One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy

by Iseult O'Shea

  “I don’t belong to anyone else Theodore, I never have,” Eveline said as her husband ran his fingers through his blonde hair. “I wish you would tell me what it is that is really bothering you.”

  “I have already told you!” Theodore said loudly. “War affects those involved, it brings out the worst in men, including myself.”

  “But you are still the loving and light hearted Theodore that ran through the fields with me at your side,” Eveline begged as she lay a soft and shaking hand upon his chest her eyes upturned, pouring into his soul, searching for any sigh of the Theodore that she had married. “Maybe you should see a doctor?”

  “You think a doctor can help me?” Theodore laughed with sarcasm. “A doctor could never possibly comprehend my problems.”

  “Many men who go to war and return suffer from post-traumatic stress, maybe there is a way in which you can try to deal with it,” Eveline said with pleading eyes and frustration. Theodore placed a hand over his mouth, closing his eyes tightly.

  “A doctor cannot help me Eveline,” he said quietly. “It is not just the war that troubles me, it is this,” he waved his hands about. “Us and everything that comes with it.” Eveline felt a ray of hope touch upon her anxious heart, finally he had spoken instead of walking away.

  “We are safe Theodore, I am safe,” Eveline said with a loving gaze, lowering her hand so that she could wind her arms about her husband’s waist, laying her head against his chest instead. “Lagar cannot touch us here with Galean, Jophiel and the rest protecting us.”

  “Don’t be so easily fooled Eveline, we are not safe. Wherever we go we will be hunted,” Theodore said curtly. “Shadows do not only lingering outside of us but within us as well.”

  “You give them strength and power if you submit to their fearmongering.”

  “Fear?” Theodore stood back from his wife and looked down at her with furrowed brows.

  “Is that not what you feel?” Eveline asked with confused eyes.

  “I don’t fear demons, I’ve spent my whole life fighting them,” Theodore said with a laugh. “I fear those that portray themselves as allies when in fact they are the opposite, those are the foes you should fear.”

  “Who do you mean?” Eveline suddenly feeling dizzy, sat down on the edge of their bed whilst her husband walked about the room pacing. “Has someone close to us betrayed us?”

  “Betraying us doesn’t just mean handing you over to Lagar or killing you, there are many ways in which a person can betray you,” Theodore said abruptly, making no sense to Eveline who simply felt confused.

  “I don’t follow,” Eveline whispered, her body feeling strange and spent her breathing becoming rapid. Theodore stopped and turned to Eveline seeing the distress in her eyes. As though she had simply clicked her fingers he found the dark cloud that seemed to follow him wherever he went disappeared as his wife clutched onto the sheets of their bed with her hands, her knuckles turning white as she tried to calm her breathing.

  “Eveline? Are you alright?” he asked gently, coming to kneel before her. “Eveline?”

  “I’m fine just a little stressed,” Eveline said as she closed her eyes trying to regain her core strength, the wave of weakness passing slowly.

  “I’m sorry for being so angry and possessive,” Theodore whispered as he cupped her face. “I wish I could tell you why, but I can’t.”

  “Aren’t husbands and wives meant to share their troubles with one another?” Eveline said, opening her eyes slightly.

  “In a perfect world yes,” Theodore smiled. “But this is no perfect world and you are under too much stress. Please try to take things easy, maybe forgo your self-defence classes with Galean if you may?”

  “Theodore,” Eveline lifted her hands from the bedsheets and cupped her husband’s face also, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes. “For whatever perverse reason, it seems that the creatures of the dark wish to harm me, kill me even. I know only a little of magic, I am no true scholar in the least. So it is therefore vitally important that I can protect myself in other ways.”

  “But you are a natural at knife fighting,” Theodore argued lightly. “One day off won’t tarnish all your efforts thus far, will it?”

  “I suppose you are right,” Eveline said with a weak smile upon her pale lips. She had greatly looked forward to her time with Galean, so much so that the thought of forgoing a day’s lesson made her feel miserable. But if her husband was to trust her and his friend then she would have to heed his word and submit to his subtle demand.

