Fan Fiction ❯ Dangerous Beauty ❯ Sisters ( Chapter 14 )

Elise woke suddenly and screamed waking Matsey. Matsey took her into her arms and began comforting her. “Elise! Shhhhh! Elise you are awake and in the safety of your aunt's house! Quiet and still yourself!”

Elise's eyes began to focus. “He is angry! He will leave for me soon! Oh God help me!” She broke out in uncontrollable sobs. Mayee ran into the room and saw Matsey at a loss as to what to do. “Run your hand in smooth circles around her back and tell her a story girl!”

Matsey looked up at aunt Mayee but did as she was told. “Elise you asked me about myself. I'll tell you a story I remember about my childhood. My father came back after a long month of war service to King Bilmarath. He rode up to me and picked me up onto his saddle with him. I was so happy and relieved to see him. I made him promise to take me into a field of wild flowers. My mother loved flowers from him. He agreed to it. We went into the fields and I ran around picking all the colors of flowers I could. When I came back he told me what the colors meant. He told me yellow was happiness and warmth like the sun, pink was the color of youth, blue was loyalty, purple was royal, read was the color of undying love, and white was celestial. I was so happy at that moment. I felt so warm and loved. The day lost him I never thought I would feel that way again. But you have made me a sister. I could follow you anywhere and would give anything to take away even a little of your despair.”

Elise had stopped crying and lay against Matsey's chest. Her breathing evened out and Matsey realized she fell back asleep. She looked at Mayee and saw the woman was giving her the most warm and loving smile she had ever seen. “My niece has taken quite a liking to you. She has adopted you as a sister and that is the highest honor you could have. Lay her down and come with me child. You may not know it yet but you are as much an enchantress as your mother was.”

Matsey laid Elise down gently and rose to follow Mayee. They walked out the side door of the house into a beautiful garden. This garden was unlike the one from last night. This one was filled with daisies of every color of the rainbow and trees with tiny white flowers on them. Matsey looked around for a little bit. “It's beautiful.”

“It's Earok's”

“She has such an eye for simple beauty.”

“You and Count Makraim will have to protect her now. You are all she has left. She looks to you as a sister and him as a protector. She must be taken to Queen Eri. She can help her. There is a battle coming of epic proportions. You will learn your spell casting and enchantments by then. Count Makraim is an expert swordsman. And unfortunately Earok's power will become fully unleashed. Your sister-ship will be the only thing that will save her.”

Matsey was dumbfounded. “What battle? When” I don't understand what you are saying!” she cried desperately.

“Girl! Stop your whining! THe future is not set in stone. Visions are just misty images. Earok is being hunted by a man meaning to claim her. What he knows of her is still a mystery. He must know something if she fears him and says she is powerless against him. You will have to find a way to ease her fear or she will never overcome him.”

Matsey and Mayee talked more about what her mother did manager to teach her for the next few hours. Mayee found her quite intelligent and an enjoyable conversationalist. Their conversations did not go unheard however and their observer decided to make his presence known. Count Makraim came into the room they sat in “Afternoon”

“Is it already? Matsey go fetch my niece from her sleep. It is time we ate.”

“Mayee, I couldn't help but overhear you two talk. We need to leave soon for the castle. It is only two days journey from here.”

“You will take the forest road and get there in half a day's ride”

“the forest creatures would never allow us.”

“You have Matsey and Earok. They will let you pass unharmed. My niece already is feeling his presence again. You have no time. Queen Eri is expecting you. She can help Earok.”

“I do not know how, but I trust your wisdom.”

“Do not mistake judgement for wisdom. Let us go to the dining room. The girls will join us there.”

Matsey walked slowly and carefully to Elise's bed. She was relieved to see her awake and calm.

“Awake Elise?”

“I am sister!”

Matsey smiled at the affectionate title. “Time to get up and eat. Mayee sent me to get you.”

Elise got up and hugged Matsey. For a minute Matsey stood there awkwardly but returned the embrace.

“Thank you Matsey!”

“For what?”

“For calming me and brining me to myself.”

“Do not think on it. Let us go eat.”

The girls walked together talking and laughing lightly to the dining room. When they entered the smell of warm meat and potatoes came to their noses and their stomachs let out a growl. They sat themselves next to Mayee and Count Makraim and began to eat. When the meal was over Count Makraim spoke.

“We will rest here tonight and then leave tomorrow morning. You ladies will need all the rest you can get. We are going the forest road to the castle. It will be....” here he was cut off by Elise.

“Half a day's journey.”

“Um yes. How did you know?”

“I played in the forest as a child. If I went far enough I could see the castle. I went there with my father often until my mother died.”

“Well we will rest as much as possible today then.”

Mayee got up and kissed her niece and Matsey and gave a bow to Count Makraim. “I am pulled to the village today. I will not see you off. Please visit me again. Anytime you wish.”

Everyone was left to themselves until dinner time.

Food was on the table for them but Mayee had not returned. THey ate in silence. When dinner was over Elise spoke. “PLease come with me. I want to show you something dear to my heart.”

She led them out the side door to her garden. Matsey was sill amazed by the garden and even more amazed by it's beauty in moonlight. Count Makraim was speechless Everything in this house was so beautiful but this place had a simple beauty about it. Elise was talking about how this garden was hers and how she planted it but neither Count Makraim nor Matsey seemed to hear her. Their minds were occupied on keeping her safe in the days to come. Finally Elise slipped into silence. Matsey and Count Makraim turned to find her staring at the moon. She looked like an angel in moonlight. You could imagine dew kissed wings behind her stretching out to comfort everyone. Matsey broke the serene silence. “We must go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

They all turned to walk in to the house to retire for the night. Matsey thought to put an enchantment on them for a dreamless sleep so they would be rested enough for their journey and anything else that lay ahead of them tomorrow.