THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 150: The Keeper

Chapter 150: The Keeper

I awoke to the scent of sweet smelling flowers. My eyelash fluttered open to golden rays of sunlight which streamed down from the crystal leaf dome towards my face. Golden light skated upon the stone walls with the tenderness of flowing water that caressed my body. I had to blink the sleep away from my eyes so my surroundings could become clearer.

My lungs breathed in a fragrance that combined petals and crushed herbs that precluded a moist scent similar to rainy earth. The mix of scents brought comfort to the bone deep pain that caused weariness I had felt on the journey to mount Callum.

I gently sat up from the stone carved bed with woven cloth and placed with moss padding. The natural texture under me brought a comforting feeling just as the earth had gathered me throughout the entire night. My body may feel weighted at the moment but it had a peaceful quality like that experienced when be held by a caring lover.

The tranquil silence inside the space did not amount to complete noiselessness. The distant sounds carried various noises that included a distant spring and birds chirping. I could also hear the faint sounds of some leaves rustling outside the windows.

I really couldn’t believe that I slept that long and to think I had slept off when I told Heather I wouldn’t. Speaking of Heather, I turned to look at the other two beds beside me. It was empty, it looked like it hadn’t been slept in.

I guess they went to go and explore their little paradise! I thought with a sigh as I stood up from the bed, prepared to go have my bath when all of a sudden I heard a voice.

"Awake at last I see."

I whirled around to find a girl standing right behind me. It was a small child, no more than ten and she was dressed different than the rest of the women here. Long white dress with long sleeves that almost covered her hands and on her blonde head was a white flowered crown that was pinned beneath a long silky veil. But what was most surprising were her eyes, they were milky white.

Which meant she was blind!

Relaxing my stance, I took a tentative step forward. "Hey little girl, where’s your mom?"

The little girl smiled, "Hello Dahlia Westward, welcome to my home."

Now that caught me off guard. I took a step back as I stared down at the child who still remained still with a gentle smile on her face as if she hadn’t surprised the hells out of me.

"I...How..." I cleared my throat as I stared at her, "How do you know my name?" I asked myself while trying to keep the discomfort away from my voice but it would seem that I failed miserably.

The little girl kept her gaze on mine, pale eyes glittered in the sunlight as she spoke with complete calmness. "I know all there is to know about you." She responded like it was the most natural thing in the world. "The earth, it sings of your songs Black knight!"

The air around me turned cold and my flesh rippled with goosebumps even though the room temperature in the room remained pleasant. But I was still surprised at the name she called me.

"Okay seriously, who the...." I swallowed back the swear word that was in my head.

The girl chuckled, "Oh please don’t spare me. I’m way older than you think!"

I arched a brow up at her as I took in her appearance.

Way older than I think?

Shit, she looks like she just lost her last baby teeth but there was no denying the strange calmness I felt at her presence. I stared at her for a minute before realization dawned on me, except it can’t be. That would have to mean that a child is the...

"That’s right Dahlia, I am the keeper!" The girl answered with a smile and I tried hard not to cringe at the way her milky white seemed to stare at me as if they were uncovering secrets in my soul.

My lips parted in response but no words came out, except a weak stunned breath that was heavy with a thousand of unspoken things.

There was no way a keeper, the person who is supposedly the ruler of mount callum, the one we’d come so far to meet, the mouthpiece of Naktus herself is a ten year old child?

I stared at the girl who just continued to look at me with a smile on her face and there was some part of me that believed she is actually the keeper. But I honestly don’t know whether to bow, curtsy or to run the fuck out of here.

"You know you actually swear a lot, for a princess!" The keeper cocked her head at me, "But actually you do not need to do any of those things, Dahlia. The earth already sees you, she knows your heart. Formalities are for those who still hide!"

I swallowed still amazed at how such powerful words could come out from her mouth. "So you are the keeper."

She opened her hands as she looked at me, "Well as you can see that is already established!"

"So you speak to the goddess?" I asked with curiosity this time around.

"We all speak to the goddess." The keeper responded, "We just converse in different ways. I speak when she chooses to speak and when she is silent, I become silent to and when she wants me to listen, I do just that. The wind carries her voice, the trees leaves are her messages to us and the earth is simply her heartbeat."

Her response sent shivers down my spine in a way that didn’t make sense. I was in complete awe at the response that was coming out of her mouth.

That’s a lot of words for someone who looks like she just played with dolls!

"You know I do still enjoy playing with dolls, I may be a keeper of Naktus words but that doesn’t mean I am not just a girl." She replied with a smile and for a minute, she did just look like a girl, "But I also do remember what the earth use to sound like before your people started naming things."

Yeah she doesn’t sound so much like a little girl now.

"Right." I said with a tight smile on my face, "So why am I here again?"

The keeper smiled warmly at me and this time around I felt like I was the child. "What else other than for that?" I eyes rested on my belly, "That’s a pretty boy that’s growing inside of you." She said looking up at me with a smile on her face.

I stared down at my stomach, cradling it lightly and a small smile formed on my face. "I am having a boy?"

"Going to be quite strong like his mother too." The keeper responded and I smiled as I cradled my belly staring down at it with a look of adoration.

I had no idea why knowing it made me feel emotional but maybe because for the first time in months, this was the only thing that I had since all the insanity in my life just began. For the first time I had something real, I had hope, something to hold on to. A tiny life. My son!

"You...You can see him?" I asked looking up at her through misty eyes, "And he is healthy, strong?"

The keeper nodded her head, her veil glinting in the light. "He’s hearing already, you know. The earth whispers to him too. The bond between the both of you is more powerful than the average mother and son. It started before he was conceived. A child born of a fearsome knight and a princess who wants what’s best for her kingdom. The goddess Naktus has plans for him, Dahlia. Great plans."

Now that has my attention. "Plans? What do you mean plans?"

The keeper chuckled shaking her head as if I had asked something silly. "Each child born of the ancient blood has a part to play believe it or not and he...." Her pale eyes landed on my stomach again, "His fate is wrapped around roots older than you can ever imagine. It’s bigger than the whole kingdom combined."

Yeah I am not doing the whole prophesy thing! I thought to myself as I looked up at her. "Look, I only came here as required by tradition. I was told women give birth with ease here and that’s why I came. I really do not need the whole prophesy thing."

"Is it though?"

"What?"

"You said you came here cause of tradition." The keeper said, "And I’m asking if that what you tell yourself in order to hide from the truth." She said and I opened my mouth to speak to her but I got no response. "You know you don’t have to answer now Dahlia. Tell you what, how about you have your bath and then come outside? Your friends are worried about you."

Before I could say another word, the girl stood up and walked out the door and she turned to give me one last smile before she disappeared out the door.

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