R – River

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 17 – Quake: 

Rowan has discovered the background story behind Alondria’s birth. He has been instructed to go to her. Springbounder seeks the help of Queen Isolara of Glandisol. Marvelous Marco returns to his wife Lidea, the lady of the lake, to find further ways of assisting Alondria’s quest. Prior to their departure, there is a strong quake that destroys Marco’s cabin, and luckily does not kill them all. 

Meanwhile, Alondria is on a journey that should lead her to someone crucial to her victory. (Part 16 – Peaceful)

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Destiny Part 18 – (river)

Alondria’s path was easy and clear, and she followed it faithfully. There was only one hitch in the directions she had been given: the river Wiser, which flowed before her. The Wiser could be a dangerous river to cross; many undercurrents existed even when the water was low. But, according to the old woman’s instructions, she had to cross it to reach the path that continued on the other bank. 

Alondria considered herself an average swimmer at best. The river seemed to be moving slowly. She hoped it wasn’t too deep. There was no one else around.  She was glad the old woman had provided her with a waterproof backpack. Tightening it on her back so as not to lose it, she slowly forded the river. 

She had only gone about halfway across, the water about chest high, and feeling pretty confident, when an unexpected eddy caused her to lose her footing, and she panicked. 

Between the backpack’s weight and the slippery ground beneath her, she could not regain her footing and swim. She floundered in the water and was convinced that she was going to die. She screamed for help.

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Rowan had followed the path that Marco had given him. It was easy to follow despite the fallen trees and debris from the quake. He knew it led to the river Wiser, but Marco did not explain where to go once he got there. He was just about there when he heard her scream. He had no difficulty recognizing whose voice it was. 

He ran to the bank of the river, looked out, saw Aldondria in desperate trouble, and did not hesitate. Dropping his backpack, Rowan rushed into the river. The current began to pick up. Rowan was a good swimmer; he needed that skill in his work. He saw Alondria’s direction; dangerous rocks were ahead of her. He swam to meet up with her before she reached the rocks. It was close, but he made it in time. 

He called out as he got close, trying to get her to put her feet down. She didn’t respond. All she could do was flail away and scream.

Rowan intercepted her just before she would have hit the rocks. She saw him and reached out to grab him. He, too, reached out to her. Both grips were very strong. She wrapped both arms around him and held on tight as he brought her back to the bank he had come from, which was the one that she had been heading for. 

Shivering with cold and fright, she didn’t want to let go. Rowan waited a while; then, she released her grip. He quickly found what he needed to build a fire. As it flourished, he sat with her, holding her tight against him. She closed her eyes, and he sang this song:

Sleep well my sweet child

Your mother is here

I’ll be there with you 

To comfort your fear. 

The love in you heart

Will grow as you do

So follow your dreams 

And they’ll follow you. 

Click here to hear the song:

The tune soothed Alondria. It sounded very familiar. Something someone else used to sing to her, maybe, to calm her down. “Thanks,” she said to Rowan. “What was that song you were singing?”

He replied, “It’s the song that my mother would sing to me when I was a child. If I was hurt, upset, or scared, she would hold me in her arms and sing it to me. It was the only thing I could think of to calm you down.”

She said, “I know that tune, too. I didn’t know my birth mother, but maybe she sang it to me when I was a baby. Why are you here?” she asked.

It was then that they shared with each other all that had happened to them since their meeting on the mountain. It filled in all of the pieces of Alondria’s story.

Rowan got more wood for the fire. There was nothing they could do until their clothes dried.

Alondria said, “So, I guess we have a lot to do.”

Rowan answered, “I guess we do.”

To be continued in S – Strong