The Prophecy (The Guardians) (16 page)

“What?” Rachel gasped.

“I know it’s the worst timing in history, but I have to know, will you become my wife?
 
I have spent every moment of every day with you for the past six months and I can’t imagine spending a single one without you going forward.” Gabe asked again, staring into Rachel’s eyes for some sign of an answer.
 
The silence lingered, hanging heavy in the air between them.

“Well, are you going to answer the poor kid or leave him down there on one knee all night?” Uri bellowed from the door way.

Glancing over his shoulder, Gabe rolled his eyes, annoyed, but not surprised their moment had been eavesdropped on by Uri.

“Yes.” Rachel whispered, her voice full of both joy and sadness.
 
She reached out and grabbed a hold of Gabe’s neck, pulling him close.
 
She kissed him deep and long.
 
In that moment there was no Baal, no hunters, only her and Gabe and their happiness.
 
But that could not last.

“I guess I did miss a lot while I was gone.” Uri joked awkwardly behind the couple.
 
“Come on love birds, get what you need and let’s high tail it out of here.”

As the three walked to the center of the area outside of the cabin, bags slung over their shoulders, Gabe and Rachel gave one last look at the home they had grown to love each other in.
 
The months of hard work preparing for the harsh winter didn’t matter now.
 
It was all wasted.

“Man, Michael is going to love this.” Uri said sarcastically in reference to Gabe and Rachel’s relationship.
 
He then placed his hand in the middle of the group, followed by Gabe and then Rachel.
 
A moment later, the three were gone, only a distorted cloud momentarily lingered where they stood.

The transportation spell left Gabe’s head spinning.
 
He had grown in strength physically and magically since the time he left Rampart and now could easily transport without being rendered unconscious, but it was still not a pleasant experience.
 
The travel was much harsher on Rachel, however; she was now lying on the ground at his feet, out cold.

“Oh my God, Rachel,” Gabe cried, falling to his knees, shaking her gently.
 
“Are you alright?”

“Come on man, it’s no use, she’s going to out for most of the day.” Uri insisted.

Gabe knew he was right.
 
Lifting his beloved into his arms, her limp body hanging loosely, Gabe instructed, “We need to take her somewhere she can rest.”

“It’s been a while since you’ve been here, things have changed a lot.
 
With all of the overcrowding issues a lot of rooms have been repurposed.
 
Follow me, I’ll show you the best place for her.” Uri offered, taking off to the east, rapidly leading the way.

Gabe glanced around the pathways; nothing was recognizable from his youth, stunned by the amount of change that had taken place.

“Is everyone from Rampart here?” Gabe asked, following close behind, Rachel pulled into his body.

“Oh no, not at all.
 
They’re spread all over the place.
 
Honestly, hardly anyone is where they began five years ago.
 
Iron Gate is full of refugees from all over the world.
 
That’s one of the biggest problems we’re having.”

“I don’t understand, why is that a problem?”

“It’s getting harder for the clerics to keep the shields in place; there are just too many minds for their magic to handle.
 
The defenses were never meant to protect this many people, I don’t know how long they can keep it up, and if we can’t find a safe haven for them soon, I’m worried it won’t take long for trackers to locate this place.”
 
Uri explained, the concern heavy in his voice.

“Do the elders have any kind of plan?” Gabe inquired, trying to assess the situation further.

Uri’s silence was all the answer Gabe needed.
 
He led them down a path to what had been the great banquet hall.
 
Gabe remembered the circumstances of when he had been here years ago, how different his life was.
 
He was fighting for a relationship that he thought meant the world to him, and at the time it did.
 
He never realized he would one day meet someone like Rachel, or have the capacity to love someone the way he loved her.

Gabe had spent so much time building his walls and shutting the world out that when he let Rachel in, it was like an avalanche of emotion spilling out from him.
 
There were moments he wasn’t sure if he could handle what he was feeling, his chest ached from the sheer range of foreign feelings.
 
He feared he wouldn’t be able to protect her, while at the same time felt overwhelmed with joy whenever he saw her smile.

He didn’t regret Sophie; she had been one of the bright stars that guided him out of the dark world he grew up in.
 
Putting his life on the line to save her from the curse was his only choice.
 
Taking their love out of the equation, Gabe knew he would have done the same for any one of his friends at Rampart.
 
He had loved her though, so much that only years of not seeing her could dull the pain of losing her.
 
Gabe naively had assumed you could only love one person in your life, yet here he was, madly in love with Rachel.
 
An experience he had been certain he would never have again.

He didn’t save Sophie all those years ago, at least not like he promised he would.
 
She was alive, yes, but having no memory of them and who they were as a couple.
 
He failed at keeping his promise to fix everything, and now, years later, all he could think as he carried Rachel was that he couldn’t fail her.
 
She was going to be his wife.
 
If he lost her, there would be no other for him.
 
He could not take the pain of losing her as well.

“In here.” Uri motioned, ducking into the great hall.
 
Gabe followed, curious why he would bring them there.

As they entered the vast corridor and turned to face the massive room, Gabe quickly realized why.
 
The banquet hall had been set up as an infirmary.
 
Much to Gabe’s shock, the cots were full as far as he could see; men, women, children, their many wounds bandaged.
 
Make shift dividers hung throughout the room between various cots, hiding the badly wounded from the others; perhaps an attempt to keep spirits in the room from sinking too low.

