SWNOVELS Chapter 24
"You know that doesn't change my mind. You need to stay out here." I want him to join me, but I know deep down it isn't the right thing to do just yet. Not only that, the thought of being with him the way he wants to be is terrifying to me.
"Then I will wait till after we are married." He heaves a sigh yet he doesn't try to push the issue. He kisses my hands and takes a step back.
"We will see if I am ready. I have never been or um..." I look down at my feet as I am not so much embarrassed by it, rather I just wasn't sure how to say it.
"I know you told me you were guarded. Not allowed such thoughts of things of this nature so I will wait till you are ready." I lean forward and kiss him one more time before I go in the room, the door closes behind me as I lay on bed. I close my eyes and actually falling right to sleep. I guess all the excitement had taken its toll on me. As my dreams start I look out into a green meadow that looks like one from my home planet. To my surprise I see my father standing in the field as our castle comes into focus behind him. I call out to him and he turns to face me. My heart leaps in my chest, I just stare at him, as it feels so real.
"You look beautiful my sweet Laoonica." His voice vibrates through me as I have not heard it since that fateful day.
"Father, how can this be?" I reach out placing my hand on him. His solid form feels as though he is there with me. I have never dreamed so vividly before.
"I am dead, but I am always with you. In your dreams I can see you and you me." He says as he leans in to hug me tightly. Feeling his arms incase me, smelling his cologne, and I savor the moment.
"Father I miss you." I look up at him as he holds me in his arms.
"I know but there isn't much time for me to say what I have to say. You are being foolish. You should be cautious of those you think you can trust. They are not who they seem." He looks worried and I know instantly what this is about.
"Don't be angry with me father. I love him." I say in Patrick's defense. A strange feeling comes over me as I say it as though it is not my father I am trying to convince. I shake off the feeling waiting for my father to respond.
"I thought I taught you better child." The disappointed gleam in his eye is enough to make me step away. I clasp my hands in front of me and look at the ground avoiding his gaze as I rebut.
"I am an adult father and I have the right to make my own choice." It is the first time ever that I have actually stood my ground against my father so strongly. I cannot back down because at this point my choices where limited.
"Unfortunately it is not he that will cause you the most harm. Our enemy turns out was always within our walls. I have to go now Laoonica I love you my daughter." his image fades out of my dreams.
"Father, wait daddy." I stand in the middle of the field staring down at the castle. In my dream it is still intact and I stand trying to figure out what he meant that our enemy was always within our walls. What could he mean our home was destroyed? I step forward flashing and within a second I am inside my home but it is empty of any signs of life. I walk through the familiar halls running my hand down the walls as I make my way to my room. I want to cry at the site of it for more than one reason. I has been so long since I had been here and yet it didn't seem the same. It felt more like a prison now than it ever had. Was it my new found freedom or the idea of being placed in this same position again if my marriage did not work?
"That girl will be the death of you." I turn to see my mother looking up into my father's eyes the same way she had done right before we left. I sat up in the bed and stared blankly at the sewing machine that I had moved in here the last time I couldn't sleep. I move to the side of the bed sit with my legs dangling over the edge contemplating rather to get up or not. The image of my father stays in my head. Now I know for sure now that he did not approve, but it is not his decision. Even with the feeling of disappointing him lingering in my mind. Yet from what I could tell my marrying Patrick was not his greatest concern. I wish I had more time to ask him questions. 'Our enemy turns out was always within our walls' echoes over and over. I have never had the experience of the dead visiting in my dreams before, but then again I never had anyone so close to me die. I wonder if anyone other than my father will visit me.
The morning cannot be far behind my waking and I know I have to prepare myself to face the council and convince them that this will work. I somehow even with my own doubts rising in strength, I have to make them think this is the answer. I don't know what Patrick is hiding either, which bothers me quite a bit as my father said he wasn't what he seemed. I look over at the dresser and the mirror just staring waiting for the buzzing of the alarm to sound. I sit there still on the side of the bed trying to take in the meaning of my father's warning.
I can't wait any longer so I stand up and look through my outfits. I find the one that is blue and white. I took my hair and French braid it around making it look as though I am wearing a hair band with most of my hair being down. I sat in front of the mirror for a second and look at myself taking a few breaths in as I try desperately to calm myself. I know that this is the only way I will be able to reduce the loss of innocent lives. I have to compose myself in front of the council. After yesterdays I don't know if they are actually prepared to listen or if they are only following protocol. I have to explain the prophecy and that marriage is the answer to giving myself to a man. I don't know that it will actually work, but if it doesn't and I gain no control at least I can sneak away and be alone on an isolate planet. I just hope that Patrick doesn't feel betrayed if I leave without him.
