'A Familiar Face'

frolickinraptors (58)in #writing • 7 years ago

Chapter 12 from the Irish Fiction Novel: We Come Back: Vol. 1
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A Familiar Face

“Beathan is…

well, he was, Winter, before me, and when I agreed to replace him, he was so grateful to be released from this attachment in order to travel onward in pursuit of his love, he vowed to return and reunite my love to me, every time I might need him to. He has kept his promise, and done so, more than once I hear. He is a true friend, Rae, and those are not easy to find, as you well know,” he glanced at Kasson and Leonie, who now were speaking with Beathan.

“More than once?”

I didn’t understand, he’d only participated in bringing me to Jack this once, Jack found me the first time on his own, coincidentally… hadn’t he? Before he could respond, we were led back into the kingdom, for an evening of splendid celebration.

“I’ll tell you about it later, my darling. I promise, just remind me,” he wrapped his arms around me in a kiss, and led me down the aisle, back inside the forest of Raiden.

The evening’s entertainment did not cease

for many hours to come, and by the time Jack and I lied down in a guest feather bed, I had placed my questions so far in the back, that I did not remember to ask for further explanations. I curled up next to him and breathed him in, grateful that the universe had seen it fit to weave us together as what appeared to me to be, an unbreakable thread. He sang the same love song to me again, lulling me into sleep, which I fought with all I had. After all, if this was a waking dream, I refused to put a close to it by falling asleep. Alas, his soothing tones, and pounding heart against me, broke down my barriers, and I was soon fast asleep, with him sleeping by my side.

The next morning, I awoke to an arm around my waist, and the soft sounds of the man I loved more than anything, breathing on my neck. I gently rolled over, and watched him sleep. What was it about Jack that made my vision alter so much? Laying there, looking at him, I really couldn’t imagine anything possibly better. I kissed him tenderly, taking care not to wake him.

The fire crackled, welcoming me out of bed.

I slipped into a blue robe, hanging on the end of the bed. Breakfast had been lied out for us, outside on the terrace. A note had been left, saying:

Our Raea,
We have gone home to fetch the rest of our family. I hope you will be happy to see us upon our return. If it isn’t too late, I pray you allow me to give you and Jack my blessing, in this life and in the next. You see sometimes, as a father, you don’t know everything. You aren’t given instructions on how to help guide your fully grown daughter into her happiness. You aren’t always sure what the right choice for her or you is to make. The illusion that we as fathers, as guardians, are given, is that we have control over others lives, when in truth, some things are certain, even if we try to avoid them, or deter from them, or change them, they are not controlled by us. You and Jack are certain, for we have seen that is the only way, through all of this, you too are together now. The sheer impossibility that the lost season is your soul’s mate, teaches me how much in this universe is inevitable, with or without my input. I love you, I am so proud of you, and I could never have stood by and let you make the wrong decision, and as it turns out, it wasn’t wrong, it was right, and I was wrong. Even at my age, you can be surprised by how little you know.
Love,
Papa

I heard myself exhale a deep sigh of relief.

I had truly forgiven him for his decisions, and hadn’t even known it. Now as I sat outside, I tried to relax in the knowledge that it had all worked out in the end. However, it didn’t feel like the end; it felt like the beginning. It was so inspiring, sitting outside in the canopies, listening to the exotic sounds erupting and whistling from the birds flying above and around me. A piece of me was exhausted, and felt as if I could go back to sleep for an endless amount of time, but the rest of me was inwardly leaping about. I could feel the butterflies of nervous excitement, beginning to flutter within me.

My face felt as if it was glowing, like I couldn’t stop blushing with pure, intense emotion. I tried to restrain myself, and then decided that was not the best course of action. I started dancing and leaping all over the terrace, letting bursts of excited screams and laughs erupt.

“I am marrying Jack,” I whispered to myself, as I leaned my hands on the railing looking out at the stirring around me.

“Yes you are,” Jack whispered in my ear as he squeezed my waist, surprising me.

“Why hello…” I spoke in my sexiest, smoothest voice, making myself laugh aloud.

As he kissed me, we heard a knock on the bedroom door.

“Yes? Who is it?” I called out.

“It’s Captain Kasson. I have a message for you from Queen Leonie,” Kasson responded.

Jack pulled a shirt on, against my wishes, and opened the door, “Come in, Captain.”

Kasson entered the room, and bowed slightly at each of us.

“Good morning Kasson. I believe congratulations in order. I am very happy for you and Leonie,” I smiled at him.

“Thank you Raea, I was about to say the same thing to you as well. It seems Leonie would like to discuss your wedding plans, and hoped you would allow her to arrange it for you? She asks that you, Jack, her and I all go on an outing to discuss these matters?”

I looked at Jack approvingly, and he answered, “Of course Captain, we would be honored.”

“Very well, I will meet you in the throne room in, an hour, shall we say?”

“An hour it is,” Jack shook his hand, and escorted him out.

“Well my darling, I have a feeling the next few days, will be rather full. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a daring, runaway marriage?” he smiled, both genuinely and deviously.

He personally had no attachment

to how I married him, just that I did marry him.

“I would love a daring, runaway marriage. Just you and I, together…” I rubbed his arms, and touched his chin affectionately, “however, I have never been one to deny my loved ones the opportunity to share in my good fortunes. Even if the event of the wedding itself, is more important to our loved ones than it is to us, I believe it would only hurt them unnecessarily, to flee off in the night, even if that is so romantic of you to suggest.”

He laughed, and finished getting dressed, “Well, I suppose you should get dressed as well then.”

“Before I do, I feel I must ask if you mind, having the wedding here?” I stepped into a green dress that had been lied out, and turned for him to lace up the back.

I felt him pause, before answering. I took his pause for a hesitation in his view of our wedding plans.

“Baby?” I held my hair up, trying to make it easier for him to lace the dress.