Fifteen months passed.
Fifteen long months since the border raid.
Gabel was now at a place where he finally felt the pain of Elara beginning to fade.
The first month back home in Anatol was by far the worst.
Accepting the terms of reality, was simply not an option.
How could she leave without even saying goodbye? As if there was nothing between them. Though she had never actually said she loved him, he had felt it.
In her eyes he had seen it.
These were the thoughts that ran through this mind day and night.
Immediately upon returning home he asked mage Ruth to help him send a message to her. At first the grumpy mage turned him down stating, "I am not going to use my magic to contact some maiden you wish to bed."
But after a period of time, Ruth grew tired of Gabel's constant nagging and tried making contact with her.
Unfortunately every time there was an issue. After three failed attempts Ruth turned him away.
The next several months after that, Gabel tried searching for ways to erase her. He asked to be given extra duties and even volunteered for any raids or simple tasks that came up.
Filling every second of the day so his heart could breath.
Then night came.
He had managed to make it through the days but when night came, it all seemed to crumble.
Thoughts of her tormented him.
Remembering her smell and her soft touch. The way he had made her cry out in pleasure.
The first time he saw her call her bow with her magic.
Was it all a dream?
Over and over these thoughts took hold of his being. In search of some release, he would touch himself, trying to re live their moments of passion.
When that too did not satisfy, he went back to bedding village maidens.
At first he thought he could close his eyes and find glimpses her that way. But in the end, it only caused his ache for her to grow.
No one fit his body like her.
He thought possibly if he did it enough, he could somehow fuck her out of his brain.
Some of the other Remdragon knights grew concerned.
His behavior had changed so drastically that even their commander, Riftan Calypse, had inquired about what took place.
When a full year had passed, the sting that Elara had left on his heart began to slowly fade. Though he still found himself thinking of her at times, he was able to get through the day and night better than he had months before.
Elara was no more.
Perhaps she really was just a dream. A figment of his imagination.
Now fifteen months later, He was finally starting to feel like himself again.
Falling back into the normal routine of the Remdragon knights.
It was a typical day, that began on the training grounds. The knights sparred eachother over the watchfull eye of their commander Riftan Calypse.
The commander had ordered the squires to come watch and learn, instead of having their own training. The knights passed knowing glances to each other because usually whenever he did this, their training was cut short.
Just as they had predicted, only two hours after the training had begun, Riftan called for a meeting in the coucile room.
Gabel followed behind his comrades, taking a seat at the end of the large table.
Riftan swiftly strode in the room and stood behind a chair at the tables head.
"I am sure most of you are wondering why i called a meeting today. I have plans to expand the port again. Not only that but I will be expanding Anatol's village as well. I have already drawn up the plans and have several Lords in the surounding areas investing."
Riftan reached down and grabbed a goblet from the table.
He took a quick sip then continued, "Once construction starts I will be needing some of you to fill in with the other duties aound here. I will be appointing such duties today."
He went on to appoint the tasks and duties among the knights. After going into more depth about the new expansion plan he changed topics and spoke about the new noble son's who would be arriving next month to train as squires.
Just as the Meeting was wrapping up Riftan then called out, "Nirtha you will be training the squires in two days time. I will be leaving to conveen with the Earl of Loverne, who is amongst the Lords investing in Anatol's new expansion."
Just like that, all the work Gabel had put into erasing Elara, came undone.
Riftan ended the meeting and dismissed the knights. Gabel lingered around the council room till he was the last one there.
"Commander please let me come with you to Loverne."
Riftan observed him quietly for a moment.
"Is it the mage you seek?"
"Yes commander, I just wish to know she is alright."
Riftan turned his body away as if weighing Gabels request.
While keeping his back turned he cleared his throat then spoke, "I will bring you and Charon with me. We will be leaving at dawn the day after tomorrow. Be ready."
"Thank you Commander!" Gabel raised his arm to his chest then quickly left the council room.
Once he made it around the corner, he leaned his body against the wall.
"Breath, just breath," he mumbled to himself.
In just a matter of days he could possibly see her again, maybe even touch her.
For the next two nights Gabel did not sleep. His excitement made it impossible for him to find any kind of rest.
When the day had finally come for them to ride to Loverne, Gabel and Elliot mounted their steeds behind Riftan.
"We will be taking no breaks. I wish to make it there well before sunset, and we will depart for home at sunrise the following morning. Understood?"
"Yes Commander," both Elliot and Gabel replied in unison.
With that they began their fast pace trip to Loverne.
Gabel had once heard the trip from Anatol to Loverne typically took a full day. But their commander rode faster than most, lessening the travel time by several hours.
With each mile, his heart grew impatient. Would she be happy to see him? Would she welcome him with open arms?
Swallowing his anxiety, he tried his best to pour all of his focus into keeping pace with his racing Commander.
Just like Riftan had hoped, about two hours before sunset, they arrived to the gates of Loverne.
