Reunion

Waking with a start, I look around the room and, for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then the night from earlier came back to me with enough vivid images to make me blush in the dark. Carefully climbing out of the bed and pulling on my pants, I look back at her sleeping frame, breathing quietly on the bed, and smile. Pulling my shirt on, I head into the main area and out the door, pulling it softly shut behind me. Breathing in the dawn air, my breath lets out a burst of steam as I stretch the kinks from my body. Looking at the healing springs, a small part of me wants to go for another dip to ease the aches in my body, but the thought of having to go on with the day after a refreshing morning dip isn't appealing. Making my way over to a nearby tree, I relieve myself and, turning towards the cabin, I stop as a magical blue arrow comes hurtling through the trees and stops in front of me. Grabbing hold of the magic missive, I wait for it to unravel into a piece of parchment before I read it.

'Hello Human,

You have proven to be quite a thorn in my side, human. But alas, before we embark on this final journey together, where you try to stop me and I try to kill you, I would like a moment to parlay. I promise that no harm will befall you if you follow my instructions to the letter. Come to the place where it all began. Come at midnight and come alone. I think it's time that you and I had a chat like real men, face to face. One father to another. After all, you have my daughter's heart, and I would relish the chance to have a proper conversation without all the noise.

Till tonight,

Yours truly

Saetan'

Fear and anger gripped my heart, and for a moment, my fist scrunches up the magic missive before my calmer head prevailed. Smoothing it out, I use my finger to pen three words back.

'See you then.' Flicking the missive, I watch for a moment as it shoots off into the sky. Watching it disappear I start as the door to the cabin opens, and Ella comes out onto the step wearing a long shirt and no trousers.

"I woke, and you weren't there." Smiling, I walked over to her and gave her a kiss.

"Sorry, nature called. Breakfast?" laughing, she pulls me inside the cabin and closes the door behind her, pulling me into a longer kiss.

"Sounds like a plan. There should be some eggs and bread in the kitchen. I'll get dressed."

"What's the hurry?"

“I need to get the key fragment back to the king. Before my father manages to complete his plan." Watching as she saunters off to the bedroom, I busy myself in the kitchen working on the magical stove to whip us up some eggs and toast. Coming out in black pants, a white blouse and a leather breastplate, she takes a seat at the table. Serving both plates up, we quickly eat and clean up before exiting the cabin. Turning, she compresses the cabin back into the amulet with a wave of her hand and picks it up, placing it around her neck. Shaking my head as she lets it fall, Ella gives me a questioning look.

"What?"

"I still can't believe that entire cabin fits into that tiny thing. Like I said, mind blown." Doing the mind-blown expression with my hand causes her to giggle and come over, linking her arm through mine.

"Shall we head back?"

"We should, but one thing before we do." Unlinking my arm from hers, I turn to look her in the eye.

"What's that?"

"Let me talk to Hannah before anything else. I want to tell her about us, and I think it's best it comes from me. She's a smart girl, and I don't want her to work it out on her own. I want to make things clear to her." Smiling at me with a gentle expression, she holds out her hand to me.

"I understand, but I don't think you need to worry, Oscar. She's an incredibly smart young woman. It will all be fine, I'm sure. Are you ready?" Swallowing my fear, I nod and take her outstretched hand. For a moment, the world blinks as she mutters her spell, and the silence of the forest gives way to the loud noises of an army. Looking around at the camp, I spot Hannah over to the side talking to Arilienne and a blonde woman in plate armor, a serious look on all three women's faces. Looking past them, she catches my eye, and a smile breaks out on her face.

"Dad!" Before I can do much, she races past the tents and men and tackles me into a hug, knocking the wind from me. Staggering back a few steps as she spins around. I place her gently back on the ground.

"Easy kiddo, I'm getting too old for you to keep tackling me like that." Smiling she lets go of me and takes a few steps back, seeing Ella just behind me, she ducks past me and sweeps her into a hug as well.

"Oh my God, Ella! You're okay." Laughing, Ella hugs Hannah back, the two of them smiling with joy, making my heart soar. Wiping back tears from their eyes, they break apart, and Hannah finally turns back to me.

"What took you so long? I was getting worried."

"I took Ella to a Healing spring. Which did the job, but by the time that was done, it was late, so we decided to rest the night and come back first thing this morning. Look, Hannah, there's something I need to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?" Looking me over with an enquiring gaze, a cheeky smile I know all too well cracks over her face.

"You got laid. It's about time, Dad!" Feeling the blood rush instantly to my face, I look at Ella, finding her the color of a tomato.

"Hannah!" I swear if dying from embarrassing things our kids say is a thing, I would've keeled over. Bursting into laughter at the looks on our face she doubles over and starts wheezing for breath.

"You… should … see … the look… on your faces right now." Standing there feeling dumb for ever having worried, I watch as my daughter wipes away a tear from her face and regains some composure.

"You done?"

"Yeah. Though honestly, Dad, there's nothing we need to discuss. I'm happy for you."

"Happy for me? You don't even know what I want to talk about." Coming over to me, she wraps her arms around mine and give me a hug.

"I do, Dad. It's been clear to me since you got here that you've been falling for her. My one wish over these past few years is that you would find happiness again. Since Mum passed, it's like you've been just going through the motions. Surviving. You seem to have lived more since coming here than you have in the past few years, and I'm happy for you. Now before we start celebrating, the King needs to see you in the main tent over there. Ella, care to take a walk?" Looking at me, Ella steps forward and give me a kiss before taking Hannah's offered arm,

"Certainly." As the two women walk away giggling, I scratch my head and wonder why I was ever so worried to begin with.