Do You Dare...?

Valentine's Special: Who Calls?

Chapter 13: Who Calls?

Rate: K

Genre: Romance & Tragedy

By the time Matthew finished his daily tasks, light was failing. But everything he needed to accomplish before he made his journey to visit his betrothed, Seraphina, was now complete. Matthew was eager to see his love, so he set out immediately, in spite of the growing darkness. He would paddle his canoe through the night and be with his beloved come the dawn.

The river sang softly to itself under the clear night sky. Matthew glanced up through the trees, identifying favorite stars.

"Seraphina's favorite star, don't worry Sera, I'm almost there." He chanted softly to himself, his thoughts all of her.

"Matthew..."

Matthew suddenly heard his name called out. He jerked back to awareness, halting his paddling and allowing the canoe to drift as he searched for the speaker.

"Who calls?" he asked in his native tongue.

"Qu'Appelle?" Matthew repeated in french.

No response.

Deciding that he imagined the incident, he took up his paddle and continued down the dark, murmuring rivers.

"Matthew..."

A few moments later, he heard his name spoken again. It came from everywhere and from nowhere, and something about the voice reminded him of his beloved.

'But she couldn't be here in this empty place along the river. She is at home with her family.' Matthew thought.

"Who calls?" he asked again.

"Qu'Appelle?" he again repeated in french.

But Matthew's words merely echoed back to him from the surrounding valley, echoing and reverberating. When the sound faded away and he listened intently, but again there was no response.

The breeze swirled around him, touching his hair and his face. For a moment, the touch felt like it was that of Seraphina's. His beloved, his fair one, and he closed his eyes and breathed deep of the perfumed air. Almost, he thought he heard her voice in his ear, whispering his name. Then the breeze slowly died away, and he took up his paddle and continued his journey to the home of his beloved.

Matthew arrived at dawn, and was met by his beloved's father. One look at the old warrior's face told him what had happened.

"Sir?" Matthew began but was cut off.

"Seraphina's gone child." Lio began.

"W-what?" Matthew's eyes went wide.

"She died during the night while you were journeying to her side." Lio continued.

"No..." Matthew's words were coming out in whispers, and his whole body was trembling.

"Seraphina's last words had been your name, she uttered it twice, before she breathed her last..."

"NO!" Matthew fell on his knees, and wept like a child.

Around him, the wind rose softly and swirled through his hair, across his cheek, as gentle as a touch. In his memory, he heard his beloved's voice, calling to him in the night. Finally, he rose, took the old warrior's arm and helped him back to his home.

To this day, travelers on the Qu'Appelle River can still hear the echo of the Canadian Tribesman's voice as he reaches out to the spirit of his beloved, crying:

"Qu'Appelle?"

"Who calls?"

The End.

This was supposed to be posted on Valentine's day, but I had not been feeling well that day.