Knight’s Vow

Knight's Vow- Chapter Two

Luke walked me back to my room, promising we would have time to talk on the six-week journey. It would be an early morning followed by the first grueling day of our trip, and we both needed to sleep and pack. 

"Sleep well, Lana. I will see you in the morning." He said with a slight bow before turning to leave towards his family's rooms. His mother was the seamstress for the castle, and his sister, Lexi, was following in her footsteps. 

I closed my door, no longer seeing his form in the hallway. Luke. He's back, and I won't have to leave him behind. 

Growing up, we were inseparable. We were born days apart, and our mothers had been friends for years, so they always had us together playing, training, and eventually sparring. He had been my first, and for a while, my only friend before leaving to become a squire. He must be very talented to have already completed his training and be a knight at only 18. I know I shouldn't be surprised; Luke was always the only person who could beat me, including our instructors. His brute strength and quick reflexes pairing nicely against my agility and battle-focused instincts. Maybe we will have time to spar during breaks on the journey from here to Moreq's Capitol city, Morren. It couldn't hurt to test my own personal guard's skill and hone my skills.

I finished packing quickly, shoving as much of my clothing and weapons as possible into my trunk. I would carry mint to crush in my mouth to help with bad breath as well as a water pouch and a spare set of clothes on me and would keep the rest of my clothing with the cargo wagon, keeping a dagger and shortsword with me in case we run into trouble. Bandits and monsters were known to stake out the roads to the dock, making travel in the area rough and unpredictable. 

Sleep would not be coming easy tonight, but I forced myself to lay down and relax. Tomorrow will be long and exhausting, and this will be my last night in an actual bed for six weeks. 

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Knocking on the door woke me up. I jumped up and threw on my traveling cloak and riding boots before stuffing a small wad of mint in my mouth and opening the door. Luke was in the hallway with two servants who immediately entered the room and grabbed my trunks to bring them to the wagon. "Am I late?" I asked breathlessly. 

"Not yet, so you might want to do something with your hair," Luke said with a smirk. "It looks like you just got up."

I looked in the mirror and saw that my braid had come undone while I slept, my brown-red hair spilling down my back in messy waves. I quickly brushed and rebraided my hair before placing the brush in my pouch. It's a good thing I needed to fix my hair, or I probably would have forgotten to bring the brush and spent the entire trip with a rat's nest on my head.

"Better?"

"Beautiful," Luke said, smiling.

"Oh, shut it. We both know that is the last word we could use to describe the mess that is me." Luke never understood how uncomfortable I got when someone complimented my looks. I have never been the type to do fancy hairstyles or wear dresses and makeup. Many have commended my fighting style or grace with a sword, but never my looks.

"If you say so, Lana."

"How long until we leave? Do we have time to eat before we go? I'm starving." It was true, I barely ate anything at dinner the night before, and my stomach felt like it was trying to eat the rest of me in protest. 

"You haven't changed at all," Luke said, handing me a small package. Inside was warm bacon and biscuits. "I knew you would be hungry, so I grabbed this when I got my food. It's not much, but it should get you through until we stop for lunch."

"How'd you know I would be late, huh? I'm usually up before you." Before he left, I had been the one to wake Luke up when he was late, which was often. Unfortunately, he was almost impossible to wake, so I usually had to get a bucket of cold water and dump it on him. I was sneaking him food from the kitchens during breakfast almost daily, so he didn't have to miss a meal before training.

"You weren't at breakfast, and we both know how cranky you get without food."

"Well, I can't argue with that." My body always feels like it's going to stop working if I miss a meal. The cooks know me well enough by now to bring me food if I don't make it down to the kitchens, trying to prevent a fight before it happens. 

He smirked, trying and failing to stifle a laugh. "Let's get going before we're late."

I rolled my eyes and walked past him. "Come on then."

He caught up quickly, still laughing softly. I missed that sound more than he could ever know. But, if I'm honest, I missed everything about him. His brown eyes, his hair so dark brown it was almost black. He smelled like fresh air and chopped wood. His walk had changed, going from a quiet shuffle to a confident strut, and he had grown at least six inches. But he was still Luke, my best friend. My first love. 

The welcoming hall was packed, the family of the travelers gathering to say goodbye before the long trip ahead. We continued through the crowd and past the giant wooden doors at the front of the castle. 

"I am going to say goodbye to Ma and Lexi and then check on some details from the Captain before we saddle up. I'll be back soon." Luke rushed to where his family stood, waving. His mother and sister waved to me before embracing Luke.

Looking around, I found my father talking to the Captain near the front of the progression. I searched for my mother and found her at the top of the stairs leading to the doors. She looked beautiful with the castle behind her, confident and queenly. I walked over, not ready to say goodbye but knowing I had to. "Ma, I don't want to leave you."

"I know, my dear, but this is for the best. You have a chance to not only prevent war but to combine two enemies into one friendly force. You will be an amazing queen and an even better wife and mother. I am already so proud of how far you have come." She smiled with tears in her eyes. "I will miss you more than words, my love."

"I love you, Ma." Wrapping my arms around her, I couldn't help but wonder when I would see her again.

 A throat cleared behind us. "Can I see Alana for a few minutes, Mara?" Father asked. Ma nodded and walked away, leaving me in an uncomfortable silence with my father. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, he finally started talking.

"Alana, I know you are mad at me right now, and I understand why.  I never wanted to have to do this, to send you away, but I knew that it was the only option I had. This is your chance to do something even more significant than running a kingdom, and I know with time you will see that. I love you with everything I have, and I promise that your mother and I will visit when we can." 

Knowing that he meant what he said didn't make accepting the words any easier. It felt like every plan I had made for my life had been ripped out of my hands and thrown to the side, leaving my life in the hands of some unknown man in a strange land. But shouldn't I forgive him while I have the chance instead of letting this anger consume the last few minutes I have with my father? I looked into his eyes, noticing for the first time that tears were threatening to spill out. Father never cried; I don't remember a single time where I saw him cry. 

I instantly ran to him, throwing myself into his arms. I was crying freely, but I could care less who saw me. If the damn King was crying, so could I. He kissed my forehead, hugging me tightly in return. "I will do everything I can to make you proud, Father. I love you."

"I love you too, Lana-bug." He let go, still quietly crying. I kissed his cheek and turned away, barely hearing him whisper, "You have already made me proud."

I found my horse already saddled in the middle of the progression near the supply and cargo wagons. Kel was a dark auburn mare with an off-white mane and a single white spot on her right side. She was next to Luke's stallion, Kip. Kip was similarly colored to Kel since they were born from the same pair. 

I mounted quickly and wiped my tear-stained face. I looked to the right as Luke walked up and climbed onto Kip. 

"Are you ready for this, Lana?"

"I guess I have to be."