Chapter 326 The Border 2

Chapter 326: Chapter 326 The Border 2

Talia’s POV

The carriage rolled on, and I felt the excitement building in my chest. I recognized the trees, the rocks, and the path ahead. We were so close now.

"Kaelen," I called out.

He turned, and I saw the smile on his face. "I know, Talia. We are almost there."

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears on her face. "Mother, look."

She looked ahead, and I saw her eyes widen. "Is that... is that Blackmoor Valley?"

I nodded, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "Yes, Mother. That is home."

She reached for my hand, and she squeezed it. "I cannot believe it, Talia. I cannot believe I am going to see it."

I squeezed her hand back. "You are, Mother. You are going to see it."

The carriage moved forward, and I could see the valley opening up before us. The mountains rose in the distance, and the sun was setting behind them, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

Then I saw him.

Grandfather Aldric was standing at the border of Shadowfang territory, with his old eyes scanning the horizon. He was waiting for us, just like he always waited for everyone who came home. His back was straight, and his hands were clasped behind him.

He looked older than I remembered, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. The years had taken their toll on him, but he was still standing, and he was still waiting. He had been waiting for this moment, just like I had been waiting for it.

"He is there," I said, and my voice was thick with emotion. "Grandfather Aldric is there."

Kaelen looked ahead, and I saw the smile on his face. "He is waiting for us."

The carriage stopped, and I climbed out. I helped my mother down, and I held her hand. She was trembling, and I could feel her nervousness radiating through her fingers.

"It is okay, Mother," I said. "He is family."

She looked at me, and I saw the fear in her eyes. "I have not seen him in fifteen years, Talia. What if he does not recognize me?"

I squeezed her hand. "He will recognize you, Mother. Trust me."

We walked forward, and I saw Grandfather Aldric turn toward us. His eyes landed on us, and I saw his face change. I could see the recognition, the disbelief, and the hope. All of it flickered across his weathered face in the span of a heartbeat.

"Talia," he said, and his voice was filled with emotion.

I smiled, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "Aldric. I brought her home."

Aldric’s eyes moved to my mother, and I watched them widen.

I watched his face go through a series of emotions that I could not even begin to name. First came the shock, then the disbelief, and then something that looked like a prayer being answered. His lips parted, and I saw him take a shaky breath.

"Seraphina," he whispered, and the name came out like a prayer.

He stared at her like he was seeing a ghost, and I saw the years of grief and loss reflected in his eyes. He had mourned her, and he had believed she was dead. And now, she was standing in front of him.

His voice cracked. "You are truly alive."

My mother looked at him, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "Barely," she said, and her voice was soft. "But I am alive."

Grandfather Aldric walked forward, and I saw his hands trembling. He reached my mother, and he stopped. He stared at her like he was trying to memorize every detail of her face.

"Seraphina," he said, and his voice broke. "I thought you were dead. We all thought you were dead."

My mother smiled, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. "I was, Aldric. For fifteen years, I was dead. But Talia brought me back."

Grandfather Aldric looked at me, and I saw the tears in his eyes. "You did this," he said. "You brought her home."

I nodded, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. "I promised I would, Grandfather. I promised I would find her."

Grandfather Aldric pulled me into a hug, and I felt his arms around me.

I felt his hand on the back of my head, and I heard him whispering into my hair. "You did it, little one. You actually did it. You brought her back to us."

I pressed my face into his shoulder, and I let myself cry. "I told you I would, Grandfather. I told you I would find her."

He was old and frail, but his grip was strong. I felt his body shaking against mine, and I knew he was crying.

"Welcome home, Talia," he said. "Welcome home."

I pulled back, and I looked at my mother. She was standing beside me, and she was looking at Grandfather Aldric with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you," she said, and her voice was soft. "For taking care of my daughter."

Grandfather Aldric shook his head, and I saw the emotion on his face. "She is the one who took care of us, Seraphina. She is the one who saved us all."

My mother looked at me, and I saw the pride in her eyes. "Yes," she said. "She is."

I felt the warmth spreading through my chest, and I looked at the valley ahead. The whole of Blackmoor Valley was waiting for us, and the pack was waiting for us. And after everything, we were finally, almost home.