Heirs and Heiresses: Ouroboros

CHAPTER 2: A Mysterious Family Heirloom

I felt a presence behind me, like someone was watching. A sudden strange eerie shivered me. I wanted to turn around but something held me back. I shouldn't let someone see this. I hurriedly hid the brooch in my pocket and suddenly a hand had touched my shoulder. I shockingly turned around and sighed with relief to see my grandmother. It was just nana. It is alright. No need to be afraid.

"Emrys it is time for us to go home." She wiped the tears on my cheeks with her bare hands. "Stop crying child. Your father is in a better place with your mother now."

Nana is right. I know I shouldn't be this inconsiderate. Father had been very lonely all throughout those sixteen years. I know looking at me everyday reminds him of her. Every time he would stare blankly at me he would tell me how much I looked like her. It was very rare when he would speak but then it would all be about mother. He would say I have her eyes, green as a precious stone, my golden blonde hair that matches the morning sunshine, my nose, and my lips, was everything that would remind him of mother. His composure, always accompanied with longing and pain.

I never had a memory of her.

Mother had died after giving birth to me. It must have been too painful for him. He never married again, a testament to his enduring love and respect for her. Father made himself busy at sea. If not for nana and papa, no one would have taken care of me but now I understand where he was coming from. I thought that if years pass he would stop moving around but even before his death I bet he was still thinking of her.

Was that why he didn't bother fighting to survive because he had chosen to be with his true love and leave me because I can take care of myself now? But even with that thought I knew father loved me. He couldn't bear seeing me always for it tortures him. Had he blamed me for mother's death? I hope not.

"Emrys." Nana called on me to leave.

I said one last goodbye to father's grave. "I know we only had little conversations and that I hardly seen you all my life even though we both live in the same home but I know how much you loved me. I would like to believe that you are happy now and reunited with mother. I will never forget the little memories we had. I will miss you father. Tell mother that I miss her too and I love her."

I wiped my tears and started walking away but I looked back and whispered in the still air, "Farewell."

We walked our way home through Batthbee. It was quiet, yet I could feel the eyes of the villagers on me. Everyone in the village knew father. I can tell they all felt sorry for me. They all knew the story of my birth. They all knew mother died. They all knew father had no time for me. They knew our family too well. But what I know is that I am a young lady now. I should be able to cope up with difficulties. I should be able to handle myself.

Batthbee is a small village at the end of Saitriche. If something happens it is not a surprise that every person in the village would know. It was Mosseus who came knocking on our door three days ago. Mosseus, our Primary Commander's knocks, came with awful information. I was helping nana preparing pottage for supper. Papa was on his rocking chair as usual. I offered to open the door that afternoon and without any further, the moment I asked him how I could help him, Mosseus blew me right away.

Upon hearing his news, I immediately closed the door, leaving Mosseus still standing on the threshold. When I slammed that door on his face he knew I didn't take the message in. He could have arrested me for my rudeness. You see, even though the men-at-arms are part of the king's forces, living here in the small village of Batthbee would make you feel a family to everyone. The soldiers were no enemy to us but rather a helping hand. Batthbee was always peaceful that is why I think nobody ever thought that one day they would turn against us if ordered by the king. But I never removed the perception out of my head that they would follow him despite our warm friendship.