One Crown & Two Thrones : The Prophecy ( Book One) - Prologue

Chapter Eighteen - The Choice

XXI

The Choice

7th April 1941

You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away towards darkness...

Henry B. Eyring.

"Mrs Berrywaithe received news that her son has been lost in action," Mary exclaimed to Eveline as she handed her a cup of tea.

"Thomas?"

"Indeed, such a tragic loss," Mary sighed as she returned to the sink to wash out some dishes. "That's twenty four of our fine young boys taken from us."

"She has a daughter yes?" Eveline asked, her eyes upon the swirling hot water within her china tea cup.

"Yes, Ethel is her name," Mary returned with a smile as she looked out of the kitchen window and into the blooming garden. "She works up on farmer's Jacks fields with the rest of the young women."

"I always remember Ethel as being the shyest of the lot, is she still as shy now?"

"Oh yes," Mary retorted with a wave of her hand. "I am certain she shall always be of such a nature."

"She has keen eyes for nature," Eveline murmured as her husband entered the kitchen, stopping for a brief moment. "Morning Theo."

"Morning Evie," he muttered, taking a seat opposite his wife and filling his plate with toast. The room had turned in on itself with icy awkwardness as the two sat opposite one another, keeping their gazes averted.

"Are you busy today?" Eveline enquired warmly.

"Not especially, you?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Eveline lied. "I thought I would start to go through mothers clothes."

"What will you do with them?"

"I shall give them to charity as she would have wanted," Eveline smiled, draining her cup of the china tea. "If that is alright with you?"

"Yes, I have no problem with you sorting through her stuff," Theodore smiled weakly, lifting up the Times paper and opening it. Eveline set down her cup and rose from the table.

"If you'll excuse me," she whispered, bringing her cup and saucer over to Mary. Theodore merely hummed as she turned and exited the kitchen. Eveline for the first time in three months put on her coat and hat. She stood before small mirror that hung near to the door and looked at her reflection. With one last stare she turned and quietly opened the door. She moved with caution until she came to the garden gate. Opening the gate she fastened her hat to her head and made her way down the country lane towards the graveyard which lay near to the town of Keswick. It was a fine spring's day and all about her were the joys of nature, the gentle swaying of the newly blooming trees and the poetic singing of the morning birds. She had not recovered so much as to find joy in what was once her greatest of loves. And as she quietly made her way down into Keswick, spying some of the ministers friends close by she kept her eyes upon the ground, unable to let her gaze run over the newly enriched lands that surrounded the beautiful lake. The struggles deep within still clawed away at Eveline, despite her cleaner image and her strengthening social activities. A heavy mass of grey cloud still hung over her at all times, still she was struck by night terrors and still she awoke to find Lagar watching over her with venomous eyes. But the news of Galean's survival had in turn revived her a little, sweeping away some of the mists of grief and in turn giving her clarity.

Theodore had withheld the information of Galean's survival at bay on purpose and for this on top of his violent act of jealousy she could not forgive, no matter her lies to him the previous evening. When she had returned to her room shaking with anger and disorientation she began to pack a leather suitcase, filling it with all the necessities she would need for the journey ahead. During the morning hours she had written a lengthy letter to her husband explaining why it was that she was leaving him. The letter had been dashed with small dots of salt water as she wept over her words. She knew her leaving would anger him and knew that he would try to come after her, but if she was cleaver and she needed to be, now that she being hunted down by these four knights, then she would keep herself hidden and out of sight, with the added help of the reverend. Eveline stopped on the outskirts of the town and took in a deep breathe, her eyes on the nearby graveyard. With her hat lowered over her eyes she made her way through the busy town until she came to the local church and graveyard. Quietly and sombrely she found Estelle's grave and came to stand before it with saddened eyes.