“And how can you help?” enquired Eveline, sitting down on the stool once more, crossing her legs.
“Well, I for one must go to London immediately, there is someone there with whom I can speak, do not fret, it may be nothing, they could be burglars,” smiled Theodore, setting an elbow on the piano and looking down at Eveline, whose auburn hair was alit with fire.
“It can’t be as serious as that?” she replied, her bottom lip quivering.
“To be fair I would prefer them to be burglars, Galean could sort them out pronto,” laughed Theodore remembering there meet in with the actual demons, that were following Eveline and Belle, Galean and soundly socked one of them in the jaw so hard that he fell into the railings and sagged down onto the pavement.
“When will you be back?” Eveline asked, twitching her fingers and trying to portray herself as very bored with an air of no care, a portrayal that went very badly, for her eyes grew bigger with emotion and instead of looking down or away she looked straight up into Theodore’s face in earnest fear.
“No need to worry, Galean and I have some business in Bath tomorrow, but I will leave for London after and will be home within the week,” Theodore brimmed happily, despite being as anxious about Eveline as Eveline was about him.
“Alright, and shall I keep to the house?” Eveline enquired, her brows furrowed.
“No, I am going to leave Galean with you, he is trustworthy and to the point, and he is actually pretty scary when riled,” teased Theodore watching Eveline sit back in angst. “You’ll be fine, he’s had a bad time of it recently, so he can become quite withdrawn, but in terms of completing a mission, he is the best.”
“Well okay, but just to let you know I can play feisty cuffs as well,” Eveline got up, and swung her hair back, her fiery golden eyes alive with determination. “ I once punched a rowdy boy, square in the jaw, I was obviously reprimanded by the constable, but it was , rightly so, deserved, and” she placed her hands on her hips, “ I can sword fight, William and I used to play Saxons and Vikings with the local boys, we even had a game of daggers, in which we would throw knives at a tree, well a point on the tree, and I always, nearly won,” she huffed happy in her less than modern accomplishments. Theodore stared down, into the feisty, golden eyes of the woman he loved, the woman he had watched sock James in the jaw, sword fight and wield a knife, she didn’t know it, but she was very alike to her mother and grandfather. Eveline’s father was a great warrior as well and he was a great spokesman for equality and justice.
“I can honestly say that if we had more women like you in the army, the war would have been won a long time ago,” gushed Theodore proudly, taking Eveline’s left hand into his own before quickly letting it drop, watching her face fall in disappointment.
“Well, we should head back, dinner will most certainly be ready and I wish to wake Belle,” smiled Eveline, making for the door. Before Eveline could lay her hand on the door handle, Theodore quickly caught her in his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips. Eveline found her body melting and relaxing into his own, strong and lean frame. Winding her hands around his neck, she let the kiss deepen as he gently held her, his hands wound around her back. A good several moments passed before they parted, breathing heavily.
“I thought we were to be friends?” Eveline whispered, her voice hazy and deep.
“You can call this a good luck charm,” smiled Theodore kissing her once more before stepping back and opening the door.
*
“So, Galean will be staying with us for a few days,” Estelle announced, whilst killing an already dead piece of chicken with her fork. Belle looked from Estelle to Eveline, her little, fine eyes alert with confusion.
“I see, and when did you arrange this?” Eveline murmured, setting down her knife and fork, gazing at Theodore, eyebrows raised.
“When I was playing chess with Theodore, he beat me,” she whimpered, no one ever beat Estelle, in fact Eveline allowed Estelle to win at any game played at home, merely so that she wouldn’t have to sit with her in a foul temper, as she was presently, now slashing her knife through a potato, causing Belle to squeak.
“Right, well has Galean agreed to such an invitation?” Eveline asked sharply, noticing Galean’s quiet and reserved manor.
“I didn’t really give him much of an option,” spluttered Estelle, downing some wine and quickly eyeing the forlorn Galean. “Poor chap, looks quite done out.”
