Tales of Caelavin: One's Destiny

Chapter 2

The next morning Caelavin rose early in anticipation for her first training session. When

she opened the door to leave, the smell of biscuits met her nose. She made her way to the

kitchen to see Gildebrandt’s back turned to her as he was cooking eggs.

“Sleep well?” He asked as Caelavin made her way to the table.

“Yes sir I did.”Gildebrandt sat down across from her.

“Eat up, you’ll need your strength. After you’re finished, go change. We start training

soon.” Caelavin took a large scoop of eggs and a biscuit eager to fill her stomach now that she

had a plan. She was so nervous to start training though so she ate slowly. Savoring the taste of

cinnamon butter mixed with the flakey biscuit. She moaned in pleasure and smiled at the older

man.

“So how long are we going to train?”Gildebrandt looked at her, his face was blank.

“You are going to train until I feel you are ready. How long that will take, I am not sure.”

“What if I feel like I am ready?”

“Doesn’t matter. If I believe you are not ready, then you will not advance.”

“It matters to me.”

“Girl, listen to me. My job is to make sure you are trained to the point where no one

would be able to kill you. My job is to make sure you are the fiercest and best warrior in the

world.” Caelavin opened her mouth to retort but Gildebrandt held his hand up to silence her.

“I am not going to argue with you, eat your breakfast and get dressed” He said with a

finality that made Caelavin look down in defeat.

They finished their food in silence. Caelavin stood up to wash her dish at the sink and

set it out to dry. Making her way back towards her room, she stopped again at the portrait of her

father. She noticed hanging beside Connor, were two small but very strange looking weapons.

She had never seen anything like them. They were like two long daggers, with two prongs at the

base of the blade.

“What are these weapons?” She asked the older man.

She heard his footsteps coming toward her. “Those would be the Sai. It is a weapon that

is used to combat a sword.”

“Combat a sword? Will you teach me to wield these?”

The older man chuckled. “Not until you’re ready, and you have a long way.” He laid his

hand on the girl’s shoulders. “Go get ready, I’ll be outside.”

Caelavin entered her small room. She pulled on a brown shirt, black jerkin, her brown

breeches and her black boots. She grabbed her scabbard and quiver and fastened them on her

body. She slung her bow over her head so it rested on her back. As she walked out of the room,

a sword swiped at her face. She quickly ducked and unsheathed her sword, ready to attack.

“Quick reflexes, good.” The older man said.

“What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?” The girl exclaimed.

“Any attacker you face is not going to wait until you are ready to fight. You must be

prepared at any given moment.”

He swiped at her again, but Caelavin blocked the blow.

“Good, but your footwork needs improvement.”

He swiped at her once more and again Caelavin blocked it, only this time, Gildebrandt

swiped his leg under her and she fell flat on her back with a grunt.

She grew frustrated. As she pulled herself up off the floor, she plotted her own offensive

attack. She grasped the sword inside her scabbard and lunged towards Gildebrandt. He parried

her attack with ease and struck out once more. She barely blocked his countermoves, and

suddenly lost her balance.

“Like I said, your footwork needs improvement. Widening your stance will make it harder

for you to lose your balance.”

She did as she was instructed and moved her feet further away from each other and

bending her knees slightly. He attacked her again, and when she blocked him this time she

didn’t lose her balance. The older man nodded in approval.

“Good. Now let’s take this outside” They made their way to an empty meadow just a few paces past the trees around the house. Gildebrandt lunged at her, giving her a series of attacks. Overhand, sidehand, backhand.

She was able to hold her own until he kicked her unexpectedly. She fell backwards, beyond

frustrated. Now she was angry. She started to wildly attack the older man. All structure and

stance gone. He had no problem blocking, parrying, and dodging her unskilled attacks.

“You cannot let your anger get to you, this is a prime example as to why. Your attacks

were amatuer, your discipline was gone, your stance became sad. That behavior will get you

killed.”

Caelavin took in the information and regained her composure. “Let’s go again.”

“Are you sure?”

Caelavin nodded and took her proper wide stance again as well as a few deep breaths

just to calm her nerves.

Gildebrandt charged her again. This time she deflected the blow and kicked him behind

his knee. Gildebrandt lost his balance but regained his footing, blocking her oncoming attack.

He then pushed back with his own string of attacks. They were by no means ‘equal’, but Caelavin stood her ground and blocked his moves as best she could. She noticed an opening and kicked him in the face. The older man fell back, he spat blood onto the earthy ground. Gildebrandt swiftly got back up, taking his stance again.

