The last thing Lorelei had expected was for a letter from her father to arrive for her to return back home to Rousier. But when a letter arrives to her in England, from him she's compelled to go back to her home, and face a nightmare that had been s...
Lorelei had been jarred awake, and didn't realize she had fallen asleep yet again, this time a dreamless one. Her cart had been opened by the train check, "Miss? We've reached the next stop," he let her know before leaving her.
The dark haired woman thanked him then look out the window and saw the outline of her small hamlet of a town just within walking distance. And resting atop one of the hills, was her old home bathed in gray clouds.
Looks like a storm would be coming in.
She stood up and went to reach for her luggage from the top, lowered it down, grabbed her handbag, and walked out of the cart and down the pathway, going with the flow of other passengers or those climbing aboard to embark onto their next destination.
Climbing off, Lorelei was hit by the smell of pine, metal, smoke, and dust - the smell of country mixing with that of the city, two separate and foreign entities.
Breathing it in she proceeded to walk on with her bags. Lorelei had started to depart from the small trainstation and started along the dirt road that led through the small town. She couldn't help but wonder how much had changed here. Who was still here? Who had left? Had Lukan left like he had always talked about? If she remembered him and his people were supposed to be traveling on the road and working. Passing by some of the old brick houses, and some trees, she could spot some old windmills. She couldn't help but compare it to London, and how different it looked from the city. Some towns just kept on clinging to the old, which Lorelei found comforting if she was honest with herself. Especially with the farm houses that she had passed by earlier.
The dirt from the road stuck
She started to spot the main road leading into the town and noted the many houses and buildings she had passed by. The people were about running their errands, going to the shops nearby, the market, running their businesses, or stopping to chat with each other.
None of them paid her any mind and she preferred it.
The dirt from the road stuck to the bottom of her boots as she trudged along, passing by the shops and market. It would be quite a trek to get to but hopefully she would get to her home before it would get too dark or before it would start to rain.
She managed to find the road that led up the forested hill, where her childhood home was, and soldiered on with her walk. Lorelei could smell the pine trees which were scattered along the hill.
Almost immediately she knew the way back home, as if it was muscle memory. Lorelei knew the way home, even after being away all these years.
The noise of the town started to recede and die down as she traveled further up along the road, passing by more of the groves and trees. She had missed the beauty of her home and the lush greenery here.
Further and closer she drew and soon she saw the clearing in a downward slope of the hill, down to a pond, and overlooking it was the large Emmerich Manor.
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It had looked just as she remembered; Lorelei had heard the family story, how her great great grandfather, Gottfried Emmerich had built this house from scratch, and of course there was the business he had founded. He had made money through the logging and timber industry. It was him and his wife Magda and their children living here. Lorelei remembered grandfather, Otto, being a toughened but funny old man. Now she wondered if he was alright and still resided in the family home.
"Hello? May I help you," a rough voice asked her, shaking her from her thoughts and making her look to the owner of the voice. Standing before her was a man with a weather-beaten face, growing gray beard and a gardening hat and uniform.
Lorelei wracked her memory, then it dawned on her, "Anselm?" She asked him hesitantly, making him blink his stormy gray small eyes at her, "Ja, and you are?"
The sable haired girl smiled, "It's me, Lorelei. Lorelei Emmerich," she stepped forward.
Anselm blinked wide eyed, and gave a smile into his beard, "Miss Emmerich?! Welcome back," he grinned crookedly and she lurched forward to give him a hug, which he stopped, holding up his hand, "Apologies Miss, I am covered in dirt," he gave a rough laugh.
Lorelei laughed and shrugged that off and still went to give him a hug, "As if dirt ever bothered me before," she referred to the memory of her playing in the garden plucking flowers and trying to make wreathes and necklaces.
He chortled and opened his mouth to speak, until the front door at the top of the steps of the manor opened and a low brusque voice came from there, "Anselm have you-," Lorelei looked up and saw the soft combed iron gray hair, chiseled aging face and wiry frame, that could only be one person.
Her father. Andreas Emmerich
His dark brown eyes gazed at her, and his face melted into a warm smile, "Lorelei?"
"Papa," Lorelei murmured, stepping forward. He descended down the steps slowly, "My darling girl. Welcome home~" He said gently.
Just hearing the timbre of his voice made her run to him and throw her arms around him, "Thank you papa. I'm glad to be home," she whispered into his clothes as his arms tightened around her.