“Grand mama!” gasped Eveline, her mouth opened in slight shock at the rudeness of Estelle. “Just because you lost a game of chess doesn’t mean that you can make us all suffer your humiliation.”
“I humiliated,” spat Estelle, twirling a carrot about on the plate, her face dramatically turning from disappointment to humiliation to downright anger. “I am never humiliated, I will have you know that once in London when I was a beautiful and fair young debutante, I beat Charles Lowdly at chess, and you will know him to be Britain’s number one player.”
“I’d wager he let you win,” laughed Theodore, turning to smile down at Belle, who had finished her dinner.
“He would never do that, gentleman are above such acts of devilry,” cried Estelle dramatically.
“If you say so,” smiled Theodore, glancing across at Eveline who gave him a look of exasperation.
“I do, say so” murmured Estelle, leaning back in her chair and huffing like a child.
“Belle, would you like to go and play in the dining room?” Eveline asked, trying to change the subject and realising upon doing so that there was nothing in which a young girl could play with.
“Oh, do you have games?” Belle asked happily, getting off her chair and coming to Eveline.
“Actually no, I don’t but I’m sure you can find something,” Eveline drawled, feeling ridiculous and tired.
“Come my fair maiden, let us go and play hide and seek,” jested Theodore, taking off his napkin, laying it on his plate and getting up. Belle’s little feet found their way to Theodore and in raising up her arms, Theodore swung her up into his arms and walked away with her, winking at Eveline as they departed.
“It’s a bit strange having two, really, unknown men in Mary’s house,” Estelle moaned, looking into her glass of wine, her eyes a little dazed.
“I grant you it is,” replied Eveline, her eyes darting between her slightly drunk grandmother and the quiet Galean.
“I mean how do we know they won’t kill us? Or are the more dashing version of those, to be quite blunt ridiculous looking gang of men that currently spy on us?” Estelle slurred, looking over at Galean, who sighed heavily.
“You know I am sitting right here?” he sighed, not lifting his eyes.
“You must forgive her, she never really drinks this much, but when she does, well…, erhm, she is slightly,” Eveline’s face scrunched up into an unknown look of embarrassment, Galean could feel it from where he sat, his eyes downcast.
“Unlike her normal, usual, bashful, opinionated self?” offered Galean, a small smile playing on his lips.
“In so many words,” laughed Eveline, lifting her napkin from her lap and laying it over her plate, sitting back and smiling.
“I am not drunk,” Estelle slurred, “I have just had a slightly off day.”
“What is it grandma, your usually so perky? Is it that you lost to Theodore?” asked Eveline, winking at Galean, who smiled back shyly.
“Absolutely not, I let him win,” Estelle spat, setting her glass down upon the table and get up onto her wobbly feet.
“Where are you going?” Eveline asked a little concerned at her grandmothers lack of balance.
“I am going to the dining room to read,” groaned Estelle, wobbling her way out of the room, slamming the door shut with a huff. The room fell into a long silence. Eveline closed her eyes in exhaustion, her head falling against the chair. Galean put down his knife and fork and gazed at her.
“It’s been a long day,” he whispered, folding his hands on his lap. Eveline open
ed her eyes a little and nodded.
“Yes, these last two days have been somewhat exhausting, eye opening certainly, but tiring yes,” she smiled, her chest rising and falling slowly, the light of the small chandelier illuminating her pale face.
“I’m sorry,” sighed Galean, feeling melancholy and down, his moods usually taking a turn for the worst in the evenings, a far cry from his happy and joyous portrayal. It was tiring, trying to be the rebellious and outspoken angel, before the death of his wife and daughter he was naturally an outgoing and outspoken warrior, now he felt exhausted and slow.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Eveline replied kindly, looking over at the downcast man, beautiful but exhausted as well, yet, Eveline suspected his exhaustion was due to the grieve he carried, quietly and alone.
“I mean, I am sorry that I have to stay here, I know it must be strange, considering that you have only taken in Belle today, you must long for life to go back to normal?” Galean asked curiously, lifting his eyes to find her golden eyes on him intently.
