The New Age Saga Box Set

by Timothy A. Ray

  Chapter 10

  Heart & Body

  I

  Tristan’s heart hammered in his chest. “What are you doing here?”

  She was dressed in a very long silk black gown, which revealed way too much flesh for his body to ignore. If at all possible, she actually looked younger than the day they’d first met, and her eyes still looked at him as if she wanted to eat him whole. There was a wicked smile on her face and as she pulled him closer, he could smell roses drifting off her smooth skin. Her black hair was straight and loose upon her shoulders; he instantly wanted to run his fingers through it. She leaned in to kiss him and he felt helpless under her weighty stare.

  Their lips met and before he knew what was happening, her hands were entangled in his hair, yanking his head forward, her tongue forcing its way into his mouth. Unwillingly, his right hand rose to the small of her back and pulled her closer, the other sliding up her side to cradle her even larger, nearly exposed breast. He moaned softly as her lips drew him deeper in and he felt the blood ravaging its way south. Her hand went to her dress and with a flip of a finger, it slid to the floor, exposing her naked flesh for him to see and feel. Lust overwhelmed him and he remembered how many times he had imagined this happening and almost gone through with it.

  Her hand was pulling him back to the room and he suddenly remembered where he was, what his life had become; he was no longer a teenage boy on the verge of Manhood, but a husband to a very devoted and loving wife. He resisted his lustful impulses, pulling on her hand and refusing to follow after. His blood was pounding through his veins and he knew that though his body was willing; his heart was not. “I can’t,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  “Of course you can,” Melissa whispered, stepping close once more and intoxicating him with her perfume. Her hands went to his pants and before he could say anything she was gripping him tightly. “I can feel that you want to, and you have for a very long time.”

  He had to fight harder not to give in, but her hands were making it profoundly difficult as they began moving back and forth, squeezing and flowing smoothly over his vulnerable skin. “I seriously can’t. We’ve discussed this. I’m married, I have kids, grandkids, I—we—”

  Her fingers began working on him in a more rapid pace and he groaned, swaying slightly with her movement. As she leaned forward, she began kissing her way down his neck, her other hand sliding his pants free. “Just stand there and relax. I’ll do all the work.”

  His eyes rolled back into his head as her mouth found him and for a brief second, she had him. Then images of his wife filled his head, their lives together, the love they had shared, and he knew that he would never be able to look her in the eyes again if he let this happen. He loved her too much to risk losing her. He put both hands on Melissa’s shoulders and shoved her backwards.

  Her mouth was instantly gone and though her nails dug into his bare ass, nothing prevented her from smacking the ground hard as she fell. “Oh, you little—”

  “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us, and I value as a friend, but no more, okay? I love my wife,” he told her as she stared daggers up at him.

  She wiped her mouth and rose to her feet, her very gorgeous young body inviting, yet no longer desired. “You know you don’t mean that. If you did, you wouldn’t be so excited to see me.”

  “It’s an illusion, a trick of magic,” he answered promptly, kneeling slightly to grab at his pants. “Merlin told you once to lay off your lure on me, but you never did, did you? It’s not real, it never was.”

  Melissa stepped closer, not giving up, pressing her bare breast against his chest. “When we were down by the river, you didn’t think it was an illusion. You knew that I heard your wish to be with me when I was burning on the pyre and you asked me not to speak about it. Well, I am now. You regretted not being with me when you thought I was dying, how are you going to feel if we don’t and I leave again, this time forever?”

  “It was a momentary weakness. I was young, not sure of what I wanted, and you were very attractive and seductive. But I’m older now and I know for a fact that all I ever wanted or needed was her. She has been, and always will be, the love of my life,” he told the witch, refusing to respond to her hands as they once more began to roam over his body. He had pulled his pants back up, but that didn’t stop her from trying to take them off again.

  “I’m not talking about love, you don’t need to love me,” she cooed in his hear, biting lightly. Though it sent tingles up his spine, he focused on his intent and refused to show any kind of reaction.

  He bit his lip, then forced himself to resist for the last time. “I can only be with someone I love, I’m sorry.”

  She slapped him across the face, making his face sting and his vision shift. Then she bent over and began sliding her dress back on. “Do you know how far I had to travel to get here? My only reason for being here is you, and you are just going to push me off like some tavern whore? I know you better than that Tristan of Griedlok, I know in your heart what you truly want, and it’s not that Elven witch. She’s been using her own magic on you since the first day you met, only she’s subtler about it. Wake the hell up and smell the roses! What you think is real is only a fabrication of a spell she cast on you.”

  “You are the only spell caster here and I think it’s time that you go,” he stated firmly, making sure his clothes were arranged properly and wiping the smell of roses off his skin the best he could.

  “If I leave now, I’ll never come back,” Melissa warned him. She must have seen the resolve in his eyes, because she suddenly sneered, shifted into a large black hawk, and took flight, nearly taking his head off with her talons as she flew past.

  He turned to watch her go, sure that in his heart, he had made the right decision.

  There was a cough behind him and he startled. Willow was standing at the doorway to the balcony, tears streaming down the corners of her eyes. Oh God, how long had she been standing there? Melissa had to have known, that witch!

