At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series
Chapter 8: Talking with a legend

(Marron)

I step out onto the terrace to get some fresh air. I wander around a bit, heading towards the banister overlooking the fields and most of the area. It’s become a more reoccurring habit of mine since Aria returned from the past to simply come out here and attempt to process everything that’s happened to her.

I pan around me, still in awe of this place. I sometimes think I really have stepped into the live-action Lord of the Rings movies and am actually standing in Rivendell. The more I think about it, the crazier yet all too real it is.

I cross my arms, hugging my chest. It’s not because it’s cold, despite the gentle chilling wind that blows around me. No…it’s to help me try and understand what’s happening. I still have no idea of what to think of everything my little sister has gone through.

Before coming here, I knew exactly what was going on, but now? With Aria traveling to the past and actually participating in history while living there, it’s a bit much to take in.

What is true, and I’ve accepted it, is that I now know more about myself thanks to her. I am the reincarnation of her ancestral sister, even obtaining a piece of my past life. Now, reincarnation is an iffy subject, even in our world.

I smirk, even if I accept it, coming to grips with this revelation is an entirely other matter altogether. Celes, while being her ancestor, became her sister. They grew close quickly, the same as we did. So it begs the question, am I her sister because I’m Celes’ reincarnation or simply because I fell in love with that little girl all on my own?

Well it’s a simple answer really. She is my sister because she is. Being the reincarnation of Celes doesn’t dictate my relationship. If even anything, it may have simply been one of the many sparks that ignited between us. The love and bond we now share merely grew from my first meeting of her. Blood, lifetimes, it doesn’t matter. That little girl is my baby sister.

I sigh however, continuing my stroll about the terrace. My thoughts are ever on Aria, worrying over her more. I think back to the first night after she returned. She cried nearly through the entire night. It was completely different compared to how her knights described after fleeing her home.

I reach the banister and turn, leaning against it. Holding my chest tighter, I take several deep breaths. Just what else can I do for her? She hasn’t suffered any of her nightmares, nor has her PTSD relapsed. Both I’m eternally grateful for.

I know by being with her has been a tremendous help. Training with her has also helped. Maybe some more alone time with her is in order. I will forever baby my little sister. So holding her, humming our lullaby to ease any turbulence in her heart is something I think I’ll do.

The sounds of heavy padding on the stone floor catches my attention. I pan over to see her wolves emerge from the forest, carrying a fresh kill with them. I’m still in awe that Aria now has a second bonded wolf. Athena is incredibly beautiful; it’s almost unreal at how ethereal she looks. Fenris has always been majestic, even from the first night he arrived at the Estate. Yet with Athena, she’s simply beautiful, shimmering like the moon.

I’ve been watching them for the past few days. Athena often treats Aria like she is her daughter the same way Fenris does. I smile softly, knowing the deep love both wolves give her as parents. They are always watching her, yet still give her space when needed. They worry over her like parents should for their child. Recalling that first night, I knew they were going to worry themselves sick as Aria cried. I practically had to convince them they should go and hunt while I stayed with her.

I smile brightly as I look at them, ever so happy to know my sister is so well loved by so many people.

Athena stops for a moment to shake her fur clean of the evening frost she accrued while hunting with her mate. She looks up and over to me, smiling. Her eyes are so gentle, glittering in the light.

I smile back to her. One thing I would love at the moment is to have some alone time with her. Just the pair of us talking to the other.

Fenris, having also shaken free the frost, leans over and picks up their kill. He pans over to me and then back to Athena.

I smile, pointing them to head inside. They smile and do so, with Fenris dragging in their meal. I can’t help but sigh in awe of all of this.

I feel a rush of cold wind blowing over me, catching my hair along with it. A long shadow then slowly casts over me, turning the already dark night even darker. I pan up to see Ddraig’s massive head hovering over me. I smirk, no longer feeling afraid as I stare into his emerald eyes. I have to wonder, red and green, what a combination it makes.

Like Aria, I’m still in awe that I too now have a dragon for a grandfather. I know he’s been ever watchful of us, trying to protect us. Yet now he’s claimed us as his own. I smirk to myself, thinking I now share family with my little sister.

“Evening, Grandpa.” I greet.

He grins softly, “And to you as well, Young Marron. How are you this night?”

I lower my head a little. “I’m still worried over Aria. She’s not crying as much or dealing with the mental pain she openly showed from a month ago. I’m not worried she’s bottled it up again. I’m grateful she hasn’t tried to leave to hunt down Regulus. Yet I know she’s still hurting from the news.”

I rub my arms slightly, warming up a bit. “When not training, she buries herself into her studies like I told her to. She’s smiling, acting like she always does. It still makes me wonder if there’s something else bothering her.”

I pan over the to the door leading into the parlor. We often have breakfast in there as opposed to the dining room. It just feels more comfortable. “Aria told me that I am the reincarnation of her ancestral sister, something I’m still coming to grips with. While I’ve accepted it, it’s still a hard pill to swallow.”

Ddraig’s shadow moves a little, now resting his chest on the railing beside me. “I know some of your plight, Young Marron,” he says gently. “Having dealt with it in the past.”

I smirk softly at his phrasing.

