The Unforeseen [EDITING]

Chapter Seventeen

"I had hoped she would've made you wait longer," Aldus teased. "But I see why you're in better spirits now, not as ill-tempered as usual."
     Silas disregarded his brother's observation, "Things are finally falling into place."
     "Ah yes, your childhood crush is finally taking an interest in you."
     "She's willing to give us a chance."
     Aldus' raised an eyebrow in question.
     "I understand that I can be a bit headstrong at times-"
     "A bit headstrong?! Try Stubborn, pigheaded-"
     Silas glared in his brother's direction, "I made a promise that I would be honest with her and I suppose, more willing to compromise." He thought back to their earlier conversation. "I've never been very fond of compromise, but I want her to trust me and see that we're equals in this relationship."
      A short, derisive laugh escaped Aldus' lips, "My brother, you've got some work to do."
     "If it's for us, of course I can be-"
     "Silas, have you forgotten these past few weeks?" Aldus asked incredulously. "Everything about your relationship has been about power. You amended the agreement between father and Vassar so that Timena could be written into it, and she ran away Silas."
     "You were willing to force her hand in marriage to tie her to you, you demand and expect everyone to concede. You have your wits about you now because you're on the path to getting what you want."
     Silas felt his anger brewing as he was taken by surprise at his brother's harsh remarks, "I didn't expect this from you Aldus, my own brother."
     Aldus scoffed. "You are my brother and I stand by you, but I've seen how you were with Timena. It would be one thing to force her hand and it be for the good of her people, but you want her to love and trust you when you've given her every reason not to. You didn't see her when she found out you were looking for her that day, or when she came back and was surrounded by guards."
     Silas considered his words, his anger slowly turning to guilt.
     "You'll give her time, but how much?" Aldus paced back and forth slowly. "How long will you court her before you decide to propose? I'm certain she expressed her opinions on marriage and becoming a queen?"
     "When the time comes we'll work through those issues." Silas said, sounding sure of himself.
     "What makes you so certain you can change her mind? Have you ever considered that perhaps marriage truly holds no importance to her? Maybe she just wants to be a dame and nothing more."
     The tick in Silas' jaw was apparent as he contemplated the idea. He didn't know how to get his head around the thought.
     "If you want a real relationship with her, you'll have to consider what she really wants." Aldus said calmly. "If you try to force this, all you'll have with her is an alliance or worse, nothing at all."
     With those parting words, Aldus left the room.

     Clara remained hidden as she watched Silas leave next. She'd listened intently to their conversation and couldn't deny that Aldus had made a point.
      It certainly hadn't been fair for her to aid her son in his quest to capture Timena, she felt that familiar twinge of guilt. It had been weeks since they'd last spoken, she wished things could have gone back to how they were when they'd first met. Their last conversation played in her mind, "Don't come near me again Clara because if I'm given the chance, I'll do worse than a simple punch next time."
She went in search of Timena, wondering if she still felt the same. Clara had been watching her son and Timena over the past weeks, she felt hopeful that the relationship between them would continue to develop over time.
     Clara found her serving meals in the church, and suddenly her palms grew clammy as she anticipated how Timena might react to her presence after all these weeks.
     She stood in line, slowly moving forward as each person before her was handed their food.
     "Can I have something as well?" She asked nervously.
     Timena looked up slowly, almost expectantly. There was no emotion as her eyes met Clara's.
    Tilting her head to the side, she regarded Clara's appearance for a moment. "I wondered when you'd show your face again."
     "I..." Clara struggled to find the right words to say. "I was wondering, or hoping that I could talk to you." It came out as more of a question rather than a statement.
     Timena sighed before asking another person to take over with the serving. 
     "What is it you wish to talk about Clara?"
     "Well, could we maybe go for a walk, just to ensure that there are no prying ears." She suggested.
     Timena put her hand out, motioning for her to lead the way.
     The two women walked along the cobbled street in silence, Timena observing the citizens and Clara observing her.
     "How have you been?" She asked calmly.
     "Don't you know? I figured with all your lurking around, you'd be keeping an eye out for me." Timena quipped.
     Clara's face was puckered with uncertainty, wondering if she was only teasing.
     "Um no, I haven't kept too close of an eye on you, mostly Silas." She admitted.
     Timena only offered a slight nod.
     "Are you still angry with me?" Clara finally blurted out.
     They had reached the low brick wall that overlooked the sea, Timena rested her palms against it as she considered the question.
     "Yes I am," She said soberly. "For more than one reason."
     Clara nodded, exhaling deeply. "I'm sorry, in more ways than one."
      Timena waited for her to continue.
     "I never truly took your feelings into consideration when it came to Silas, I let my need to help him cloud my judgement. He's my son, but you're also my friend, or were my friend." She paused for a moment. "You confided in me and I betrayed you, I think I mainly saw you as a missing piece for my son. I knew that he wanted you and with me being absent from his life for so many years, I thought this would be just one way to make up for that. You didn't deserve to be used like that."
     Timena appreciated that her feelings were finally being acknowledged.
     "I've had this habit over the years of thinking I'm entitled to choose what's right for someone else, that in the end everything would have worked out because I think I know what's best."
     "You and Silas might have that in common." Timena thought aloud.
     Clara laughed sadly before turning her attention to the distant waves. "I had no right to make that decision for you, and I'm sorry."
     They sat in silence now; Timena felt that the apology was sincere but wondered if she was ready to forgive Clara. She thought back to the time Silas had found her in the forest, the feelings of confusion, anger, embarrassment and sadness. It bothered her even now, but if she was willing to try with Silas, didn't that mean that she should give Clara a chance as well?
     She bit her lip as she considered what to say next.
     "I... appreciate your apology, and even though all this time has passed, it still brings back certain feelings." Timena noticed the pained expression on Clara's face. "It's not to say that I'm necessarily mad at you anymore, I don't currently feel like punching you, so that's good, right?"
     A small, hopeful smile came to Clara's lips. "Could we ever be friends again?"
     A slightly dubious look appeared on Timena's face. "We were friends?" She asked, in a teasing voice.
     Clara couldn't suppress her smile now, "I was beginning to think so."
      Looking away slowly, Timena nodded her head in understanding. 
     "Are you ever going to talk to Silas?" She asked a few moments later.
     Clara hung her head in shame, "Yes, I just haven't gotten around to it yet."
      "That's understandable, well with all the time you spend creeping around the castle, you must be very busy." She feigned sincerity.
      Almost immediately, they began to laugh. It was a small, but good-natured moment the two of them shared.
     "Well, my duties aren't finished as of yet so I must get back." Timena said before getting up. "I'll be seeing you around I suppose?"
     "Yes, if that's alright with you." Clara replied with an optimistic smile.
     Timena nodded once before turning away and eventually disappearing into the crowd of people.
     This was another moment in Clara's life where she'd felt a renewed sense of hope. She was on the path to resolving things with Timena, all that was left to do now was mend her relationship with Silas.