  She stepped towards him, her eyes never leaving his and the guilt he felt over what she must have seen filled his soul with terror. “You pushed her away,” Willow finally whispered, a choke in her throat barely hiding her sobs. Then she rushed forward and into his arms.

  His hand stroked the back of her hair and he knew that she could feel the excitement that had filled him press against her as they embraced. He couldn’t help but feel ashamed and embarrassed. He had never deserved her and that was one thing that he’d always known. “Of course I did, I love you,” he managed, hoping that she would see how much he cared and not leave him for what had just happened. “How long were you standing there?”

  “Long enough,” she groaned, still crying into his shoulder. “I forgot one of the scrolls the clerics needed signed and I saw you both on the balcony. My heart was breaking. I knew that you always wanted her, and I was so afraid that you’d only settled for me because she left.”

  He shook his head, his own tears sliding down his face. “You are my one true love and second to nobody. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

  “I never believed it until now,” Willow whispered, looking up into his face.

  He kissed her cheeks, tasting the salty tears, and slowly kissed his way across her forehead.

  Willow forced him to look at her, her hand lowering his chin until they were eye to eye. “There was no spell that I cast on you to make you love me, you know that, right?”

  He chuckled. “Sure there was. From the second I saw you I fell under your spell, because in my soul I knew that my soulmate had found me at last. Love is the spell in which we’re both under and one that I will never ask to be free of.”

  She kissed him then and softly giggled.

  “What?”

  She shook her head. “She was just so young. Are you sure you didn’t want her? Because she looked to be Hope’s age now.”

  He groaned and smiled. “Seriously, you don’t believe me? After forty y
ears, you still don’t know how much I love you?”

  She grinned back, showing that she’d been teasing. “I know, I’ve always known. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still love to hear it. Come on, let’s handle your excitement the right way and send you about your day with a deserved smile.”

  He laughed and followed her into their room where they embraced once more.

  I’m in love with Willow. She is and always will be the only one I love.

  II

  He was standing before the closing door that led to his first trial, his heart hammering in his chest. His entire body was pumping blood faster than his heart could keep up, and he felt dizzy, and on the urge of throwing up. Falling to one knee, he put his hands to his head and tried to get the vertigo to stop.

  It felt so real!

  Images began flashing through his head, reliving every minute that he had ever spent with Willow. The fights, the make ups, the intimate moments, and the times when they just lay on the grass; grinning at each other lost in conversation. He then was forced to watch as Melissa entered their lives and began her seduction, trying to pull him away. He cringed with guilt at the nasty thoughts he’d had of her. Following right behind was the pushing of Willow away after Kershaw, the detachment from her touch and embrace. The pulling away of his soul and the connection he’d felt with Melissa over their shared experiences. He then watched the battle with the gnomes and what came shortly after. He viewed it all in a detached way, seeing it all for what it was.

  He lusted for the witch and there was no denying it. He accepted that and pushed it aside. It was never going to happen and the life he wanted was the one he’d just experienced with Willow. The family they built, the life they led, that was what he truly wanted. He felt a sensation over his chest and watched as a black mist lifted free of his breastplate and dispersed into the air.

  His heart was lighter, his mind purer. He had no more second thoughts, no more doubts. Whatever he had felt for Melissa was now permanently gone and all that filled him was the love he felt for his fiancé and future wife and their unborn children. He inhaled deeply and focused himself, allowing that love to fill him to the core and bring a smile to his face.

  The test had been so vivid! He had actually felt like it was real, that he had lived those thirty years in however long he’d been in there. He had fading memories of a life lived, the losses associated with them, and wondered how much they affected the person he had been before going in there? What would the other tests do if they were all like this?

  He turned back to the dais and looked to the three remaining doors. He knew that he wasn’t ready for the mind test, the heart experience had been exceedingly impactful, and he didn’t want to go in there until his mind and body settled down. He looked to the door with the mountain engraved on it. That had to be Earth.

  Taking up Richter, he approached it with firmer strides and shoved the large claymore into place. An answering click vibrated across the floor and the world around him shook as the door lowered before him, revealing another blackened interior.

  He wasn’t sure that he was ready, but what choice did he have? He took a deep breath, took a step forward, and went to meet his next test.

  III

  He was standing in front of the palace back at Camelot and Merlin had just hissed at him that he needed to chase after Clint and get the sword back. He turned and saw the red armored orc standing in his way, the red dragon at his back, and the black turning to breath fire on the approaching ranger.

  Justice was in his hand and his shield was fixed to his left arm. The giant orc was hit by a sudden burst of green fire and he watched as Melissa pushed forward to distract War so he could get by and pursue the fleeing traitor.

  Turning his head back to the battle raging behind him, he saw Willow chanting and felt his body suddenly fill with strength. To her right was Jared, the young blind boy reaching out and using his magic to sear an orc’s brain with his powers. His staff whipped around and caught another one just below the chin. There was something about seeing the young boy again that triggered something in his heart, and he found that he could no longer give chase; despite what Merlin commanded.

