War of Faeries

Chapter 16

I was growing tired of Henry. I have been shooting the same target for the past four hours, and each time he as had some critique ready. I know archery is where he considers himself an expert, but the fact still remains I am better than him. He isn't finding anything wrong with my shooting, because there is nothing wrong with my shooting. I know that, and he knows that. 

"Henry lay off, she is has nothing wrong-"

"Don't tell me what to do Gabby, when she decided to do axe throwing you can keep your opinions to your self."

By this point Jeremy, Gabby and even Matthew have joined Henry and I for our 'training' session. There have been several times where Jeremy has had to step out of the room. Keeping my secret was proving to be harder than he originally thought. 

"If you weren't such an ass maybe you would see that I'm right." Gabby huffs as she leaves the room. 

"Do it again." Henry commands. 

I raise my bow, and get ready to shoot, but at the last second turn to him and shoot the paper out of his hand. The paper that he has been writing on every time I make another shot.

"Valarie!" Matthew shouts, while Henry looks at the paper in the wall before looking at me. 

"Oops, maybe I need to work on my aim some more." I reply sarcastically before letting another arrow hit the target. "Maybe not. I think I have everything figured out." 

"If you aren't going to consider this seriously, then you can-"

"What Henry? Consider myself out of the competition? I think you have threatened that enough in the past three hours. Why don't you find something else to threaten me with, in the mean time I am taking a break."

I pass Elenore in the hall, she glares at me, and I don't bother with her. She isn't worth the energy. For once my maids aren't in my room, but I know that they will be soon. It feels like every time I come in here they follow me. I flop onto the bed, and wait for them to find me in here. 

"I knew it." I say as they enter the room one by one.

"Knew what?" 

"That you would follow me in here." I admit defeatedly. 

"It is out job to take care of you. If we weren't in here- then we would be failing at our job."

"No you wouldn't. You would actually be completing your job exceptionally." 

"We understand why you feel this way- but you have to understand why we have to be in here."

"I am a hazard." I mutter.

"No, you are the assignment. If the Queen or King find out that we aren't taking care of your every need. I don't imagine we would be working here for much longer."

"Shannon, you're not helping her." Samantha sighs as she takes a seat next to me. 

"I know this can be overwhelming, but you have to understand something. We are supposed to be there for you, even when you don't want us there. We are supposed to be there for when you just need someone to talk to, or someone to cry on.  If we aren't here when you are, then how are you supposed to have those things?"

I tilt my head so I am looking at her. She pushes the hair out of my face and smiles down at me. I look up at the ceiling and soak the moment in. Maybe I found their presence annoying because of the life I've lived, but if I was raised in the palace this conversation would have happened years ago. I would have already known this truth. 

"Valarie." the light knock at my door makes me groan, what did he want now? "Valarie open up please." 

I slowly sit up and nod my head at Suzanne who is standing guard at the door. She nods her head back to me and opens the door. He looks as defeated as I do. He takes serval steps into my room before he says anything. 

"Look I am sorry, Gabby is right. Even if I changed the training environment I knew- I know that you would hit the target perfectly each and every time." 

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"Look I know that I have said somethings- and done somethings that are unacceptable, but I am sorry. I shouldn't have stringed you along even if it was for a short time. I should have told you about Elenore... Look I know that forgiveness is something that takes time- but I would appreciate it if you could find it somewhere in yourself to forgive me and my actions." 

His words were too good to be true. A person like Henry doesn't apologize this easily, not without a deeper reason. He heaves a sigh knowing my thought process, or maybe not my thought process but the weariness. I bite my lip, I know I have to forgive him. I know that he gave me the keys to the kingdom. I can complete my mission, and move on with my life if I accept his words. 

"You'll have to do one thing for me first. If I am to even consider forgiving everything you've done." 

"Anything." he answers hope filling his eyes. 

"Free Cora from the prison."

*******************************************************************************

Wow, what a chapter. 

This is no where near what I expected to happen, but Valarie was telling me it was time. Time for a little forgiveness in her life. 

As always happy reading!