The Maiden's Song (draft-editing)

Chapter 40 Face to Face

Chapter 40 Face to Face

Am wondered through the garden. After walking for about a few minutes, she decided to sit down by the edge of the water fountain well. Her stare was fixated in the blooming flowers: roses in all the variety of sizes and colors, hyacinths, violets, tulips, geraniums, azaleas and many others that bordered the are water in the middle of the maze where the fountain was. Spring has brought back the colors and aromas the harsh winter had stolen away. Butterflies and dragonflies hovered over the plants and the birds chirped perched on the branches in the birches and oak trees that flanked the garden.

A few days had passed and the duke had fulfilled his promise of giving her some space. They talked of everything, avoiding themes regarding to love or death. It was if she had recovered her male best friend on Lord Roderick. Lady Charlotte also had been very diplomatic on her chat. They had gone to the market down in the village, to visit the seamstress and to check on the works on the barns and stables. The old lady was enchanted with the maiden's company, and Am felt grateful for the generosity and kindness of this noble lady.

Am played with the water lilies in the fountain. The frogs were croaking and jumping over the floating leaves. The red haired girl was humming a tune when a warm hand posed on her shoulder bringing her back to reality. Lord Roderick was standing behind her. His deep emerald eyes were studying her. as he sat next to her in the edge of the white stone fountain.

-"Am... I am so glad you decided to come to Lannishire. Mother loves having you around... and so do I..." - The duke spoke.

-"Thank you for the invitation. Being here had lifted my spirits. I've had time of thinking of things that had helped me forget others. You have been a good friend to me, Roderick."- Am was now smiling. The grief on her face had disappeared since she arrived to the manor.

-" It is always a pleasure, my sweet lady... Hey, I have an idea... why don't we go down to the sea shore... let's grab some shells and collect clams to roast them for dinner... What do you think?" -The duke asked am with excitement.

-"Oh, marvelous! That will be fun!" - Am replied enthusiastically and both ran through the maze and left the garden through the back iron gate that led to the rear part of the manor's lands. They walked down a trail on the rocky edges of the cliff. The duke was helping Am climb down the stony steps, giving his hand in times and lifting her in the air by her waist in others.

As they reached the sea shore they took off their shoes. Their fingers lingered with the dark sandy crystals as they walked looking for shells and clams. The sea water was still cold in early spring. The sea gulls flew over their heads in circles, to then dive rapidly in the water to catch a fish. It was a magnificent view...

Am was stunned by the beauty and the sound of the cascade falling from the cliffs. She had admired it from the top of the precipice, but passing this near, feeling the splash of the water as it made contact with the sea, was indescribable. The thundering noise of the fall as it hit the rocky bottom of the cliff was a deafening music... the music of nature.

Am and Lord Roderick were walking side to side, filling two baskets they found in the garden with clams they found under the rocks. They also gathered algae the cook used to make salads when they ate fish in their banquets. The red haired and the duke finally sat on the sea shore over a big rock. Their feet were playing in the water as they talked and laughed. Am felt as she could stay in that place for ever... Was she thinking that for real? Could she stay there in Lannishire with Lord Roderick... Maybe her body could... but her heart was in other place...

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In the castle, the prince was burning in a mixture of sadness and jealous. He had returned from the Village in the Woods to find out Am had gone to Lannishire with Lord Roderick. This made him feel desperate and angry. How could the duke dare to take his Amalthea to his house? As he stepped in the foyer, he threw his gloves against the big wooden table in the middle of the entrance hall.

Alasther needed to see Am. The prince was determined and he was not going to lose her. He loved her with all his soul. He had postponed this talk for months, respecting her grief. He didn't want to put pressure on her for the last time things went extremely wrong. He had gone to the village to talk to her and find out if she was ready to hear his marriage proposal and when Jocelyn informed that Am had left a few days ago to Lannishire his world tumbled down to his feet.

Prince Alasther was in his dormitory torturing himself with images of Am and Lord Roderick chatting, laughing and... kissing... Woah! No! He couldn't stand the picture of that insolent duke stealing the kiss from Am's lips that belonged to him (if he had known). He walked back and forth finding just one possible solution to this predicament... Tomorrow morning he was going to Lannishire...

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Lord Roderick, Lady Charlotte and Am were having breakfast when the prince's arrival was announced. Am's heart hammered so fast in her chest that she felt it was going to jump out of her skin. Lord Roderick stood up swiftly from the table to receive his rival. The duke wanted to know what did the prince was after with this unannounced appearance.

Lady Charlotte was studying Am's reaction. It was obvious the the prince's presence had altered her in some ways. Her face became palid and she started to shiver as she sweated cold. That was only a logical explanation for these symptoms... and it was not any physical illness.

-"Do you love him?"- Asked Lady Charlotte to the nervous girl in front of her. -"And I am not talking about my son."

Am remained silent. First she intended to face to the old woman's gaze, but she couldn't... Instead, Am buried her face on her shaking hands over her lap. Lady Charlotte spoke again to Am. -"You don't need to answer. Your state reflects your feelings for the prince... What I don't understand is, why did you avoid him? You knew that he would come after you sooner or after."

Am broke her silence to reply to the lady. -"My feelings for Prince Alasther are now confusing. It is a mixture of hate and... love. I can't forgive him for not protecting Maik's life as he promised to do so... I blame him for that!"

-"Well, my dear... I think you will have to face him today, because I am sure my son would not be able to get rid of him that easy."

Lord Roderick and Prince Alasther were talking in one of the living areas of the manor.

-" I think she will not receive you, Alasther. She is still hurt for Maik's death in battle... You don't know how much she had recovered in my company..."- Lord Roderick told the prince, trying to persuade him of intending to speak with Am.

-"I think it is her decision if she wants to receive me or not. For what I advise you to stop hiding her from me!"-Now the prince sounded a little bit altered. The arguing continued amongst the two handsome young men.

-"I am not hiding her. Amalthea came here by her own will... and we had spent a wonderful time together..."

-Yes, I can figure it out. You are just taking advantage of her altered state of mind. She is vulnerable for all her suffering. That's not honorable Lord Roderick!"

-"Are you questioning my honorability? You are disrespecting me. I need to remind you that you are at my house."

-"I am your Prince! You better watch the tone of your voice!"- The spirits now were burning. Both men were almost screaming to each other in the heat of the argument.

-"And what you will do... hang me? Put me in the dungeons for loving the same woman as you do? I am sorry, Prince Alasther, but now the conversation is not between the prince of Abhainn and a Landlord... it is between two men fighting for the love of a wonderful woman... woman that hates you now for letting her best friend to die in battle... a best friend that was also in love with her... what a convenient death, don't you think?"

- "Are you accusing me of letting Maik die in purpose... Iwould not allow you to..."- The conversation was interrupted when Am made her entrance to the room. She knew it was the proper time to go in. If not, who knows what those men would do to each other...

Am finally composed herself and with a faked smiled she walked and stood next to Lord Roderick. She entwined her arm with his in a courteous manner. She gave the duke a coquettish gaze as she addressed to the man with a tender voice, -"What is happening here, "my love"?"