Chapter 25: Awakening
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Morgan recognised her surroundings, the
clouds embraced her, their familiarity bringing a sense of peace. After a
timeless moment they parted, and she found herself on a small dinghy as it cut
through a wave, oceans spray kissing her face as she breathed in the cool sea
air.
She smiled, there was something uplifting
about Crewtown this late in the year, the pungent air bringing all that the
season promised to offer. Morgan sat sternward, in control as usual—one hand on
the tiller, the other griping the edge of her small boat. The day had been
delightful, her short trip on the immeasurable sea helping to break the boredom
of daily life. Before long she had piloted her vessel into Crewtown harbour, it
was then that she noticed someone waving at her from the jetty. Another tack, and
that someone came into focus. A wave of adoration hit her, Sha was at the end
of the jetty, his legs dipped in the water. Morgan threw a rope in his direction
as soon as she was close enough. Hand over hand he pulled, propelling her
towards him. Before she could leap up beside him, Piper came into view chasing
three small children, down the jetty towards her, two boys with familiar grins
and a girl with flame coloured hair. Giggling with glee, the pack of children raced
towards their father, Piper gave up on the chase, instead joining in on the
mirth. Laughing Sha grabbed a child with one arm, the other arm he sent in
Morgan’s direction. She reached out to take the outstretched hand, then her
world flipped upside down, and everything shifted once again.
Just like that Sha and Piper were gone
along with her children, she felt the loss of their company, but she was
consoled by the fact that it was only a dream, or the dying musings of a wasted
life, either way it had been pleasant. The newness that she found herself in
was dark, and the darkness brought a friend, loneliness. She grasped for a
lifeline, instead she was left to the mercy of some very familiar feelings,
each a gem of disparagement, each jostling with one another, all to fill the
gaping void. Yet, nothing could fill it because nothing mattered. Her life’s
work, striving to survive, it had all been for nought, because the cold truth
was, her self-worth would never return, neither would the mother who didn’t
loved her, nor the father that left her to be raised by a drunkard. Despair descended,
worse still such musings would be her very last. She let go, a sense of falling
sent her towards oblivion.
Something caught her, held firm. A glow
enveloped her its presence frightening away creeping gloom then graceful words consumed
lingering doubt, “Therein lies your perceived weakness child, deep down you
feel that you don’t deserve to be loved. I, however, know truth, deep down so
do you, lies are funny that way.” Morgan searched for the speaker, half
expecting to find nothing. Yet, a familiar face appeared before her. “I am
Amare,” the being with Nia’s face affirmed, the admission confirming something,
although confirmations are only the start.
“Are you human?” She asked, a feeling of
stupidity visited soon after.
“Sometimes,” Amare replied, in an
annoyingly vague manner.
“Are you a woman or a man?”
“I am both, but I am neither,” Amare
responded. Thankfully the god continued, finally revealing the reason for the serene
impartation, the disclosure however was tinged with more vagueness, “Your
trials have only just begun. Thus far you have relied on your own flesh, but
there are much worse dangers on the horizon and you will need help.”
Morgan’s frustration peaked, words escaped
unheeded, “Woah, woah, woah, weigh anchor, what if I don’t want your help. I
never actually asked for any of this.”
Amare smiled, adoration displayed in clear
eyes, her reply gentle, “Child, I have always been here for you. You know that
to be true, the real issue here is that you don’t feel in control of your life
and by association this situation. Even the messiness of your room is an
example of your need to exert control. It is the only place you allow clutter.
Control is just an illusion, another obstacle that you use to protect yourself.
You are still that scared, little girl.”
Morgan was stunned, I mean what do you say
to a being that knows every inch of you, she went with, “Stop calling me child!”
Although her comment sounded very childish, and she was feeling a decided lack
of control.
Amare’s calm reply was paired with a kind
smile, “I will go now, rest well, then prepare for what is to come and always
remember no matter what, the future is in your hands—hupernikao and happiness
to you, my child.” Before Morgan could request an explanation for Amare’s statement,
she faded away, uttering two final words as she did so, “Choose me.”
Morgan was still pondering a possible hidden meaning to the whole encounter when
her world went dark.
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Darkness heralded
light, the very same light that shone through sluggish lids. Unfortunately for
Morgan awakening brought pain; she groaned in protest. Ever so slowly, the room
come into focus and with it a comforting sight. Fast asleep on the chair beside
her was Sha, a peaceful smile upon his unbelievably handsome face, knowledge of
his woes and her body’s pain hit all at once. Worried that her prince might
wake and remember all his troubles Morgan cried as silently as she was able,
her sorrow unmeasured until the tears came no more, and she drifted off into a
blissful uneventful slumber.
Sha’s concerned gaze welcomed her upon
awakening, with no awareness of time passing, she was worried that he had heard
her cries, “What is that expression for?”
She asked croakily.
“I was worried. Nia said you might be sore
when you awoke,” his voice broke, “I thought that I had lost you.”
“Please don’t worry for me right now, how
are you?” Morgan said, finding Sha’s hand.
There was a new haunt in his gaze, his
words flat, “I wish every day that I could have apologised to my father.
Honestly Morgan, I don’t think I will be okay for a while. I’m just heartened
by the fact that you have finally opened your eyes.”
Morgan reached for an uplifting response, “Amare
showed me that you are my future, so that’s a big endorsement, don’t you
think?”
“Wait, what!” Sha blurted.
“I’ve got to say Sha if you and me are
going to be together, you have got to cut down on the ‘wait, what’s,” she said
cheekily, the smile that lit up Sha’s features was a handsome reward.
