Keegan's Chronicles: Coexist Part 10

"No, sorry. I always forget the names," Emerald answered, coming to a stop to wait for her daughter.

"Well, this is a dwarf iris. It's named after the G.o.ddess of the rainbow. It's also the Tennessee state flower."

"Why did you ask if you already knew the answer?" Her mother asked, exchanging an amused look with her husband.

"Well, you're always right, so I wanted to throw something out there that I knew you didn't know." Keegan looked up from her camera and gave her a devious smile. Rourk chuckled.

"That sounds like something your father would do," Emerald sighed, rolling her eyes. She gave Rourk a sympathetic look. "Rourk, you have to watch this girl."

"I'll be sure to put her in her place when it's needed," he said, amused.

Richard laughed and placed a hand on Rourk's shoulder. "Good luck with that."

They walked deeper into the woods, and it appeared as though snow was covering the forest floor. That was not the case; it was the lovely spring beauty flower that blanketed the ground. Keegan couldn't help herself; she stooped once more to the ground, lifting her camera to catch the sea of white.

Richard glanced over at Rourk, whose gray eyes were trained on Keegan with a look that bordered on adoration. "You better get used to this, son. It takes two to three times longer to get anywhere with her when she has the camera in hand."

Looking amused, Rourk said, "I would wait forever for her."

Keegan was lost in her photography and missed the exchange.

Emerald nudged Keegan. "We need to quicken our pace if we're to get there before nightfall. You'll have plenty of time to explore the forest tomorrow."

Reluctantly, she put her camera away and wondered how much further they had to go. They kept ascending the trails, if one could call them that. She hoped her father hadn't gone off the path and gotten them lost. Her muscles ached. They'd been trekking a long time.

Unexpectedly she heard the tranquil sound of water splashing against rocks. A waterfall must be close by. She squeezed Rourk's hand.

"Dad, can we please find the waterfall?"

Glancing behind him, he threw over his shoulder, "You're in luck. We're headed in that direction. We are almost to the cabin."

They hiked another 400 meters or so and then her father abruptly turned off the path and into the woods. Keegan glanced around. Oh great, we are lost. The sun was setting, and she was starting to get worried. She glanced up at Rourk; he looked completely at ease but focused. He had complete confidence in her father. Rourk was constantly preventing her from getting smacked in the face with branches. She saw her father pushing his way through a huge portion of bushes. This was ridiculous; she could feel herself getting annoyed. It was no longer funa"she was sore and tired.

Just when she was about to say something to her father, she was stunned into silence. Hidden behind the shrubbery was a wooden swing bridge. She grasped hold of the rope and tentatively stepped onto the wooden slats. It swayed, and when she looked down, she felt a rush of adrenaline run through her. She hadn't realized how high they had climbed. She felt like running across the bridge, but her parents were walking in front of them. Reaching back, she grabbed her camera out of the bag. The bridge was narrow, so they had to go in a single-file line. She got some great shots of Rourk and her parents. She wished she'd brought a larger lens. The distance to the ground was so far away, she was not going to be able to do it justice. This was definitely worth the time it took to get there.

Once they made it across her father promised it was not much farther. Thankfully, he was telling the truth.

Nestled in the woods like something out of a fairy tale was a rustic cabin. The boards were so weathered they were gray and looked old and run-down. Beds of brilliantly colored flowers were overflowing the front yard while the leaves of the forest behind the cabin shone in the sunshine. A single gravel pathway led to the front door, where her mom retrieved a key that was hidden under some rocks.

Keegan was speechless as she walked through the door. The outside might have looked decrepit, but the inside was immaculate. It felt like she'd walked into a page of a magazine.

It was modern and simplistic. The front door opened into a central great room, with a ceiling that peaked overhead and a wall that was dominated by a large fireplace built of river stones. A couch and several armchairs of brown leather occupied the room. The hardwood floors were dark with unusually wide planks.

"What kind of wood is this?" she asked her dad.

He replied with a look of admiration, "Hand-sc.r.a.ped oak."

Grabbing Rourk's hand, Keegan pulled him to the couch and sunk onto the leather. She wanted to explore the rest of the cabin, but her feet were killing her. A small sigh escaped her lips as she leaned her head against Rourk's shoulder. "This is what I want our home to look like."

Keegan woke up with a blanket on her, and the house smelled wonderful. It took her a moment to realize where she was; it always a little disorienting to wake up in a strange place. Smiling, she remembered that she was at the cabin with Rourk. She needed to find him. They only had a short amount of time together, and she had wasted some of it on a nap. What was she thinking?

Keegan walked in the kitchen wiping the sleep from her eyes and again was struck by the simple beauty. She would not have guessed a modern kitchen waited behind the door of the seemingly run-down cabin. Keegan had never seen anything like the flooring. It felt as if she were walking on a large flat rock. There were a variety of size and colors, and the texture felt wonderful on her bare feet. The ceilings were made with the same wood as the floor in the living room, and the appliances were all stainless steel and looked like they were professional grade. What surprised her most was the sight of Rourk standing over the stove, something she would have never dreamed of; and yet he made it look completely natural.

"Is there anything you can't do?" Keegan asked.

