Our return was planned for a week after the war finished. The injured returned first with multiple teleportation spells. Then the deceased were next to give time to prepare the mass ceremony to send them back to the spirits. The last to leave would be the general and myself. The dwarf princes were also sent back to their kingdom that first day to avoid any trouble with their king. I was told that a great party was held for 2 days straight to celebrate their victory and their adulthood ceremony. I'm quite sad I couldn't be there personally but I don't think I could stand up to that many drunk dwarfs. After all the others went back it was finally time for me to return home. I can't say I'm looking forward to it. At least my friends are waiting for me and my lovely Amali. She came to visit me every 2 weeks after I told what happened with my sister and Kellan. At first it was to keep my mental health in check because one slip up could cost me my life in battle. Then, she came for comfort because just like me she had also lost her lover and now knew that there was no going back. She also gave me updates about the palace, the gossip, politics and my nephew. He was as beautiful as my sister but he was a spitting image of me. She heard from the maids that Kellan calls him little Andor when my sister isn't around. I want to see them. I want them to beg to see me and then I'll say no and walk away. I'll tell them that it's on my terms if I ever see them privately. But they are no longer important. I've moved on. I hope they have too.
The Day of Andor's Return
The entire royal family was in front of the teleportation station and it was an awkward situation. Amali was standing next to the Queen with Irene and Kellan standing next to the King. King Eli knew that there was discourse among his children and their partners. He wondered how they all went from loving bonds to distant relatives in a mere 6 years. What could have happened in such a short span of time. Andor stopped coming home 5 years ago with the excuse of focusing on winning the war. I knew Amali was visiting him quite often and that their relationship was a happy one. But Irene and Kellan have been growing more distant each year since Amir was born. If it was for the child you would've thought they hated each other. Even more strange is the fact that Amali who was close to them both stopped speaking to them. Even going so far as refusing to eat with the family at dinner. The poor king just wanted the days of happiness for his children to return.
But alas the king didn't know that he tore his children's hearts the day he announced the engagements. Queen Eleanor on the other hand knew exactly what went on these past few years. My poor Andor. He only agreed to the marriage because he thought he could come back to his true love. My idiotic daughter never learns that manipulation is never going to work on someone who knows her like her twin. I've scolded and punished her for these bad habits. Well this time those habits have come back to bite her in the ass. Kellan, whom I love as if he is my own son, did the dumbest thing by agreeing to go along with her plan. Let's see how they react to the news that Amali and Andor deliver today. The Queen stood among the crowd with a knowing smile. She thought those poor idiots were in for a rude awakening.
Andor stands in the teleportation station anxiously waiting for his turn to return home with his companions.
I haven't seen anyone besides Amali in years. Will they be there? Are they living happily with no thought of seeing me? Why do I care? They thought their love was more important than mine for them. They could have been honest and just said that instead leaving me in the dark. Oh well it's too late now.
"My prince the spell is ready!" stated the mage.
"Then let us return at once." I proclaimed. I hope that my parents are at least there. We were transported in an instant and found that many families were waiting for loved ones. Off to side were royal guards which alerted me that at least my parents were there. I walked over to see my entire family waiting to greet me. My parents both with wide smiles held me close. My father whispering heavy praise for returning alive, My mother telling me not to run off for war again. I see my ex-wife and hug her close. My sister and Kellan are surprisingly separated with the child I assume to be my nephew in-between them. I walk over to give them greetings.
"Hello to you dear sister and Kellan." I say with a small smile. I bend down to speak to the child. "Who might you be, a little handsome fellow?"
"My name is Amir." He says softly. I take a good look at him since this is the first time I've seen him personally. He is the spitting image of me and my sister as kids. I stick out my hand to introduce myself.
"Well Amir my name is Andor. It's nice to meet you." His reply shocks me.
"I know who you are, mommy and daddy always talk about you. They said you were fighting to keep us safe." He leaned in and whispered "Mommy cries for you at night saying that she misses you and was wrong." I look up at my sister with wide eyes and she grabs Amir and tells him that it is not nice to share things like that without asking first.
Kellan looks at me with a sad look and apologizes for his son. "I'm happy to see you and that you came out unscathed mostly." he says to me. He still looks at me with as much love as he did as the day he confessed. Which confuses me because isn't he in love with Irene? My mother tells us to get out of the crowd so the soldiers and their families may have their reunions in peace. I'm guided to a carriage carrying my parents and Amali. Kellan, Irene, and Amir are in a separate carriage behind us. My mother announced that she had something to say to us.
"First, I know you are divorced now but I would appreciate it if you released a statement saying that you asked Amali for a divorce during the war because you couldn't be the husband she deserved during the hardest time in her life." I nodded with agreement, I would always protect her reputation if I could. "Second, I have the real information as to why Kellan and Irene behaved that way many years ago." She said with a serious look. There were too many surprises today. I looked at Amali and we nodded.
"Please mother we would like to know." I pleaded. My love for Kellan never diminished and I just locked it away. The same can be said for Amali about Irene. We needed either closure or hope and honestly I don't know which one I want. She took a deep breath and released it slow.
"Your sister was secretly being harassed by a certain human prince during the beginning stages of the alliance. Apparently he heard that your engagements were chosen for you and he thought he could win her over. She ignored him for six months and she also hung around you and Kellan often which kept him away. It worked until you were told to join the front lines and Kellan ordered to train soldiers. He started following her and trying to force her into a relationship. Amali and I were both stunned. She never showed any signs of things being wrong. I couldn't even feel her emotions which I usually did.... Until I went to war. I realized she blocked me on purpose so I wouldn't know. My mother continued her report of the incidents. Which did not end until Kellan and her started acting like they were in love and he threatened the prince's life. "The day you saw them Andor they knew the prince was watching them in the garden. When you told them that you would no longer associate with them, they came running to me. I told your sister off for trying to handle these situations on her own with manipulative methods would never work for the most part. I went to the humans and told them about the incidents and that our alliance would no longer be valid since they have so little respect for the royal family. That little bastard was sent home immediately, stripped of his right to the throne and placed on house arrest in the palace."
I should kill him. It was my first thought. I lost out on years with my sister and Kellan. I even missed the birth of my nephew. Amali thought she lost the only person she loved more than herself as well. I will handle this prince myself soon. Coming out of my thoughts I had a new dilemma. Amali and Irene could reunite and work it out but I moved on with someone else who will be coming to the castle very soon. Kellan has no idea. He thinks we might have a chance. Honestly now that I know I kinda wish for that too.
"OH SHIT!" I SCREAM. A herd of dragons surrounded the palace. In the middle of the crowd is a huge man with long dark hair, beautiful green eyes, and dangerous aura. I recognized him instantly. My parents asked if I knew who the man with the dragons was. I replied yes. "The brother of the Queen of the Dragons, Menelik, he is my lover." I said sheepishly. Everyone turned to look at me with wide eyes.
"Surprise!"