Anxious to be back home, the Knight decided his quest to confront Arabella could wait.  Armed with directions out of the mountains and enough rations to see them through, the Knight and his werewolf warriors began the journey home.  He turned to wave goodbye to Helma, but she was gone and the village looked just as desolate as it did when they first came upon it.  

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Before she dove deeper into this pity party she was throwing for herself, Anabel looked up and saw the Iron Knight silhouetted against  the heart of the mountain as specks of stars danced in the sky.  He always left her breathless each time she saw him and she never understood how it was possible to love him more.  And yet, she did.

The Iron Knight approached his wife and saw her as though looking through an eye of truth.  Not only was her natural beauty visible, but the beauty of all their years together radiated in her face.  The Knight reached into his doublet and took out the crystal necklace and fastened it around Anabel’s neck.  Helma said an aura of happiness radiated from the necklace, but the Knight was sure it was the other way around.  The aura of happiness that radiated from Anabel came from within and it enveloped his wife.  The glistening gems mirrored Anabel’s tears falling from her green eyes, tinging the necklace with an emerald hue.  Eventually, he would tell Anabel the story of Helma; how good memories are treasures to be sealed and this necklace embodied all his love and loyalty for her.  But for now, it was enough they were together again.

Anabel held her Knight tight and wished with all her heart this moment would never end.  For one split second, she felt contentment with the world.  Then she opened her eyes and caught a glimpse of a bat in the distance, hovering and watching.

***********************TO BE CONTINUED