“The fighting started out in the underworld, but it didn’t take long for it to spread to the earthly realm.” Uri explained.

“What?
 
That can’t be, the treaty—” Gabe argued.

“A treaty is only good if both sides honor it.
 
Baal’s men were keeping the skirmishes small, so as not to draw attention.
 
Dina and the others, they do what they can here.” Uri continued.

“Dina?” Gabe said with a smile, remembering his dear friend fondly.

“Yeah, she helps run things in here.
 
I don’t know what we would do without her brewing abilities.
 
Over here, Gabe, you can put Rachel down here.”
 
Uri directed motioning towards an empty cot.

Gabe took to the ground with bended knee, gently laying Rachel on her back, retrieving the blanket that was now perched beneath her legs.
 
With great care he unfolded it, wrapping it tightly around her body.

“You really haven’t heard anything about what’s been going on out there?” Uri asked in disbelief.

Gabe shook his head no, not taking his eyes off Rachel for a moment.
 
“Once I realized the valley was so rich in copper, I went into hiding.
 
I only went to town when I ran low on supplies, and even then I kept to myself.”

“The prodigal son has returned.” a voice called out behind them.

Though five years had passed since Gabe last heard the voice, he instantly recognized it.
 
Quickly he stood to his feet and spun around, “Dina!”
 
The woman that stood before him was just as he had remembered, save one thing, her hair had now turned an ashy shade of white.

“Gabe Harwood, get over here and give your old friend a hug.”
 
Dina commanded.
 
Without hesitation, Gabe rushed forward and scooped up her tiny frame, wrapping his arms tight around her and lifting her several feet off the ground.

He didn’t want to let go, he wanted to tell her how sorry he was he had not been there for Raimie, he wanted to thank her for leaving a way for Uri to find him.
 
He said nothing however, allowing the embrace to speak for him.
 
At last he did release her, taking one last thorough look at her.

“So that’s a new look for you.” Gabe jested, tussling her hair as he did so.

“Hazard of the trade.” Dina replied with a smile.

“I think it kind of makes her look bad ass.” Uri offered.

“Agreed.” Gabe confirmed.

“Gee, thanks guys.” Dina said before moving closer to the cot where Rachel was asleep.
 
“Who do we have here?”

Gabe moved forward, reaching down to take hold of Rachel’s hand, he pulled it close to his chest before looking into Dina’s eyes and tenderly answering, “This is Rachel, she didn’t take well to the transport.”

“Humans rarely do.” Dina added, as if she had no trace of humanity left in herself.

“Yeah, she’s Gabe’s fiancée.” Uri added, giving a nudge to Dina with his elbow.

“What?” Dina gasped, a rare display of shock by her.
 
After a moment’s hesitation she added, “You’ve been a busy boy while you were away.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see what Sophie thinks of her.” Uri laughed, not putting much thought into his words.

“Really, Uri?” Dina scolded, looking at the overgrown man with contempt.
 
Though she was concerned about the information she was receiving and how it would affect the people in her life, including Sophie, Dina was of the mind that that was no excuse to be rude.

“It’s fine Dina, it doesn’t bother me, I got over Sophie a long time ago.
 
Besides, she’s married to someone else now.” Gabe dismissed Uri’s thoughtless comment.

“Yeah, about that,” Uri said, teeth gritted as he sucked air between them obnoxiously.

“Uri, hush!
 
It’s not your place.” Dina snapped.

“I don’t get it, what’s the big deal?
 
He knows more than anyone how she can be.” Uri argued.

“I mean it, Uri!
 
Shut it!” Dina added in an agitated tone.

“Wait, slow down, I’m confused, what’s going on?” Gabe demanded.

“Nothing.” Dina said attempting to dismiss the line of questioning.

“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal?
 
Sophie’s always been a flake, he knows that.” Uri said.

“What are you two going on about?” Gabe was clearly puzzled.

“She never married him, left the poor guy at the alter—”

“Uri!
 
That is enough!” Dina yelled, her tiny frame still managing to finally command obedience.

Gabe’s head was spinning suddenly.
 
Sophie hadn’t gotten married?
 
Why?
 
Had something happened between her and her husband to be?
 
Was there something in her that knew she had once been in love with Gabe?
 
Perhaps she couldn’t go through with it because she was haunted by her feelings for him.
 
Gabe shook his head, not allowing his mind to answer the questions.
 
“I don’t really see how any of that matters; we were kids when we were together.
 
She doesn’t remember me, and I let her go a long time ago.
 
I’m serious, I’m with Rachel now.
 
I love her.”

“I see…” Dina said glancing back at Rachel and then Gabe again.
 
“Ok then.
 
Oh, Uri, I almost forgot, Michael arrived while you were gone.
 
He wants to see you right away.”

“For what?” Uri inquired.

“Michael’s needs are not my concern,” Dina answered coolly before noticing Uri’s significant wounds.
 
“And when you get done with him, come back and see me, I’ll get you bandaged up— again—
 
and a healing potion into you.”

“Yes mom.” Uri replied in a snarky tone.
 
“Come on man, let’s go see Michael.”

“No, I’m not leaving her.” Gabe said, returning to Rachel’s side.
 
“Besides, Michael asked to see you, not me.”

“That’s not a bad idea, I’m sure Michael will want to see you as well.” Dina suggested.

“No, I said I’m not leaving her.”

“Come on, she’ll be fine.
 
She’ll be out for hours and besides that, Dina’s here.” Uri argued.