An Adventure to Remember

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tavian awoke to the sounds of birds cawing in his window. With a stretch he got up and got dressed in his torn shorts and ragged shirt. Looking out the one solitary window he looked down to the little specks of green grass, some of the first he had seen in a while. Looking around to see if he got everything, he turned and jumped out the window landing with a roll.

Making his way to the heart of the city, looking at all the colors. Many people and kids were on the roadside. The laughter of the kids playing with sticks and rocks made him remember when everything was perfect. He was there with his dad and mom. Everyone was happy, everyday his dad would teach him how to be a man, making him more mature. This all ended when the wars happened. Drought led to scarcity of food, so the twin cities waged war for the food. It was utter destruction. Heathrow made a truce with the dragons of the mountains, while Alterion had a truce of the stone golems. After the war 8 years ago the cities were broken as were the people. Many wives were left widows, houses burned down, children killed or died of hunger. Fire was everywhere, the fields were destroyed. That entire year no food was made. Tavian was lucky to survive.

As Tavian walked he notice the sun right above him. He had been walking for a couple hours now. He could hear music in front of him, and before he knew it he was pulled in a circle of dancers by a beautiful young lady in a purple dress with little flowers in her hair. They dance like they had know each other forever, anticipating each others moves. It was as if they were in combat knowing the other persons strike before it happened. The music stopped, and in the middle of circle was Tavian holding the mystery girl leaning towards the ground. The crowd clapped at them and Tavians face got red as the girl kissed him on the cheek, thanked him for the dance and walked away. The crowd dispersed as an armored crowd slowly walked in.

Tavian turned around before he knew the guards were there and started again to walk towards the castle. As the guards saw him they quickened their pace. Still Tavian was oblivious to the guards. Slowly they caught up to Tavian. Tavian slowly turned around to see what the guards were doing, but before he turned fully the guards grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him to a empty horse. Tavian struggled and got away from their grasp. As he turned to run, his inner theif taking control, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. With a quick intake of air darkness surrounded his mind like a blanket.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tavian awoke with his hands chained behind his back, and the only thing he could see was the burlap of the bag over his head. He tried to shout out but there was something tied to his mouth preventing his voice to come out. As he tried to move his feet he found out the were also tied. So there he was sitting up on a cold stone wall unable to move or see. He tried to squirm one last time, and as he did he heard a gruff voice yell to someone. "He's awake."

"Good, untie him and take the bag off his head," another man said with a squeaker voice.

Tavian felt a cold, muscular hand begin to untie his hands then his feet. Slowly the bag came off his head and light reflected off his eyes into the mans. The man screamed as Tavian jumped up and ran towards the door. Halfway there he was caught by someone he didn't see or hear. He appeared to jump out of the wall. This man wore a black cloak that shimmered, he also had a short brown beard . "Steady young one. No one is going to hurt you," the man with the cloak said in a soft voice.

Tavian instantly calmed down. His heart beat went down and his breathing steadied. "That's better now," the cloaked man said.

Slowly the world seem to dip to one side. His legs gave out, but he was caught in the strong arms of the cloaked man. He wasn't tired yet he felt like he had ran up a mountain and back. He wasn't cold but he was shivering. He wasn't hot, but he was sweating. He felt all the emotions at once, hate, love, caring, sadness.

Tears cascaded down his face as the emotions led to the thoughts of his mother and father. The feelings he felt as his father died at the wars. Then his mother slowly died out, only being a shell until her death. He remembered the thoughts of his old house, that now lay in ruins. Then a shock of remembrance. The sword! He had forgotten the short sword he had stolen. It was still hidden under that broken floor board. He now opened his eyes to the biggest room he had ever seen.

It was full of silver and gold. Statues of kings and queens before lined up on each wall. Their lifeless eyes staring at you. Tavian shivered when he saw the cold stone bodies. He now realized that he was being help up as if he was a rag doll. He moves to let the cloaked man to let him down.

On his feet now he saw the king and queen sitting in amazingly fancy thrones, laden gold and other jewels. The king sat in a silk robe with gleaming armor underneath. The queen in a luxurious dress, that was a forest green with a shimmer over it. When she moves the green dress shimmers a deep blue. A ring of pearls were around her neck.

The cloaked man bows, pushing Tavian down also. "We have found the boy for you, my Majesty," the cloaked man announced to the king.

"Let's find out for sure," the king said in a voice so deep and wonderful, yet powerful.

The king turned towards a guard Tavian couldn't make out. "Is this the boy who saved you," the king asked to the guard.

Realization swept over Tavian like a tidal wave. The guard sent to find him. Tavian sighed knowing now he wasn't in trouble.

"Yes my lord, that is the boy," the guard replied.

"Boy come here," the kings voice boomed to Tavian making him flinch.

Tavian slowly walked towards the king. Making his way down the marbled floor. Step after step Tavian kept getting close until the king says "stop, right there is fine."

"Do you have any parents," the king asked Tavian.

"N. n. no sir," Tavian stuttered.

"Well that will make everything so much easier," the king said.

"How sir," Tavian asked.

The king got up of his expensive throne coming slowly towards Tavian. As he walked he slowly started to pull out his sword from his scabbard. Tavian tried to get up and run but two armored guards grabbed him by the soldiers and held him on his knee. The king was almost to Tavian with his sword fully drawn pointed towards him.

The king now stood right in front if Tavian. As he stood there the king slowly pointed his sword up towards the high ceiling. Tavian closed his eyes waiting for the king to strike, but it never came. He just felt a tap of the tip of sword on each of his shoulders. "Now Sir Tavian, you are are a knight in training. You are to stay at the castle of Alterion until you are done with your training," the king said.

Had Tavian really just heard that correctly. Had the king said he was to stay in this castle. The castle he has only dreamed about seeing now he could stay in it. Tavian unclenched his eyes to see the hand of the king in front of his face.

"Take my hand and you shall be like a son to me," the king said in a loving voice.

Tavian grasped the strong hand as he pulled himself up. Smiling Tavian looked into the amber eyes of the king.

Gasping the king saw Tavians eyes for the first time. They were gold like the guards had said. Gold like the sun.

"Son your eyes, they are gold," the king pointed out.

Yes your majesty," Tavian said looking away so none of the magic his eyes had done in the past would do to the king. "Please don't look at them. Whenever someone does they end up getting hurt."

The king quickly pulled his gaze to Tavians clothes. "Guards take him to the maids. He needs new clothes. If this boy is to be the next king he needs to look like it," the king yelled to the guards.

"Wait the next king," Tavian asked shocked.

"Yes you are now my adopted son. And as you are the the one and only child of mine you will be the king when I pass on," the king said matter-of-factly.

Tavian tripped as he was led to the maids.