  “Then you will rest for today?” Theodore said with a brightened glow upon his face as though he had suddenly morphed back into the Theodore she had married.

  “I am no use at resting or lounging, but I think I shall take the time to visit Bath Abbey,” Eveline answered lightly. “If that is alright with you?”

  “I’m not so sure it would be safe for you to go alone,” Theodore mused thoughtfully.

  “Why don’t you join me then?” Eveline asked with raised hopes.

  “As much as I would like to, I cannot,” Theodore replied, now standing up before her. “I have business to attend too, but maybe you can bring Ada or Bram?” Eveline looked at her husband, all traces of hope disappearing as she breathed out a long sigh.

  “What business do you have today?”

  “Peter and I must scan the town and surrounding areas,” Theodore said as he buttoned the front of his tweed jacket. “And I promised to take mother out for a walk.”

  “May I join you both when I return?”

  “Of course you may,” Theodore said lightly as he made for the door, stopping to turn to her. “We leave at three. And Eveline?”

  “Yes?” Eveline looked at her husband.

  “Take Ada or Bram, maybe leave Galean and Jophiel to their own today?”

  “And if I was to bring either Galean of Jophiel with me would you mind?” Eveline asked with a challenge in her eyes.

  “They could spend their time more constructively instead of leisurely,” Theodore returned flatly. “They are here to help.”

  “I take that as a no then? Even if I am not entirely sure why it is you disapprove of my friendship with them,” Eveline lied, knowing perfectly well why her husband wished her to stay away from his best friend and once lover.

  “Eveline let’s not argue again,” Theodore sighed. “I shall see you at three?”

  “Yes,” Eveline smiled as he nodded before exiting the room, leaving her alone to battle with her thoughts.

  *

  “Morning Theodore,” Jophiel announced as she entered the breakfast room and sat down to the table next to Belle.

  “Morning Jophiel,” Theodore murmured, taken aback by her fresh face and bright eyes, hit by a strangely familiar feeling, a feeling he had once recognised and acted upon, a feeling that was as much a regret as a foe.

  “Where is Eveline this morning?” Jophiel asked as she filled her plate with bacon and toast.

  “She will be down shortly,” Theodore replied quietly as he drank deeply from his cup of coffee, his eyes jittering from his plate to her face, serene and content, not one hint of sadness or grief which greatly troubled his already troubled mind. It had only been a few weeks since Lier’s murder and it seemed odd to him that Jophiel was not in the throes of despair instead she was glowing and radiant.

  “I thought I could take Belle and your mother to the roman baths for the day?” Jophiel announced much to the joy of Belle who looked away from Estelle and smiled up at her new friend.

  “Oh please can we go Estelle?” the child asked with wide eyes.

  “I suppose a good walk shall do us the world of good,” Estelle exclaimed with gladness. “I wonder if Eveline should like to join us.”

  “She wishes to stay at home this morning,” Theodore said as he opened up the Times newspaper.

  “Is she alright?” Jophiel asked her voice laced with concern and suspicion, she had heard their raised voices as she has passed their ro
om on her way downstairs and wondered if Eveline was alright.

  “Perfectly alright just a little tired,” Theodore returned with an air of calmness.

  “I hope you haven’t been arguing again Theodore,” Estelle said with a stern glance.

  “Mother I prefer to keep the affairs of my marriage private,” Theodore said sharply. Estelle felt herself warned and glanced over at Jophiel with raised brows. Mother or not she was very aware of her sons ever changing mood swings and worried not only for him as he was clearly suffering but for her daughter who had spent the last year and a half in contemplation for the return of her husband. She knew how war affected men and understood to a point her sons altering mood swings but was awash with confusion as to why he and Eveline where not in the throes of romance and passion like most war time couples.

  “I hope she will regain strength,” Jophiel said after a moment of awkward silence.

  “I am certain she will,” Theodore muttered under his breathe. With the conversation at an end the occupants at the table remained quiet until eventually they made to leave, the women glad to be rid of Theodore.

