“Such music gave life to my sleepless form,” whispered Eveline. Galean did not reply, he simply allowed himself a moment to take in the woman before him, the grand child of Heiden. She was indeed tall and petite, her skin as pale as the moon. As Belle found her way to Estelle, time somehow paused allowing him time to observe the beautiful and tragic creature before him. Her face was oval, her eyes a bright golden hue with what he guessed to be specks of yellow around the rim of her iris. Her round eyes were protruding beneath her thick brows. Her cheekbones were high and her nose pointed like his own, hovering above her full lips, a light shade of red. Her fiery auburn hair, thick and curled flowed down her back and nestled at her waist. Hidden beneath her luscious hair, her slim shoulders lay, her shoulder blades slightly protruding from her back. Her neck was long and fine, her collarbone beautifully set beneath her oval face. He drew his eyes away from her chest, feeling shame and let instead let them observe her legs, long and curled up beneath her petite feet.
“Galean?” a voice called out to him, causing him to break with his observation. Estelle stood by the doorway, looking down at him with furrowed brows.
“Could you bring Eveline in, to sit by the fire whilst I make her some broth?”
“Of course,” Galean replied. Estelle moved away from the doorway and waited as Galean strode over to Eveline, who sat back against her chair in what appeared to be anxiety. “I won’t hurt you,” Galean promised as he reached down for her.
“I remember you,” Eveline whispered, the memory of him by her bed coming back to her. All at once she could feel his hand upon her heart and trembled as he looked down into her eyes. “Galean?”
“And you are Eveline?”
“Of course you must know my name by now, but what brings you here?” Eveline asked as Galean brought her up into his arms. With shy eyes, Eveline wrapped her arms about his neck and let her gaze settle at his throat.
“Such matters can be spoken of tomorrow,” Estelle interrupted, breaking the moment.
“I am a friend of your husbands,” Galean said as he brought Eveline into the living room, gently setting her down into one of the leather chairs before the fire.
“You know Theodore?” Eveline asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes,” Galean replied, walking away to the window, picking up a rug and bringing it back, laying it across her legs tenderly.
“Is he coming home?” Eveline asked with hope in her eyes.
“I am afraid not,” Galean replied, bringing another seat over, placing it by Estelle’s.
“Why ever not? He has not been home for so long,” Eveline groaned, bringing the blanket up to her chest lightly.
“As your mother said, we can discuss it tomorrow,” Galean smiled weakly, seeing the anguish in her eyes as they dropped away from him.
“I understand,” she murmured as Estelle and Belle re-entered the room with a tray.
“Now here we go, some warm broth for you to eat,” Estelle cooed, setting the tray upon Eveline’s knees.
“Thank you mother,” Eveline said, lifting her face to Estelle who promptly kissed her cheek.
“I’m so glad you are feeling better,” Estelle exclaimed, taking the pot of tea from Eveline’s tray, setting it down upon her own table before returning and retrieving the cups. “You had me scared.” Eveline didn’t answer, wishing to refrain from the topic that everyone clearly wished to discuss. “Would you like some tea Mr Edwards?”
“Yes, and you may use my Christian name if you please,” Galean said taking a cup of tea from Estelle, his eyes upon the withdrawn Eveline, who sat quietly, sipping her broth.
“Of course,” Estelle smiled broadly, sitting down with her cup of tea. Belle made herself comfortable at Eveline’s feet, biting down on a biscuit. “Now you really must be off to bed Belle, you’ve had a long day and need to rest those eyes.”
“Oh please can I stay up for a while?” Belle begged, her eyes large and filled with hope.
“Only for an hour and then you and Eveline will be going straight upstairs,” Estelle ordered kindly, letting her back fall into the chair, her shoulders falling with exhaustion. The group sat in silence for a long time as they sipped on their tea and broth. When she had finished, Eveline set her bowl down upon the tray and let her eyes fall to the fire.
“Belle tells me that you play also?” Galean asked, wanting to bring Eveline out of the miserable place in which she found herself. Eveline turned slowly to meet his gaze, her face withdrawn and pale once again, as though the realisation of what had passed had suddenly transcended through her.
“I do,” she said quietly, her gaze unyielding.
“Do you have any particular favourite pieces of music in which you like to play?”
“Two.”
“May I ask what they are?” Galean asked, setting his empty cup down upon the side table, his gaze never leaving her own.
“Vaughan Williams, piano concerto in C Major, known as Toccata Allegro Moderato and Mozart’s piano concerto number twenty three in A Major. Do you have a favourite piece?”
“Fredric Chopin’s piano concerto number one in e minor, known as romance or Larghetto, do you know it?”
“It is a very beautiful piece of music,” Eveline smiled, wishing she could sit at the piano and lose herself in it.
“I also happen to love Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto number two in c minor.”
“Also a beautiful piece of music. Do you play often?”
“Not nearly as much as I would like,” Galean sighed inwardly. “But I do attend the odd concert, although they are scarcely rare now.”
