Opportunity

His leather chest straps groaned under his chain mail as Haldir stretched his neck from side to side until he got a fair crack. He smacked his fingers against Eason’s chest and pointed up at the ceiling. “What’s this all about?”

Weaving his long blonde hair around his hand, Eason knotted it, then crossed his arms as he glanced upwards. “This is the ancestral home of King Asnamar. He was one of the great old kings that battled the Evil. He was struck down before the end of it all.”

From the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of fiery red hair and heard the excited squeal of the little girl he knew. Rosemary slapped her hands over her mouth as he gave her a wave of his hand and lifted his chin. “It appears its under new management these days.”

The little slaps of the soles of Rosemary’s shoes raced against the stone floor as they came closer, making Haldir turn to face the noise barreling towards him. “Haldir! Oh, is that really you?”

A curl of his lips became a toothy grin through his beard as Rosemary jumped into his arms and encircled his neck. She gave him a quick peck on his cheek as he patted his hand against her back, then set her gently back on the floor. “Well, looky here.” He slid his hands to her arms and dipped his knees to meet her face. “Is this the same girl I knew? It can’t be?”

She slipped her hands to his chest and patted her fingers against his chainmail. “I’m so happy to see you again. I can’t wait for Daniel to meet you.” With a nod of her head, she turned to Eason and then poked her finger into his arm. “It’s good to see you both again. Welcome to the Darke.”

When he saw Agamori closing in with the dark presence carrying a chubby baby with Rosemary’s eyes, it suddenly became clear to Eason that it was no mere girl he spoke with now and lowered his head in respect as he whispered. “Forgive our informality, Your Majesty. I wasn’t aware.”

The icy eyes on his back sent a shiver through Haldir, and he released his hands from Rosemary, only to have her thread her arm through his and turn him to face her husband. Even to a man who cannot die, the Darke King was frightening. He glowed blue with a spark that Haldir had seen before, and he understood immediately the immense power he stood before. The immortal human lowered his eyes to the floor and bowed his head to him. “Your Majesty.”

“Un-un.” His head shook as Daniel held out his hand. “You bow to no one in this kingdom, Haldir. I wouldn’t even have a kingdom were it not for you.”

The freckled hand Haldir offered the King in return trembled a bit as he lifted his gaze to meet him. “It is my honor.”

Daniel’s lips curled, and his eyes watered as he took a moment to pause and swallow down the lump in his throat. “No, Haldir, it is my honor.” He glanced back over his shoulder at Agamori and nodded. “Our honor to have you in our home. We are eternally grateful.”

The little slaps of her hand against his chest made him smile and press his lips to Sigrid’s cheek before his eyes shot back to Haldir. “I owe you so much.”

His chin nodded to the handsome prince that stood waiting, and Eason dipped his head in respect. “Your Majesty.”

Dark eyes took in the stranger, and he smirked as he held out his hand. “Is it Your Highness or Sir?”

A cheek lifted under his brown eye as Eason huffed a throaty chuckle through his nose. “Sir, if you don’t mind. The ladies love a brawler.” With a narrow eye, Eason turned his attention to Agamori and shoved his hand into the Lord Commander’s. “Always good to see you again, Agi.”

Tilting his head toward the hall, Agamori puffed his upper lip and raised his brows. “This way.”

Haldir and Eason glanced at each other, and Eason waved his hand and shook his head. “We don’t wish to impose; we’d be more than happy to stay in the town below.”

Daniel nudged Rosemary to the Dining Hall with Sigrid bouncing in his arms, but paused before he followed. “No, the hostel for guests. Consider yourselves at home in my kingdom. I’ll see you at dinner.”

***

The knocking of Eason’s knuckles against the wood doorframe made Haldir glance up from the boot he was strapping as his foot rested on the chair by his bed. “Tell me how a simple human gets such a grand room?”

He gave a quick tug to his pants leg and shrugged before he stood up and dusted off his hands. With a quick shove of his fingers through his messy blonde hair, Haldir tried his best to say it delicately. “I brought Rosemary back from Earth. She was attacked and was in awful shape by the time I found her.”

An impressed huff came from Eason’s nose as he pushed his lips together and nodded. “Well done.”

Haldir slapped his hand on his back as he passed him. “It would be a mistake to mention that bit of information again.”

Eason turned on his toe and caught up to Haldir after a few paces as he walked down the hall to dinner. “Understood.”

When they came to the Dining Hall’s doorway, they found each long table filled to capacity. Haldir leaned to his side and raised to his toes as he surveyed the room until Eason slapped the back of his hand against Haldir’s chest and waved his hand. “It looks like we dine at the head table this evening.”

Haldir peeked around the crowd to find Rosemary’s warm smile and her hand motioning for them to join her. “That sweet girl’s going to get me killed.”

Eason slapped his hand on Haldir’s shoulder and pushed him along with a chuckle. “Come on, old man.”

Daniel stood and swept his hand aside to the empty spaces next to Rosemary and Agamori. “Please be our guests.”

As Haldir shifted in his seat on the bench beside the Queen, he gave the King an uncomfortable grin. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

His hands clasped before his chin as he sized up the two men, then Daniel pointed his finger at Haldir. “So tell me how a human Earthborn finds their way to the Realm. You’re kind aren’t allowed here.”

Haldir smiled and nodded as he set down his cup. “I stopped being human centuries ago.” While his finger slid around the rim of his glass, Haldir pulled down his lips and shrugged. “I don’t know what I am anymore.”

The chair creaked underneath him as Daniel pushed himself back and his hand found Rosemary’s. “Agi tells me you’re looking for work.”

A loud gulp came from the knight’s throat as he swallowed his beer, then Eason nodded. “Aye, if you have any. I think you’ll find we’re both more than a little skilled.”

A quick grin came to Daniel’s face as he wrinkled his nose and glanced at Rosemary. “This is a different kind of opportunity. We get more arrivals through these lands every day from Earth and still have the task of clearing the lands of the enemies we already have. We’re stretched thin.” His finger tapped against the table. “I need someone here with my wife and daughter at all times.” His eyes narrowed as they fell to Haldir. For a moment, Daniel opened the door in his mind and gave the Immortal a glimpse of the man with pale blonde hair that he’d locked away so long ago. “You understand what I mean, then?”

The stomach-turning sting of guilt rose in Haldir’s gut, and he nodded as he blinked to the table before his eyes rose to meet the baby sitting in Rosemary’s lap. “Yes, of course. It would be my pleasure.”