  “He is always so glum,” Estelle said to Jophiel as they collected the plates to bring down to the kitchen. “I worry for him.”

  “Theodore is known to have grey episodes,” Jophiel returned as she smiled into Estelle’s drawn eyes greatly aged by the past weeks. “They will pass and soon he will be back to his normal self.”

  “I hope you are right,” Estelle said as they withdrew from the room, making their way down to the kitchen passing a quiet and thoughtful Galean.

  “What do you have there?” Jophiel asked her friend, looking down at the wrapped present in his hand.

  “Nothing special,” Galean said as he stopped to converse with Jophiel. “Eveline lost her bible during the raid so I went into Bath yesterday and purchased one for her.”

  “You bought her a bible?” Jophiel whispered with anxious eyes. “Galean I thought you agreed to keep your distance from her?”

  “And I have bar her lessons in the morning,” Galean argued quietly so that nobody could hear. “She really treasured her bible and I thought it may cheer her up.”

  “I’m not so sure it would be a good idea to give her a present, not when the atmosphere between her and Theodore is so sour,” Jophiel said with kind eyes. “Although I know you are being kind and generous as always.”

  “Has she come down yet?” Galean asked as he slid the small present into the pocket of his suit jacket.

  “No, Theodore said she was feeling weak but should be down soon,” Jophiel sighed. “I’m worried about her Galean, if she isn’t quiet and unmoving she lashes out in anger which is very unlike her, and I have not known her for long.”

  “Yes I would agree with you,” Galean murmured as he digested Jophiels observations. “I will keep an eye on her.”

  “As long as it is from a distance,” Jophiel pleaded.

  “As you wish,” Galean said with a nod, turning and walking away from Jophiel. Galean made himself comfortable in the breakfast room, pouring tea and making himself toast as the residents left the house, leaving himself, Eveline and Mary at home. He sat and read the newspapers in content quietness until he heard the footsteps of Eveline descend the stairs and sat up straight, his pulse suddenly racing. Eveline jumped in surprise as she entered the room.

  “Gosh I thought I would be alone this morning,” she smiled weakly, stopping to take in a deep breathe before striding to the table and sitting down.

  “Would you like some tea?” Galean asked, standing up with the pot in his hand.

  “Please,” Eveline replied as she took a seat and laid her hands upon her cream skirt. Galean came to her and quietly poured her a cup of tea before returning to his seat once more, observing her with suspicious eyes as she buttered some toast and poured a little milk into her tea.

  “How are you this morning?” he asked gently.

  “Very well Mr Edwards and you?” Eveline replied, keeping her eyes on the table. Galean as normal noted her posture, attire and mood. Her already petite frame had thinned greatly since their meeting so much so that her fine blouses looked a size to big on her. Her once straight posture was now bent as though unable to hold herself up, the weight of her shoulders too much for her to bare. Her beautiful auburn curls were finely set with pins, but her face was pale despite her naturally pale complexion and her eyes as always were a shade darker and led Galean to only feel heightened anxiety, she was clearly unwell and it shocked him that those around her especially her husband were blind to the changes that had come over her at such with such speed. Eveline stopped buttering her toast and looked up to meet his gaze, her altered eyes filled with unspoken questions as though she knew what was circulating within his mind.

  “I am well,” Galean smiled warmly, lifting his newspaper again so that Eveline could eat in peace. Eveline waited until the newspaper covered his face before letting out a sigh and returning to her plate and tea, her heartbeat slowly a little, her chest freeing itself from the tightness that had clutched at her when she entered the room. They sat in silence for a while as she willed herself to eat, her appetite wavering greatly over the last few weeks. “What a fetching scarf you are wearing,” Galean said with suspicious eyes, she had taken to wearing silk scarves about her neck in the last few days and for good reason if his suspicions were true.

  “It’s all the range apparently,” Eveline lied, not being in the least bit interested in fashion.

  “I can honestly say I haven’t witnessed any women wearing scarfs the way you do,” Galean said with frankness. He watched as she gulped down a mouthful of tea.

  “What are you going to do today then?” Eveline chirped changing the subject with rapid speed.

