CHAPTER THIRY SIX- THE DARKE KINGDOM

“So, tell me that all the stories about Daniel Darke aren’t true Haldir. Tell me were not traipsing directly into a slaughterhouse. I mean, he can’t be all that bad, right?” asked Thorin as they walked along the dirt path.

Haldir nodded and said, “Daniel can be quite a scary man when he’s properly provoked.”

Thorin rolled his eyes at Haldir’s vagueness. “He was very kind to Imara though. I mean, he was quite interested in bringing us all here.”

Haldir laughed to himself. “I don’t recall him asking for you, Thorin. Daniel is amassing an army. He’ll went Ben to join him, no doubt.”

Ben shook his head. “That’s too goddamn bad. All I want is my family. I don’t give two shits about Daniel fucking Darke or his kingdom.”

Haldir blew out through his mouth as he shook his head. “Bury those thoughts down deep. Daniel’s a terribly powerful psychic, Ben. He’s not one to be trifled with. He’s quite kind to me because I save his wife’s life long ago, but even I don’t truly trust him not to burn me alive. He’s possibly the only person alive that I actually do fear.”

“Well, isn’t that just lovely,” Thorin huffed as he looked around the forest.

“However, his wife Rosemary, she’s a breath of fresh air. Reminds me a lot of Imara, honestly. Gentle and kindhearted. He’s also got two children named Sigrid and Damien. They’re every bit their father. 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, and family or no, he’d kill you in a heartbeat, Ben. So, like I said, keep that buried deep inside you. Just remember that you got that sweet girl waiting on you and hear whatever he’s got to say.”

After a week of walking and camping, the men finally came to the clearing that signaled the border of the Darke. As Lord Commander Agamori’s horseback security riders approached, Haldir crossed his arms and smiled.

Agamori and Sir Eason dismounted their horses then Eason threw his arms around Haldir. As he patted his back when he released him, Eason said, “Good to see you again, old friend.”

Haldir playfully punched the knight’s arm and said, “Still ugly I see.”

Eason grinned and pushed his long sun-bleached hair off his shoulder. “The ladies don’t seem to think so.”

The disapproving eyebrow of Agamori, the white-haired ancient wizard, raised itself as he asked, “Are you two quite finished? His Majesty awaits and, in case you’ve forgotten, he doesn’t like to be waiting for long.”

As the castle doors opened to them, Haldir nodded inside and said, “This way you two.” Ben looked over the castle he’d seen in dreams as it passed over his head. When he walked inside, he inhaled and smelled the faint scent of Imara. “She was here.” Ben grinned as his eyes glassed over. “Thorin she was here. She was just here not long ago. I can still smell her.”

Haldir put his hand on Ben’s shoulder and said, “Well, let’s go deliver this message and see what he wants so we can get out of here.”

As he entered the Great Hall, Haldir lowered his head to Daniel and Rosemary. “Your Majesties.”

Daniel shook his head as he approached the men. “I’ve told you before, it’s just Daniel.”

Haldir smiled quickly with closed lips and said, “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 extending his hand to Ben. “I’ve been waiting a very long time to meet you.”

Ben nodded as he looked Daniel in the eye. Imara wasn’t wrong when she said they looked alike. He even had Ben’s crooked.

As he shook Thorin’s hand, Thorin said, “Your Majesty, thank you for taking care of Imara as you have.”

“She’s been here recently,” said Ben.

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

Ben sighed a ragged breath out as the words left Daniel’s mouth. He wiped his hand across his lips as his eyes teared. “Is she alright? I mean, she remembers everything?”

Daniel gave Ben a sympathetic half smile and nodded. “She’s well. Anxious to see you, of course. I’ll get you there after dinner. Please, you can leave your things by the fire and sit at my table.” Daniel held out his hand to usher them to the fireside.

After sitting their packs along 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 warmly and said, “I’m so happy you’re here Haldir. It’s been too long.”

Daniel’s son Damien was a devastatingly handsome man with dark wavy hair that fell to his chin and the darkest brown eyes like his father. “It’s been awhile, Haldir. 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.”

Rosemary looked to Ben and said, “Imara is just the loveliest woman. You must be very proud of her. She is just a beacon of light, such a kind soul.”

Ben pressed his lips together as he tried not to cry and nodded. “Yes. I’m very proud to call her my wife. Thank you.”

As Thorin patted his brothers back in comfort, a white-haired woman with blue eyes came into the room and locked eyes with him. He gasped as her piercing icy gaze sank into him and his heart beat wildly in his chest.

Haldir took a drink from his cup and chuckled. Thorin licked his lips as he glanced to Haldir. He nodded and said, “I told you she was a beauty Thorin.”

As Sigrid took a seat across from Thorin, he glanced up to her penetrative eyes and grinned. While his thoughts swirled around him, he remembered that he’s in the company of psychics and he closed his eyes hard as he tried to shut them out of his thoughts. When he opened them again, Sigrid smiled at him and shook her head gently. “That doesn’t work here, not on us.”

Thorin huffed out a nervous chuckle and said, “My apologies, Miss.”

Sigrid’s smile fell and she said, “It’s alright. I’m glad you’re finally here.”

Haldir put down his cup as the reason for him being there returned to him. “I nearly forgot, King Eliphas asked me to deliver a message.” Haldir removed the scroll from his belt then handed it to Rosemary as Daniel sat down in his chair at the head of the table.

As Rosemary read the scroll, she laughed hysterically and made Thorin flinch in surprise as she snorted through her nose. Rosemary handed the scroll to Daniel then said, “He’s just such a prankster.”

Daniel read the scroll then looked to Thorin and chuckled to himself as he tossed the scroll on the table and shook his head. “Thank you for that, Haldir.”

Haldir looked at him in confusion as he pulled on his beard. “You’re welcome, I think. He was quite interested in what your reaction would be.”

Daniel nodded. “ Yes, I bet he was. He’s been trying to surprise me for centuries now.” He reached out in his mind and spoke in Haldir’s ears. As the news hit him, Haldir smiled a toothy smile from under his bushy reddish blonde beard. “Well, shit. I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. Yes, of course I will.”

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.”

“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 come snatch it from me,” Daniel said coldly.

Ben put down his cup and looked in Daniel’s eyes. “I don’t care about being a king, I just want to be with my wife. You see, she’s my Queen and she’s waiting on me. So, can we stop messing around here and go?”

Haldir closed his eyes and shook his head at Ben’s attitude. 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.”

As he put a vision of the future in Ben’s head. Ben closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. Daniel said, “Yes, it’s true. 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 tear from them and nodded. “When the time comes, we’ll be there. I swear.”