The Doorway
A tall mercenary stepped through the doorway into the smoky tavern. He seemed preoccupied with something. His clothes were covered with dust and he walked with a slight limp, as it he had traveled for a long time. A few people looked up, but not recognizing him turned back to their drinks.
Ten minutes later, a slim woman in a green silk robe and cloak glided into the bar. The hood of the cloak covered her face. She made her way directly to the same table where the mercenary sat. The candlelight glinted off her silver necklace and over the mercenary's face. He looked up at her.
"Hello." she said in a low voice. "I am glad you are here."
"Who are you?" the mercenary asked. “Why did you call me here?”
"Here I am Narcissa. But you know me as another name," She replied.
"Well, I am Garion, but who do I know you as?"
The young woman raised her head and pushed the hood of the cloak away from her face. Golden curls tumbled out down to her shoulders. Garion drew his breath in sharply with recognition. Narcissa fixed her dark green eyes on Garion's brown ones. He stared at her, blinking.
"Sarah?" he asked.
Narcissa smiled wryly. "No one has called me that in seven years. I notice you have also changed your name, Michael. I have waited a long time to see you again."
"How did you find the doorway to this world?"
"The same way you did I suppose. But, let us save this for somewhere more private.”
Narcissa and Garion left the tavern and Narcissa led the way. Garion couldn’t help but notice she walked stiffly, as if angry at something. They traveled through many dark alleyways until they arrived at a bleak building on the poor side of town. Narcissa led him inside to a small apartment on the top floor.
"Sit down," she said, "I want to ask you a question."
Garion sat on one of the few worn chairs and tried not to notice the shabbiness of the small rooms. He really couldn't complain since it had been a very long time since he had lived under an actual roof.
"I notice you did not come back after you had found the doorway like you promised you would."
Garion sighed, "I couldn't. The portal closed after I stepped through it. I'm truly sorry. But look, you found the way didn't you?"
Narcissa glared at him. "Yes, and I have suffered for seven years without you.” She looked away from him for a moment. When she turned back, the anger had left her face. “But enough of old grudges, what have you done since?"
"Mercenary work, horrible stuff. But it pays well, and there is always a demand for people to do others work. Sometimes I wish we had stayed in our own place on Earth."
"Me too," Narcissa sighed, "Me too."
"I never thought I'd see you again, Sarah. I've missed you."
"And I've missed you. But I did have something to remember you by."
She stood up and walked into the bedroom. She came back leading two young boys with brown hair like Garion's.
He could only stare at them. Narcissa introduced them as Gabriel and Michael.
"Your sons," she whispered.
"M..mine?" Garion stuttered, "But how? When?"
Narcissa simply smiled her wry smile. "What do you think of them?"
“I.. I don’t know what to say Sarah. This is a shock indeed.”
Narcissa looked at Garion for a long moment, then told the twins to go back to their room. They did and Garion could hear them talking to each other quietly. He was completely stunned. He had had no idea that he was a father, and he wasn't sure how to take it.
Narcissa brought him a drink and sat down next to him.
"We have a lot of catching up to do. Tell me your story first,” she smiled.
Garion shook his head, trying to clear it. He decided the best way was to take things one step at a time. Clearing his throat, he began his tale.
"I was coming home from baseball practice and I decided to go to the stone arch we had found to see if maybe something had changed, maybe this was the day that the portal was open. This time, it was! I could see it swirling in the center of the arch. I turned to try to find you and tell you about it, but as I turned around I heard a loud crack. I looked back and I could see the doorway flickering like it was going to burn out. I could tell I didn't have much time, so I went through on impulse, hoping to return later and bring you back with me. I stepped out in the middle of a town, and somehow managed to survive. I became an apprentice to one of the traveling warriors, and he taught me how to use a sword. I wandered from town to town always searching for the doorway, and you. I gave up four years ago. I thought I would never get to see your face again."
"What happened four years ago?" Narcissa asked, he face hardening slightly.
Garion looked at the floor, knowing Sarah had always been able to tell he was lying. "Nothing," he mumbled.
"Mike. Tell me." demanded Narcissa.
"I met Daria," he said quietly.
“Daria,” she repeated. Garion nodded. Narcissa steeled herself for what he would say next.
"She is my wife,” he said quietly.
Narcissa stood up, her fists clenched and her face twisted. “Damnit Michael!” she cried. “Why did you have to step through that cursed portal without me?”
Garion stood up. “Please Narcissa. Wait! I just found out you were here! Please, I was in love with you once. Maybe that spark is still there."
Narcissa looked at him with a cold stare. "Seven years, Garion, seven years! That spark died out long ago. And you would throw away your new wife just for a long dead promise? I don’t think so.”
Narcissa walked over and opened the door. Garion just stood there, staring at her.
“Please… leave me now. Go back to your Daria, and know that I am alive. Goodbye."
Garion slowly walked out the door. He turned back one last time, but Narcissa had already closed the door. He sighed and turned dejectedly back down the street.
Behind the door, Narcissa slumped to the floor and started to cry.
A few days later, Narcissa, and her children were in the marketplace when Narcissa saw Garion only a few yards away. He turned and saw her looking at him. He pushed past someone, and started toward her.
When Narcissa saw his eyes, a flood of emotions washed over her. She was angry with him for abandoning her, but she still loved him. She wanted to forgive him, but she was afraid he would refuse to forgive her back. She could only watch as he made his way closer to her.
Garion pushed his way past two knights sparring together, completely oblivious to everything except Narcissa. He never saw the blade of one of the knights’ bounce off the other’s shield and swing down, catching him deeply in the side. Garion gasped and looked down at his stomach. Blood was welling up on his tunic.
Narcissa ran to him and caught him as he fell. She lowered him gently to the ground and held him in her arms one last time.
"Sarah," he groaned, "We were wrong. This isn't our world. We weren't meant to be here. Find the doorway. Go back......."
Narcissa slipped away as Garion died. She was replaced by Sarah, and she knew what she must do. She understood that humans on Earth in the twentieth century were never meant to come to this world. She had been miserable ever since she had crossed its threshold.
Calling her sons to her, and shielding them from the sight of their father’s body, she quickly took them out of town. They asked her what was happening, but she was crying too hard to answer them. She made her way to a stone arch that sat in a hidden grove near the town. She knew that the doorway would be there. It flickered brightly and swirled like it was impatient for them to go through and get it over with. She almost dived through it, pulling her children with her. Sarah heard a loud crack and found herself in front of the same stone arch where she had started this journey.
Looking around her, she saw that Gabriel and Michael had disappeared, and that she felt a lot younger. She looked up and saw Mike, dressed in his old ratty jeans and t-shirt coming down the trail, whistling.
"Garion," she cried as she ran towards him.
"Who?" Mike asked.
"Never mind." Sarah smiled as she threw her arms around him.