THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 52

" This is going to create discord in your family. I can tell that Aretha is hurt from all of this."
" Yes Seti. None of us saw this coming. I don't even know what to think of her. I don't know her."
" Let's hope that she brings no ill intentions with her."
" What I wonder is how she and Aretha met and discovered all of this."
"Only Aretha can tell."
" We came here to visit for a few days but there has been nothing but dramatic moments. It's not the ideal visit I had wanted for the both of us."
" I can get through it and ignore it as long as you're here with me."
" And I you."
" What we have to do is make sure that Aretha is alright. I hope that she won't best a grudge with any of us since she was the only one kept in the dark. She must be angry right now."
" Calm down. Aretha is an intelligent woman and I am sure that she will get through this. She cares a lot about you all so she will forgive you. I know it."
" I hope so."

In the gardens, Fabian was walking his horse when he caught sight of Luciana plucking some flowers as she placed them in a basket.
When she turned, she saw him and stood still. She curtsied when he got close to her.
" I can tell that you have been avoiding me since you got here. It's been so long since we saw each other. Is this the way we'll go on ?"
" There is nothing between us anymore my lord. I went to Egypt and it has been a long time. I have no feelings for you."
" But I do," he said and his voice broke st the end." I have never stopped loving you."
" Well you should have a long time ago," she snapped.
" Why are you talking to me this way ? You know that you are the one in my heart. I am still in love..."
"With Lady Germaine. I know that."
"What! I don't love Germaine. She is only a close friend to me."
"It's not what I saw."
"Saw what?"
"Nothing," she said and she started to walk away but he grabbed her and made her loom at him.
"What did you see ?"
"I saw you kissing her during Astrid's wedding."
"I was drunk. I didn't know what I was doing. Trust me. You don't know how much I have been through without seeing you for all these moons. I feel miserable without you."
"You shouldn't. I am sure that Lady Germaine keeps you occupied. I have heard it from the other servants. She keeps coming here to see you and you spend time together hunting, riding together and dining too."
"It's true but she doesn't mean that to me. She is a good friend. Nothing more. You are the only one in my heart and neither Germaine nor any other woman thrown at me by my grandfather for me to get to know will ever be like you. I love you."
Saying that, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her forcibly but she did nothing to stop him.
"I don't love you anymore Fabian. What we had was in the past and it was wrong. It's time we moved on. You have Germaine and I have someone else in Egypt," she said the minute she broke off from the kiss.
"What did you say ? You have someone in Egypt ? Who is he ? What is his name ? What does he do ? How long has your courtship been going on ?"
" I am not having this conversation with you. I need to deliver these flowers to Astrid's room. We shouldn't be seen here together. I have to go. I don't want to get into trouble."
" You're right. Leave. I don't want to see you," he said and stormed off before mounting his horse and riding away.
She looked at him and she felt her heart break. That was not the way she had imagined meeting him. From the way he was, he seemed to be still in love with her but she had decided to forget him after seeing him kiss Germaine and so it became. The feel of his tender lips on hers was still familiar. Her feelings for him had slowly died down over the time she was not there but did her feelings for him surface after the kiss ? Maybe not seeing each other as he had said was the best. She  continued to pick some flowers in silence.

The next few days went on with silence. Aretha did not talk much to the others. Astrid avoided Audelia and so did Fabian with Luciana.
"I hear that you will be leaving for Egypt soon," Audelia told Astrid when she found her walking along the corridors with Luciana behind her." You haven't spoken to me and I could swear that I have never heard you speak. We a re cousins and we should get along before you leave."
" I don't know you. I have no relations with you. You are only a story to me. I can only ask you not to lead Aretha astray or do anything that will hurt her. This family means a lot to her so don't try to jeopardize anything."
"You talk to me as if I am a person who cannot be trusted. I have done nothing to you Astrid."
" Trust is earned, Audelia. I don't trust you one bit. Prove yourself to be honourable and I will treat you so."
With that, she walked away to see Aretha leaving Audelia in the corridor.
" We shall see about that Astrid," Audelia muttered under her breath.

Astrid knocked at the door and Aretha's lady in waiting opened the door.
She was dressed in a light blue dress with her hair flowing on her shoulders.
"You look beautiful," Astrid said." It's rare to see your hair like that."
"Thank you Astrid. I am trying some styles on my hair to see which will make me look my best on my wedding day. The wedding is in two weeks and I am so anxious."
" Don't be. I am telling you that from my experience. I knew that I was getting married to a good man. You are too so don't worry."
"Astrid, do you blame me for having feelings for him ?"
"Of course not. I will never do that. I want you to be happy. I can see how much you love each other and I can be nothing short of happy for you. Sadly I won't be here to see you get married."
"Yes. I wish you would be here but you have to go back. Keep writing to me like you have always done before."
"Of course I will. Since I won't be here, I would like to give you this," she said as she gestured to Luciana to give her a box. In it was a diamond tiara with a flower pattern with a large sapphire set in the middle. There was a golden neckpiece with silver earrings and bracelets.
"This is my and Seti's gift to you Aretha. We had the royal jeweller prepare it fast before we left."
" I love them," she gushed as she looked at each of the pieces.
" This is a gown from Egypt too. I didn't know that I would get here and find you getting betrothed so I had not time to bring presents. It's new and the fabric is rare. It suits you. Wear it when it's hot outside."
" Thank you so much. I am so happy."
" Before I leave, make peace with everyone. They may have kept the truth from you but they had your best interests at heart."
" I understand that. I don't feel angry at them. I am getting married and I want this new chapter of my life to be perfect."
" It will be."
" Travel safely."
" We will. Thank you. I will miss you."
" I will miss you too Astrid," she said as the two hugged.
After some hours, Astrid and Seti left for Egypt after bidding everyone goodbye. The journey would take some days and soon, they were back in Egypt.