The Royal Rescue

Chapter 25

Serenity's PoV

After travelling for what seemed like hours, I finally arrived at the destination that I sought. A place where a truly remarkable person was killed and buried. A mother who not only protected me but loved me when no one gave love to her.

Out of everyone I've ever known in my life, she was the person I looked up to most. Even in the short time, I knew her, she made a lasting hand print on my heart that has now fossilised into something no one can take away from us. A loving mother and daughter bond.

I knelt beside her grave and stayed there for a while before finally speaking to her.

"Mum, I know you say to 'love thy neighbour' but how can I when there's this pressure holding me back? I didn't know how bad it was until that night and when he took you away from me, I knew it would take a lot of strength in me to forgive him. The thing is, I don't think I'm strong enough. All this time, I've been alone and then Ricardo shows up and gifts me the vision to see the world from a new perspective. I have been clouded by what he has shown that I had forgotten my roots and what made me who I am now. I lost track of who I am but I'm also scared of what's to come if I progress further. Am I even gonna be a good queen? I don't know. I don't know who I am anymore. I'm lost in this maze and now I feel even more trapped than before. It's like I need to find a hint to the next part of the puzzle. Help me. Help me find this piece and become someone that you would be proud of. Please." I cried against the ground, not caring that I was ruining the dress.

Oh well, it was already dirty anyway.

I just continued to cry until all that remained was my bloodshot eyes.

I just lay there like a statue, unmoving and silent. I needed this. The atmosphere helped me think about what to do. The air embraced me even though it was cold but I didn't mind. It just reminded me that I was alive.

"She was and always will be proud of you, Serenity." I jumped and turned around only to see my father standing there with partially tear-stained eyes. Had he been crying or was it just the cold?

"What are you doing here?" I sneered at him not even bothering to cower away.

"I followed you because I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. Listen your mother would have loved the person you've become." He said walking closer to me but stopped once he saw the deadly glare I was giving him.

"How would you know, you killed her?!" I bit back at him. I was tired and emotional. Everything was draining the life out of me and I could no longer keep it to myself. I needed a release from this climaxing stress level.

I just needed to let go.

He flinched at my words and looked down in guilt. I felt remorse after I said that. I shouldn't have let my frustration get the best of me but he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I know, I did and I hate myself every day for it, but no one can change the past. I learned that the hard way. Your mother didn't deserve to die the way she did, but don't let her death be the cause of your hesitation. Your strength is inside you and like a quiet voice, it needs to be freed. Listen to your heart and not your mind. Your heart will tell you great things if you just ignored everything else that tells you otherwise. You will be the queen that will make the best decisions for everyone and love your people no matter what. I only ask that I get to have a small portion of your time." I looked up at him and saw the pain etched onto his face like a carving in stone. He was truly sorry.

I knew what I had to do now.

I think it's time that I finally have time to move on and start a new chapter in my life.

A chapter where my dad was now finally in my life again and supportive of whatever happens.

I got up off the floor and ran straight for him. He looked a bit scared at first but caught me as I pretty much flung myself at him. He stumbled a bit but happily accepted being in each other's embrace. It just felt right.

I could see that he was deep in regret of the past and that he wanted to finally make things right. Now that I have accepted his apology, we can move on.

He pulled away slightly and kneels on her grave.

"Caitlyn, I know I'm probably the last person you expected to visit but I have to say a few things. I'm so sorry for everything. When my father passed, I instantly went to alcohol. I thought that if I could numb out the pain then it would make the pain fade but instead, it turned that pain into anger and that anger killed you. I will never forgive myself for that. In front of our daughter too! I'm so ashamed of who I was but now I've returned to rectify that in the little time I have with her. She's amazing. Our little Serenity has grown to become a queen and I know that you would have loved her. She's just like you in a way. So selfless and caring. I love you so much, Caitlyn. See you soon." He kisses the gravestone, whispering the last part but it was loud enough for me to hear and walks back towards me.

I smiled softly at him and he smiled back.

I knew I had made the right decision in forgiving him. He was family after all and you can never let anything separate you.

"Let's head back, I'm sure the king must be worried about you." I nodded feeling bad for running off. It had probably been just over an hour since I ran off.

He must be worried.

I and my father walked down the path that leads to the main road. Neither of us said anything and left in this perfect silence.

As we got closer to the end, I saw the royal carriage and pretty much ran to it. I needed to see him. To apologise for everything that I said and hopefully try to make it up to him.

I was just so conflicted about what to do. This is such an overwhelming position to be put in as someone who comes from homelessness. A person who had to fight for everything in her life. That all changed when I met Ricardo and he made me fall so deeply in love with him that it hurts. I couldn't live my life without him and I knew that if I left, I would have returned.

He is like my soulmate.

He came out of the carriage and I jumped right into his arms. He caught me, just barely and swayed me lightly from side to side.

"Ricardo, I'm so sorry...." He kisses my lips, making me completely forget what I was going to say.

"We'll talk about it when we get back. It's freezing out here and you look like your gonna catch a cold. We need to get you warm." He moved me so I was now being carried bridal style into the carriage.

My father came in after and sat opposite us.

Once inside, he wrapped a soft fluffy blanket around me and pulled me into his chest. His body radiated warmth through to me and with the gently rocking of his breaths. I found myself wanting to sleep.

"Sleep my darling dove." He whispered into my ear and I did exactly as he said but not before hearing a small conversation between him and my dad.

"I know how much you love her. So can you promise me one thing?" My father asked and I assumed that the king nodded because my father continued.

"Never let her go and most importantly hurt her. I've already hurt her in the past and will probably do again when I leave. However, from now on, I want her to live her life to her name. I want her to be protected because the world of a homeless person can be cruel and I want, like every father, my daughter to get the best in life that she can get. Can you promise me that?"

"I promise."