“Honey, I’m so glad to see you,” she said.
She opened her arms, waiting for a hug. I wasted no time getting to her.
“Grandma, I’m so sorry we had to bring you here. You understand why you are here, right? Please tell me you aren’t mad,” I groveled.
I hadn’t realized I was feeling so guilty until all of those words just slipped out. Now that I said it, I felt a little bit better.
“Oh honey, hush now. I understand, I’m not always me, and it is difficult to deal with. You did it for my own good. Honey, don’t you dare feel guilty,” she told me. Her face told me just how strongly she felt about that. Her words brought tears to my eyes.
“Thank you, Grandmother. I almost forgot, I have someone I want you to meet,” I said, moving out of her way.
“And who is this handsome young man,” she asked me.
She wore a big smile.
“Grandmother Winslow, this is my boyfriend Axel,” I told her.
She slapped her hands down on her legs and said, “It’s about time! Your mom was starting to think you were interested in girls! I knew you weren’t, though. You were just waiting for someone worthy of your time. Come here, and give me a hug.”
My face was solid red. Axel looked at me quickly while suppressing a grin. He fit himself right between her arms and wrapped his own around her.
“You smell nice,” she said. “Like grass.”
“Thank you,” he said, pulling away.
“Grandmother, I have a secret to share with you.”
“Oh dear, you aren’t pregnant, are you?” she asked, suddenly getting serious.
“No!” I said a little too loudly.
“Oh thank goodness, child. You scared me,” she said, relaxing back into her chair.
“No, I’m not. Axel is from Morthsoul. Remember the place I was telling you about?” I asked her.
“I do remember,” she answered me.
“Well, we came to tell you what was going on there, and well, I was hoping you would come with me for a visit,” I said.
“Oh child, I don’t know. I only went once, and that was scary enough,” she said.
“I promise you will show right up at the castle with me. A very dear friend of mine did some research in your mother’s journals. We linked another emerald to mine, so you would only appear next to me,” I told her.
“Are you sure it will work?” she asked me.
“Yes, I am sure. We just tested it with Axel. This is his first time on Earth; he woke up right beside me in my apartment,” I told her quietly.
“That’s scandalous, but I won’t say a word,” she teased. “Axel, how do you like Earth?” Grandmother asked.
“Well, I haven’t seen much of it. I saw Violet’s apartment, which is lovely, by the way,” he said, looking to me.
Suddenly serious, I grabbed her hand.
“I don’t like Mom’s boyfriend, Grandmother. He seems like a horrible person, and he is all kinds of bad for her. I know he is dangerous.”
“Have you told her?” she asked.
“Of course I have. I’m half Winslow, after all. I can’t keep my opinions to myself.”
“And she wouldn’t listen?”
“She is too a Winslow, so no,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“I have faith you will be able to drive him away,” she told me.
I’ll have to kill him, but I couldn’t tell her that. I also couldn’t tell her about my brush with death. That news enough would be enough to put her in her grave. She didn’t need that stress.
Just then, a nurse chose to come in and interrupt.
“Sorry to interrupt, but since you are having a good day, we thought we would have you meet with the Doctor,” the nurse said.
“It’s okay, we need to get going anyway,” I said to no one in particular.
I handed an emerald to her when I hugged her goodbye.
“Hold this in your hand when you fall asleep,” I told her.
“I will,” she whispered before I backed away.
Then she planted a big old kiss on Axel’s cheek and told him to guard me with his life. I’m not sure she realizes just how strongly he takes that vow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
She is actually here. Grandmother was standing in front of me, looking around at my room in the castle in wonder.
“Oh, sweet mother,” she said in awe.
“I know, it’s a lot to take in,” I told her, grabbing her hand.
“Yeah, a lot. This is where Mother lived?” she asked.
“Yup, in fact, this was her bedroom. I’ve done a lot of redecorating, but well, this is it,” I said.
I was having a hard time keeping my excitement in. This is the first time I haven’t felt depressed since the poisoning.
I actually feel happy.
Grandmother didn’t say anything. She just sat down on my bed, rubbing her hand over the covers.
“It’s beautiful,” she finally said.
“I know, but this isn’t all there is to see,” I said.
I grabbed her hand, half towing her to the library. Aunt Beetie and Wisdom were there waiting for us.
“Grandmother, I have some more people I want you to meet,” I told her.
“Sure, of course, but where is that fine young man you introduced me to earlier?” she asked.
“Trying to steal my boyfriend?” I asked her playfully.
“You might have some competition,” she said, winking at me.
Beetie and Wisdom stared at Grandmother in awe as we were talking.
“Oh, I am rude, Grandmother Winslow, this is Beetie and Wisdom. They are family,” I said.
“Oh dear, it’s so nice you found people here you consider family,” Grandmother said.
I don’t think she quite understood what I was saying.
“No Grandmother, they are family. Beetie is Victoria’s daughter, and Wisdom is Beetie’s father,” I said.