They sparred for hours, and Caelavin knew she was improving already. Occasionally she got

the better of her master. Caelavin had always been a fast learner, but Gildebrandt had spent

years honing his skills with the sword. He was agile, despite his old age.

As he assessed her abilities, he thought perhaps she would be ready to start with a

weapon he had in mind. It was well in the evening when Gildebrandt finally looked at the time.

Both master and student were out of breath. Sweat was dripping down Caelavin’s forehead, and

her hair was sticking to the back of her neck. Her muscles ached, but she showed

Determination.

Gildebrandt knew Caelavin’s guard was down now and to test her instincts, he bucked at

her one last time. She rose her sword in defense, winning the approval of Gildebrandt. He

sheathed his sword.

“You did well today Caelavin, you may fetch some water for a bath. I will get dinner

started.”

Caelavin sheathed her sword in its scabbard and headed towards the well. On the way

to the well, she stopped by the stables. She hadn’t seen Baelavin since yesterday. She found

his stall and saw the massive stallion chewing on a bale of hay. His amber eyes met her stormy

greys as she opened the stall door. Baelvain had always known how to make Caelavin feel

better. She found solitude in his presence. Although she wasn’t actually alone, being with him

felt peaceful. Baelvain turned to greet his master. He nuzzled her and nudged her toward the

apple bucket. She giggled as she reached for an apple and he ate it out of her hand.

“How are you buddy?” She pet his neck and scratched his ears, an act of affection the stallion had always loved. He neighed in response, knowing he couldn’t respond with words, she liked to think she

could understand him. He then snorted and shook his head.

“I do not smell that bad. I have been training all day. It wasn’t very fun, but it was really

informative. He is a lot more blunt and serious than father had been.” He nuzzled her again. “I know, I miss him too buddy. But you have me now, and I hope I

can live up to his expectations.”

Baelvain snorted again, as if to say ‘I know you will.’ She smiled at her friend, and kissed

his nose.

“I must go now, I need a bath and I am starving!”She left the stables and as she walked away she could hear him neigh once again in farewell. At the well, she peeled her clothes off of her sweaty body and threw them in an untidy pile on the ground then scrubbed the dirt and grime off of her tired body. She combed the dirt out of her hair with her fingers, and the clear water soon turned a

deep brown. Caelavin couldn’t recall the last time she was thoroughly clean. From the amount

of dirt in her water, she knew the mourning, the trip, and the training had definitely taken their

toll on her cleanliness as well as her emotional wellbeing. When she returned to her room, she

changed into a loose pair of trousers, and her night shirt. By the time she was finished

Gildebrandt softly knocked on the door.

“Dinner is ready.”

“I’ll be out in a minute.”

“The girl version of a minute, or an actual minute?”Caelavin rolled her eyes, but smiled.

“I didn’t know we were in that place of our relationship for you to be making jokes.” It was

clear from her voice that she was trying to hold back a laugh. 

“I do enjoy the occasional sarcastic comment.”

Caelavin couldn’t hold it in any longer. She laughed and not just a chuckle or an ordinary

laugh, no it was a whole hearted laugh; the first laugh she had let out since she learned of her

father’s death. She opened the door and saw that Gildebrandt himself was chuckling. They

walked together into the kitchen, and the smell of a roast with salted carrots and potatoes filled

her nose. Her mouth began watering just from smelling it. She could only imagine what it would

taste like. She took in another big whiff of air and noticed another smell there, it was of apples

and cinnamon. She followed her nose, looking for the source. Gildebrandt watched her, amused

at her actions. He raised his eyebrow.

“You know the King could use a bloodhound like you. Sniffing out the apple turnovers in

the oven.” Caelavin felt heat rising to her cheeks. “Uh.. Sorry, it's just they’re my favorite.”

He couldn’t help the grin that forced its way to his face.

“I could’ve guessed that judging by your actions.” She smiled sheepishly.

“Come sit down after you fix your plate.” Caelavin didn’t have to be told twice. She filled

her plate up with carrots and potatoes, and cut off a slice of the roast. She sat down, her

stomach grumbled with anticipation. She took a bite of her food and her eyes widened. The juicy

meat mixed with the flavor of the vegetables with a hint of salt took over all of her senses. The

smell and the taste coinciding with each other made this one of the best meals she had ever

had. She savored every bite of her dinner as slowly as she could, not wanting to ever be parted

with it.