“I like adventures, but I think that you are very tired, for an entirely different reason.”
“A long day,” Galean sighed.
“I know how grief can exhaust you, it isolates you from everything and it changes you,” Eveline whispered gently, watching Galean’s body tense at the subject. “You don’t have to hide your pain, I understand.”
“Sometimes, mostly in the evenings, it hits me so badly, from out of nowhere,” Galean replied, his eyes moist; he felt humiliated, so far from the strong and hero like warrior, most young angelic boys idolised.
“I find myself crying at times, it just comes from nowhere,” Eveline admitted. “When I look at happy families, when it’s my birthday, when Christmas comes and especially when I hit a milestone.” Eveline felt herself blush as she confessed her triggers to crying.
“You don’t have to feel embarrassed, I understand,” Galean smiled.
“I hope that whilst you stay here, we can be friends,” Eveline asked, wanting to have his friendship almost as badly as she wanted to have Theodores, it just felt, different.
“Off course we can, but I really am your guardian firstly,” Galean teased.
“Oh yes, I mean I know,” Eveline blushed at his teasing, “it’s just with Belle here and everything else, well it will be nice having adult companionship, and” she smiled widely at the thought, “we have Christmas! I love Christmas, despite the war, it always makes my heart warm.”
Galean laughed out loud, really because humans had no idea that Jesus was a fictional character, and that the pagan festival that had been repressed by the Catholic Church was more factual.
“Do you like Christmas too?” Eveline asked, wide eyed and curious. Galean choked on his laugh and straightened himself.
“Off course, who doesn’t?” he quipped raising both his hands in question.
“Shall we go and join the others?” Eveline smiled happily getting up, and pushing her chair back.
“You go on and I will join you shortly,” Galean smiled, watching Eveline cross the room, exiting quietly.
Chapter VI
Shadows
Bath Abbey, stood tall and mighty against the night sky as Theodore made his way through the church doors, casting his eyes around for evidence of his friends. Theodore stopped in his tracks and lifted his eyes to take in the beautiful van vaulting, similar to those at Westminster Abbey. The air was cold and damp as he made his way up the nave towards the altar, which sat beneath the beautiful stained glass window, illuminated by the tall candles that adorned the altar. For several minutes, Theodore stood alone waiting for his friends to arrive, hoping that he had not been followed. In time the church door swung open to reveal Galean, Ada, Peter and Bram, all quietly making their way towards Theodore, shutting and barring the cathedral doors behind them. As the angels made their way towards the altar, Galean diminished any light along the nave with a wave of his hand.
“Cael,” Ada smiled, hugging his friend tightly as the group surrounded one another in merriment.
“Ada!” Theodore replied, responding to the hug with mirth before letting him go.
“So, I’m guessing we are here to discuss the shadows?” Bram announced, standing beside the altar and leaning against the marble, his blue eyes gazing across at Theodore intently.
“Yes, it seems, all our attempts at keeping Eveline a secret has failed and we need to know why.” Theodore replied, looking across at Galean, whose face was lowered in thought.
“Bram and I made sure we left none of them behind in Bristol, so how is it they are in Bath?” Peter enquired, taking off his hat and setting it down on the nearby pew.
“It seems that an independent group of the demons have been keeping watch on Estelle,” Galean answered, lifting his face, the light of the candles, highlighting his golden hair.
“How? Nobody knew about Eveline but us,” Ada responded, his eyebrows raised.
“Is it possible that someone followed you from Calhuni?” Galean asked Theodore, taking off his gloves and putting them into his charcoal coloured coat. Theodore turned away from his friends, trying to think about that fateful night in the garden of Calhuni, was it possible that someone had been watching?
“I cannot say for certain whether I had been followed, but if I had, why have they not tried to take Eveline until now?” Theodore asked aloud.
“Your right, if someone had followed you back then surely they would not have waited this long to act?” Peter mumbled up at the stained glass window.