I watched her face for any indicator that I had just sent my grandmother to her grave, but nothing happened.
“Oh, my,” Grandmother said as Beetie wrapped her into a hug.
I knew that hug won Grandmother over as soon as I saw her body relax. It was one of those same hugs that Beetie used to win me over.
“We look so much alike,” Grandmother said in shock.
“Well, when you share the same mother, that’s bound to happen,” Beetie said, pulling away.
While Beetie pulled Grandmother further into a corner of the room, Wisdom approached me.
“The King and Queen’s bodies have been properly preserved. They are ready for their final journey home. Are you?” he asked.
“Not even close,” I answered honestly.
If he asked me if I was all packed, I would have said yes. If he asked if I was available to leave tomorrow, I would have said yes. If he asked if I was all kinds of scared, I would have said hell yes. But am I ready? Hell no.
I spent that afternoon giving Grandmother the tour and introducing her to our extended family. I even walked her to Victoria’s final resting place. I expected Grandmother to cry, but she didn’t. She smiled. She stated that this had been a long time coming; she was happy to know the fate of her mother at least and be in her presence once again.
While I spent time with my grandmother, Axel and some of his men, along with my trusted Wisdom, loaded up the ship. My voyage would start tonight.
I put Grandmother to bed, with the emerald in her hand. I purposely took mine off so I wouldn’t go back with her. I wanted to talk more about it with her. I was so excited she knew all of this was real. She finally could understand that her mother wasn’t crazy, and she didn’t die. She started a new life while still wishing she could have her firstborn with her.
I also felt a sense of foreboding. Have I put my grandmother in danger too? Or would this trip drain her too much, and she would never recover back in Arlington? I didn’t know, but I hoped I was just overreacting. Everything else had gone wrong, s
o maybe I just expected that to happen with Grandmother too.
☼
Walking up the ramp from the dock to the boat was hard for me to do. Not because it was too narrow, or I was afraid of falling into the water. I was afraid of leaving what I was familiar with. I was scared of facing a large group of people who may blame me for the death of their King and Queen.
I didn’t expect their people to follow me. Why would they? I desperately wish that they had a child or another claim to the throne. I’d gladly hand this new responsibility to someone who deserved it.
Clarissa would be mad as a hornet if I did that. Not the Clarissa that was down in the hold somewhere, in a box not pretty enough to suit its occupant. I meant the Clarissa who I can feel surround me when I take a sip from her teacup or when I put on her tiara and look in a mirror.
So in my heart, I know I can’t just give a kingdom away. That wasn’t really in my character anyway. I’m Violet Victoria Brown, and I rise to challenges.
Axel is giving me an angry glance. He is mad that I won’t let him come with me. I ordered him and Trin to stay and run everything in my absence. He, as a subject, understood my order and didn’t mind obeying. However, the part of him that was my boyfriend, my equal, was pissed he couldn’t come to protect me.
“Axel, please don’t make this any harder for me. I need you and Trin to take care of everything that I can’t when I’m more than a hundred miles away,” I told him.
“I don’t see why Wisdom and Trin can’t handle it. Wisdom can’t fight using a sword,” he said, almost whining.
“And you can’t use magic, so you are both even in my book. Are you jealous that I asked Wisdom to come? He knows something about this place and can help me judge character. You know I’m not sure about the intentions of my newest set of advisors. We talked about this.”
“I just hate that you will be so far away, and I can’t do anything to protect you,” he said.
His shoulders slumped as he gave in to what I was asking him to do.
“You manage just fine when I go home,” I told him, not entirely understanding his logic.
“But you still stay here when you travel in your sleep. There is a physical form of you that I feel I can protect. I try to concentrate on that, not what is happening there,” he replied.
“Axel, I will be fine. Look at how much I’ve survived. I’ve beaten a King, survived the attack on the castle, and managed to live through a poisoning. Clearly, I’m not done with what I am supposed to do,” I told him, trying to make him feel better.
I didn’t believe any of that myself, but I need to be a good actress, or he will never let me leave.
Axel wrapped his arms around me and gave me one last kiss.
“You better send me a message every night,” he warned me.
“Got it,” I said with a smile, trying to make this easier for both of us.
Someone came up and told us everything was boarded, and it was time to set sail.
Two more kisses later and I was watching Axel grow smaller. I could just barely make him out from the rest of the small crowd.
“Your highness,” Wisdom said, “We have some preparations to make.”
Thank goodness for Wisdom. Now I could channel my sorrow into something constructive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Axel
The ship was almost out of sight, and I desperately wanted to jump into the ocean and swim after it. Only my common sense kept me from doing it. I would drown before I could reach that ship.
“Sir Axel, you are needed elsewhere,” I was told after the ship had been out of view for a while.
“Yes, of course,” I answered the disembodied voice. I’m sure it belonged to someone I knew, but right now, I didn’t really care.
If that old man doesn’t protect her with his life, no amount of magic can stop me from killing him. Not that his magic would harm me anyway.