I hear a knock on the door. "I am almost ready Patrick." I stand up and look at myself in the mirror. I hope that this is appropriate for what is about to happen today. I walk over to the door pushing the control to open it open it. Patrick is standing in the middle of the room when he turns to face me his jaw drops open. I blush at the way he is staring at me. He is dressed in a black suit and tie, his hair was slicked back, and I can barely believe how handsome he is, well if he will shut his mouth.
"We aren't getting married today you know." I say in a joking manor. He looks awkward; he had been fumbling with his tie before he turned around, now he is just standing there with his mouth still wide open. He looks like a funny statue as he had frozen in his place. "We better get on our way to the deck." he closes his mouth and walks over to me. I automatically fix his tie as I have before.
"You amaze me every time I see you. You're so beautiful." I smile at him but the dream of my father lingers in my head. I can't just come out and say that I knew he is hiding a deep, possible dark secret from me. Not with so much at stake. There is so much love and kindness in his eyes so perhaps it isn't as dark as my father made it feel like.
"You really should learn to do this for yourself you know." I say, it takes me a bit longer than usual to complete the task of tying his tie as my hands are shaking. I am extremely nervous about the announcement.
"Well I like when you do it for me it gives me the chance to get closer to you." He smiles but it doesn't relieve my worry. I hope that they would listen and give this hair brained scheme a chance. We make our way to the elevator in silence with his hand and the small of my back. I don't know what to say to him. My father's words just play over and over in my head, 'it is not he that will cause you the most harm.' What harm is he supposed to cause me? We ride to the deck in silence as he just holds me I think he is as nervous as I am.
"Princess are you ready?" the captain ask as he is waiting for us at the doors as they open. I look at him I could feel myself shaking, thankfully the flow of the dress hid it well.
"I think so captain." I look down at my feet and swallow hard.
"And how about you Lieutenant Wolf?" he looks at Patrick who was looking over at me.
"I am ready Captain." He doesn't seem to show any sign that he is nervous in the presence of the captain. I don't know how he could compose himself so well.
"Well let's hope that you have it in you to convince the council that this is a better way." the captain motions for us to enter the conference room. We enter this time we did not have to wait for everyone else to come on. The council is already on the screen. I look at them this time there were two black squares. I know his mother said his father wouldn't be attending the meeting but I wasn't sure if it had meant he had passed on or he was still with us but to weak. We haven't gotten any word from them at least not that Patrick has told me. When I look at him I can tell he is worried. He looks at the empty square, then at the floor, and back up again.
"Well Princess Laoonica, the meeting was recessed at your request. Now is there some new information you would like to share with the council before we finalize the orders." The red headed man speaks very bluntly and with no formalities as I suppose he is ready to get this over with.
"Council Man Wolf has shared with me some vital information. As the head chair I am inclined to go with him on this matter. I am sure he did not share this information with any other member of the council given his weakened state. But council man Davis I am sure we can give it our best to actually listen to what she has to say before we assume that it is a delay tactic." Maggie replies to his arrogance as he has no right to intervene first. I could tell that she is more than a bit angered at him by the sound of her voice.
"Thank you, council woman Maggie. I am not sure what details have been shared with you; however, allow me to fill in the entire council. You told me that if there was a way for me to gain control over my powers that you would reconsider sticking me in a gilded cage." I put my hands by my side but my anxiety made me fidget until I feel Patrick reach down and grip my hand gently. I didn't relax much at his touch as it drew attention and seems to make it harder for me to want to come out with it.
"Yes Princess we did." one of the woman speaks up as she leans closer to her screen making her appear grossly deformed. I can feel my heart beat in my throat as I ready myself for the reveal of my way out of their cage. Now or never, I tell myself.
"There is a prophecy, a foretelling of my birth and life. The priests of my planet have written down the limits in which control can be gained. The fact that I am born and remain un-aged from eighteen is enough proof to back up the rest of the prophecy." I say watching their faces as they eagerly await what I had to say. I am not sure that Patrick would be so happy is he knew I was probably older then him. At this point I should actually be close to thirty.
"Princess we have been at this for three days now and unfortunately none of us has the ability to stay or grow younger. If you wouldn't mind getting to the point, we know the basics." The one with the blonde curly hair says.
"Council woman let the princess finish I know we are all ready for this to be over but the princess has rights to speak. So I suggest we all remain quiet and let her finish." Maggie insists. It is clear that I am nervous although the majority do not seem to care they just want me to get on with it.