Aideen's Answer

-Chapter Thirty-

Aideen rushed to her room, grateful, for the first time, for Enrique's comforting presence. She had not forgotten the recent attacks, but her heart was in such turmoil at the moment that she took no precaution. Getting away from Garrett and his piercing brown eyes was all that she could think of. How did he do it? So easily answer all the questions that had plagued her for months! And with such confidence! It was infuriating.
She made it to the castle safely as she heard a crashing roll of thunder. Her head snapped up in alarm, had it not been nicely sunny only a few minutes before? But no, the clouds were now moving in at an alarming rate, turning the sky a frightening black. Wind that she had not noticed before whipped her skirts about her ankles. Aideen started violently as a hand clasped her shoulder, and looked with alarm into the eyes of her guard. She relaxed completely as her mind registered Enrique's face, wondering at how quickly she had come to trust him.
"We must get you inside, Princess!" He called over the wind as he brushed past her and threw the heavy wooden door open, "It is about to become bad out here!"
"About to?" Aideen called back as she swept through the door he still held open for her. "That was not yet bad?"
Enrique chuckled as he swung the door closed behind them. "That was only the beginning, ma'am. You mark my words, it is going to be nasty. I pity any man who is outside on a storm like this."
Aideen's eyes widened, "But the prince is in the garden! You must fetch him, Enrique! And my brothers, oh my poor brothers! They have not yet returned from their trip." She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. Would they be all right? Did they have, Kevin? Was he safe?
Enrique gave her shoulder a comforting pat. "Now, missy, they will all be fine. Master Garrett has enough brains to come in with weather like this, and your brothers are no different! I am sure that they will have turned for home at the first sign of a coming storm. And as for you, we are going to get you up to your room, yes?"
Aideen smiled weakly, "Yes. Thank you, Enrique."
"My pleasure."
They walked up in silence and Aideen saw Enrique take his place right outside, just as she closed the door. The sight of it made her smile, as he made her feel safe, for some reason.
Another loud crack of thunder caused her to jump significantly, and the boom seemed to bring back everything that she and Garrett had discussed. Along with all the unwelcome feelings that came with it.
Aideen walked to the window and peered out at the storm. She could see a few splatters against the glass, but nothing too terrible. Then, suddenly, it looked as though someone was emptying a bucket through the sky, so it began to pour.
'How fitting,' She thought wryly, 'That there should be such a storm outside, just as there is such turmoil inside of me.'
She turned and walked over to her comfortable bed and settled herself upon it. She lay back amongst the many pillows, stared up at the hangings above her, and began to ponder.
She reflected on all the things that she and Garrett had said, on his simple faith. When had her faith last been so sure, so trusting? A year or so ago, at least. About the time she met Kevin. The childlike faith that resided in Garrett was just as the one that her parents possessed, as well as her brothers. It was the faith that their mother had spent so many hours instilling in to them. It was the faith that she had held so close for so long, yet had not even noticed that it was slipping until it was gone. What had happened? What had she done to lose that which had once been so precious to her, and without even truly noticing? She closed her eyes as memories began pouring over her. She remembered her exhilaration at meeting Kevin, her thrill when he returned her feelings. She could clearly see how her mind had been taken over by him. Aideen's chest began to ache as she recalled how her Bible had lain upon her dresser, causing her guilt every time she saw it, for she never took the time to open it. Her world had become consumed by his next note, their next meeting, until all else dimmed in comparison to those flashing green eyes.
Tears leaked from her own eyes as she remembered the pain in Mitchell's face when she refused to play with him, for Kevin wanted to meet her. The confusion her mother greeted her with when she would rather 'go for a walk' alone than be accompanied. And worst of all, she could now see all the times that her Heavenly Father had tried to call her back into His loving embrace, and she chose to turn away. Choosing instead the arms of a knight who did not intend to stay with her when she needed him.
The wind was howling outside and rain pounded upon her window, but Aideen paid no mind. Tears pouring down her face, she slipped off her bed and got down on her knees beside it.
"Father God," She whispered hoarsely. "Please forgive me. I am so sorry for turning away from you, and from my family." Her sobs increased, and she could not speak for a bit. "Lord, thank you for loving me despite all my mistakes. Please help me, to fix everything that I have done wrong, please let my family forgive me. Help me, to accept Your will for my life and not chase after my own. Let me marry the man you have picked out for me," She said as Kevin's and Garrett's faces swam in her mind. "And God, please accept me back into Your family."
Aideen thought her tears would stop when she finished praying, but she felt such an overwhelming relief and love for her Saviour that she began to cry even harder. It took some minutes before she could calm herself, and when she finally did, she could not stop smiling. The weight she had carried so long was gone! She did not know what the future held, but she knew she would never have to face it alone. That was enough. Aideen looked out the window and smiled as the storm raged on, for it just exemplified the glorious peace now inside her. She laughed out loud out of sheer delight, and danced across the room.
"Mother!" She gasped, suddenly.
As soon as the thought struck her, she was off. Out the door ("Come quickly, Enrique!"), down the stairs, down the hall until she slid to a stop outside her fathers study. Aideen knocked on the door loudly and waited impatiently until her mother opened the door curiously.
"Aideen? Darling, what is it? Is something wrong?"
"Mama!" Aideen burst out gleefully, as she rushed to hug her mother, "Mama, I have returned!"
"Well, of course you have, you have been back for several days now," The queen said, brow furrowed. "Are you quite all right, dear?"
"Cara?" Came a booming voice from in the room, "What is it?"
Aideen laughed, causing her mother to look even more worried. "No, Mama, I am truly back now! I have returned to our family, as well as the family of God!"
Cara looked stunned, and froze just as she had opened her mouth to reply to her husband. Tears pooled in her eyes as took her daughter in her arms and held her tight.
"I just knew that you would come back to us someday, Darling. The prodigal daughter has truly returned today," She whispered in Aideen's ear.
Still holding on tight, Cara turned and called out in a choked voice, "Oh, Daniel! I have the most wonderful news."