“I know you possess doubts,” he continues, “your sister has endured much and is also coming to terms with its repercussions.” His massive green eye turns and looks to me. “Do you doubt yourself in being able to handle her pain?”

I close my eyes, shaking my head, “No.”

He then leans in closer to me, “Then what truly is troubling you? You carry yet another burden upon your heart.”

I take several long and deep breaths. I slowly open my eyes. “I’m worried about my mistress. She took me in and raised me as her daughter. I think of our coven, they’re my family and yet…I feel like an utter failure when I took Aria from her mother.”

My grip on my arms tighten. “During my travels, I often steered clear of everyone. I worried about coming face to face with someone from Colburn.” I then turn and face the massive dragon, “So now here I am, facing one of the leaders of our coven.”

I stayed out of sight, never going anywhere remotely close to someone I know from the Coven. It used to drive me mad, knowing that I could potentially run into someone.

He smiles gently, “You needn’t fear, Young Marron. I speak truth when I said the Coven misses you both terribly. Miriam is constantly being asked for news of you. The two of you are on everyone’s minds. Your friends still desire to see you again.”

I pan away, smiling slightly. “I feel like I’m having the same conversation I had with Yukari and Asha a month ago.”

The night we arrived in Japan was a rocky one, flung harshly into the cold snow during the dead of night. After reaching Aria’s home, we sat around, waiting for Aria’s aunts to arrive. I felt nervous talking with them, only to realize how worried they were for us. Yukari even helped ease my tension as we spoke.

I then feel something warm and scaly nudging my face. I look over to see the side of Ddraig’s gigantic snout rubbing against me. I smile softly to him. His gaze softens, “Have you forgiven yourself?”

I smile, reaching up and stroking his. “I have. I just still have some lingering doubts about returning home.” There’s so much there we simply have no clue about. Even though Ddraig said it was safe to return, I still worry.

“Have faith in the path you are on, Young Marron,” he replies. “Little Aria is still in much need of a compass.” He gazes at me, “I can see that you have already done an excellent job in that regard, having watched it firsthand.”

I smile, “Thank you.” He smiles softly in return.

I pan up, seeing Aria’s room up on the third floor. A light shimmers from one of its windows, glimpsing Aria as she walks near it with several papers in her hands. I smirk; no doubt it’s homework she brought with, either from her mother or school. It’s still funny she actually attended school while in the past.

“I’ll stay with her,” I declare, “no matter what. I’m her sister, through lifetimes and more. We’ve been through way too much as it is for me not to.”

The massive dragon smiles tenderly. “I know all too well of how strong a bond you possess between you. Even Miriam was astonished by its strength. She noted how you both appeared to be seamless in love and speech.”

I grin, blushing softly. “We’ve always been like that, never thinking twice that we started as strangers. We only grow closer, sharing a bond stronger than blood sisters.” I chuckle gently, “And it only took us less than a couple visits for us be feel at home with each other.”

It took less than a month for me to discover Aria fast asleep on my couch when I came home for the weekend. She felt at home with me, simply arriving and acting as if she lived there all her life. She even would do chores while waiting for me. I still remember replaceing dinner in the oven if I came home later than expected.

Ddraig’s head dips softly. “It would appear that the bonds of fate grow strongly when concerning that child. You, her mother, her wolves, all seem irrevocably tied to her.”

I nod, recalling that very same question she asked me back in September. I sigh, still staring up at her window. My crazy little sister. I smile, “Just what am I going to do next with her?”

“That will be up to her,” the great dragon replies.

I smirk, playfully tapping his snout with the back of my fist out of instinct. “That…was a rhetorical question.”

He chuckles softly, not enough to draw attention to our conversation. Yet it really shouldn’t be that hard, seeing how I’m standing here, talking with a hundred plus foot long dragon. “Agreed.”

I lean against him, resting the side of my head to his face. I reach up and stroke it softly as I sigh. “That girl’s been through hell these past few months. Not only in this era but in the past as well.” I stare off towards the parlor, not at anything in particular, just staring into it. “I doubt anyone could have predicted how heavily she and fate are entwined.”

Ddraig lets out a long, soft breath. “She has walked a path no one ever dreamed of forming. Not her nor her mother. Yet she must see it to its conclusion.”

I nod, smiling. “She’s strong, strong enough to do it. Just not alone, never alone.”

“Agreed.”

That’s another truth about her. Never since day one has Aria ever truly been alone. Either with me, meeting her mother, then Fenris or the coven. That wonderful little girl has never truly walked this new life without someone at her side guiding her.

Now I’ve been with her for the longest, seeing and experiencing new things with her, while also retracing some old habits.

He gently nuzzles my face. “You should head off to bed. I know you both tend to awaken early in the morning.”

I smile, nodding, “She’s always been an early riser. A fact that’s never once changed, even when I first had her.”

He smiles, nuzzling my face once more. I smile, standing up and groans as I stretch. I stare up at him as he slowly turns to face me. “Thanks for talking with me.”

The dragon smiles, pulling his head back and bowing to me. He then turns, walking ever so softly towards the river. I smile, shaking my head at how gently such a massive being can stroll about and not cause an earthquake with each step.

I turn and make for the parlor, rolling my neck before letting out a yawn. Yep, bed is definitely in my future.