Amaranth: A Maerith Kingdom Novel - Chapter 13

At the Crystal Crypt there was a dark cloud of smoke that went along the floor. It was searching tunnel to tunnel and room to room and found no one there.

Simultaneously Amaranth got an eerie feeling run through her body. It was as if she could feel the dark cloud. She went to Odulore and asked him, “Did you have a spell that my father used on my mother to keep her in the Crystal Crypt? I have this feeling that there is an evil presence there.”

“Yes, I did. I can have one of the Peagsuses take me there and call out the spell at a safe distance. We have everyone not evil here.” He left his room and went out to the livery. Ranios was waiting for him. Odulore got on his back, and they flew off to a spot in the forest where no one could see them.

Odulore stood there, raised up his arms towards the Crystal Crypt, and commanded, “Ignitim Serpite to the Crystal Crypt, all entrances and exits from the greatest heights and the deepest depths. Ignitim Serpite for all enternity.”

They stood there for a few moments when they saw the smoke rise in the entrance to the Crystal Crypt, but it could not come out. “Let’s return home,” he said to Ranios.

Evatius followed them back to Rissingshire Castle. “What were you up to?” He asked him.

“We went to the Crystal Crypt to put a spell on it and trap whatever and whoever is in it so that we don’t have to deal with anymore evil from the crypt,” Odulore told him. “I am positive that this spell will do the trick. I used one that was out of my father’s spell book.”

Amaranth came out to the courtyard. She sat down by the fireplace. Narella and Valora followed her and laid down at her feet. The mystical forest creatures came in and gathered around them.

Odulore went up to her, ran his fingers through her thick black hair, and then walked to the kitchen. He met up with Zizor. “What do you need?” He questioned.

“I need you to fix all of Amaranth’s dinner favorites for tonight. I want it served right at sunset.”

“Ok, I will have it ready at sunset.” Zizor turned to the goblins and told them, “You heard him. We need to get moving so that everything is ready for sunset.”

Odulore went back out to the courtyard. “Would you like to go for a nice walk? How about we walk over to Bredenrath Pond?” He held out his hand to Amaranth. She took his hand and stood up, “Why I would love to.” They walked out of the castle and out into the Demack Grassland.

The pixies encircled them as they walked to the pond. When they got to the dock, there were fish jumping in the pond along with fireflies dancing above the water. Odulore took her hand, got down on one knee, and pulled a ring out of his pocket. He looked up at her and said, “Amaranth, we have known each other our entire lives. There has been this connection between us that I have never felt with anyone else. I want you by my side. I want you to rule the Maerith Kingdom with me. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”

She smiled from ear to ear and a tear rolled down her cheek. It took her a few moments that to Odulore felt like forever. She stared into his eyes, still holding his hand, she said, “Yes, of course. Yes, I will marry you. I will be your wife.”

He put the gold and amethyst ring on her finger, got up, gave her a big hug and twirled her around. The pixies all cheered.

Hand in hand, they walked back to Rissingshire Castle. When they entered the courtyard they were greeted by Zizor and the goblins including Glurx and Puggaald. “She said yes!” Odulore exclaimed. The courtyard erupted with cheers.

Avras and Arietta landed in the courtyard with Axe and Artimas. “Did we hear cheering?” Arietta asked.

“Yes, yes, you did,” Amaranth excitedly answered her. She ran over to her and showed off her ring.

“I like it. Good job Odulore. Nice ring,” Arietta smiled at him.

“Seriously, you popped the question already?”

“Avras! Shut up! They are happy. You don’t need to be so mean,” his wife snapped at him.

“Don’t worry about Arietta. He’s fine. Yes, I already popped the question. Hey, if anything this week has shown me that we can take nothing for granted. We need to maximize every day’s potential. Plus, to tell you the truth, I have had the ring for a while. I was waiting for the right moment. I found the right moment.” Odulore explained.

The sun just started to set and Zizor said, “Dinner is ready in the dining hall. Let’s all head down there.” He and the goblins walked off to the kitchen.

“Come on let’s go eat.” Odulore waved everyone to go to the dining hall.

Amaranth sat down at the table and Zizor brought out her tray first. As he placed it in front of her, he said, “I hope it’s all to your liking.”

She looked at the tray, smiled, looked up at him, and said, “Yes, everything looks perfect. They are all my dinner favorites.” Amaranth enjoyed her dinner of dry rub ribs, smashed potatoes and honey carrots.

Odulore sat across from her, and he kept looking up at her while he was eating. He enjoyed watching her enjoy your dinner.

Zizor and the goblins came out and cleared the empty trays. Everyone else went out to the courtyard. The sun had set while they were eating. The courtyard was lined with torches. Everyone gathered around the fireplace. Zyrsit flew up to the castle wall and yelled, “Ready!”

The sky filled with fireworks. The mystical forest creatures entered the courtyard and surrounded them. The goblins came out from the kitchen and also joined in. There were lots of “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s.”

Amaranth moved her chair closer to Odulore and held his hand while they watched the giant display. Periodically she looked over at him and smiled. He returned her smile with a smile. She thought to herself, I cannot believe how this week has gone from tragedy to happiness. I would have never thought that I was going to escape that horrible crypt and now I am engaged to the love of my life. I cannot wait to get married.

The fireworks display ended and Avras said, “Congratulations to you both. We are going to head back to Eagleview Castle. See you soon.” Arietta and Avras flew out of the castle on Axe and Artimas.

The mystical forest creatures exited the castle leaving Amaranth and Odulore in the courtyard. “What’s on your mind?” He asked her.

“I am completely enjoying how this day has gone. I also can’t believe how this week has gone. It’s been a whirlwind. I went from being kidnapped to killing a guy that ended up being my brother, finding out that I had another brother, and now I am engaged to the love of my life.”

“Well, you can’t say that life has been dull then,” he chuckled.

She smiled at him, “That’s for sure. It has not been dull. I am looking forward to the wedding. I can also do without some of that excitement though. I do not want to be kidnapped ever again.”

Odulore smiled at her, stood up, motioned for her hand, and walked her to her room. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and went to his own room.

Continue Reading - Chapter 14