Aideen's Answer

~Chapter Thirty-One~

Aideen could not quite remember the last time her heart had felt such joy. Her mother had wept unashamedly as she told her father what had transpired. Then he, too, shed a few tears! He declared that he had always known that she would not remain 'stubborn as a mule' forever. He then decided it was just cause for a wonderful celebration, and swept her mother with him as they went to the kitchen to decide what they should feast upon for supper that very evening.

Aideen now roamed the castle alone. Or rather, as alone as one can be while having a guard tailing you everywhere you go. She felt a pang of sadness as she walked. All this joy, this rejoicing, and she was not sharing it with her best friend. She so longed to go to Samantha, to explain. She wanted to tell her that her prayers had been answered, that God had been listening to her. But how could she know what kind of reception to expect? Aideen knew she could not be angry with Samantha for being so upset. After all, did she not deserve far worse, for all that she had done? She did not blame her for the things that had been said the day that she had returned home. But that did not mean she did not miss her. Their times together were some of the happiest Aideen had ever known, for Samantha had a way of bringing out the best in every person that she met.

'I must see her,' Aideen thought resolutely, squaring her shoulders. 'I must tell her what has happened. Perhaps she will listen, and share in my joy. Perhaps she is still wounded over my callousness. Either way, I must make the attempt.'

Mind made up, she marched down the corridor, and tried to pretend that her heart was not hammering in her ears. Aideen strode toward the quarters that she herself had chosen for her cousin, and her mind wandered to the day Samantha had arrived. How she had loved the rooms! She so appreciated everything Aideen had done make her feel at home.
'That is why everyone loves Samantha. Well, part of the reason,' Aideen thought. 'She appreciates everything so very much, whether it be a flower that a small child hands her, or a grand gift from her father, she is truly delighted and grateful.'
Aideen thought back to the many happy hours that they had spent playing together as children. She smiled as remembered how they would quarrel, and how Samantha would usually be the first to make amends, as Aideen was always to stubborn to admit that she had been wrong.
'Not this time, dear cousin,' Aideen thought with a wry smile. 'Perhaps this leopard will manage to change its spots, after all.'
She reached the door and stared at it for a moment.
It was just a door, so why did it suddenly look so foreboding? There was absolutely no reason for her hand to be slick with sweat as she reached out to knock!
And yet it was.
Knock, knock, knock.
The voices that she had not even considered abruptly hushed. A pretty, young blonde girl opened the door and curtsied. Aideen tried to recall her name, some type of flower, Rose, Lily? No that was not it...
"May I help you ma'am?" She asked in an unusually high-pitched voice.
"Jasmine!" Aideen blurted out.
The girl looked at her strangely and with a trace of alarm, "Yes, mistress?"
"No, I just meant, I was only," Aideen sighed, then began again. "Jasmine, please tell Lady Samantha that Addie wishes to speak with her, if I may."
"Right away."
The girl scampered away and Aideen sighed again. Why had this seemed like a good idea, again? She suddenly could not recall.
Aideen heard more voices, the high voice of the maid, and then footsteps. Perhaps it was not too late to go? But no, she would do just that which she had come to do.
The door swung open and Samantha stood there, looking rather shocked.
"You should really close your mouth, Samantha, lest something fly in there," Aideen teased but it held only a trace of their usual mirth.
Samantha seemed to rouse herself at the sound of her voice, for she stood up a little straighter and stared at Aideen.
"What do you want, Addie?" She asked in a voice colder than Aideen had ever heard it.
She winced.
"Samantha, I have come to beg your forgiveness, and to tell you of the most marvellous thing that has happened."
Samantha's eyes widened. She seemed to take her cousin in, as if weighing her sincerity. Then, she opened her mouth to speak.

                                            *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sigh, oh that was quite fun ;)
Until next time, my dears! Thank you for reading!
                                                                  Much Love,
                                                                            Me :)