Mismatched(A collab with EmeraRider)

Chapter 9

                                                                 Harrison 

Harrison tossed and turned and Isabelle slept peacefully beside him. A storm raged outside, but that was not the reason he was not able to sleep.

    He found nights were the worse. Because at night, there was no work to be done, only time to remember and remenisce. He remembered another night, years ago, when a similar storm beat their home, but that was some time ago, when all was well...

   Zoe was just seven years old. It was a dark night. Spears of lightning striked the ground as sheets of rain fell from the sky.

     Zoe's eyes were wide with fear as the wind slammed against the walls, causing the house to shudder.

       "Papa, I'm scared," she whispered, her lip quivering as another deep roll of thunder shook the house.

Harrison sat by her beside. Fatigue overwhelmed him. It had been a long day of work, and all he wanted to rest. But he couldn't sleep, not while his little girl was so terrified. 

        He chuckled softly.

           "The storm will be over soon, Zoe." He paused for a moment, and an idea came to him. "In the mean time, I will tell you a story!"

        Zoe immediately settled into her bed, and looked at him expectantly.

         Looking back, Harrison didn't remember much of the story. He knew it was a Forbidden one, though. (What could he say? He was a little of a rebel.) One that spoke of love--a love that wasn't Matched. Ah, now he remembered it! It was an old tale, of a prince saving the girl he loves, a peasant, from a terrible, fire-breathing dragon.

              "--and after the prince saved the girl, they married and lived happily ever after."

      Zoe's eyes were beginning to flutter, but just as he expected her to drift off, she spoke up.

               "They weren't Matched for each other, were they? It seems strange that a prince would be Matched for a peasant girl."

       He blinked. He didn't know that Zoe would think that through.

               "No..they weren't. But love can be found in the strangest places and ways, Matched or not." 

He mentally winced at that last bit. What would Isabella say if she saw him telling their daughter this? Thankfully, Zoe didn't seem to dwell upon this much.

    She yawned.

              "Papa, when will I find my prince?"

   Harrison smiled at this.

             "Soon. Just you wait. But until then, I'll protect you from the dragons."

A loud knock on the door snapped him out of his reverie. Isabella immediately sat up, and they looked at each other. No normal person would be at the door at this late hour... Could this be it? Could Zoe be at the door?

         They nearly fell over each other to get to the door, but once they opened it, their hopes were dashed. It was only Harrison's brother at the door. He was also a member of one of the search parties; in fact, the one that was due to come back in a fortnight.

            Harrison tried to put his emotions in check and managed a tight smile.

                  "Hello, Richard. Not successful, I assume. It's fine. We'll try for the Celier Mountains--" He tried to stay casual, as if putting up such awkward, unneeded small talk could prevent Richard from sayin the one thing Harrison dreaded to hear.

      Richard looked at the ground. 

                    "I'm so sorry, Harrison. I am so, so sorry."

Harrison then noticed that one of Richard's arms were  hiding something from behind his back.

                   "What happened?" He heard himself ask. He felt numbness everywhere. He couldn't feel his hands, or arms, or anything. 

               Richard shook his head.

                    "This was all we could find. We have to assume she's dead..." He heard Isabella's breath hitch at the word "dead."

He revealed a torn, muddy dress. It was a faded old thing the color of emeralds--the color that Zoe's Halving Day dress had been.