Rourk turned to her with a wide grin. "I see someone finally decided to wake up."

Giving him a sleepy smile, she threw her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. She could feel his powerful muscles beneath his shirt. "What are you making?"

He ran his hands through her hair sending chills down her spine. "Well, I was going to make some rare steaks, but Emerald informed me that you are a vegetarian." He had a perplexed look on his face. "So I went with spaghetti, homemade sauce and garlic bread. The cabinets and refrigerator are stocked with everything you could think of."

She inhaled the incredible aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and other spices.

"To answer the question you asked earlier, after my mother died it was either I learned to cook, or we lived on frozen pizza and canned ravioli."

Keegan could not imagine what it would be like growing up without her mom, and she felt a pang of empathy for him. "I'm sure your mother would be proud of the way you turned out," she said.

Rourk stared down at her with a look of grat.i.tude. "She would have loved to meet you. Anyway, let's change the subject."

At that moment, her parents came through the door. Keegan couldn't help but smile. Her parents complimented each other so well. Just one look at them together and you knew they were meant to be. She wondered if she and Rourk looked like that.

Her dad said, "Is the food ready yet? I am so hungry I could eat a horse. However, my daughter might object to that."

Everyone except Keegan found his remark funny.

The food was incredible, and her parents didn't hang out long after the table was cleared. Her mom told them where their rooms were with a look of warning and reminded that they were to stay in separate rooms.

Rourk looked insulted. "I would never do anything to harm your daughter's honor."

Emerald gave him a knowing look. "It's not you I'm worried about."

Keegan was horrified. "Mom, get out of here."

They stayed up most of the night wanting to learn everything about the other and both gave condensed stories of their lives along with their likes and dislikes. They found they had a lot in common.

Keegan glanced into his steady grey eyes. "Aren't you worried that this feels too easy? I was expecting lots of awkward moments when we met."

Rourk smiled at her, his strong hands wrapped around hers. "I expected it to be exactly like this. My father once explained to me what it was like when you meet your chosen partner. He said your chosen partner was an extension of yourself. That without your partner, you're only half of the person you are meant to be. When you connect with them, you finally feel complete. Until that moment, there was always a feeling that something was missing, but you can't put your finger on it. Even though we're individuals, it's as if we are one. Of course, we're not always going to agree with each other. We'll have different views on things. A perfect example is the fact that you are a vegetarian. That makes no sense to me. Because that's what you want, I'd go out of my way to make sure your needs are met. Chosen partners see the best in each other and help to bring it out."

Keegan looked over, a little uncertain before she spoke. "I find it a little unsettling knowing I would do anything for you. I would give up everything to make you happy."

He crossed the distance between them to place a slow kiss on her lips. Pulling away, he told her, "Keegan, I'd never ask you or even allow you to give up anything for me. I feel the same about you. If you told me you didn't want me to be a soldier, I would reluctantly do as you wished."

She was startled at the suggestion. "I would never ask that from you. That's who you are, and I would never take your ident.i.ty away."

He smiled. "That's exactly my point. This is the reason divorce is unheard of in our society. It's natural for us to encourage our partners. Their happiness brings the other happiness. There's nothing more I want for you than to live up to your full potential."

After hours of talking, they unenthusiastically agreed it was to time go to bed. The bedroom was as perfect as the rest of the house. Keegan was amazed by the bathtub. It was like a humungous wooden bowl with pebbles around the edging. She couldn't resist, and made the water as hot as she could stand and then she slowly lowered herself into the hot water until she felt her body relax. Her muscles needed it after the trek. Leaning her head against the back, she closed her eyes and played the day over in her mind.

CHAPTER 16.

Keegan woke to the smell of bacon which brought a smile to her face. Rolling out of bed, she reached her arms in the air for a good stretch. She was still tired but she looked over at the clock and noticed it was already 9:00 am. She'd gotten about six hours of sleep. She rubbed her eyes and debated taking a shower and changing, then decided against it. Instead, she went downstairs with her hair a mess and wearing her fuzzy dolphin PJ's.

Rourk looked up when she entered the room. "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on."

A quick glance told her that he was not joking, and suddenly her face felt hot. She'd been told her whole life that she was beautiful, but it wasn't until that moment that she believed it to be true.

Changing the subject, she asked where her parents were. He said they headed out a while ago, and they wouldn't be back until much later. A mischievous grin crossed her face.

Rourk laughed, "Now I see why your mother warned me. Go sit down, and I'll bring your breakfast. How does an omelet with cheese sound?"

"Perfect."

A few minutes later he brought her a plate with an omelet and some toast. Keegan smiled up at him. "Thank you, you're so sweet."

They ate in silence and savored each other's company, stealing glances across the table at each other and smiling when they got caught. When they finished eating, Rourk said, "Why don't you get ready and we'll go off in search of the waterfall?"

She ran over to kiss him and then skipped up the stairs. She came back down about 45 minutes later ready to head out, and noticed Rourk had packed a lunch for them. His thoughtfulness made her glow.