“I have only ever been to two concerts in Bristol,” Eveline replied quietly, turning her eyes to the fire once more. The kitchen door opened and in came Wordsworth, who bound over to Eveline and stood on his hind legs, settling his forelegs upon her knees whilst nestling his head in her hands. “Oh Wordsworth you silly boy, don’t think I haven’t noticed you sleeping on the end of my bed.” Wordsworth barked happily.
“He’s ever so good,” Belle beamed as she wrapped her arms about the enormous wolfhound with love. “He saved us from that mean man you know,” Belle exclaimed turning her head in Galean’s direction.
“So I heard,” Galean smiled. Upon hearing Galean speak the wolfhound released himself from Eveline and made his way over to Galean, sitting down at his feet and falling to sleep.
“I see he has a new friend,” Eveline smiled widely. Galean bent down and rubbed the dog’s ear kindly.
“Well they do say that dogs are man’s best friends,” Galean teased much to Belle’s disgust. Belle crawled over to the dog and lay down beside him.
“Silly men,” she whispered into Wordsworth’s ear. Galean and Eveline chuckled lightly as Estelle closed her eyes before the fire, tired and in want of some rest. Eveline watched as Belle also closed her eyes, letting her body mould itself into Wordsworth.
“You have a close bond with her,” Galean stated quietly as Eveline shuffled her body, getting rid of the ache in her hip.
“She has been a miracle,” Eveline whispered, standing up from her chair and walking over to Belle, sitting herself down beside her, wrapping the blanket over her. “Children are precious,” she said wistfully, turning her eyes up to Galean who looked down at her with warmth.
“They are indeed, it is as I sometimes admit a shame that they have to grow up.”
“They see the world in a way that we adults cannot,” Eveline whispered, stroking the child’s blonde curls.
“Indeed.”
Eveline yawned as she stroked Belle’s hair, the heat of the fire and warmth of the broth making her sleepy.
“How is my husband?” she asked shyly.
“Very well,” Galean said gently. “He misses you greatly.”
“I miss him too,” Eveline replied quietly, her eyes shy and wavering.
“I understand you both married in a rush,” Galean smiled, leaning back into the chair.
&
nbsp; “We had been engaged for a year and he wished to be married before heading down to Kent,” Eveline said, her eyes suddenly sad.
“I wouldn’t worry too much, that is quite normal during war.”
“I hear that there has been a heavy german bombing campaign taking place.”
“Yes, London is a physically altered city but psychologically they have a great ability to adapt and push through as all who live in Britain do.”
“I wouldn’t say we are all that strong,” Eveline smiled shyly. “I’m not quite sure that I would be able to push through if I lived in London.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Galean smiled.
“If you knew me then you would be sure.”
“If you were without strength then I doubt you would have survived the attack that happened a few days ago,” Galean said cautiously seeing her face drop.
“It was not strength that saved me, it was my mother,” Eveline whispered faintly, her gaze falling to Wordsworth.
“Do you always have such a low opinion of yourself?” Galean said with feeling.
“I am honest.”
“Hmm.”
Estelle groaned and awoke from her slumber.
“Gosh I must have dosed off,” she said with coloured cheeks. Eveline smiled at her mother.
“We should get Belle to bed,” Eveline announced getting up from the ground, her legs shaking. Without thinking, Galean got up immediately and swept her into his arms, causing Wordsworth and Belle to awaken with a fright. Estelle’s brows rose at the sight.
“Come Belle it is time for bed,” she announced getting to her feet and holding out her hand. Belle got up, groggy and tired and placed her hand within Estelle’s, following her up the stairs.
“Night Evie, night Galean,” she whispered as she ascended the stairs.
“Night pet,” Eveline replied, her arms once again about Galean’s neck.
“Night Belle,” Galean announced as he made his way to the stairs. Wordsworth got up at once and followed him as he also ascended the stairs with Eveline. Eveline kept quiet as Galean brought her into her room, setting her down into her bed as Wordsworth jumped up, falling asleep at the end of the bed with a grunt. Eveline lay still as Galean quietly placed her sheets around her, his eyes not quite meeting her own.
“Thank you,” she whispered quietly, digging under her pillow to find her little bible and bringing it forth. Galean smiled as he caught a glimpse of the black leather bound bible in her petite hands.
“I will go and put out the fire before I take my place in the corner,” he whispered, leaving the room and closing the door so that she would have time in which to pray as was her custom. Eveline watched as the door closed and sighed heavily, closing her eyes briefly before opening them once more. Her lantern burned quietly upon her table, enshrining the room in a golden hue. After making sure the corridor was quiet she turned onto her side and closed her eyes.
“God, thank you for keeping me safe and thank you for mother and Belle.” A tear lay in the corner of her eye. “I know we have not always seen eye to eye and I would not proclaim myself to be religiously devoted, but I happen to believe in you, I’m just not so fussed on the rituals of the church. I do however see you in all that surround’s me, nature and its beauty, family and its love and music in all its forms. Keep Theodore safe where ever he is and send him my love.” She stopped and took in a deep breathe before shutting her eyes tightly again. “I’m afraid, afraid of all that is happening about me and within me. I know I am not like others, I know that creatures of the dark are real. I’m afraid and confused.” The tear that teased the corner of her eye fell upon her pillow and she sniffed quietly, rubbing her eyes before placing her small bible under her pillow once more. It was true, she was no proficient Christian and never claimed to be one either, she could not for all her intelligence allow herself to be fooled by the rituals of the church and refused therefore to attend. She did however believe in a creator and found it hard not to believe when she was surrounded by the most beautiful countryside. She loved above all things to watch things grow and it was her love of all things that bloomed that reassured her in her faith. Putting her bible away she turned onto her back and looked up at the ceiling, wiping away any remnants of salty water upon her cheek. After a moment she heard the door open and watched on as Galean entered with a book, sitting down on his chair in the corner.
