The Third One

Chapter 3

~Kalen~

'Why do I always have to do this stuff? Couldn't he ask one of the sentry's to go to this blasted mortal realm?' He thinks while smacking a branch out of his way with his sword. He is currently in a town called Goodness, Idaho. Making his way to the house the human family lives.

~Flashback to the throne room~

"Prince Kalen?" Alberich says knocking on the door to my room.

"Yes, Alberich?" I ask looking up from the book I'm reading on my bed.

"His Majesty summons you."

"Hmm, what for?"

"I am not sure Prince Kalen. All I know is that he needs to speak with you immediately."

'Ugh what know,' I question in my head.

"Okay, I'm coming," I say putting my book down and getting off my bed with a groan.

"You summoned me, father?" Prince Kalen asks when he gets into the throne room about five minutes later.

"I have a mission for you," The king replies with a grim expression.

"Okay, what is it?" Kalen says with interest written on his face.

"I need you to keep an eye on a human family in the mortal realm."

"Of course father. But may I ask why you have chosen me instead of one of the faerie sentries?"

"You are the only one I trust with this task son," Hreidmar replies.

"Yes, of course," Kalen replies still confused, "What exactly do I need to watch for?"

"A Messenger messed up a changeling swap. The idiot left the Changeling there."

"Isn't that what they're supposed to do?"

"Yes, but he also left the human child there."

"Oh."

"Yes. So as I was saying before, I need you to make sure none of the family notices another presence in the house."

"Okay, when would you like me to start the mission?"

"You have ten minutes to pack a bag of necessities and to say goodbye to your brother," Hreidmar replies.

"Okay, father. Do you know when I will be coming back?" Kalen asks.

"No, I do not, but I will send one of the sentries when the time is right."

"Okay, I understand what I have to do."

"Good," The King says and Kalen starts to walk out of the room. He's in the doorway when the king stops him.

"Oh, and Kalen?"

"Yes, father?"

"Make sure you don't mess this up." He says with a smile lacking any warmth.

"Don't worry father. I won't" And then he was gone.

~End of flashback~

He snaps out of the flashback when he nears a dirt hill going down into a driveway. At the bottom of the hill, there is a two-story brown house and lots of chickens.

'Must be the place', he thinks.

He ducks behind one of the many trees lining the driveway when he sees one of those mechanical carriages that humans have.

'I think they are called cars, yeah that sounds right.'

It's white and has a strange, and annoying, squeaking noise coming from the beginning part of the carriage. It turns onto the black road and out of site.

Once it is completely gone, Kalen turns back to the house, only something is, different. Peering closer, he sees that there is a small male child running, in what seems to be undergarments and boots a couple sizes too big, towards where the chickens sleep. Running after him is an older mortal girl. The way her blonde hair flows out from behind her moving body and the sun gleaming on her golden skin has Kalen immediately entranced.

He watches totally fascinated as the scene plays out it from of him. The older girl has finally caught the younger male child after running almost to the chicken coop scooping him up into her arms as she scolds him while the child just laughs. He overhears some of the conversation between them and smiles to himself.

"Kaden, how many times have I told you? You can't just run out of the house whenever you want! Especially in just your underwear and Emmet's boots! Ugh, what am I going to do with you?" She finally gives up on trying to scold the boy and just smiles while shaking her head. "Okay, come on let's get you back into the house."

She puts the boy down and he takes her hand as they walk back into the brown house.

Kalen sees this and all he can do is smile transfixed by how beautiful the girl is. They disappear inside the house and he finally snaps out of his daze.

'What was that?' He thinks, 'That has never happened before'.