does as he moves on to a new table.

Darien wonders why he ended up here. wonders why he's bothering to even try and get an escape from monotony that is his life. Even Meagan’s varied jokes never seem to make him happy anymore. He laughs gently to himself thinking about how childish he used to be. Having feelings for Meagan is like having feelings for a sister. He sighs heavily once more.

“What a waste of a life I live............,” He sighs again and down the rest of his ale and glances over the tavern, wondering if he’s hit the all time low of his life.