“Oh, Morgan, don’t try to change me,” Sha
replied in mock indignation, he then cleared his throat as if unsure of his
next words, “Piper wants to visit you.” She gripped Sha’s hand tighter, “You
needn’t worry, she knows, so does my mother.” Morgan could feel sadness akin to
that which she felt in her dream, and yet remembering the dream gave her hope.
Somehow Sha knew what to say, “I remember
when she was but one year old, she would crawl all the way to the kitchens to
try and get into one specific cupboard. It wouldn’t open but she refused to
give up. The day that she finally opened that cupboard, the kitchen staff were all
so merry. What I am trying to say is you are not losing her. Have you ever
known her to allow anyone to tell her what to do? Besides, she is a princess
and the youngest of the family, no one can tell her what to do.”
The emotions Morgan was normally good at
hiding were for some reason ravaging her, she attempted control while Sha
stepped out to fetch Piper.
Piper’s entrance was noticed by all, the
child’s hug so rough that it brought pain, she ignored the pain joining in as
if it was the last. Eventually the little one came up for air, “I’m not staying
here, I am a Jones, not a Dallinger!” She announced firmly.
Morgan felt her chest expanding, yet she uttered
the words that she knew she must, “You know that I love you, that will never
change, but Sha, Leo, and Mira, they all love you as well. They are your
family, please give them a chance. Besides, you know that Jones is just a name
given to a bastard hailing from Crewtown, it was always just a placeholder for
you.” The look of betrayal upon Piper’s face nearly sent her over the edge,
“Listen, no one is going to force you to do anything that you don’t want to do,
and you are always welcome at Crewtown.”
“I hate that he has done this to us. I hate
him so much,” Piper grumbled, her face as twisted as her emotions.
She sighed, offering gentle advice, “Don’t
say such things, hate has a price, it takes one piece of your soul at a time
for as long as you give it reign.” She smiled, “Always remember I will be here
for you no matter what. Now go and give Mira some of what she lost, the
beautiful kind-hearted and giving child that I love, she needs every bit of
that right now.” Piper started to sob, clinging to her, the embrace bringing
real pain inside and out. When Piper had finally slunk out of the room, she was
able to release, her grief so overwhelming that she fought to breathe.
______________________
As soon as Sha stopped hovering, she asked
one of the maids to help her out of bed, changed then walked around the room,
the painful task—an effort to carefully stretch out her body. By the time Sha strode
into the room once again, she was pretending to be at leisure, sitting upon a
divan near a window with a stunning view, her eyes considerably less puffy than
before. The prince’s smile warned of mischief, his words the same, “My brother
King Leonardis, the pain in the behind wants to speak to you. I tried to
dissuade him, but he insists.”
Leo, had followed his brother into the room,
“I heard that,” He grumbled in mock indignation, “Unless you want to be thrown
into the privy hole to find the pile at the bottom, I suggest you watch your
nicknames, because the ones you will get from that experience would be much
worse.” Morgan giggled, then subsequently clutched her side in pain, Sha
offered an apologetic look. Leo continued in a business-like manner, “Sorry, I
won’t make any more jokes. I was hoping to talk to you about something if you
are up for it?” The question hung in the air, until she nodded slowly, “Right
then, I have thought long and hard about this and decided because of your exemplary
service to the crown that you will be given a new commission. I am going with Commander
of the Navy; it comes with a title of course and land.”
“No!” She interjected pointedly.
“How about a nice Duchy than?”
“Absolutely Not!”
Leo didn’t skip a beat, “Thought you would
say that which is why I have gone ahead and given you the title of Baroness of
Crewtown and a small insignificant commission. The ceremony will be in a week’s
time as well as a few others, rest until than okay, much to do and all.” Leo
escaped the room leaving Morgan reeling over the fact that he had mentioned the
words ‘Crewtown’ and ‘Baroness’ in the same sentence, the thought of such so
comical that she once again found herself clutching her side.
Sha looked on concerned, “Does that mean
you are taking the offer?” he asked.
“Can
you imagine the look on the other Captain’s faces when I arrive on a flying
ship, and announce that Crewtown is a Barony,” Morgan exclaimed, “They will
need to go legit or find somewhere else to hang their hats!” She pointed a
finger at the desk beside her bed, “Talking about random things, what is the
letter on my desk for. It says that it’s from Reginald James Cuisinier, the
third Lord of Hautbas.” Sha stared at her with pursed lips, “Is this some sort
of a practical joke? Isn’t Reginald Cuisinier supposed to be dead or lost? Isn’t
he the fabled greatest swordsman? How did I did not know that he was Lord of
where my favourite coffee is from?”
Sha blinked back at her for a few seconds, she
levelled a stern stare in his direction, and he finally decided to speak, “I
assume that you didn’t know that Castain is in fact Reginald?” It was now
Morgan’s turn to blink, “Castain asked me to give you that letter. He has
already left on another mission with Aiden, they are off to spy on the enemy. He
wanted to talk to you, but you were asleep for too long.”
Sha’s words struck a chord, “Castain is the
lord of Hautbas, that explains so many things especially the smug look on his
face when I was drinking my morning coffee.”
The prince silenced her with a barely
comprehensible plea, “You two have a thing, don’t you? That’s what this is,
what other reason could you have for this reaction.”
Sha’s distress was interrupted by her
emphatic reply, “You are and will only ever be the man for me. Now tell me,
what is Castain’s story, how does a wannabe gold wearing, ring kissing, owner
of a palatial manor choose the life of a spy?”
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