“I think I am in love with this meal.” She stated matter of factly.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” The older man said. She looked at him and his

expression was grim but his eyes disagreed with the rest of his face. She could see the laughter

in his old honey brown eyes.

“Tomorrow, we will be seeing how you are with your bow. So get plenty of rest tonight.

Training starts at dawn.” Caelavin choked on her water.

“Can’t we start after dawn?”Gildebrandt rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

“You are just like your father.” He turned to her and smiled.

“Get some sleep Caelavin.”

He left the room and made his way to his bedroom. Caelavin watched him leave. After

she finished her dinner she cleaned up the kitchen. She reached for a much desired turnover.

“Don’t touch the turnovers! Those are for tomorrow.” Gildebrandt yelled from his

bedroom. How he knew she was trying to reach for it, she had no clue. Disappointed, she tried

to shake her thoughts of the flakey dessert and made her way to her bed instead. She flopped

on her bed with a sigh, pushed her racing thoughts out of her mind and at last closed her eyes

to welcome the darkness of sleep.

Fire, that’s all that Caelavin could see. She was in her and her father’s cabin back in the

village of Surthow. The village was set ablaze, she could hear the bloodchilling screams of the

residents. She exited the cabin and saw them. The red riders of Derulon. They bore the raven

insignia on their chest. She watched on as they continuously cut down the villagers. She tried to

move but it was like her feet were glued to the ground. She looked around in panic, suddenly

she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. She turned and her eyes widened. She was looking into

the eyes of her father.

“Father!”

“Caelavin you must listen to me, I don’t have much time.”

“What do you mean? How are you here?”

“I wish I had time to answer your questions, but please my darling listen to me.”

Caelavin looked into her father’s eyes, the eyes that mirrored her own. She touched his face, as

if to make sure he was really there.

“What is it?”

“You will do amazing things. Do not ever doubt your abilities. The road you must take

will not be easy, it will be the hardest journey you will have to take. Please, please do not give

up. You are going to make a difference in this world. Please promise you will see it to the end.”

Connor Cordova looked at his daughter with tears in his eyes. He stroked his daughter’s

face, knowing the struggles and hardships she would have to experience in his absence.

“Father, I don’t understand.”

“Please Caelavin, promise me.” Caelavin’s vision blurred with unshed tears. She missed

him so much. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a bone crushing hug.

“I promise, Father.” Connor took his daughter’s face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“I must go now, my love.” At this Caelavin frantically shook her head.

“No! Father please!” She watched his retreating form, crying out to him, but he kept

walking. He drew his sword, and ran into the fire and out of sight. Caelavin cried out to him with

no avail. He was gone, and she had just gotten him back.

“Father! Come back! Please!” She tried to use all her strength to run after her father, but

her feet just wouldn’t budge.

“Caelavin wake up!” She heard a voice in the distance. “Please wake up!” The voice was

getting closer. Gildebrandt reached her and tried to shake her awake, desperate to quiet her

cries of pain and loss. Caelavin opened her eyes and looked into the worried honey brown eyes

of her mentor.

“I am sorry, Gildebrandt. I am so sorry.”

“It is quite alright, my main concern is you right now. Are you okay?

“I saw him. He was there!”

“Who did you see?” He asked her. The words got stuck in her throat. She couldn’t bear

to say that she saw her father, only to watch him leave her again. The pain she felt was worse

than how she felt when she got the news. It was like her heart was being ripped out of her

chest. She was gripping Gildebrandt’s shirt so hard her knuckles were white, her sobs wracked

her body.

“It was your father wasn’t it.” She could only nod. Gildebrandt looked at Caelavin, who so resembled her father, and felt more helpless than ever. He knew the pain she bore, but he also knew there was nothing he could say or do to take it away.

“Caelavin, your father loved you. He loved you more than anything. When your mother

died, you became everything to him. If you keep him in your thoughts, and in your heart; he will

never leave you.” He knew it wasn’t much, but he hoped that his words would somehow help

her with her grief.

Caelavin had no more tears to shed. She appreciated the efforts of Gildebrandt and

heeded her mentor’s words. She was determined to always remember her father. Gildebrandt

stayed with her until she fell asleep again and gently draped her blanket over her body. He

looked outside, they had a few more hours until dawn. He took this time to send a letter to an

old friend of his. After training tomorrow, the other weapons master should hear of Caelavin’s

arrival. He made his way to the desk in his bedroom, grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill

and started to compose a letter.

