The Call

Goodbye

Serene's eyes snapped open to find herself gasping for breath. She moved her hands to feel soft, hot sheets under her. Lifting her head to look around, she found that she was in her own room, gazing up at her own ceiling. She took a deep, shaky breath and closed her eyes. The sword flashed through her mind's eye, and she opened her eyes again.

Inimicus wouldn't kill me, she thought, trying to regain her composure. After all, it was only a dream. But still, her mind wandered. Was he trying to kill me? She shook her head. "It was only a dream," she told herself, as she sat up. Brushing her hair from her forehead, she found both her hair and forehead wet with sweat. She wiped her forehead and looked at her hand in wonder. "Was it that real?" she asked quietly. She shook her head again. "It was just a dream."

Rising from her bed, Serene wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and walked to her window. Seeing the thick canvases covering her large window, she realized that it was not yet dawn. Pulling the curtains aside, she gazed out over the dark countryside, not yet illumined by the morning sun. Suddenly, a thought came to her. Felix is leaving! She rushed into her wardrobe to change.

Less than five minutes later, Serene, in a light-yellow dress and with a cloak about her shoulders, ran out into the courtyard of the manor, hurriedly mounted the horse that she had ordered to be waiting for her, and rode into the city square. This morning, among the usual merchants setting up their stands, a large contingent of mounted knights crowded the square. Serene rode up the side of their formation, scanning the group for a specific face. Reaching the front of the group, Serene spotted him.

"Felix!" she called trying to get his attention. Dismounting her horse, she ran toward him.

He turned in her direction, and his face lit up. "Serene!"

He excused himself from his conversation and pushed past a few other knights to get to her. When he reached her, she threw her arms around his neck. He returned her embrace but then pulled away to look at her.

"I'm glad I was able to see you before I left," he said.

"You were going to leave without saying goodbye," Serene said quietly.

"I'm sorry, we had to be ready to leave at dawn. We should have left half an hour ago, but we've been delayed. I was hoping you would remember and see me off before we left."

"I didn't mean to forget." Serene's eyes found the ground. "I had so much on my mind last night, and I woke up with my mind so clouded and..." she trailed off, fingering her victory ring.

Felix took her hand. "It's all right. I'm just glad you came. I'll come home as soon as I can."

She nodded. "Be careful." She reached up to fold the collar of his elegant doublet over his shining armor.

"I will."

"All knights, prepare for travel," Sir Galen announced over the noises of the crowd. Talking ceased and armor clanked as knights returned to their positions and mounted their horses.

Felix looked back to Serene. "I guess this is goodbye then."

They embraced again, and Felix turned to mount his horse beside Sir Galen. Once he was seated, he turned back toward Serene with a confident smile. Serene knew he was trying to comfort her, but it didn't help. She had seen many knights leave in such a way and never return alive.

As the contingent of knights set off, Felix turned in Serene's direction for the last time to wave before he disappeared behind the walls of the castle. Serene stood where she was long after the procession had left, her shawl wrapped around her shoulders.