At Peace

---Katherine---

The first few days were full of anxiety and nervousness. I couldn't get myself to relax completely, because the quest had engraved in my mind that a moment of distractedness, no matter how brief, could cost me my life. I kept expecting Lord Victor's army to burst in any moment, swarm the clearing, and capture Aaron and me once more. Aaron and I didn't dare to venture out of the cottage much, for fear that we would be spotted. I had at least one of my swords with me at all times, not matter if I was at the dining table or in bed. At night, I slept fitfully, never really falling into a deep sleep in case an attack came at night.

Often, there would be nightmares. I dreamt of Lord Victor's twisted face as he tortured me, or his cruel expression as the camp exploded in the forest below us. I dreamt of the mangled bodies of my friends, of Evils with blood dripping from their fangs, and of soldiers with merciless weapons that cut up Aaron in front of me, while I was trapped and couldn't get to him in time.

I always woke from these nightmares in the middle of the night, with a sheen of cold sweat covering my skin. Even though I tried to act brave in all these months of our quest, I was afraid. I was so, so afraid. I was scared of Lord Victor knowing where I was, scared of him torturing me ,and scared of him killing the people I love. Most of all, I was scared of facing him again, even though I knew it was inevitable. But I didn't want to go back to Devil's Peak or to any of Lord Victor's strongholds. I didn't want to return to a small, dark, cold prison cell that nearly drove me crazy. I was so afraid.

Aaron stuck close by me. He tried to not show it, but I knew he was just as worried as I was. I caught his nervous twitches, his casual glances behind his back, and his instinctive reach for his sword at any sudden movements or sounds. The quest had turned us into frightened, anxious people without a home to return to and people to trust. It robbed us of our innocence and our childhood, and forced us to mature and step up to fit a role that was seemed astronomically beyond our abilities. Sometimes, I had the fleeting thought that Lord Victor was right, that the Elders did lie to us and that the prophecy was useless.

One day, two days, one week, two weeks…The days passed uneventfully, and Lord Victor never sent troops after us. The beautiful scenery and calming atmosphere finally succeeded in rounding my sharp edges. Following Martha's commands, I rested often and did not push myself excessively to give my body enough time to heal itself. The organic foods we ate for three meals a day did wonders to my body, boosting my organ systems and body functions. Soon, I felt better both inside and out, even better than when I left the Academy.

Now, I spent my days waking up at the crack of dawn and heading out to practice my sword skills in the clearing in front of the cottage, either by myself or with Aaron. I wasn't originally a morning person, but I fell in love with the crisp air in the valley, the soothing gurgling of the stream, and the beautiful sunrises that reflected off my blade. It was quiet and peaceful in the morning, and I was able to focus entirely on perfecting every move and becoming one with my swords.

During the day, Aaron and I spent time with the Wymonds on various activities, whether that was gathering berries for Martha's desserts, tending to the garden, or tidying up the cottage. When Matthew went on hunting trips, he would invite us along. Both Aaron and I improved our archery skills greatly under Matthew's patient guidance, and soon we were able to hunt wild game on our own. Other times, Martha would plan picnics for the whole family, Aaron and I included. We would follow hidden trails into the forest and emerge into clearings filled with wildflowers, or hike up the rocky cliff walls and find a majestic waterfall. I marveled again and again at the amount of natural wonders this hidden paradise had to offer. Every day, there was something new to discover.

At night, we ate by candlelight around the dinner table. The food was simple—some homegrown vegetables, some wild-game that Matthew hunted—but it was delicious. Martha always had dessert prepared, and I have to say I absolutely love her blackberry pies.

After dinner, when all the dishes were done and the table was cleared, we would congregate in the living room. A fire would burn in the fireplace, providing warmth and light for the cottage. That's when Matthew would tell us stories of his youth, of legends of Crystallea, and of mystical places in other worlds. Christina and Charles loved their grandfather's tales, and even Aaron and I were captivated.

Perhaps it was due to the fact I was used to taking care of my own younger siblings, I immediately took a liking to Charles and Christina. They warmed up to me much quicker than Aaron, who would pout and act hurt if they chose to play with me first. The children eagerly showed Aaron and me all of their favorite places. We ducked into caves studded with crystals and gems, ran barefoot across soft grassy plains, and splashed in fish-filled streams. Like Martha and Matthew said, this place was absolutely safe because no one knew it existed. Everything was tranquil, and I have never felt so happy. The children's innocent charms made me smile every day, until I had almost forgotten the pains I went through.

When Christina saw me practicing swordplay with Aaron one morning, she begged us to teach her. With permission from Matthew and Martha, we became Christina's mentors. Matthew made Christina a wooden sword out of sturdy hickory, and even carved pretty designs onto the hilt and guard. Together, Aaron and I taught Christina how to wield a sword properly, how to swing, how to slice, and the various stances. Christina was a very intelligent pupil and a quick learner. Within two weeks, she had mastered all the basics and proceeded to learn more advanced moves.

"What about me? I want to learn how to fight too!" Charles sulked when he saw Christina practicing with us. "Kath, Kath, can you teach me too?"

"Well," I said, crouching down so we were eye-level. "do you think you're strong enough to hold my sword?"

"Yes! If I can lift your sword, will you teach me?" Charles's eyes shone. I nodded, smiling gently.

Charles's small hands could barely wrap around the hilt of my sheathed sword, and he strained to hold the sword up. When it became apparent that he couldn't lift it more than a few inches from the floor, he plopped down on the grass and tried not to cry. "I can't lift it. Kath, will you teach me when I'm older?" Charles sniffed, his blue eyes filling with tears. My heart nearly broke.

"Of course I will," I reassured him, ruffling his hair. "I promise."

"Hey, buddy, don't be so sad." Aaron sat down next to Charles and gave him a hug. "Why don't I teach you how to shoot arrows with a bow? Your sister doesn't know how to do that."

Charles brightened. "Really?" He peered up at Aaron hopefully.

"Really." Aaron confirmed.

Charles broke into a wide smile. "Let's go then! Teach me how to shoot arrows, Aaron!" He jumped up and tugged on Aaron's hand, pulling him back into the cottage to retrieve an archery set.