  Turning to the orc, he watched as the warrior dodged Melissa’s green flames. He tightened his grip on his sword and began advancing upon the Horsemen. Dragonfire swept across the black dragon and griffins fell upon it immediately after, ripping the creature apart. The red took to the sky and in the distance, he could see Kylee chasing Clint towards the outer walls.

  Ignoring them, he let out a bellow of rage and leapt at the red armored giant.

  The axe whipped his way in answer to his challenge and he raised his shield to deflect the blow. It staggered him with the force of the strike, but he kept on advancing, his sword held ready. Justice sang within his grip and he swung it at the orc’s next attack, blade meeting steel, the sword cleanly slicing through it. The end of the axe split in half and part of the double headed weapon fell to the ground with a loud clank. The shaft swept down and struck his shoulder, and though it jarred his arm, he swung his sword again and cleaved the weapon in half.

  Weaponless, the orc threw down the broken piece of wood and advanced on his position.

  “What are you doing?” Melissa yelled at him, throwing another useless burst of green fire into the giant’s face. “You’re supposed to be going after Dragonslayer!”

  “Kylee can handle it,” he snapped, ignoring the witch’s attempt to get him to disengage. He knew that this was far more important; something dire was at stake.

  One of the orc’s massive hands grabbed his shield and yanked him forward, the other hand driving up and into his stomach. All the air went out of him and he was thrown sideways as his shield ripped free of his arm from the orc’s rage. “War told brother War see him dead. War think return your head, remind War keep promise,” the orc raged, leaping his way.

  He rose to his feet and dodged to the right, barely missing the orc’s charge and feeling his armored foot scrape against the creature’s leg as he barely made it clear. Rolling the best he could, he got to his feet once more and faced the turning warrior.

  He didn’t wait.

  Green fire struck his opponent in the face, causing him to stagger slightly, and Tristan took the advantage given to him, willing his sword forward. Justice sang once more and with a leap, he jammed it straight through the orc’s armor and into his heart.

  Arms gripped him and thrust him away. He fell twenty feet to the rear, his body in sudden agony as he impacted the pavement below.

  War was hovering, his massive hands on the hilt of the sword in his chest, trying to pull it free. But whatever magic had been employed held it fast and he saw the look of astonishment on the warrior’s face. “No! My Queen, War failed!” There was a thud as the orc fell to his knees, then fell over backwards.

  Without hesitation, he forced himself up and walked over to the red armored corpse. Justice was still impaled in the creature’s chest and he yanked it free. Then he focused his mind, allowing images of his former tutor fill his heart as he silently sent a prayer to the sword within his grip. Twisting around in a circle, he let his heart’s desire fill him to the core as he let go of the sword’s hilt. Just as the red dragon began to rise near the outer wall, Justice streaked forward and impaled it through the heart. With a bellow of rage, dragonfire spew forth and the body twisted in mid-air. Clint, barely on the saddle and not yet strapped in, was thrown free of his mount and to the distant ground below. Red wings continued to flap, but they were weak, and with another agonizing roar, the red dropped out of sight; the earth shaking from the creature’s impact.

  “What the hell are you doing? I said to go get a sword, not give them another!” Merlin snapped from behind him and he ignored it.

  He looked to Reyna, who was finishing off one of the last remaining orcs and watched as Jared stepped towards her, using his magic to incapacitate her last foe.

  “I had that,” Reyna snapped,
cleaving the orc’s head from his body.

  Jared snickered. “I know, but I was bored.”

  The two smiled at each other and he felt instant grief for some unknown reason fill his heart. Willow came to his side and looked towards the outer wall. “Where’s Kylee?”

  “Believe me, no one is happier than your sister right now. My bet, she’s working her way to the front of the outer wall to finish Clint off. Come on, let’s go help her,” he whispered, and began trudging his way down the road after the ranger and the two swords that awaited them. Wyrddlin roared with victory overhead and his heart filled with joy.

  He had done it; he had killed War.

  III

  He was back in the cavern, his body pumping with adrenaline, his heart filled with hope. Had all of that actually happened? Was any of it real? There was no way that could just be a figment of his imagination! He had killed War and saved Jared. The twins had been reunited and Clint was dead! If he walked outside right now would he find the blind boy snickering at him? Was it possible?

  Agonizing pain filled his body and he screamed. His bones exploded into fragments of agony and chaos he never knew possible as they began to shift and evolve, his muscles rippling around them, like fragments of dough clinging to a finger. His brain was on fire as every nerve ending in his body flared to life. Falling to his knees in front of the rising door, he crashed to the ground on his left side, unable to stand, his vision trembling with terror. He could feel his limbs shifting, his muscles tightening. Every fiber of his body was moving, and he could not stand the agony of it all.

  “What the hell is happening?” he screamed, and he noticed, in terror, that his voice had deepened in pitch as well.

  The armor he wore began to shimmer and slowly move outward. Whatever was affecting his body was changing the graphene armor as well. What was going on? Was he dying? Had he failed to pass his test? Was he supposed to chase Clint down instead of saving Jared from War? How could that be? Had he changed history, and this was life’s way of balancing the scales?