Chapter Fifty Five: Jason and Stella

Six Months Later

Catapults rolled gently across the flower fields as men were trained to push them and turn them. The flowers were now a forgotten memory. The trees around the castle had all been cut down for miles around. Ballista Tower ammunition was being stored outside the walls in large piles.

The king had sent more knights on a quest to retrieve an army of Time Sorcerers. The wizards were practising with crossbow bolts, learning how to hyper-accelerate them into a target. Some of the wizards were able to split boulders with a single accelerated crossbow bolt. They started to train with the ballistas too, the tree trunks were able to soar through the air with frightening speed.

The king held weekly meetings with his commanders, the leader of the Frost wizards, The King of the Elves, Arkanon The Skeleton King, Batuuk the King of Bandits, Lord Redran and the leader of the time mages.

The king and his commanders were talking around a small scale diorama of the kingdom. The king had hired two artists, Emil and Lukas, who were sculpting and painting ornaments from clay. The king’s clay figure was suspiciously buff. Batuuk thought his miniature was some type of witchcraft, and he had managed to steal his small scale figure almost weekly. The orc quickly snuck this week’s Batuuk into his leather bag. Lukas watched him do it and sighed deeply, but he knew better than to pick a fight with the giant green orc.

Batuuk had made very helpful contributions to these meetings. He had brought catapult blueprints and Orcish warfare strategies with him. The castle now showed a lot of orcish architecture. Large metal spikes adorned the rooftops and the walls now. The towers were also spiked. The bandits and villagers grew to have some peace with each other. Most of the bandits came from Buttermilk and the Castle of Flowers to begin with. The bandits still lived outside, as the trust they’d broken was hard to regain.

Jason lived in the Castle at his own manor house. He had grown very close to Freya. They woke up next to each other every day. She trained him, and taught him to be better at his magic. He could conjure a fireball every time.

Nathaniel moved into a separate manor with the rest of the adventurers. He had returned to his normal job reviving the dead for odd purposes. Dominic had helped him to come out of his shell, and be more social.

Jason was wandering the busy castle streets one day when he caught a glimpse of a beautiful blonde girl. It was Stella.

Jason froze. It had been six months since he’d left her. He decided to go and talk to her.

“Jason, I'm living in the castle as an archer. I’ve practised a lot.” Stella spoke nervously. Her eyelashes batted as she saw him. She still loved him.

“That's great, I’m proud of you.” He said softly.

“I miss you, Jason.” She said, grabbing his arm.

“I miss you too, Stella.” Jason replied. Despite his adventures and new wealth, he still remembered the farm girl’s warmth.

“Are you seeing anybody?” She asked.

“Yes, I’m…”

“-...Still with Freya?” She finished his sentence for him.

“Yes.” He said with a soft smile. Stella was wounded by this. She looked at the ground.

“Ok.” She said as she lowered her eyes and started to walk past him.

“I’ll see you around, Stella.” He said. She didn’t respond, just walked away.

This hurt Jason. Deep down he still loved her. She was his first love. He thought about the moment they kissed in the crowd at the festival. She’d truly broken his heart. He was glad he’d ended up with the Elf Princess.

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Jason went to his home and sat on the couch. He sat down and watched a gladiator fight on the scrying orb. A tall, muscular man with a spear was fighting a lion in a stadium.

The man stabbed the lion as it jumped at him.

Freya emerged from Jason’s bedroom and sat on the couch next to Jason. She put her head on his shoulder.

The gladiator killed the lion.

“I will live forever," the gladiator shouted at the crowd. “Not even old age will kill me.”

Freya thought about that phrase out of context. She was almost immortal too.

The man on the scrying orb was then shocked to see the gates to the arena open, and an elephant with bronze-capped tusks emerged

Jason, Rodrick and Freya laughed as the man started to climb different obstacles. The beast would destroy them and chase him around the screen. The muscular man screamed like a child. He was able to evade the elephant though. Eventually the man surrendered by waving a white cloth and some guards rushed to shepherd the elephant back into the arena cages.

The gladiator did not win any money and the show ended shortly after.

Jason and Freya decided to go for a walk along the castle walls.

“So Freya, do you remember when we met?” Jason asked.

“I had just been attacked by Giants, and you fixed some arrows for me.” She said, laughing.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” he said. He grabbed Freya by the hand and knelt down onto one knee. “I was wondering if you would stay by my side forever.” Jason pulled out a ring and showed her. It was a gold ring, with a large clear diamond nestled on the top.

Freya was caught off guard. She stepped backwards in shock. Freya looked at the simple blacksmith before her. She was definitely in love with him, but it was a double edged sword.

“Jason, I..” She started speaking. She paused for a long time. “I’m going to live for a very long time Jason.” She thought about the gladiator’s words. “Elves are almost immortal, Jason.”

“So then stay with me until I die.” He asked. Freya didn’t speak for a long time. She started to cry and looked over the wall, out at the scenery.

“I love you Jason, but maybe we should stop this now. We’ve both had a lot of fun. I just can’t make that type of commitment to you.” Freya said, tears flowing freely. “Seeing you die would just break me as a person. I love you Jason, but I’m sorry.” She ran away sobbing quietly, looking for her father.

Jason was cold. He was confused as well. This morning, their relationship had been excellent. Jason loved Freya. He’d spent a lot on the ring. He’d imagined their lives travelling the world, and then having some children together.

Jason waited on the walls until the sun dipped on the horizon. The stars and the moon appeared and Jason sobbed quietly.

He was found by Stella.

“Hey Jason.” She said softly.

“Stella?” He said as he turned around to see her.

“What’s wrong, Jason?” She asked. He didn’t respond, he just held up the ring and she put the clues together.

“I’m sorry.” She said, and moved beside him on the wall. “I’m sorry, Jason.”

They sat in silence for a long time.

“Do you remember that joke?” She said, “About the bull the size of an elephant?” Jason started laughing as he remembered the punchline.

“The farmer’s wife left him for it.” Jason said and they both chuckled. They sat in silence again and then Stella spoke up.

“You’ll find someone, Jason.” she said, looking at the floor. “You’re a really great guy.” She looked him in the eyes and he stared back.

He kissed her softly and slowly. They kissed again and Jason pulled her closer. He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back.

The next day, Jason decided to pack his things to move to Buttermilk with Stella. He was upset about Freya, but he understood why they couldn’t be together.

It would be a painful relationship for them. She would stay the same while he got older and weaker. Eventually he would die and leave her behind.

Perhaps it was best to be with Stella. He decided to follow his heart and move home to Buttermilk.

They loaded some horses with gear and they both left the Castle of Flowers behind. The castle was an ugly, defensive fortress now. The flower fields only had small patches of colour left. The towers, ballista ammunition and bandit houses had buried the colourful plants in the mud. Jason left for greener pastures, with Stella by his side.