CARLIE: The Adventure Of A Lifetime

08 | the arrival

08 | THE ARRIVAL

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THE JOURNEY BACK HOME IS SO MUCH EASIER. FOR starters, we don't come across any interruptions and it's a smooth walk back. Keller and I are talking more and I'm getting to know him so much more.

He's someone I can see myself loving and it's so nice to have someone like him in my life. I told him the whole story about what happened in the cave and all that I felt. He ended up asking me about all the feelings I had towards the idea of not truly feeling the love from family.

It got me thinking but that's when I realized how special my father is. His love is enough to fill the space of all the family members that don't show me as much love.

We also talk about him. There is way more to him than meets the eye. From being the only child of king Deven and queen Seli, to never seeing his self absorbed parents; he grew up living among the commoners and learnt to be like them. He liked life with them and never considered himself royalty. That's why he makes all his tailors prepare clothes as simple as possible.

After four days, we are at the palace door, dirty from head to tall but more than glad to be done with the journey. I don't know what to expect when I open the door to face my family.

Keller reaches for my slightly say hand and gives it a squeeze. He doesn't let go and soon, we're walking into the palace gates, hand in hand. Something else that will get me in trouble.

"We should go to the throne room." I say to Keller clutching onto my sack with my free hand. "He's always in there."

The walk to the throne room is more than torture. It feels so far away because my ancient just wants this to be done so I don't have to go through the long and painful talk about leaving Morderel and going off to do something with my life. I know I have to tell them all that I encountered on my journey and I highly doubt King Hennessy will accept that I talked to my mother.

Instead of finding him alone in the throne room, I come across him and Sev as they share a heated and angry exchange. I couldn't have chosen a worse time.

"Are you ready?" Keller whispers to me.

I nod but I'm honestly not do sure if I'm ever going to be ready for this talk.

"King Hennessy," I finally speak but I'm sure my voice comes our weak and small. "I would like to talk to you."

"Where are you coming from with the groom of Brielle. You're dirty and messing this whole place up. What's the meaning of this?"

I swallow and prepare myself for what's to come.

"Your Majesty," I say. "Your children had made a plan to kill me but Brielle helped me out and told me to get a certain crystal so that they could use its power to try and bring our mother back." I watch his face for change but he still has the poker face. "I went on the journey and I found the crystal. But I have the power to work it so it means my siblings have no use because mother doesn't want to come back. So I'm leaving and going elsewhere to make something of myself."

"Sev," he says to his oldest child. "Go and get your siblings as soon as possible."

Sev leaves quickly and the king faces me. "How dare you come into my throne room, dirty and holding hands with the husband to be of my daughter, a week after your arranged wedding. And to make it worse, you accuse my children of trying to murder you!" The composure is gone and he's just an angry man.

As he yells, Keller keeps my hand in his as of holding onto my sanity to avoid it crumbling. It's kind of sweet, really.

"These aren't accusations." I manage to say but he hardly hears me.

"I don't care if you think they aren't accusations. The truth is that they are and I'm not so happy about that-"

"Father, you called for us?" Aubrey asks from the door.

I turn and see her walking over with a teary eyed, Brielle. Guilt floods me because I know it involves her future husband not wanting to be with her. And it's all my fault.

"I hear from Carlie that you planned to kill her," King Hennessy speaks. "Is that true? Or is she just being a lying servant like her father?"

Anger fills me at the mention of my father in such a way. He's far from a lair and he's so great. How dare he speak of him like that?

"It's true, father." Sev says causing my head to turn and look at him.

He actually looks sad and full of regret. What could possibly have caused the change of heart? Did mother actually speak to them?

"We all wanted her dead but we don't anymore. I think you should just let her be who she wants to be." Aubrey says and that's when my head starts to spin.

I could have never imagined Aubrey ever siding with me. But she is and I feel so lucky. It's odd having more than Brielle being there for me.

"I say we kill her, still." Brielle finally speaks, grind daggers at Keller and I. I quickly leave his hand and take a step towards her. "Don't come anywhere near me, you prostitute."

I frown at her words. "Brielle, I'm so sorry about how this had to happen but it most likely did for a reason. Keller says he loves me and I think-"

"I don't care what your explanation is." King Hennessy speaks this time. "You are a home wrecker just like your servant father but at least your father and the decency to wait for the home to form; you came in and wrecked a home in the process of being built."

A tear falls from my eyes and I watch all that's around me. How did I get from being so happy to going straight into my usual life? I wipe the tear and remember my mother's words of encouragement.

"Brielle, I'm truly sorry that things happened like this. I didn't mean to upset you and things honestly just happened." I start. "Aubrey and Sev, thank you for choosing to not kill me and thank you so much for letting me live my life. King Hennessy, I will never let you little words do anything to me. I'm worth so much and I will leave this place knowing that."

I turn to Keller and give him a weak smile. "Could I please speak with you alone?"

We leave the palace and make our way to the docks. It's a silent walk but comfortable at the same time. I truly enjoy walking with Keller. We get to the docks and I smile and face him.

"Keller, I had the best time with you." I say. "You're nice, sweet and I like having you around. I'm so sure I can learn to love you. But-"

"Please don't say but. No one ever likes to hear that." His tone sounds humours but I know he feels pain. I can see it in his eyes.

"I want to end up with you, Keller. I really do. But I think this isn't our time." I tell him. "We have our own wonderful story that ends with love but it comes after I finally truly know who I am."

I give him a small kiss then hug him tightly. It's hard to do this but I don't want to end up hurting him. I care too much about him. I need to finish this chapter of my life before I can move to the one with him in it.

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word count: 1333

Total word count for the story: exactly 10,000!!

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author's note: it's not so important but I just wanted to thank you for reading and apologize for the spelling errors if I have any. I edited but I'm not so sure if I did a good job.