Kaen and Ava followed Sedel as she led them, and the wood elves gathered at a place with special memories.

“The archery tournament,” Kaen said with a slight chuckle, getting a nod and grin from Sedel.

“What better way to receive the bow than to fire it? I would offer to challenge you to a contest, but we both know that is a waste of arrows and time.”

“Maybe not time,” replied Kaen as he squeezed Ava’s hand. “I always enjoyed watching you set up a field designed to let you win.”

A snort came from Sedel, breaking her carefully maintained appearance as she recalled the contest they had first competed in. “I must admit I was frustrated for a while after you snatched that victory from me. Queleth told me it was a good lesson that life always had surprises even when we thought there were none.” Slowing her step slightly, Sedel turned and focused her eyes on Ava. “I’m sure you will agree that your husband brings many surprises.”

Ava laughed, nodding as she leaned into Kaen. “He does have a way of doing that. Even when I don’t think anything else is possible, he somehow heals a forest and is granted the status of a dwarf.”

Sedel tripped, barely catching her step at Ava’s last statement, and her face betrayed her. “A dwarf?!” she exclaimed. “They have given him the actual title of a dwarf?!”

Eyes turned as every wood elf within the sound of Sedel’s voice waited to hear what reply might come.

“Well, actually, it is Kaen and me, as well as any of our descendants, for two hundred years,” Ava replied playfully. “Supposedly, there is a stone tree that they have already added our names to. Bosgreth is excited about when we will bring both children so he can see their names added to his tree.”

Choking on nothing but air and her own spit, Sedel rubbed her face as she shook her head. “Impossible,” she muttered a few times as Ava’s words ran through her head. “A dwarf and not just any dwarf but kin to the king,” she muttered.

Kaen sighed. “Forgive Ava, she is just showing off. I was just as surprised and confused about the whole ordeal until I learned why Bosgreth did it.”

“And why is that?” asked Sedel, doing her best to regain her composure.

“So that when the time comes, and I call for their help, the dwarven army will have to heed my summons and fight.”

Sedel’s eyelids looked like a bird's wings flapping as they flew. They had blinked so many times so fast that Kaen wasn’t sure if he should say something.

“Queleth, you are a thorn in my side,” Sedel growled as she finally gained her composure. “You do realize we are obligated to do the same thing when you call?”

Kaen’s head cocked to the side slightly, and he looked at Sedel and then at the wood elves standing around, watching them talk. “I… do now…” Kaen replied slowly. “Do you really think Queleth knew this would happen?”

“I have no idea,” Sedel stated as she motioned for them to continue toward the archery area. “I can say that he often held back things because Queleth found it humorous when the rest of us learned about them in time.”

Kaen nodded and saw Ava motion to Pammon, who was already lounging near the archery area. “How did he get here already?”

Tapping his head with one finger, Kaen smiled. “He moved as soon as I knew where we were going. Said he wanted to get a good view.”

Ava groaned and rolled her eyes. “Not like he can’t see above all of us.”

“Have I ever mentioned how much I like your wife?” Sedel asked as they drew closer. “She is like me, annoyed with common things like a dragon who takes up prime viewing space when he can easily see above us.”

“Then ask him to move,” Kaen replied, grinning like a fool. “I’m sure he will listen to you.”

Shaking her head, Sedel copied Ava and rolled her eyes. “There is no need. For now, follow me.”

Kaen stood where he had fired his bow that his father had given him. Standing there with Ava as they waited for the elves to finish setting up the course and stood around him, he leaned over and kissed his wife.

“I love you,” he whispered, staring into her blue eyes.

“You better,” she answered, smiling at him. “The stuff I put up with as you fly around everywhere, treated like a king. Our children will be difficult to rein in if this is a common thing.”

Chuckling, Kaen nodded until he saw Sedel approaching him with two wood elves walking behind her.

Standing up a little straighter, Kaen could see that each of them carried an item wrapped in forest green cloth.

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Sedel stopped a few yards before Kaen and turned to face the crowd.

“Brothers and sisters! Today, we bear witness to the forest and the gift it has given our friend, protector, and brother. May we revel in the knowledge that we will play a role in the coming battle through the bow Kaen Marshell uses.”

Cheers and applause echoed through the forest as everyone turned their eyes toward Kaen and Ava, giving a slight bow before returning to silence.

Sedel nodded and turned to the woman who carried what Kaen knew was the bow. She lifted the cloth that hid what was underneath and draped it around the woman’s shoulders. In her hands was a dark brown bow, easily four feet long, and took Kaen’s breath away.

Bowing slightly at the woman, she lifted the bow up with both hands and held it out toward all the wood elves to see. The people murmured approval, yet Kaen couldn’t take his eyes off the bow.

