Forgotten Memories

Chapter 16

Charlotte excused herself from the table as rebels started filing in for breakfast, searching the hallways for an empty room in which she could sit and think. After looking into many rooms, she settled on a small library-type room. Her brain was a bit overwhelmed from all of the information that had been thrown at her in the past few days and all of the pep talks Sean had given her.

She silenced her thoughts and tried to give her brain a rest but couldn't stop thinking about what Sean had said. "It was always you." She heard his speech replaying over and over inside her head.

"That girl can't be replaced with Scarlet or any other rebel here."

"You are so clearly made to be a leader, and everyone sees it but yourself."

"You wouldn't have an entire group backing you up if they didn't believe in you."

"It was always you."

Suddenly Charlotte was overcome with a sense of Déjà vu. She would no longer push her feelings away. Instead, she honed her concentration onto that feeling until her vision exploded with a scene playing out in her head.

It was the day she had left her small-town home for the castle life she had never even dreamed about let alone desired.

She heaved a deep sigh, finally ready to make her way downstairs, dragging her suitcase behind her. She dropped the hard blue-grey suitcase at the bottom of the stairs taking a final look back up to the top floor of her childhood home. As she remembered all of the memories she would have to leave behind when she stepped into the palace, she closed her eyes, forcefully willing away the tears that were threatening to spill over her perfectly made-up eyes.

She ran into the newly redone kitchen, past the tall granite island surrounded by tall dark wood stools, around the backside of the fridge, into her mother's open arms.

"It's okay Hun," she said soothingly.

A conversation had followed, but she couldn't remember exactly what it had been about. Then the doorbell had rung, and she had gone to the door to answer it.

She greeted the guard that was to take her to the palace in the white carriage bedecked in red and gold detailing. It shocked her to think that she would be carried in a royal carriage as a royal instead of a farmhand, not only today but for the rest of her life.

Sophie came bounding in, having heard the doorbell ring, catapulting herself into her older sister, smiling and laughing.

"Why is it you're so happy to see me go?" Charlotte said mockingly.

"I'll miss you, but I am so excited for you. MY sister, a princess, I never would have guessed." She responded with a giggle.

Next Char turned and gave Hailen a quick squeeze, bending down to remind him how close they would be once they moved into their new house, and that he could call her anytime he needed.

She turned once more, looking for her older brother Dom. He jumped out from behind her, playfully rubbing her head from behind before she turned around, pulling him into a hug he couldn't escape.

She hugged her mom once more before jumping into her father's arms, letting herself sag a little under the weight of what she knew was to come.

He leaned down putting his lips to her ear, whispering the encouragement she needed to continue on. After those words, she knew that no matter what she did, her dad would always be proud of her, and her family would have her back.

Two emotional pep talks within an hour, it was engulfing for Charlotte. She didn't know what to do with all of the support she had surrounding her.

The next thing she knew a knock sounded at the door. She turned towards the door noting Sean leaning against the doorframe.

"Hey princess."

"Hey..." she responded, not sure what was up Sean's sleeve.

"Follow me?" Sean's eyebrows raised in question, and when Charlotte raised to follow him, his face broke out in hope.

When they got to the room that Sean had led them to he stepped to the right of the doorframe, allowing Charlotte to step in front of him and take in the whole of the room. Her eyes immediately went to the wall directly ahead of the door; she allowed her eyes to wander the length of the wall and the surrounding walls, taking in every inch of space.

"Sean, what is this?" She asked turning to face him. He had followed her into the room and now stood behind her, observing her reaction to his surprise. Sean said nothing, indicating that he wanted her to figure it out for herself.

At the wall across from the door stood a pedestal with a mannequin dressed in all black; Charlotte stepped even closer to the figure, running her hands along the fabric. She took her time thinking, not wanting to look stupid, but from the second she stepped into the room she had immediately recognized the outfit from Sean's sketch. "It's the outfit you designed for the face of the rebels."

"No. It's the outfit I designed for you."

"Sean, I don't know what you are trying to get at, but I really don't think I can do this." Her words faltered, not wanting to disappoint Sean, but it was the truth; she really didn't think she could lead a whole group of people into battle.

"Just try it on, please?" he stepped toward her and held her hands in his. "Just see if it fits, in case you change your mind."

"Okay. I'll try it on."

***

Charlotte stood in front of the mirror that leaned against the wall next to the mannequin; having first seen it on the mannequin she didn't think it would fit her at all let alone look this good. On the mannequin, it had looked small and fitted, but on her, it looked just like the sketch.

"Wow." Sean's eyes were wide, and his jaw was reaching towards the hardwood floors.

"Yeah, wow." Charlotte turned in the mirror, looking at the outfit from all sides. When it was on her she could see that it wasn't all black like she had originally thought, she could see edges of red along the bottom of the cardigan-style cape and in places on the shirt, leggings, and boots. "I can't believe you have turned me into a brave, fierce warrior."

"Char. I did not turn you into a brave, fierce, warrior. I emphasized those parts of you so that you could see what we see every day."

"I dunno," She blushed and turned her head away. Sean stepped up behind her and ran his hands down her shoulders.

"Relax, breathe, do what you feel is right."

"I don't know what is right anymore,"

Sean paused, letting the gears turn in his head. "Can I ask you why you chose to stay here?"

"I don't know. I guess maybe it is because even when everyone was lying to me and all of my memories left, you never did." she paused realizing she knew the answer. "This is going to sound crazy coming out of my mouth." Charlotte thought about everything Sean and Scarlet had told her and her dad's words of encouragement. She knew that either way they would all be proud of her, but she knew what they would all want her to do. "Maybe, I wouldn't be so awful of a symbol after all?" She turned in Sean's arms, so they were face to face, examining his expression to see what he would do.

He lifted her up into the air twirling around in circles, her hair blew in messy waves and she laughed for the first time in what felt like ages. Maybe this was the right decision after all.