“And you are sure you kept yourself hidden?” Galean asked Theodore, a glow of intensity in his eyes.
“Yes, I am sure of it, nobody but myself knew about Eveline’s location, not even Heiden.” Theodore whispered.
“Why not Heiden?” Bram asked curiously, his eyes darting from Theodore to Galean, intrigued.
“In case he should find himself in Lagar’s company,” Galean replied sarcastically, “sorry, forgive my tongue, I am tired dear friend,” he moaned, his fists clenched.
“It’s alright, I understand,” Bram smiled, “well if only the five of us knew about Eveline then we have to agree that someone in our group has betrayed us,” Bram replied darkly into the silence. The angels stopped and looked at one another intently, before laughing out loud.
“Impossible,” whispered Ada, “we would never do that to one another,” he urged, looking to Theodore for support. Theodore’s eyes lowered at the realisation, off course it was possible.
“It is possible,” Theodore replied, now walking around the altar deep in thought, had his love for Eveline blinded him?
“Then who?” demanded Galean, “which one of us has betrayed our King?”
The cathedral went quiet as the angels looked at one another in doubt.
“It was not I,” stammered Ada, “I have no motive, Heiden protected my children during the war, and I owe him everything.”Ada’s friends nodded in agreement, it was impossible that Ada, a kind and gentle soul, could do something so catastrophic.
“Nor I,” Bram urged, his iris blue eyes, desperately seeking understanding from his best friend Ada. Ada turned from where he stood and strode over to his oldest friend and put his arm around his shoulder in friendship.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Ada replied earnestly. Peter stood still watching the group as they made their admissions to being on Heiden’s side and felt a strong tremor rise up within him. As his friends calmed down, their eyes fell upon him.
“Well?” Galean enquired quietly, folding his arms and looking at the youngest of their friends.
“Off course I wouldn’t betray my friends,” Peter lied, his face warming and his eyes falling slightly, unable to look at them.
“Why do you blush?” Theodore asked, stepping forward, his eyes on Peter as though he was prey.
“It’s hard not to when you are all staring at me thus,” Peter stammered, stepping backwards towards a nearby pillar.
“Why
are you stepping away?” Ada asked, now following Theodore, his face firm and authoritive.
“I.., I don’t know,” Peter squirmed wishing that he could flee, despite having the ability too, he knew they would find him and make him answer.
“Peter if you need to confess to us, you better do it now,” Galean pleaded gently.
“I didn’t mean too…,” Peter coughed, his eyes becoming moist.
“Didn’t mean to do what?” Bram asked harshly, his hand on his sword.
“My brother, I told my brother,” Peter cried aloud, hunching over feeling nauseous.
“Your brother?” Galean whispered, raising his hands into the air.
“Yes, before I knew he was a traitor, I swear I did not know,” Peter cried falling onto his knees. “When I heard that the demons had found Eveline, I knew it had to be him, but I swear,” he held up his hands as though asking God for forgiveness. “I did not know he was a spy, I trusted him, he is all the family that I have.”
Theodore, Galean, Ada and Bram looked at one another before turning back to Peter, bent over on the marbled floor, crying quietly. Theodore raised his right hand, begging the others to stay still and quiet before kneeling down.
“Why did you not tell us friend?” Theodore asked gently, setting a hand on Peter’s shoulder, willing him to lift his face and to meet his gaze.
“I was afraid…,” he stuttered pathetically, “I have lost everything but my friends, not even the court allow me entrance, you must believe me I have not told another living soul bar my brother.”
“You have put Eveline in danger, she can no longer stay hidden,” Theodore scolded.
“I know I have and I am truly sorry,” Peter groaned, lifting his eyes to meet Theodore’s.
“Does it matter now?” Galean argued out loud, frustrated and tired “what did you expect her to do, stay hidden forever? How could that have been possible, she is not human Cael, she is of Heiden’s blood, and she has a power far greater than our own.” Theodore turned from Peter to look over at the frustrated Galean, now pacing to and fro.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 13