A Miracle for Love (Caesar Drisdall from The White Knights Chronicles)

Chapter 6

Caesar and Katelyn slept through most of the night after the exhaustion from the previous days, waking at the crack of dawn. Upon waking, both said their good mornings and shared a few kisses before Katelyn got up to get dressed across the hall. After getting dressed, Katelyn walked down to the dining room to meet up with the others. Upon walking in, breakfast was already on the table at her place next to Caesar. The Retrospecticon was laid out on the center of the table. "So, what are our plans for the day," Katelyn asked as she started to eat the food that had been laid out for her. "Well," Eldore started, "We are going to use the Retrospecticon to step into the past and find the secret to killing the Netherwyrm. We also are going to use the book to see if you can unlock the secret of how you ended up here. Which do we want to start with?" Katelyn looked around, waiting for an answer from the other three people sitting at the table, but didn't get an answer. So, she asked, "Can I try and find out how I ended up here first? It shouldn't take too long. I know the exact point of when I need to go back to." "Okay, well, let's get started then," Eldore said. Eldore showed Katelyn how to use the book and with that the group got started. They moved to the foyer and Katelyn opened the book, reciting the incantation, "It was the best of times, it was the worst..." Before she could finish the sentence, the group that was gathered around her and herself began to glow and then transferred to a different point in time that occurred in her world.

When she opened her eyes again, Katelyn noticed that the group had appeared in her living room on the night that she ended up in Greede. Eldore told her that they could not change the events of the past, so she could only watch and wait for something to happen. Finally, she noticed something out of the blue. There was noise coming from her room, but she didn't remember getting up the night before the incident. She rushed towards the room that her sleeping form was in and noticed a figure coming in the window. She watched from the doorway as the figure started to chant some words above her and then her body disappeared. The figure then pulled off her hood, revealing a face that she was familiar with because it looked back at her every day when she looked in the mirror. Then, the blonde figure chanted again and morphed to look exactly like her in her real form. Katelyn slowly shut the door and turned to see Caesar and Eldore behind her. Caesar said, "Kara was alive all this time but took your place and put you in hers. She literally body swapped with you without your express permission." "Caesar, you said that she was injured horribly by your enemy. Maybe she needed time to heal or something else happened that made her need to perform the switch. Do you want to speak with her and see what we can find out?" Caesar let out a small nod and Katelyn turned to open the door again. The three entered the room, determined to confront the elephant in the room.

The figure in her bed, also known as Kara, sat up and looked at the three of them wide eyed. "You found me so quickly," she said. Katelyn looked at her confused and asked, "Why did you do this to me? Why did you send me to your world and take my place?" Kara said, "I was injured badly in battle and died. But then there was a voice telling me that my purpose had not been fulfilled yet. I awoke in Faria with Father Yggdra and still had this," she said holding out the pact to the Black Knight, a black sword. "But I could not use it. Father Yggdra said I could not go into battle ever again, but that there was another person he could sense that would be able to take my place. I know that I did not ask for permission to take your place, and I'm sorry that I didn't. But I knew when I traded body and memories with you that you would be happy in Greede and that I could have a peaceful life here. So, I did what I had to do to protect us both. I failed once by letting down my guard and following the wrong path. Please do not do the same." Katelyn nodded and said, "I understand. At least I now have an explanation for how I ended up in Greede. I know what I have to do, Kara. But could you at least make me look like myself?" "I'm sorry, but as you can see, I look like you used to. I can't change that, and you can't change your appearance. I'm sorry to say, you are stuck looking like I used to. I do have this for you. You will need it for the war ahead. I made sure to take it before Shapur could when he stabbed me," she said handing Katelyn the pact of the Black Knight. Eldore said, "Well, we have other matters to deal with, so we must be going. At least Katelyn has her answer, and we now have the Black Knight on our side." Katelyn looked one last time at Kara as Caesar and Eldore left the room and said, "My family, take care of them for me. Make sure that you tell them you love them at dinner every week. Make sure my brother has a good role model to follow. Please promise me that you will love them as much as I will miss them." "I promise," Kara said, nodding to Katelyn and reaching out to shake her hand. "It was good meeting you. I hope you are happy in Greede." Katelyn nodded back and left the room, shutting the door behind her for the last time. After that, her body started to glow, and she was teleported back to Greede.

Katelyn opened her eyes to see everyone around her looking at her sympathy. She then realized that she had tears rolling down her face. She realized that with her returning to Greede, she would never see her family again, and it hit her hard. She hoped that Kara would uphold her end of her promise. Caesar pulled her to him and held her as she let the tears fall. She then felt tentative arms wrap around her from behind. She looked behind her to see Yulie had wrapped her in a hug from behind. Then, Leonard came and joined the group hug, with Eldore following him. "I know it's hard, but she will take care of them. I am sure of it. She lost her sister because of the Magi. She won't let anything happen to your parents or brother," Caesar said to her, "But we have something important to do. We need to cure this plague. Are you up for it?" Caesar wiped the tears from her eyes, and she gave him a small smile and a nod. "Okay, Eldore, it is your turn," Caesar said, being the first to pull from the hug and going to grab the Retrospecticon. Katelyn thanked the others for being there to hold her as she cried and then went over to grab her sword holster. She wrapped her holster around her waist, slid the black blade into her holster, then rejoined the others, ready for the next journey with the Retrospecticon. The small group formed a small circle around Eldore as he began to recite the incantation. They all began to glow as they did the first time they teleported, and then traveled to a time from Greede's past.