It felt like Sedel was taking her time as she lowered her hands and the bow and turned toward him. She had a playful grin, but Kaen didn’t see it, focused only on the weapon the forest had given him in the fight he needed to win.

The bow was unstrung, but he saw a brown string wrapped around it and followed the curves of the wood, seeing where he knew the rune had to be inside. Even from the few feet away he was, Kaen could see the power the back and the belly would provide, their gentle slope that led from the grip and notch for the string.

“It’s beautiful,” Ava whispered, and Kaen nodded in agreement.

Sedel moved the last few steps and held the bow out with both hands. “This has yet to be shot or even strung because no one here has the strength to string it. It would appear the forest has high expectations for you, Dragon Rider Marshell. Now take your bow and show us what the forest has gifted you.”

Kaen hesitated a moment, and Sedel gently moved her hands closer and nodded.

His hands trembled for the briefest moment until his fingers touched the wood, and Kaen could feel the magic and power inside the bow. It called out to him, and he quickly took it from Sedel, holding it in his hand and admiring its beauty. The grain pattern was impossible to believe—so tight and all running in the same direction. Turning it around, he moved his hands over the curve of it and shook his head in disbelief.

I agree. I do not believe there has ever been a bow like that one.

Kaen grinned and couldn’t help but nod.

It seems weird still that you can read my mind.

It doesn’t take a mind reader or someone with my gift to not see how you feel. It is obvious by your face and how you touch it that you believe that. One should caution you to ensure Ava knows you find her more attractive than that bow.

Kaen glanced up and saw his wife smiling at him.

He grinned and then put the bottom of the bow with the string already cinched around the notched area. Wrapping a leg around it, he applied pressure, pulling the other end down easily and placing the string along the notch.

“Amazing,” Sedel whispered as Kaen had done what none of them could with so little effort.

Looking at his friend, Kaen smiled and shrugged. He held the bow by the grip and gently touched the string as he pretended to pull it back.

[ Inspect Weapon ]

*****

Heart of the Forrest

Bound to Kaen Marshell

* 10 to Dexterity

* 30% Damage

* Piercing Shots

* Unbreakable

*****

Kaen almost dropped the bow when he saw the stats on it. His hand began to tremble, and he looked at Sedel in shock.

“Do you know?”

Her lips drew tight, and she shook her head. “The forest did not allow any of us to know what it is capable of. I think perhaps it is better that way.”

She is right… that is something none should know but you and your wife.

And you…

Well, that's obvious. Now stop standing there like an eggling and show these people what that bow can do.

“Thank you,” Kaen said as he bowed deeply. “I am honored that the forest and you have created this for me.”

“Does that mean you are ready to show us what it can do?”

Smiling from ear to ear, Kaen nodded. “I would be happy to.”

Applause and cheers rang out through the forest as Kaen fired the last arrow. It pierced four targets before finally coming to rest in the fifth. Even when set ten yards apart, the bow's power sent the arrows flying so fast it was hard to see them as they traveled.

“That was impressive,” Sedel declared as she moved to where Kaen was standing. “Had you had that bow when we first met, I wouldn’t have offered to shoot against you.”

Laughing, Kaen nodded and put the bow around his body as he pulled an arrow from the quiver they had given him.

“I’m going to have to redo all of my arrows… the extra pull distance would be impossible with the ones I use now.”

She nodded and pointed at a place near a tree. “There are three hundred arrows just like the ones you used, ready to be taken.”

“You all have been so gracious to us. How can I repay this debt?”

Sedel laughed and shook her head. “We still owe you more than we can ever repay. Now tell me when will you leave?” Kaen smirked and Sedel shrugged. “We both know you are anxious to go. You were never one to stay in a place unless there was a reason, and now… there is no reason to stay here. I can hear the trees whispering goodbye to you. Just remember what you have been given, and when the time comes, call. We will come.”

Kaen nodded and looked at Ava standing nearby, chatting with some elves and laughing.

“Would it be wrong if I offered to hug you goodbye?” Kaen asked, a sheepish look appearing.

“It would be ok this one time,” she replied, holding her hands out as Kaen laughed and came in, giving her a gentle hug.

“Thank you again for this,” he whispered before he pulled back.

“The same goes for you. Thank you for showing honor and grace that men have long since been accused of no longer having. Do what you were born for. Lead this land to a new age.”

Her words reverberated in Kaen’s heart and mind as he wrestled with a thought he had wondered so long.

Have we been born for this purpose and task?

You know I have no answer for that, but I will always do what I must to ensure my family is safe. If I was born to be able to do that, then I will be thankful that I can.