"Clarissa! You did it!" Peter exclaims as I open my watery eyes. Vanessa and I are laying in her bed. I am holding her tight as she is sobbing.
"Oh Vanessa! You are okay!" Queen Anne cries out as she runs over and hugs Vanessa as we sit up. "I was so worried." Queen Anne strokes her face.. She looks at me with red tearstained eyes and places a hand on my cheek. Her eyes tell me how sorry she is for her son's behavior, how she wishes she had known Vanessa's struggle. She hugs both of us, squeezing and not wanting to let go.
"Oh Vanessa, I apologize for my children's actions. I had no clue. You have always been so distant. I should have reached out."
"Did you see it?" I ask her, then realize the whole royal family is there, standing by the door. Walter is looking down ashamed. I'm not sure how I knew but they had to have seen something by the way they were acting.
"We all did, your magic showed us how wrong we have been these past few years. There was an orb floating above you showing us the memories we can only assume you were going through. Vanessa, I apologize for not noticing how upset you were before. I promise to be better." King Charles explains.
"I can't blame you or Queen Anne, you are running a country." Vanessa says, wiping her face.
"Walter!" Queen Anne commands releasing Vanessa and I from her hug. Queen Anne sits up but not without keeping a hand on Vanessa's knee. Walter straightens up and comes over quickly. "I think you owe Vanessa an apology the most."
Walter bows his head and mutters that he's sorry. Queen Anne clears her throat and Walter lifts his head and looks directly at Vanessa, "I am sorry Vanessa. I should have never been so mean. I just didn't want any more changes, I liked the way things were. I never gave you a chance then you shut us out and I never reached out. Will you forgive me?"
She takes a deep breath, "It may take some time, you hurt me the worst."
"I understand." Walter says, bowing his head again.
I punch his shoulder and he gives me a look of bewilderment. "That is for pushing Vanessa down. And to lighten the mood."
King Charles laughs. "You never are one for tense situations, Clarissa." His booming laugh evokes laughs from everyone.
"Let's get a snack from the kitchen." Lola suggests. We get up and everyone makes their way out of Vanessa's room. On the way out Arthur reaches out and touches Vanessa's shoulder.
"If you want to get back to archery, let me know. I could use a new training partner. I am sorry I made you uncomfortable back then, it wasn't my intention. I just didn't think girls could do archery, it wasn't normal but I am finding normal isn't so normal anymore."
"Thank you, Prince Arthur." Vanessa says.
"You can call me Arthur, we are family right?" This brings a small smile from her lips and he gives her a quick side hug.
I stay at the back of the group and watch as a whole new family vibe emerges. The black aura around Vanessa has shrunk but there is still a small section there and it worries me. Magic wisps around them flourishing in bright dazzling swirls. I can feel a positive energy growing.
"You did great, I knew you could do it." Peter says, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Thank you, I couldn't have done it without you." I say and touch his arm. The only reason I could do what I did was because of him. Without his showing up here I could have went into that state also and from what I know about my magic now, I would have done a lot more damage than the earth shaking. I push the thought away. That wont happen now, I have a teacher and friends who will help me keep this magic under control. "Thank you for being here."
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A Ward's Tale
FantasyClarissa has been living as a ward of King Charles for most of her life but unlike the other ward he takes care of she is trapped, not allowed to go anywhere alone. She doesn't realize this until a mysterious man with strange tattoos shows up lookin...