CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: SOMEONE WORTH WAITING FOR

  As the carriage approached The Mansion At The Mines, Garrick opened his door and he and Deelah jumped out. After a quick dash they made it to the mansion entrance before the carriage slowed to a stop. Having heard the carriage in the distance, everyone but Anya had arrived to greet them.

  “You were successful, I see,” announced Baron Michael quickly. Then he looked at Marta. “Bring my brother’s censer and a candle.” After watching the young woman rush off, they all walked quickly, led by Garrick, to where Elias laid.

  “What is a censer?” asked Ondibar, looking at Garrick as other servants and attendants looked on at the companions and Baron Michael as they hurriedly walked on.

  “It is a type of incense burner The Brethren and Knights of Providence use during prayer ceremonies,” replied the mercenary anxiously, as the time they had waited for had finally come.

  “How are we to prepare it?” asked Deelah, looking at the Lavender of Life as they all entered the room.

  “Cut off the stem. We will burn everything else,” replied Anya, getting to her feet. Then she touched Elias’ shoulder lovingly, before walking over to the lone table in the room. As Deelah sat next to Elias, Cerelene and Maldrin joined Garrick, Anya and Ondibar.

  “It seems sad to burn such a beautiful and rare flower,” replied Cerelene. Then she looked at Elias, laying still, his head propped up with pillows. “But it is a small price to have him back.”

  “Yes, my dear. Soon Elias will fully return to us,” added Maldrin. After taking a deep breath, the old wizard looked at the Knight of Providence. “To say he has been the heart of our group is an understatement.” Then he pet Tal, who had moved from Onyx to his shoulder.

  When Onyx moved closer to Garrick, Marta walked through the door with the censer, handed it to Baron Michael with a slight bow and placed the candle in Anya’s outstretched hand.

  Seeing the small, shiny brass incense burner, Azure floated over from the chair she had perched on and landed on Cerelene’s shoulder to get a better look at it.

  “I did not think I would ever use this when it came to me after my brother’s death,” stated Baron Michael nervously, as he placed the goblet-like container on the table carefully by its handle. Then as Marta left, he slowly lifted the top back and moved aside as Garrick walked forward.

  Once Garrick stood over the container, he glanced around at everyone. With all eyes upon him, the mercenary folded the Lavender to fit into the censer and looked at it for a few seconds, feeling the weight of the moment. Then he nodded at Anya.

  They all watched as the cleric of Elion placed the candle’s flame inside the censer. Seeing the flower start to burn, Anya lifted the candle away, lowered the top back down, then stood next to Maldrin and Garrick.

  Once the smoke flowed through the holes in the cover of the censer, everyone remained silent. When the sweet smell filled the room they all looked at Elias, but he still did not move. As always he only breathed faintly.

  Seconds passed. Then more, but nothing happened.

  Slowly Anya grasped her medallion of Elion and prayed quietly as the others looked on at Elias, combining their hope with her faith.

  When more than a few minutes passed, Anya slowly lowered her head and began to cry softly. Hearing the cleric, Maldrin put his arm around her.

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  “Anya, do not cry,” whispered the old wizard as a tear rolled down his face.

  Seeing the tears on Anya's and Maldrin’s faces, Ondibar placed his arm around Cerelene and cleared his throat to try and stop the tears that wanted to come. Feeling the reassuring touch of her old friend, the elf maiden turned her head away and bit her lip. But the tears came anyway.

  Garrick looked at Cerelene and Ondibar as he listened to Anya crying next to Maldrin. He watched as Deelah hung her head as she stroked Elias’ blonde hair quietly. Slowly, Garrick lowered his head. But his sadness was fleeting. Soon the sadness he felt turned to anger.

  It was all becoming too much. Leading this quest. Dealing with the insurmountable odds. Now the man he admired, that had become his friend, still remained the same.

  “This is not over yet,” announced Garrick. “We will find a way.” Then he walked toward the door.

