Jasper of Moline

chapter one

Two months later.

"katelyn, behave yourself."

Jasper admonished his youngest sister -for he had two, Katelyn, being older than the other, Riley-, who wouldn’t stop aiming seeds at him. “ it was all good fun.” she had said with a shrug, an impish grin on her face.

“ c’mon brother dearest. how often does a younger sister trouble her elder brother with love and affection?”

he shook his head, a hint of a smile on his lips.

“ often.”

Kate put her arms around her brother's shoulders. Her brother was several feet taller than she was. Her brother, who was also something of her best friend. A brother who was also a valiant warrior. and she was grateful to call him hers.

“ when do you leave, Jay?” he looked down at her and enveloped her in a hug.

“ Not till the end of Easter.” but soon, she thought, with sadness in her chest. He felt her, felt it, and his heart constricted with it. the love of it all came from. he couldn't miss the love.

“ Take care of everyone while i’m away, will you?”

“ Aye.” was all she said, her words muffled against his chest.

~~~~

Easter came and went so fast, leaving Jasper with a bit of anxiety. He was a knight, A warrior and he loved it. it was who he was and he embraced it. But the weight of what came left him feeling heavy and weary.

A verse of the bible came to him un biden,

“ come to me all who are weary and heavily burdened and i will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for i am meek and humble of heart, And you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” matthew 11 verse 28-30, he had read time and time again when he thought too much about the future.

it washed over him like grace and he found himself smiling from within for the first time in days. He got up from bed and looked out the window to watch the dawn of the new day. soon he would embark on a journey, he wasn’t sure the outcome of.

All he knew was that a war awaited. for him, for the kingdom of brone. He was to fight, he would fight. but he didn’t know just how ready he was .

to be honest, he didn’t know anything for sure, that’s why that verse coming to him when it did was just what he needed. He wasn’t the most spiritual, there were mysteries he knew were bigger than him, more than he could ever truly grasp. He didn’t try to dabble into them. but at that moment, he felt like he could do what was set before.

In any case, he knew had a choice, and this was it for him. His path was set.

His family stood outside their farmhouse with him. He had wanted to leave quietly, with only his family knowing what was going on. so out there they stood, before the dawn of day, a bittersweet ache in all their hearts. Jasper the warrior, his younger sisters - katelyn and Riley-, and his parents. All wished he would stay, All knew he had to go and prayed for him.

His mother - he stood eight inches taller than her, but there was no one he feared more- went to him and placed the palm of her hands on both his cheeks.

“ Bless you, my son. The good hand of the Lord be with you.”

He closed his eyes against the softness of his mother, and wished for an instant, just an instant he could be a boy again, and she was the one who would make his choices for him. And then he opened his eyes and looked into hers, and there lay one of the reason he chose what he chose. For The Love of Those He Loved.

“ Amen.” was all he said and drew her to him for a hug.

“ I’ll pray for you, everyday.” she said against her son, and made him want to cry. but if he knew if started she would shed more tears, and then who would console who?

so he did his best to be strong for the both of them.

“ Thank you, mama. I’ll do the same.” he hugged her tighter and when he let her go, pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then swiped at the tears that ran down her cheeks.

“ The Lord goes with me.” He rose his head to look at his sisters, then his father, who watched him with pride across his face. “ And he remains with you all”

“ Amen.” they all replied. his father walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, they stood eye - to- eye, Jasper had gotten his height from his father- before finally his father pulled him in for a manly bear hug.

“ Go forth, My son. Heaven knows, You’ve already made me proud.” And a smile stretched out across Jasper’s face,

“ Thank you, Father.” When his father let him go, his sisters attacked him with hugs, the way they did when they were younger, and he tickled them, getting a laugh out of them, warming his own heart. The pain of leaving somewhat eased.

He stood up straighter after the laughter, and shook his head before clearing his throat.

“ I’ll be back. I don’t know when. but as the creator lives, i’ll be back.” His family nodded bravely, with smiles on their faces. they believed.

He raised his right hand in salute. “ shalom.” he said, and turned to leave.

And as he walked into the break of day, Katelyn prayed for him, prayed for her only brother, and her best friend.