Tales Of A Canyon Heart

Chapter 2

I was ready. My dress showed everyone I was not a woman to be messed with. My hair was as dark as the raven that flew by my window each night. As I put on my heels I took one last look at myself before heading downstairs. As I stood atop the stairs I noticed the stressed faces of my parents in the hallway below me. My father paced while my mother nibbled the edges of her finger. I descended down the stairs gracefully full of power and authority. Something I had not previously radiated.

My parents noticed my presence in the hallway which seemed to only increase their anxieties when they noticed my hair and my attire. I felt strong. I had no more weaknesses. Why were they horrified? why did they look scared?

"Amaya, Hunny are you ok?" my mother seemed to be concerned about me.

"We need you to tell us what happened tonight, darling" my father pleaded

"Nothing happened. You should be happy now, I have nothing to hold me back." My serious tone seemed to send chills down my parent's spine. My father had seen the horrors of war yet he looked as if he had seen a ghost when I spoke. 

"There is something we need to know. What happened with Fallon?" My mother seemed concerned. As if the world was crashing around her and it was her fault. How could she have known what happened this evening was going to happen.

"Fallon left. She did not want to see me wed a man out of duty. She did not want to love me through a loveless marriage." I told them the truth but ignoring the emotions that stirred each time I said her name. My father's face dropped, he sensed what I was hiding, suppressing, and avoiding. 

"Amaya, did you love Fallon?" My parents asked. Had they taken no interest in me in the last two years? Were they blind to their own daughter's happiness? 

"Of course I loved her" I over-stressed the past tense nature of the situation, hoping that this would mean they dropped the situation and get the evening over and done with.

"Darling, we need to tell you something." my parents exchanged glances, unsure if they wanted to break the unspoken secret of my life. "We should have told you this sooner but we did not want to impact on your choice and happiness." Their words confused me. They had a secret about me that they refused to share, yet they only now wish to disclose. What had happened to cause such a shock to them that needed them to tell me. 

"Just spit it out, let me guess I am adopted or you stole me. What big secret have you hid away for 19 years?" the slight hint of sarcasm in my voice seemed to only make the situation worse for my parents. I did not wish to be cruel and mean towards my family, but for some reason, every thought or word that came out was cold and emotionless.

"You are our daughter by blood. Why would you think differently? " Adela was horrified at the mere suggestion that the secret was purely about my lineage. "You are special, you are not like anyone in that room next door, let alone in the 9 kingdoms."

I was confused by their words. Of course, every parent thinks their child is special, but usually that is something boasted in pride to other parents. So why was this being spoken in hushed tones away from prying ears? Alistair stepped forward and rested a hand on my mother's shoulder to calm her.

"Your mother and I are your biological parents. However while was away fighting in the 10 nation war before you were born, I was injured and taken by an unknown party who healed me." My father had always seemed hesitant to discuss his past about the 10 nation war, but then again it was mostly unspoken by anyone on the 9 kingdoms. "The stranger had abilities to see the future. In my need for victory for the crown in the battle, I begged her for the outcome and how I could lead my armies into a victory."