11.Hidden Love

Karen Redclaws, a man of generosity fallen in love with a girl who he always wanted to be his mate. When he overheard the conversation of his dad from a faraway land, repeatedly saying the word DARLING, he straightaway craved to see that girl.

He insisted to accompany his dad all the time, whenever he was decided to visit his Darling. He would be denied by his dad to take care of their land and their people in his dad’s absence. 

As a decade passed, Karen brewed his hidden love for that unseen girl secretly in his heart waiting to burst at the right time. A long waited prayer of him was answered finally. To his wonder, his dad gave him an offer to accompany him. How the lover boy like him would deny such an offer to meet his love. So, the answer is readily a big YES from Karen. 

The two men marked their route to their destination through a horseless carriage, a car of model Mercedes AMG GT gullwing. On the way to their destination, Karen threw tons of questions to his dad about the girl. For all the questions, his dad who remained silent finally opened his mouth and said, “She is the one in the entire world who I wanted to protect her with all my life”.

His father, Alabruz Redclaws is a remarkable leader and invincible legend in the whole continent. Karen always feels pride and proud to be his son. But, the words uttered by his dad gained more attention towards that girl. Because the man of legend wants to protect a girl with his life! That implies she is the most important person in his dad’s life. 

Karen always wanted to get answered to the question, "Why Akshara is an important person than his own family?"

Apart from all those questions, his heart was bouncing against his ribcage in the thought of meeting his love when his dad turned the way towards their destination. They arrived at the big arching entrance with a naming board ARDNA CHIRIG.

Karen read those letters carefully and asked his dad pointing to the address board, “Dad, what that means?”

Alabruz replied by looking in the direction where his son meant, “It’s the name of this land. Have you not heard of this?”

Karen told him with a disappointed look, “No… I don’t even know that kind of land exist in this continent”

Alabruz asked him, “Why you are unaware…. As a boy of your age, you must explore many things including lands.”

Karen told him, “Dad, that’s because mom has forbidden me to explore.”

Alabruz gave him an Awe expression and replied to his son, “I can guide you. But you need to do it on your own.”

Karen expressed his inner thoughts, “I will dad. I won’t defame you, I swear.”

After gazing at the environment, Karen was keeping the tracks of the route they entered as their Mercedes (car) taken numerous turns. Karen was forced by thoughts to clear his instant doubts to his dad, “Dad, we would have travelled nearly for half an hour from the naming board Ardna Chirig but I haven’t seen any houses or people. All I could see only woodlands. Are we going on the correct track or just you have forgotten your track since your last visit was half a decade ago?”

Alabruz gave him a disappointed look and replied, “Do you think I am old enough to forget the tracks besides being an alpha?”

Karen pressed his lips and answered to his father, “Dad, you have misinterpreted what I say. I mean to say….”

Alabruz interrupted Karen, “Don’t explain, I can read your mind.” He winked at Karen, “This land is cursed.”

Karen asked him, “Cursed!?! What do you mean by cursed?”

Alabruz explained, “This land was known for its beauty applied scenery of fertile land. The name Ardna Chirig means the plinth of the moon. As the name says the history of this land echoed.”

Karen listened to his dad with keen ears, Alabruz continued, “Heard about bluemoon?”

Karen shook his head in negative and Alabruz complained to him with a sigh, “You don’t even know about it…” 

Karen responded, “Dad… What am I to do with the land in the east? I can tail anyone with a blind walk in the north”

Karen continued, “As far as I know, this land once was blessed but now it was cursed. Fine about the land! Tell me about your darling, Dad.”

Alabruz could read his mind and replied, “Don’t ever try to mess with my darling. I will rip you apart in pieces… Karen.”

Karen widened his eyes and thoughts while their Mercedes car stopped at the entrance of a palace. Alabruz had blown the horn three times in three different frequencies.

Karen asked his dad, “Is that a signal? That’s the reason you snatched the car key from my hand?”

Alabruz titled his head to the left with raised one eyebrow, “You don’t know the path as well.”

Karen opened his door and stood before the entrance of the palace and admired its beauty and turned to his dad to ask him, “Whom do you signal to?”

Alabruz was impatient in getting inside the palace and replied on his quick steps, “You will see it eventually.” 

Alabruz suddenly stopped and moved towards Karen and said with a gesture in his right hand, “She knows only little about us. Don’t scare her”

Karen replicated the gesture using his thumb and index finger, “How much little?”

Alabruz marched towards the entrance and replied in short words, ”Very little”

Soon after he entered the palace of Nicoria Blackfire, his eyes wandered to see the image of the girl he loves and even expected to see her portrait on the walls. He was very curious to find many answers for the arousal of questions, "Will she recognize me. What would be her reaction to see me after a decade? How to greet her - by handshaking or a gentle hug. What will she like? Oh my god, I have forgotten to bring any gifts for her. Will she accept my love…?"

His wandering thoughts were interrupted by a frisson voice from upstairs saying that she is coming. Karen prepared him to meet Akshara; he could hear the loud beats of his heart. As expected, the girl of a stunning beauty who was descending from the stairs like a feather who linger in the air to reach the ground is Akshara. 

Unconsciously, Karen’s lips gestured a smile while he saw Akshara and opened his mouth to ask, “Dad…is this you’re Darling…Indeed she is a Darling”

He never thought that she would grow into such a beautiful young lady. He tried all his way to get close to her whenever the time permits and wanted his love to reciprocate towards him.

*****

Karen and Akshara were in the middle of their conversation on the thunderstorm night …

Both Karen and his thoughts were lost in the eyes of Akshara which were twinkled in the luminosity of atmospheric electricity, a flash of lightning. The adrenal glands of Karen were rushing him to perform his love but he took control of it and spoke those words by holding her hands, “Axe, I’m trying to protect you”

“Protect me …? Thanks for your concern, Karen. But from whom …?” Akshara questioned Karen who was trying to loosen her hold from his hands.

Karen understood her gesture and taken his hand away from her and said “From…”

“What from… where from… For god’s sake, Karen … I think I need protection from you. You need a broom to sweep off your dirty thoughts” said Akshara in a state of annoyance by poking his head with her fingers.

Karen was infuriated by the poking of Akshara and replied hastily, “Give your brooms to your God-mother”

Akshara immediately pointed her index finger at Karen and said, “Stop your mouth Karen, You are going overboard. How dare you to speak ill of my godmother. What do you want to tell me exactly is happening, tell me directly? If you can’t… just leave, I never waited and expected for a person who would come and save me from everything and nothing.”