“What is that you have?” Eveline asked quietly.
“A book by Charles Darwin,” Galean replied, setting the book down upon his knees and glancing over at Eveline who seemed to smile.
“A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty – it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this sense alone, I am a deeply religious man.”
“You read his work too?”
“I do although I will not lie and pretend that I understand all of it, for I am no natural mathematician or scientist, but I like him very well,” Eveline said grandly sitting up and placing her pillow behind her back to get a better view of Galean.
“Who else do you like?” Galean moved his chair over to the side of her bed, so that they could speak freely with one another.
“I like Marcus Aurelius’ above all, I know not why for I am sure there are better philosophers but I have a keen interest in him,” Eveline replied, turning her head.
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
“Do you believe in fate Mr Edwards?”
“You may call me Galean,” Galean smiled. “I’m not quite sure if I do. What about you?”
“There is no such thing as accident; it is fate misnamed,” Eveline smiled, her cheeks warming.
“I believe you quote good old Bonaparte,” Galean laughed. “For all his faults he was a master at military strategy.”
“Indeed but his pride and his unfortunate bout of piles got in the way,” Eveline chuckled.
“Power is the demon of man, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Certainly it is for that very reason that I strive to live a simple life, surrounded by the beauty of nature to keep me humble and the love of my family to keep me standing.”
“How very wise you are,” Galean said with great thought attached to his words. “Tell me have you never yearned to walk out your door and venture into the world?”
“If I tell you my truest answer you shall think me mad,” Eveline said with a serious face.
“I promise I will not,” Galean said with equal seriousness, his voice deep and his tone kind.
“I have always felt torn,” Eveline sighed, placing her arm under her head for comfort. “A part of me wishes to stay hidden and safe within this cottage. And yet another part, much wilder and raw seems to have grander ambitions for my life. For there are things about me that unsettle other people and they would be correct in feeling unsettled about my unfortunate qualities. But sometimes I let myself go and I feel wildly filled with something akin to magic,” Eveline smiled, her eyes shining. “It is nice on occasion to feel stronger or more powerful than another, but then I am slapped by humility and am reunited with my rationale being. Power is as you say a terrible demon, it changes the very contours of our soul and I never wish to change who I am, even if that means I am shunned by those who see me as odd.”
“You must bare terrible powers,” Galean teased knowing full well the burdens she carried. He understood perfectly the dilemma that power brought with it and the darkness that could swallow a man whole.
“Some may agree with you,” Eveline said darkly, the golden hue in her eyes subsiding to give way to a deeper part of herself, laid bare before an unknown man who seemed to partner in her worries.
“You may not heed my words for you barely know me, but listen when I say that you are no evil witch,” Galean leaned forward, placin
g his elbows upon the side of the bed. “We are all the bearers of good and bad. You do not strike me as woman with whom I and those alike should fear.”
“How I should love to heed your words,” Eveline said tightly. “But you do not know me and therefore can bare no judgement upon my nature.”
“I have met with evil and it wears a mask of seduction, you do not. You are as honest as the sun is bright, you speak of nature as though it was the very being of you. Men of evil have no love for things that grow, no love of all that blooms; they cannot bare to touch those blessed with the good fortune to love others, they must always cause destruction where ever they go. You do not strike me as a woman who hates all that flourishes in the light.”
“And you…, do you love all that flourishes in the light?” Eveline whispered softly, her eyes penetrating his own with friendship and understanding.
“I have been on the receiving end of those that glorify in the darkness, much that has flourished with me has perished under the wrath of men with no capacity to love all that is good,” Galean said with sorrow. “But I do love to watch things blossom, I love too love though it has brought with it great hardship and pain. We suffer to stand in the light, it is what separates us from those that linger in the shadows; we would rather suffer for the light or die without it. It moves us to do things we wouldn’t necessarily think possible, though destruction and the acts of oppressors bare their marks, those who love others bare greater marks.”
“And if the light becomes our oppressor? What do we do then?” Eveline whispered darkly.
“You must ask yourself who is it that provides you with the light and is it they that are indeed at fault,” Galean replied gently seeing the anguish in her eyes.
“Did you see what befell me a few nights ago?” Eveline asked quietly, budging herself closer to Galean afraid of the shadows that lingered within the room now that the thin flames of her candles were beginning to die.
“I did.”
“And?”
“The sun has set to sleep and so should you,” Galean said with a gentle smile. “Such horrors are not for the night, to which would suck you into its abyss. We will talk about it in the light of the day, for it is our protector.”
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy Page 9