Ember of Hope

Katherine had been confined to the room she had been allotted by her husband and he’d told her not to leave it under any circumstance. A servant girl was assigned to bring her food every meal time and not once had Alex approached her room. The council members had started arriving in Pericles from other parts of the kingdom. The full court would be in presence in a few more days. And then she would be presented in front of them like the criminal she was. And her fate would be in their hands.

She could’ve fled very easily if she wanted to, but what would she even do if she survived? Without her mate and without her child; what would life be? All she now wanted was to lift the curse and get a chance to ask her mate’s forgiveness and her daughter’s; whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Last she saw a photo of her was when she was in school still. And now she might never will.

Alex hadn’t asked her about their daughter’s whereabouts. She knew he was blaming himself for all that had happened… to his people… to his daughter. And now he was afraid to even ask about her because he was afraid to meet her. What if she wanted nothing to do with him? What if she never forgave him? And Katie’s heart broke all over again for what she had robbed him off. He would’ve been the best father the world had ever seen. And she took that away from both her husband and her daughter and for that she didn’t deserve their forgiveness.

So she was ready to be presented in front of the council of Evreux and be held responsible for her heinous crimes.

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King Alexander Christopher Vasilis sat upon the throne as people were let in to greet him. Sitting here was at once nostalgic and uncomfortable. He hadn’t forgiven himself for anything and there was no time in sight that he could see himself forgoing the blame he put upon himself. He had caused this pain to these people who were now welcoming him back with open arms and big hearts. They’d already forgiven and forgotten his mistakes and sat him upon the throne once again.

And he had failed his daughter. He’d lost her as soon as he’d gotten her. And even though it was Katherine who’d given up their daughter; he was the one who’d let it all happen by giving her a chance. And he was scared… scared of seeking his daughter. After so many years of estrangement how would she take the news? And would she even want anything to do with him? And if he didn’t atleast try would it be fair to his daughter… or to him?

He shook hands and smiled as thoughts bombarded his mind, wearing him down. In a few days’ time the council members would all arrive for the court proceedings to take place. Katherine was going to stand accused of all the charges against her. And he would have to ask her before then… about his daughter; his little angel.

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The council had gathered and the session was going to begin anytime. They had already met with and welcomed their once again reinstated king and were waiting for him to proceed. In another section of the fortress; far away from the council room filled with officials, Alex stood in front of Katherine’s door thinking whether he should go in and talk or send in a servant to summon her to the court. He was saved from deciding as she opened the door of her room and stood aside to let him pass.

“You were thinking about sending someone else to summon me, weren’t you?” she asked in an injured voice that grated on his heart.

“The thought did occur to me, yes”.

“I’m glad you came.” She went to sit on the edge of her bed and patted next to her. Alex took her invitation. “If I am to be executed, which I’m sure I will be, I wanted a chance to apologize to you.” she produced an envelope from inside her bedside table and clutched it tight. “I wrote this for our daughter. If you decide to meet her and tell her everything, I wanted to ask you a favor Alex.” She extended the letter towards him, “I want to be the one to tell her and get a chance to atleast attempt to apologize for what I did to her. You can read it if you want and if you find it any less truthful; you can just throw it away. But please give me this one chance at trying”.

Now that everything was out in the open and he knew everything, she had no reason to lie. And somewhere in his heart Alex knew she wasn’t a bad person. Yes she had made bad choices. Yes she had deceived him for fifty years. She had made so many people suffer to appease her anger. She had stolen something precious from him. And yet… yet he knew that she wasn’t evil at heart. It didn’t mean he was ready to forgive her but yes he could grant her this wish.

“Would you like to know about her?” she asked in a weak voice.

“I don’t know if I can. I don’t think I’m ready yet. But yes, one day I would like to try and meet her”. It was all he wanted and yet he couldn’t master his fears. “Okay.” He said and took the letter.

“I’m sorry Alex. I never wanted to be this person. I never wanted to hurt anyone, that’s why I became a healer. Everybody thought I chose that because I was weak but all I wanted was to help people. But look what I did. I didn’t think twice before cursing them Alex” she hung her head in shame. He knew she really was repentant of what she had done but he let her talk… let her say all of the things in her heart before it was too late for her.

“I bound her powers so that no witch could ever trace her but I think I also did it because I was afraid. I was afraid she’d become another Katherine. I wanted her to have a real chance at being a good person. I thought we witches were cursed to turn bad. I realized too late all of us have a choice to make. We have to choose to either be bad or good and I chose to be bad. She is a good kid Alex and I hope that you two will reunite. And I hope one day, both of you will find in your heart; a little less hatred for me”. Katherine stood up and pulled her shoulders back. “I’m ready; let’s go get this over with”. And she left the room.

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