Freak of Time, History's Game ( I Medici Masters Of Florence)

Chapter 26

Florence

Present

Ponte Vecchio ( Old Bridge , the main bridge of the city )

Elena spent most of the day on that bridge, sitting on its border and letting her legs swinging.
She didn't know what future would have brought to her. Her opposite feeling struggling into her just made her hard to focus on the rational options.

In her dreams she lived Vittoria's death. She thought she helself would have died too, but she woke up gasping with not a drop of water into her mouth.
That was the real story, she was sure of that.
Legends were legends, good stories to touch the romantic people's hearts.
Reality was far more complicated.

Elena didn't want to jump down. Her dream gave her a new phobia, even though she kinda liked to play with death. Like moving her feets over the water into which she dreamed of dying.
Times didn't change much. Love always finds many obstacles. People still die or kill or become mad in the name of love.
Maybe it was into the human nature to create those obstacles.
Money, power, advantages, ambition, corruption, illnesses. Feelings usually are put aside when these other things are around.

Elena envied Vittoria. She at least got to live with the love of her life, even if then she falled into her family's enemies trap. Destiny filled the gaps.
People around here were passing by, ignoring what she was through. After all everyone has to struggle with and face similar problems.
Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. This was one of her favourite mottos, that helped her to pay respect to every person she met.
She didn't need to despair. She wasn't the only one with troubles.

She went back to her flat late in the evening. Hunger won over her.
She looked for the keys, when she noticed a young man standing right in front of the door.
She froze, but Alex already saw her and was walking towards here with clear discomfort.
"I've been waiting for you for all the afternoon" he said with his typical accent "I was worried, but I failed to phone to you".
"Hey" she mumbled unable to think to something better to say.
"Hey" he repeated with a nervous little smile  "I have to tell you that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to run away like that".
"You don't have to. Everyone would have run away in front of such a crazy stuff".
"I didn't run away because of that" he stated looking into her eyes "Well, I can't deny I was shocked when I saw the portraits. But I must tell you the truth".
"Alright. I believe you" she automatically said.
"Can I take you out for dinner?" He proposed.
She couldn't refuse.

He narrated what he did since he left her. How he felt lost, the hours he spent in churches, looking for answers that were unreachable, unable to share it with people. She could just listen with full sympathy.
When they were done eating, he suggested to have a walk.
"I have weird dreams too, and in those dreams I was Riccardo de Medici" he finally confessed.
Elena felt shocked but it just strengthened the bond she felt with him. It was like that circle was finally closed.
"I had dreams before meeting you. But only when you told me you dreamed of being Vittoria and a portrait of her  was like a picture of you, I started to freak out. And when I saw the portrait of Riccardo... Well, I couldn't bear it anymore. I didn't mean to hurt you. I left like a selfish idiot. I'm sorry".
She stared at him "I've already forgiven you".
He felt speechless, then smirked "That's so creepy, right?".
"Yeah  too much".
He took her hand "But I don't want to fight it anymore. I felt that staying away from you just worsened everything. I mean, who would ever believe such a story? I know that only you can understand that".
Walking hand to hand was so simple but meaningful. She felt the peace she was looking for was into her reach now.

They arrived to the old bridge, crowded as usual even at night, but they stopped at the hidden spot on the top from which they could see the river under them.
"We don't have to jump, do we?" He joked nervously.
She frowned "After dreaming of drowning right there, I don't want to meet those waters anymore".
"I had that dream too".
It was a missing piece to her "So Riccardo drowned too?".
"Yeah. He wasn't dead. It was a plot against him. He couldn't bear to live without Vittoria. So he followed her. He jumped right from here".
She tightened the hold at his hand to prevent him doing something bad again.
"Love can be terrible" she commented uncomfortably.
"But it's still the greatest gift you can have in life, if the person you love loves you back".
They stared at each other "Right".
He looked up at the starry sky "I admire Riccardo for his choices. He fought for love, even if it meant letting himself drowning to join her in death".
"Death. Our only certain common fate, but it's a crime if we look for it".
"Yeah. If life becomes a cage and you're so fond of freedom, why not? But we can break that cage and get back both life and freedom".
"Can we? After all we've been through? The idea of a past life in which we were part of the Medici's family, our own physical aspect...".
He interrupted her with a dreamy expression  "It could be a great story to tell to our future grandchildren. They wouldn't believe us or go to tell it to their friends: 'my grandparents were Vittoria and Riccardo de Medici. Bow in front of me! I'm royal blood! ' ".
She loudly laughed.
He stared at her smiling "I really like this idea. To grow old with you. To live each and every day with you, sharing good and bad times".
Elena still felt unsure"And those dreams? The coincidences? Won't them haunt us?".
He pondered the problem, then replied "There are always questions that are beyond our comprehension. It's a fact. And it would be boring if we'd get all the answers to every question. If I was Riccardo, well I  just accept it. If this was destiny, alright. But I own my life, this life I'm living. And every choice and mistake will be just mine, not influenced by his story. I'm just thankful to him because this creepy stuff led me to you. I guess it would have been hard for me to court you otherwise".
She couldn't imagine how it would have been. She just laughed. 
He stated at her more intensively and she was like hypnotized  "You only need to accept it. Past is past. We can't change the past but we can learn from it and go on.  Accept Vittoria's story, her links with you. If you can do it, it won't haunt you anymore".
Elena knew he was right. Her worries started to fade away. Her hand grabbed his while with the other she held some printed copies of the portraits that led them there.
She looked at him and replied confidently "I think I can do it. So can we give it a try? To us?".
Alex took the paper from her fingers and let then fall into the silent river under them. He smiled like he finally got a victory and said staring at her "Yes we can. To us".

             THE END

~~~

Author's note

So this is the end of a great adventure. I really enjoyed creating this fanfiction and I hope you all will be interested in watching the upcoming tv series "Medici Masters of Florence" , based on one of the most famous families in Italian's history, who gave big politicians, popes, queens and ruled Florence, a city that must be visited at least once in a lifetime.

The title of this fanfiction is inspired by the line "Freak of mother/ Nature's game" from the song "Freak of Nature" by Broods, which was used also in one promo for the ITV series "Victoria" starring Jenna Coleman.

I made a video tribute when I planned this story and it can be watched on my Facebook page "Inspiration quotes, music and photos".
And another last video with the song from the original series that is available on youtube. Link below ;)

So thank you so much to everyone who had the patience of reading my work so far and I really hope you enjoyed it!