Winter - Chapter 3 Kiera

This photomanipulation and eight others have been entered into the Holiday Challenge hosted by CAStock. My nine entries create an illustrated short story of love and betrayal set in the Long Winter years 2201 to 2222 AD. 


CHAPTER 3 ~
After journeying south for many months, the clan finally reached a land of towering forests and grassy meadows with an abundance of wildlife. An ancient city with a few granite buildings still intact provided good living quarters for them. Years passed and Kiera grew into a beautiful young lady with flowing blond hair the color of spun gold and silver.

Sadly, her father, Antoni, died shortly after she turned 16. As his only child, she would inherit leadership of the clan but not until she turned 21. Miriam, Kiera’s stepmother, took full advantage of his rapidly declining health and negotiated the betrothal of Kiera to Victor, her son. Antoni, in a moment of weakness, agreed to the arrangement; and so it was recorded. He had hoped that Alexi would have come forward to ask for her hand in marriage, but he never did. However, with one last rally of strength before he died, he commanded that Alexi, now head of the Royal Guard, would not only lead the clan until Kiera came of age but would continue to look after her until she was wed. Miriam had expected Victor to be appointed as temporary leader, and she was furious when he wasn’t; but she could do nothing. 

When news reached Kiera of the betrothal, she was devastated; and, weeping uncontrollably, she ran to Alexi and threw her arms about him. “Tell me it isn’t so, Alexi!” she cried. “I love you so much. I want you, not Victor, to be my husband! He’s arrogant and cruel. He doesn’t care for me; he doesn’t care for anyone but himself! You do love me, don’t you, Alexi?”

Alexi took a deep breath and swallowed hard as he disengaged her arms from around his neck. “No, Kiera,” he lied, holding her at arm’s length; “I’ve always been extremely fond of you, you know that; but I’m not in love with you.”

“I don’t believe you, Alexi. You do love me! I know you do! If you don’t marry me, I’ll run away where no one can find me!”

“Stop it, Kiera!” he demanded, while trying to shake some sense into her. “Your life is no longer your own now. You have responsibilities to your people.” He paused, and then added quietly, “Besides, in five years you will have changed your mind about me. I’ll be in my 30’s then. You deserve a young husband, someone you can grow old with and can count on to be there for you, not some old battle scarred husband like me off fighting while you stay behind wondering when you’ll become a widow.”

Kiera understood then that Alexi didn’t want her. “Your scars came honestly while protecting us all from harm. As well as being strong and brave, Alexi, you are a good, kind, and gentle man. And when you smile, it’s as though the sun has returned to melt away all the ice and snow. Whether we would have had one month or one hundred years together, I would have treasured every single moment of that time. And I would have cherished each child you gave me and would have told them what a wonderful father you were. What I deserve, what every woman deserves is a husband she loves and who loves her in return. For as long as I live, I will always love you, Alexi, even if you never love me in return.” Her eyes brimmed with tears that overflowed and ran unimpeded down her cheeks. She turned and ran from him and didn’t look back.

Alexi never felt so completely helpless in his life. If Kiera broke the betrothal contract without just cause, her punishment under the law would be banishment from the clan. It would be like a death sentence. There would be no exception even for her. Yet he hated himself for what he had just done. He loved Kiera more than life itself.

Four years passed, and spring blossomed on the mountains in all its glory. Alexi accompanied Kiera over one of the passes to her favorite picnic place where a crystal clear stream bubbled gaily down the mountainside. Never once in all those years did she ever again talk of love and marriage. She rarely spoke to anyone except when it was necessary. Watching her, he thought how loving she was, so kind and generous, pure of heart, full of joy and a glowing love of life. Who was he kidding? The joy had gone out of her the day he rejected the love she had offered him. A sobering melancholy had engulfed her soul like a heavy shroud, and she seldom smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time he had heard her laugh. Had he made the right decision not to ask Antoni years ago if he could marry his daughter? He had been so sure then, but no longer; and it worried him greatly. But now it was too late.

Stocks used:
Old Cottage (Challenge Stock Photo) castock.deviantart.com/art/Old…
Model (Cast as Kiera) lisajen-stock.deviantart.com/a…
Model (Cast as Alexi) atistatplay.deviantart.com/art…
Armor (for Alexi) madness-stock.deviantart.com/a…
Horse yavanna-stock.deviantart.com/a…
Bunny zoelafleur-stock.deviantart.co…
Snowy Mountain Scene xxglass-xx.deviantart.com/art/…
Lilies maureenolder.deviantart.com/ar…
Asters maureenolder.deviantart.com/ar…
Single Flower (for Bunny) alp-stock.deviantart.com/art/F…
Butterfly shoofly-stock.deviantart.com/a…
Trees two-ladies-stocks.deviantart.c…
Rocks and Stream m3-productions.deviantart.com/…
Photoshop Brushes (Horse Tail) Note: This resource was removed by stock provider on 2/8/09 and is no longer available for use.

Photomanipulations processed in Adobe Photoshop CS3.