The Voice of the Nightingale

Epilouge

Ash sat on her bed. The sun shone through the window, bathing her in light.
The door to her room opened and a little girl ran in, shouting, "Mother!"
Ash got out of her chair and knelt down to hug her daughter. Nicholas followed the child in.
"I thought you were going to be another hour." Ash said.
"Francesca wanted to go to the gardens with you."
Francesca looked up at her mother with her beautiful brown eyes. Ash brushed through the three year old's dark brown hair with her fingers, moving it out of her face.
"Let's go then."
The three of them walked to the gardens and Francesca immediately began to run around when they arrived. Ash held Nicholas' hand, watching her daughter. The sky was bright and cloudless. Flowers were in full bloom all around them. Birds flew from tree to tree.
Francesca returned, full of energy. She jumped up and down without stopping.
"Slow down, okay. You'll tire yourself out." Ash said.
"Okay, can I have a piggy back ride?"
"Of course." Nicholas answered.
He knelt down and the girl jumped onto his back. When he stood up, Francesca squealed with excitement. Ash laughed. It was so hard to believe that this girl was actually the Queen.
They all walked through the gardens, admiring the beautiful flowers. Soon, they had walked all the way to the stables. Francesca loved this place. She ran in while squealing with delight - she did this a lot.
"Francesca, stop!" Ash called, running after her daughter. However, it was too late.
Francesca had made it inside and pulled herself up to see the dragons using the door of a stall. The people working there looked over in surprise. Ash rushed in and picked the girl up immediately.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry." She said to the stable hands.
"It's really fine, Queen Mother."
Ash turned around. She recognised that voice. The girl talking came into view.
"Avon? You still work here?"
It had been nearly four years since Ash had last seen Avon. Despite her working here, Ash had never spotted Avon in the castle grounds, never out in the gardens during the girl's shifts and busy the remainder of the time carrying out her duties as regent.
Avon was slightly taller and had put on more muscle. Her face looked slightly older. However, she was still the same person as she had been.
"Sure do. Have some help though."
She patted her brother's shoulder, who was now standing next to her.
"Hi," he said awkwardly.
"Well, I hope Francesca didn't bother you."
"Oh, no, of course not. She can come at anytime."
Avon turned to the child and said, "Do you wanna say hi to some of the dragons?"
"Yeah!" Francesca screamed.
"C'mon then!"
Avon and Bourne led the girl to the end of the stables and opened one of the dragon's stalls. As Francesca cautiously walked up to the animal, Avon went back to talk to Ash.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has." Ash responded.
"Francesca is beautiful, you know that. I've never seen a child so full of life."
"Thank you."
There were several seconds of silence until Avon asked, "What's going on with you and Nicholas?"
"Oh, we're fine."
"Sure about that? Haven't heard anything about you to outside the palace."
"We're not public. I'm... afraid of what people will think."
"Do it. Tell everyone."
"What?"
"All the townsfolk love you. The country really has been better with you as regent. The families you've helped, the people you've gotten out of poverty, the men and women you've freed from jail, they all want you to rule. No one's gonna care that you love Nicholas."
"Really?"
"Really."
Ash looked over to her daughter, who was now on the sitting on the dragon's back with Nicholas behind her. A smile spread across the Queen Mother's face. He was a part of their family. The father Francesca needed. The person who always stuck by Ash's side.
"I'll do it. He deserves to be more than a secret."

The End

Thank you so much for reading 'The Voice of a Nightingale'.

Special thanks to my partner, Ash, who helped write the story. I am so grateful for the help and support they gave throughout to story, from beginning to end.

Finally, thank you to everyone who read both 'The Time to Run' and 'The Voice of the Nightingale'. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten this far and I am so thankful that you chose to read my stories.

I hope you enjoyed reading!