Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes and Remembrance ❯ Chapter Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

THIRTEEN

Doreena Roh was just finishing her breakfast when her daughter quietly joined her in the dining room. "You're up early this morning." Looking at Jindra more closely, Doreena thought that she looked a bit pale. "Are you feeling alright? You look a bit out of sorts."

"I'm fine, Mother. I just didn't sleep very well last night." Jindra helped herself to a cup of tea and some toast from the sideboard. Sitting in the chair next to her mother, she reached for the jam on the table.

"What's wrong, dear? It's not like you to lose sleep; you usually sleep like a log." Reaching out, she brushed the hair from her daughter's eyes and pushed it behind her ear.

Speaking around a mouthful of toast and jam, Jindra replied. "Nothing really - I just couldn't seem to fall asleep." Picking up her cup, she sipped at the cooling tea. Glancing up, she found her mother watching her intently. "What - what's wrong?"

Folding her hands on the table in front of her, Doreena gave her daughter a measured look. "Why don't you tell me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Doreena arched her brow, "What's going on Jindra? You've got that guilty look on your face - the one that you get whenever you've done something that you don't want to tell me about. So, what is it?"

I was going to tell her anyway - eventually . . . guess I might as well do it now. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Jindra looked up at her mother. "I - I've . . . I've met someone . . . and I'm in love with him."

Doreena's face was neutral, "I see . . . I take it that you are not speaking of Anton Lefebvre?"

Jindra shook her head, "No, it's not Anton. I know that you like him, but . . . but I just don't have those kinds of feelings for him."

"So you refused him."

Jindra was startled, "You-you know about that?"

"Jindra, do you really think I don't know what goes on in my own house? I guessed as much when he stormed out of here that afternoon; aside from the fact that he hasn't been back here since. I actually felt sorry for him; he was deeply in love with you."

The younger woman couldn't meet her mother's eyes. "I know . . . I felt sorry too. But I didn't love him and I don't think that I ever could - at least not in that way. I didn't want to hurt him, but . . ."

Doreena reached out her hand and put it on her daughter's arm. "I know; it's not an easy thing to do." Taking her hand away, she smiled at Jindra. "So, what about this other man - tell me about him."

Jindra reached out for her mother's hand and held it. "His name is Folken - Folken Lacour."

"Lacour? I don't believe I've heard the name before. Is he a cadet at the academy?"

"No, he's a . . . student." Jindra hoped that her mother didn't notice the hesitation.

"A student? How did you meet him?"

"Through Coren actually; he was the young man that Coren was teaching to fence before he left."

Doreena thought, "Yes . . . I remember him telling your father about it." Jindra saw the color drain from her mother's face, "But he was a . . . NO!" Snatching her hand from her daughter's grasp, she brought both her fists up towards her chest. "Jindra, no -- tell me it's not the same man! You can't . . . but he's a . . . a . . . I can't even bring myself to say it!"

"Mother, please just let me . . ."

"No! I don't want to hear anymore. You are not to see him again - I forbid it! Do you hear me? I can't believe that you could be so stupid."

Jindra felt as if someone had just slapped her. She could feel the anger building as she tried to control her voice. "Mother . . . please . . . I know this isn't what you wanted for me; but for the first time in my life I'm happy - so happy. I don't know how you can judge him when you've never even met him. At least meet him before you turn against him."

"NO! I will not have one of those - those . . . I will not have him in my house."

Jindra could no longer control her anger, "Well it's a little too late for that - he's already been here."

"How dare you! Do you want to ruin us all?"

"Ruin you? I bet that's probably what Grandfather Yellan said when you wanted to marry father. That didn't seem to stop you, did it?"

"Yellan? What does your grandfather have to do with any of this?"

"Nothing - but it's the same situation, isn't it? Bethanne told me . . ."

Doreena cut her off, "Bethanne - I should have known. Leave it to my meddlesome sister to stir the pot up. Is this what you were plotting while you were away in Palas?"

"No! I - I just needed to talk to someone . . . and Bethanne was there. Don't blame her, Mother - she's the one that convinced me to tell you in the first place. I wasn't going to, but she was sure that you would understand; she said that you would at least hear me out."

Doreena sighed and her eyes softened slightly, "Jindra . . . please try to understand . . . you don't know what you've gotten yourself into. The black tower - are you mad? Nothing good can ever come of it - you're only hurting yourself."

Jindra reached for her mother's hand once again, "Folken and I love each other . . . he's the only man that I want - ever. At least meet him - please try to give him a chance. He's not at all like you believe, you'll see. Coren will tell you the same; he knows Folken - the two of them were good friends."

"Your brother knew about this and he did nothing to stop you? I can't believe it."

"It's true . . . he - he saw us together, in the garden. He wasn't too happy about it, but he understood - he just wants me to be happy."

"Our garden - oh Jindra, how could you? I can't believe you would invite a man to our house without our knowledge."

Jindra let go of her mother's hand, "Mother! Folken was here the night of Coren's party - he was Coren's guest. It's not like I invited him here to carry on some illicit affair in your garden. Do you really have that low of an opinion of me?"

"What a thing to say to me! I'm your mother . . ."

Feeling drained, Jindra crossed her arms on table top and put her head down. Her voice was slightly muffled when she spoke. "I can't argue with you anymore, Mother. I thought that you would understand, especially because of what you and Father went through . . . I thought that you would at least give Folken a chance." She fell silent for a few moments. Bringing her head up a little, she looked at her mother, "I won't stop seeing him . . . and if it means that I have to leave this house to do so, then I will. I love you - and I respect you . . . but I won't let you control my life anymore." Without another word, she slowly got up from her chair and left the room.

The room was still as Doreena Roh sat motionless at the table. She did not even notice when the maid came in to remove the breakfast dishes; nor did she stir when the morning mail was placed in front of her some time later.

It was quite some time before the older woman finally moved. Leaving the mail untouched, she rose and left the room. Walking to the entrance hall, she quietly ascended the stairs to the second floor and went down the hall towards her daughter's bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she softly knocked on the door. "Jindra . . . may I come in? I'd like to talk to you." She waited a few moments for a response. "Please Jindra, I think that we really should . . ."

Before she could finish, her daughter opened the door. Doreena looked at Jindra's tear-streaked face. "Jindra, I'm . . ." Crying, the young woman threw herself into her mother's arms.