Chapter 21: The Look Vanished
Disclaimer: Still own nothing but Amanda, and Nicolarious.
Note: Oh you guys are in for a dozy.
Amanda jumped on to her fathers old horse, Frimin. Looking down at Galahad, Bors, and Gawain, she smiled her goodbyes.
"I'll be back in a while. Until then my friends," said Amanda. The three smiled, but a loud bang made them all look behind them. In the stable doorway stood Nicolarious. Amanda smiled, but Nicolarious did not. He walked over to Amanda and held up a white bundle of something.
"I want you to have this. So you always know where you come from, and so you always know you have a home," he said. Amanda took the bundle, and unwrapped it. Inside was the necklace her mother gave Nicolarious when he was born. Amanda had one, as did Nicolarious. The soft blue gem glistened on the silver chain, and Amanda saw her brothers face.
"Thank you," said Amanda. Nicolarious turned and made it to the doorway before Amanda called to him: "Remember I love you Nicolarious." He paused for a moment, then kept walking.
"If you loved me you wouldn't be leaving me here," said Nicolarious to himself. None of the others heard him, and turned back to their previous doings.
"You be careful now Amanda," said Bors. "And to make sure that takes place, the three of us are taking the liberty of giving you this." Gawain handed up a long narrow leather case, with a sword hilt sticking out. Removing the sword, Amanda gazed at the blade. It was beautiful. In the sleek shine of the blade, was a phrase. It read:
May Godspeed be with you
Knight of the Earth.
"Thank you, so much," said Amanda. She didn't really know what else to say. Sheathing the blade, she looked out into the distance, "I must be off. Take care of yourselves. Goodbye my friends."
"Goodbye Amanda," they said in unison. With that, Amanda tapped her heels to Frimins sides, and off they sped, Amanda's golden blonde curls whipping in the wind behind her.
"Damn," said Gawain.
"Damn what?" asked Galahad.
"Damn Arthur," answered Bors.
From the wall Arthur watched Amanda ride off into the distance. Beside him stood Kylian, watching the same thing.
"If only she knew," said Arthur quietly.
"If only she knew what?" asked Kylian.
"If only she knew that she was my hope," answered Arthur.
"Sir?" asked Kylian, confused.
"Do you love someone Kylian?" asked Arthur in return.
"No, I haven't found someone to share that feeling with," answered Kylian.
"Well, do you know how to tell when you love someone?" asked Arthur.
"Uh, I suppose when one can't sleep, or eat, or think of anyone but the one they love," answered Kylian.
"No, those are the effects of love, do you know the real reason someone loves another?" asked Arthur.
"I suppose not Your Majesty," answered Kylian.
"It's when you look at them, and feel that you can do anything in the world. That their very face brings you happiness, and pleasure, and comfort all at the same time. That if you ever doubt yourself, their face wipes away that doubt," explained Arthur, "It's when you are doubting, and their face is your hope. That they are the look of hope." Arthur placed his hands on the cold stone of the wall, and stared off into an eternal nothingness.
"Are you saying Amanda was your look of hope?" asked Kylian. Arthur closed his eyes for a moment.
"Yes Kylian. I love her," answered Arthur.
"Then," said Kylian, "why did you let her go?"
Tears ran from her blue eyes, but nothing kept her from going. Arthur would find someone else, and Nicolarious would grow up to be his father. And Amanda...Amanda would waste the rest of her life. She replayed the argument she had had with Arthur. He told her to get out. He wouldn't have if she hadn't said those things. But she did. And he told her to get out. That was that.
She didn't really know where she was going. She didn't really care. She'd go wherever the wind blew her.