When dawn came Caelavin awoke rubbing her eyes, to rid them of the crust that formed

from the tears she shed a few hours earlier. She quietly made her way to the kitchen. The table

was only set with one place setting. Caelavin was confused, she looked around the house to

find her mentor walking out of his bedroom and casually lean against the wall in the hallway. Anticipating the question on her mind, he said, “I already ate. When you finish breakfast

we need to talk.”

Caelavin was silent, she nodded agreeing with Gildebrandt. She grabbed a piece of bacon and a couple hot cakes. She battered them with butter and poured the maple sap on them. She ate silently. Gildebrandt knew that her nightmare had done more damage to her than she let on at first. He studied her.

Her eyes were still a little puffy from crying. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and her eyes were

sad. There was pain in them, not just from her father’s death. Perhaps it had been there since

she was a child. He knew it was always the sad ones that hid their pain the best. He in his heart,

accepted the role as her caretaker.

His thoughts were interrupted when Caelavin got up after finishing her breakfast. She

looked at Gildebrandt sheepishly.

“Umm.. Can I get dressed before we talk?”

“Of course Caelavin.”

Caelavin made her way past her mentor and into her bedroom. She noticed her clothes

from the previous day were cleaned and folded on the corner of her bed. Once she was

dressed, she looked at her weapons and decided to grab them as well in case Gildebrandt was

preparing another surprise attack during their talk. She fastened her scabbard around her waist,

grabbed her quiver and bow, and slung them over her shoulders.

When she exited her bedroom she saw her mentor sitting in his armchair poking the fire

in the fireplace. She quietly made her way to the opposite chair. She sat down with her eyes

focused on the fire dancing. Gildebrandt coughed slightly to get her attention. She looked away

from the fire and into the kind eyes of her mentor. She could see the question in his eyes, but

was she brave enough to answer them? She took a deep breath, and looked at the fire once

more.

“As a child, I never really had many friends. My village was small, so it was no secret

that my father was raising me by himself. I always hated it when he was called away. I was

always alone, but I never felt truly alone, because I knew he would come back.”

Gildebrandt was looking intently at the girl. Her eyes still showed the sorrow she felt in

her heart.

“When I was growing up, I always got teased, bullied, sometimes even beaten by the

other kids. Their fathers were called away as well but they at least had their mothers. I had no

one. Except Retha, she would always come by. She always cooked me dinner, always made

sure I was taken care of. Unfortunately she couldn’t help with the fact that the other families

would always talk about me.”

She closed her eyes, and Gildebrandt saw a small tear make its way down her cheek.

She looked to Gildebrandt. The older man just inclined his head to signal for her to continue.

“One day, I was in the cornfield, I was hiding from the other children. I overheard one of

their parents talking. I am not sure who they were talking to, but they were plotting to kill me. I

didn’t know what I had done to have wronged them enough to deserve such treatment.”

Gildebrandt was shocked to hear this. Despite the little time he had known the girl, she

was so much like Connor that he couldn’t help but love her in the way of a father to his child.

Her life was threatened by the people she grew up around, and it broke the old man’s heart.

“After that, Father came home, and I told him what I had heard. He was angry, but he

had a quiet, calm anger about him that was as awe inspiring as it was scary. He left the house

and didn’t return for a few hours. He said he had taken care of it, I wasn’t sure what that meant

until the next day. That family had moved away from Surthow. Then people knew not to mess

with me anymore, but it became very lonely.”

“I think I understand. You were alone most of your life, but you never felt truly alone until

you heard of your father’s death.” Caelavin looked at him, and slightly nodded.

“When he died, I was forced to accept that I was now officially an orphan, and I will

always and forever be alone.” Gildebrandt shook his head.

“No. You’re not alone. Not anymore.” She looked at him confused.

“What do you mean?”

Gildebrandt took the young girl’s hands in his own “You have me now. I know I could

never replace your father, and I’d never want to. However, I will always be here for you, and I

will always protect you.” Caelavin smiled at her teacher. She was happy to know that she at

least had Gildebrandt. There was a hole in her heart. One that was left by her father when he

died, but she was proud of him. She knew in her heart that she would one day be everything he

was and more. With the help of Gildebrandt, she knew her father would be proud of her.