Chapter 4: The Search Part 2
1835 Words
"How is that you can see what I look like?" I asked.
"With me being you mate, I could see what you would look like even before you were born and even then I knew that you would be amazing." Kalen replied and I blushed.
Just the thought of him being my mate made calm about everything that was going on. I know that there is a lot to learn but from what Kalen has told me, my father would explain more to me. I looked at Kalen and he a gentle smile on his face and was waiting patiently on me to continue following him. It was almost as if he knew what I was think in that moment, because he held his hand out for me and I took it gratefully.
"Please do not fear, for when you are with me you will always be safe I promise." Kalen said, and felt safe. I knew I could trust him, I just wasn't sure why.
I followed Kalen in silence wondering what my fathers place would look like. I would have never dreamed that something like this would exist. I followed him down a brightly lit path that followed along a shallow creek that was filled with a manner of animals, I could even see a few deer.
I looked up ahead and there was a beautiful palace before us. It had a blue roof with a rainbow crossing over it. Pink Trees and willow trees surrounded it along with a trail that led to the shallow creek. There was a variety of different colored bushes and herbs growing freely every where. There were a few street laps that looked to be lit by magic. There were a few deer close to the castle which was heavily guarded.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Kalen asked.
"It's incredible. I have never seen anything like this. Are we in another world?" I asked.
"Technically no." He replied.
"I'm confused." I said.
"We are actually on Earth, just in another realm, one that is unseen by any human. The fact that your cross the barrier into this world means that you are truly one of us." Kalen said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"A half-breed could never enter the realm." He replied as we arrived at the gate.
"That is kinda of harsh." I said.
"It is not your place to decide that, that decision belongs to the elders alone." Kalen replied in a short voice.
"Kalen is everything alright?" I asked.
"Yes, just stop asking questions about things that don't concern you. The only thing you need to worry about is meeting your father." Kalen said.
I started to say more, but he walked forward before I could. Was it something that I said. I was now that I noticed that not only was Kalen fully in true form no glamour, but I was too. The mirror by the entrance proved this. I looked to Kalen for advice but he leaned against the wall as if waiting on me.
"Are you done admiring yourself yet?" Kalen asked.
"Um.... Yeah." I managed to stuttered out.
As soon as I said this he pushed off the wall and started walking off. I followed him without question, even though I suspected that something was bothering him. He lead me to what appeared to be a parlor where the guy from the park was waiting, he must be my father.
"Freya my dear child, I am so glad that my loyal servant Kalen brought you back to me safely." He said.
"Are you my father?" I asked.
"I am, and Kalen here was tasked with finding you and bringing you back to." My father said.
"So are you the king as well?" I asked.
"Yes I am king, and that would make you the princess." My father replied.
"Oh." I said.
"Kalen you are dismissed, I am sure your finance would be worried." My father said.
My face paled when he said that. All this time I had thought that Kalen was my mate, and here I was learning that he is engaged to be married. How stupid could I honestly be. He was to good to be true, and somewhere inside I knew that, I just didn't want to believe it. I looked at Kalen whose eyes were wide with shock.
"Natalia broke the engagement off after finding out I had a mate and you know that sir." Kalen said.
"I am taking it that Kalen didn't tell you that he was once to be wed?" My father asked.
"I know that he lied to me." I said.
"What did he lie to you about?" My father asked.
"I never lied to her, I just did not feel the need to her about someone from my past." Kalen said.
"When we first met I felt a pull toward him and couldn't describe it. All I wanted to do was be close to him and that is when he told me that I was his mate, but I guess that was a lie to get me to trust him." I said.
"That bastard imprinted on you. He never wanted to marry Natalia and now he has found his way out. He was right though, you are his mate, it was predetermined long before either of you were ever born. " My father said.
"How do you that for sure?" I asked.
"Our seers know all, that only thing is, I am forbidding you from seeing Kalen again. I don't want the two of you to become bound together. He isn't a suitable match for a princess like you." My father said.
"You know I am standing right here. I can hear what you are saying." Kalen said.
"You are dismissed Kalen. I don't need you interfering any further." My father said.
"She has a right to know the truth sir." Kalen said.
"That may be so but she is not your concern Kalen." My father said.
"Fine, but this is not the end of the conversation." Kalen said.
"I believe that it is." My father said and Kalen did as he was told and left.
"Father I feel something toward him. You can't keep me from him." I said near tears.
"I can and I will. Long before you were ever born it was decided that you would marry a duke from my court. His name Fafnir and you will meet him tomorrow."
"I don't want to marry someone else. I refuse to and what about the search for my mother?" I asked.
"You will see your mother again in due time. As for Fafnir you will meet with him tomorrow and he will court you as planned and in time you will marry him." My father said.
"I don't want to marry him, I don't even know him. I do know that I have some feelings toward Kalen." I said crying.
"You have only known Kalen for 3 days at the most, you can't claim to have feelings for him. You will marry Fafnir and Kalen Natalia, like it was planned to be." He said.
"I hate to be rude, but I would like to rest and try to calm down a bit. I honestly just need to be alone. Being forced to doing something that I don't want to do is a little much for me right now." I said to my father.
"Of course, you must be tired after such a long day. Let me have a maid show you to your room." My father said in a dark voice.
"Andrea please come and show my daughter to her room so that she can get some rest." My father said.
"Of course my lord." Andrea replied and motioned for me to follow.
My father gave me a slight nod before disappearing himself. I couldn't help but wonder if he was a good man and if he was happy to see me. I somewhat wanted to stay in the parlor, but I also wanted to be alone where only the servants could find me. I looked at the Andrea and she seemed to be waiting patiently, but she was also in a hurry. I could tell because she was shuffling her feet. As soon as I started walking forward she moved in front me to guide me to my room.
"There are a few rules that you should know about the castle." Andrea said.
"Alright go ahead tell me them." I replied.
"First you must always request an audience with the king, and you mu only me to do this. Second your are not leave the castle grounds unless escorted by a guard. Thirdly, stay away from the south wing, it is forbidden for anyone other than king himself. fourthly, it is absolutely forbidden to fraternize with the guards, unless he is your mate. The last rule that you need to remember is that you are not aloud to enter the dark kingdom." Andrea said.
"But.." I started, but was cut off by Andrea.
"I know you mother is the Queen of the dark kingdom, but entering is forbidden unless the king gives you permission. We'll find your mother and bring her to you or take you to her. Either way I promise that you will see her again, but for the time being you need to rest milady." Andrea said.
She opened the door to a really beautiful room filled lush furnishings. The bed looked amazing. It was all different colors with many different pillows and the same with the furniture. In a way it reminded me of a forest, with all the different greens, and the flower designs. I turned to see Andrea gone so I wondered over to the closet which was filled with beautiful ball gowns and casual wear.
I wondered around the room admiring all the beautiful furnishing and wishing that my father was right about Kalen, but then again could I even trust my father, I never really got the chance to get to know. I pondered over my thoughts as I began my search for the shower and I finally found what resemble a bath house and it was full of water that was the perfect temperature and not only that it was filled with a wonderful scent and the most amazing petals.
I soaked for what seemed like hours, but that couldn't be possible because no bath water could last that long. I finally got out though and saw that clothes were waiting for. I got dressed and literally fell into the bed and started to cry. I just wanted things to go back to normal, and have a normal life. I wanted it to be yesterday again, and I wanted my mom. I feel asleep crying, but I felt warm arms wrap around me as well. I thought that it might be Kalen, but my father had forbidden any kind of relationship between us, so it couldn't be him.
- Writer