  “Well I thought after our self-defence lesson I could help Mary sort through her sons clothes,” Galean answered kindly, turning a page of the newspaper.

  “Well as to our lesson,” Eveline coloured profusely. “I will have to forget about it today if you don’t mind?”

  “Are you unwell?” Galean said with serious eyes, tilting his newspaper down so that he could gaze across at her.

  “Oh nothing serious, I’m just a little tired and Theodore thought it best that I take a day off,” Eveline smiled.

  “Well then would you like to go for a walk perhaps? Some fresh air may do you good?”

  “As much as I would love to accompany you on a walk, I am going to visit Bath Abbey for a few hours.”

  “Would you like my company?” Galean asked seeing distress rush over her.

  “I…, it isn’t that I would not like or enjoy your company but my husband…”

  “Does not approve?” Galean said with furrowed brows.

  “He thinks that you should be spending your time constructively and not leisurely with me,” Eveline blurted out. Galean’s hands crunched down on the edges of the paper in anger. For a moment he saw fear in Eveline’s eyes and forced the rage within him to calm. “I’m sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for Eveline,” Galean said through gritted teeth. “I hope that you enjoy your time in Bath, the abbey is beautiful.”

  “I have quite a secret passion for architecture, especially churches and so I wanted to take the chance to visit Bath Abbey,” Eveline smiled weakly, her heart thudding loudly against her chest, the noise of the thudding filling her ears.

  “Yes I know you do,” Galean smiled politely. Both Eveline and Galean held one another’s stare in a moment of awkward silence.

  “Well I better go and fetch my coat and hat,” Eveline laughed lightly, rising from the table and setting her paper handkerchief down upon her empty breakfast plate.

  “Have a nice morning Eveline,” Galean said warmly, waving her goodbye as she left the room, her steps filled with hesitancy. No matter how much she wished for him to come with her, she wouldn’t disobey her husband.

  *

  Eveline slipped on her red coat before picking up
her red tilted felt hat and positioning it upon her auburn curls. She stood in front of the mirror and fixed herself, quickly applying a little lipstick to her pale lips before picking up her bag and rolling on her gloves. With a smile and a breathe she opened the front door and made her way down the steps to where Ada and Bram stood on either side engrossed in conversation.

  “Ada, Bram,” Eveline announced as she came to stand before them, her auburn curls dancing about her face.

  “Mrs Sampson,” Ada exclaimed turning his face up to meet her own.

  “My husband said that I should bring you both with me to Bath Abbey, would you like to accompany me? And maybe we can find a small café and have some coffee?”

  Ada looked to Bram who shrugged then looked back up into Eveline’s questioning eyes with a smile.

  “Of course we cannot say no,” he beamed merrily. “But a walk and some coffee would certainly add some entertainment to our quite unentertaining day.”

  “I’m glad,” Eveline said with sparkling eyes. “Shall we?”

  “After you Mrs Sampson,” Bram said, his arms outstretched waiting for her to pass him on the steps.

  “You must call me Eveline or Evie if you prefer, I hate formalities,” Eveline said as they made their way up Cow Lane merging onto Marlborough Lane.

  “Which do you prefer?” Ada asked as he scanned the busy street for anything unusual.

  “I rather like to be called Evie,” Eveline replied as they stopped to cross the busy road.

  “Then Evie it shall be,” smiled Bram as the trio made their up Royal Avenue, through Victoria Park. It was a beautiful day if cold. The sky was blue and the sun’s rays heated Eveline’s back as they walked through the beautiful park. Eveline spotted a few robins, dancing from the branch to branch chirping with merriness. The flowers beds had died back and the lawns were covered with a light sprinkling of fallen leaves, winter had most certainly arrived. The park was brimming with women and children, all wrapped up and many of the children enjoying the piles of leaves, kicking them into the air with the shoes.

  “I’ve never been to a more beautiful park,” Eveline said aloud, standing in between Ada and Bram who were tipping their hats to passing ladies, mischief in their eyes. Eveline wondered if they were younger than Galean, Theodore and Jophiel.