It took about an hour to reach the waterfall. It was incredible and must have been over 200 feet high. Water cascaded at a rapid pace down the rocks. Lush green foliage surrounded the falls, making them stand out even more. Keegan felt like they'd found their own slice of paradise; it had a magical feel to it, and she understood why her parents had not wanted to share their special place with anyone. She quickly got lost in her camera.

The weekend went by in a blur. It was the happiest time in her life. Keegan felt so grateful to her parents for allowing them to be together even though it was prohibited.

The journey home did not feel as joyful. Keegan couldn't imagine being without Rourk again. She knew it wasn't for long, but even a little time away would seem like a lifetime to her.

As if he could read her thoughts, Rourk leaned over and whispered, "This will all be over soon, and we will be able to be together. Instead of focusing on the negative, be thankful for the time we shared. When you feel lonely, just remember this weekend."

She smiled knowing he was right.

They arrived at his house, and there was no skipping up the path this time. They walked slowly and each dreaded reaching the door.

Rourk tenderly moved a strand of hair from Keegan's face. She willed herself not to cry. She had to be strong. He pulled her close to him. Placing his hand under her chin, he tilted her head towards his and softly kissed her on the lips. Releasing her, he smiled. "See you in Ireland." He opened the door and closed it behind him.

Rourk didn't dare allow himself to look out the window when she left, and he was glad his father was not there. He didn't feel like talking to anyone. He went to his room and lay on his bed. Staring at the ceiling, he recalled the weekend as if he were watching a movie, and eventually the deep sadness cleared. He needed to compartmentalize and put his focus on the battle. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner he could get her back. That was now his primary goal.

Rourk slept for a while and then woke and went about his normal routine. He walked to the kitchen and made himself a protein shake. Grabbing a book and dictionary, he sat at the table. Scanning through random pages, he found a word he wasn't sure of. Reading the surrounding sentences, he came up with a definition and then checked the dictionary and moved on to another. It was hard to find a word that stumped him, but old habits die hard.

Rourk went into his garage, tossed his shirt off and jumped on the rower. He rowed 5k, did 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups and then 100 pull-ups and went back for another 5k row. Once he hit about 3500m he smiled. Keegan was awake and thought of him. Her thoughts no longer caused him distress. Now, he loved knowing he had crossed her mind.

Rourk finished up his workout, showered and headed into work. Looking around, he noticed the men were rejuvenated after the long weekend. It was just what they had needed. Richard knew his men well. They still had some intense training ahead of them in preparation for the battle. Rourk could feel the energy in the air even though no one said anything. They all knew the time was rapidly approaching.

CHAPTER 17.

Keegan walked through the school doors with a smile on her face. She laughed when she saw Spencer run up behind Donald and smack the back of his head. Donald took off chasing him down the hall. It was nice to see things were back to normal.

Lauren walked up beside her and tossed an arm around her shoulder in a hug. She had her curly hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. "You are glowing, Keegan, what has you in such a good mood?"

Keegan flushed, thinking of Rourk. She wished she could tell Lauren about him and the weekend; on the other hand, it felt like a magnificent secret she didn't want to share. "I'm not sure, I just feel happy to be alive. I know that sounds stupid."

"No, it doesn't. I'm just glad to see you are out of your funk. It's not as much fun when you are mopey."

"Sorry about that," Keegan said as they drew near to her locker. "I'm not sure what got into me."

"It doesn't matter as long as you are happy now."

The days before the battle pa.s.sed quickly and before she knew it, Keegan's birthday was only a few days away. The family started preparing for their trip to Ireland.

Keegan began to wonder how all the soldiers were going to get to Ireland with all their gear. So she asked her mother, who just laughed. "Keegan, what good is our magic if we can't use it once in a while? You know how you can watch someone with your mind's eye? Well, there are some who can do that with their bodies, which is called teleportation. The really strong ones are able to bring others with them. We have enough with the gift that getting the soldiers anywhere unseen is not an issue."

Keegan crinkled her nose. "Then why do we have to take the long overseas flight?"

Her mom grinned. "Your father likes to get frequent flyer points."

Thaddeus looked around the camp. It was alive with chatter as the men waited for his father to arrive. They all had a feeling they were not going on a training mission, that they were headed to the great battle that was prophesied. It was a moment many of them had dreamed of since childhood.

A hush settled over the crowd as Richard approached the podium. He was dressed no different from the rest of them: faded green camouflage fatigues and a tan worn baseball cap imprinted with a skull on his head. There was nothing at all to pinpoint that he was the commander; it wasn't needed. The respect for him went beyond that.

"You've all worked hard to get ready for this moment. h.e.l.l, you've been training for this your whole life." He paused, his face stern. "The battle is upon us. We go to Ireland, not for a training mission, but to fight the enemy. The dark elves want to remove us from existence. We will not allow that to happen." Cheers filled the field, and he gave them a moment to die down. "I will lead you during the Great Battlea"it's my honor to do so. I want you all to remember, even though you follow me in battle you are fighting for yourself, for your family, for our very existence."

When he finished, the ground shook from the roars of the men.

Preparations continued; they were to leave at nightfall. Magic obviously had its perks. It would not take long before they were all in place. They were arriving a week early to get the lay of the land and have everything set up before the harvest moon.