  Hearing the certainty in the mercenary’s voice, Baron Michael looked up and placed his hand on Garrick’s shoulder before he could open the door. “Please, my friend.”Then he looked over the room. “Let us all convene in the library.”

  When Garrick gave a slight nod, Baron Michael opened the door. Once Cerelene, Ondibar and Maldrin followed, Anya walked over to her sister and kissed her cheek. Deelah, her eyes still looking at Elias, raised her right hand up and brought Anya’s head down to touch hers. After she held it there for few seconds, she let it go. Then Anya stood straight and placed her left hand on Deelah’s shoulder. The cleric opened her mouth to speak, but all she could do was caress the short, blonde curls on her sister's head.

  “Sister, the time will come,” whispered Deelah, aloud, but mostly to herself. Behind Deelah, Anya nodded. Then after she kissed her short, blonde curls, Anya opened the door.

  Once she heard the door close, Deelah crossed her arms on Elias and laid her head down upon them. She made no sound when the first tear finally came. A moment later she cried softly. It was all she could do to not knock the censer from the table.

  “So that is what the ring looks like?” asked an unsteady voice.

  Deelah snapped her head up and looked down at the dwarven holy ring on her hand. Then she looked over at Elias. The thief breathed in sharply. She started to smile, but quickly wiped her eyes and looked at the door. When she started to stand, Elias grabbed her arm.

  “Wait. Do not get them. Not yet,” spoke the knight, his voice slowly returning to normal.

  Sitting back down, Deelah smiled and stroked Elias’ cheek softly. “You are back. We have waited so long.” Then her voice became a whisper. “I…have waited so long.”

  When Elias grabbed her hand, Deelah fell silent.

  “I did not want to tell you my feelings before….” began Elias. “We are on a holy quest…I thought that I should focus solely on the sacred task I was given.”

  Deelah watched as Elias closed his eyes. When he opened them it was as if he was free from something. Then she felt his hand on her cheek.

  “Your beauty and spirit captivated me at Piper's Prairie. But that was only the beginning,” began Elias again, looking deep into Deelah’s eyes. “The strength and tenderness you showed when you spoke of the death of your parents. The closeness we shared as you slept on my shoulder during our watch on the Plains of Jonagall. Your courage and tenacity against the giants. Your honesty when we were about to face Firebaugh...”

  Deelah closed her eyes to hold back the tears. What were once tears of sadness only a few minutes ago had changed to tears of joy as she smiled listening to Elias.

  “And when you kissed me before you left the safety of my shield to get the ring. I knew,” finished Elias.

  “Knew what?” whispered Deelah, as she held the hand that was lifeless for so long. The hand that now caressed hers.

  “When you kissed me I knew it was a sign. That you were sent by Elion,” revealed Elias with a smile.

  Deelah went to kiss his cheek again, but this time Elias grabbed her chin firmly and kissed her lips passionately. Then he spoke again.

  “My heart has always been to Elion. I have never looked from him and he has always been for me. But now I know, in you, he has sent a love I never knew I needed.” Then as the knight looked up at the thief, she leaned down and they kissed again softly.

  When Deelah reached the library, she walked in slowly. She opened her mouth to speak but all she could do was wipe her tears away as she smiled.

  Seeing her face, Garrick stood up quickly. Then Baron Michael and the others looked at him as well. When Deelah nodded, the mercenary ran to the door, followed by Onyx. After the others' eyes followed him, their eyes fell upon Deelah’s glowing face.

  One by one they all stood. Ondibar grabbed Cerelene and pulled her arm as he began to run. Maldrin slapped Baron Michael on the back as he rushed off. After the baron started behind the wizard, Deelah walked over to Anya. It was as if the cleric could not move from the shock and relief.

  “He is back, sister,” announced Deelah as she embraced Anya. Then she pulled Anya’s head down and kissed her forehead. When Deelah let go, Anya looked at her sister and exhaled deeply, as the feeling of despair was lifted off her shoulders.

  Then as one they walked to Elias’ room.