I turned my back on the sea and started the trek back to the castle. It was at least a day’s walk, but I had my horse, so the ride was only a few hours. The journey did nothing to distract my rambling thoughts.
Back at the castle, Trin greeted me at the door to the barracks. The barracks were a small little building to the right side of the castle. It was several stories high and housed all the knights that didn’t have families. It also housed one of my offices. While Violet gave me an office within the castle, this was a more accessible place.
“Trin,” I said in greeting.
“I’m just as bummed as you are, but this attitude I’m sensing needs to stop. We have some issues,” she said. My heart stopped for a moment.
“What might that be?
“Violet’s father is missing.”
“What do you mean he is missing? How can he be missing?” I asked in disbelief.
“He isn’t in his room, and he isn’t anywhere on the castle grounds. He is either hiding in the village or is long gone by now; I don’t know why,” she said.
“Good riddance then. I don’t trust the man,” I told her. I turned my back to walk towards the castle.
“Me neither, however, don’t you think Violet might be upset? She was just starting to get to know him. There is so much he could have helped her understand,” she said.
Trin has always been a voice of reason. She is far too good at it.
“If he shows up before her return, we will act as if it never happened and let it go unnoticed. If he isn’t back, I’ll break the news,” I said.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Trin asked me.
“Get what?” I asked.
“Violet is terrified of everything going on around her. How much do you actually observe her? She barely eats. She says she isn’t afraid, but I can see it. She doesn’t want you to see her as this delicate little flower. She is Queen, Axel. You try to protect her from more than you are required to. But can’t protect her from everything...”
“I can try,” I cut her off.
“Have you ever courted anyone before?” she asked me suddenly.
“No, Violet is my first,” I answered.
“I was courted once before,” she told me. “The gentleman was very overprotective and controlling. He pushed me away without even knowing it. I felt I couldn’t talk to him about my feelings, because he’d try to protect me from those too. Instead of trusting him, I ended up leaving the courtship. I came to work in the castle so he couldn’t find me.”
Suddenly it hit me, was Violet feeling the same way? Was she pushing me away because I couldn’t handle my own feelings? Is that why I am here, and not with her on the ship?
“So you understand my point then?” she asked, recognizing the thoughts that must have made themselves evident on my face.
“Yes, I do. I will work on it,” I told her. “What else have I failed to notice?” I asked.
“For starters, Violet is spending far less time in Arlington, that can’t be healthy for her. She never lets Clarissa’s tiara out of her sight; it’s a wonder that she left it behind. Also, she hasn’t used her magic since she was poisoned. Wisdom shared with me that she may not be able to access her magic due to the potion he had to give her to save her life. She may or may not be able to use her magic again.”
I’ve been so self-absorbed in my idea of protecting her; I couldn’t see what she actually needed. I was seeing what was going on around her, but I wasn’t seeing her. Now she may not be able to use her magic ever again?
How have I not noticed this? I am such an idiot.
“Does she know?” I asked.
“To my knowledge, no. Wisdom said not to say anything yet. He wanted to make sure it was better before getting her to try to use her magic and explaining what was happening. That’s also why you are here. She needs no distractions. She needs Wisdom’s help with her magic,” Trin answered.
I’ve been terrified that I’d lose her, and even worse that it would be my fault that something terrible happens to her. She is Queen, and she is more than qualified to
make her decisions. She also can hold her own in a sword fight, but now, her magic is gone.
When she finds out, she will be devastated. So much has already happened so quickly. I just wanted to pull Violet into a hug and never let go. I want so badly to protect her from the world that keeps knocking her back down.
But I can’t do that. Violet is stronger than anyone gives her credit for, including myself. I need to just be her support to help her through tough times. I will have to stop being overbearing, and I will make sure she knows how truly capable I think she is.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Trin
Idon’t understand how all those things went over Axel’s head. But at least I can feel good about knowing he understands now.
Violet has been holding us all at a distance. She won’t tell me what is bothering her. She has been avoiding Axel as much as she can without hurting his feelings.
She is such a good person; she doesn’t realize she is hurting herself in the process, poor girl. She has had so many things happening recently, and I don’t know how she keeps herself together. I’m on the sidelines for most of it, and I feel as if everything is too much.
As Violet’s best friend, I made a list of things to do to try to make her life easier. She took my life of servitude and gave me luxury. She had known me for all of an hour when she asked me if I would be her advisor. How could I ever repay her for what she has done for me, including being my first real friend?
I had checked the first thing off my list, though, and that gave me confidence that I can do more to help her. Axel had been weighing on her mind, I could tell. Now hopefully, that won’t be as big of an issue.
Now I’m on my way into the village to get some lovely fabrics to make her a beautiful quilt.
Violet likes to pride herself in giving back to everyone she meets. After she wears dresses, she gives those away to women that are having trouble clothing themselves. She donates the leftovers of feasts to those who starve at night. Now it’s time she has something that rewards that.
Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2) Page 13