Book One : The Prophecy : VIII : The Prophecy

VIII

The Prophecy

She was a sweet, pretty thing and he’d have walked the world over to get her a blade o’grass she wanted…

Frances Hodgson Burnett.

“How is your foot today?” Jophiel asked Eveline as they strolled through the busy park with Belle and Wordsworth by their sides, happily conversing with one another. Eveline lowered her felt hat over her forehead, weary of passers-by glancing at her curious eyes and tall physique.

“Much better,” Eveline smiled, the creases of her eyes lifting in unison. Mary had given Eveline her deceased husband’s walking stick which she refused to accept profusely not wishing to be seen as an invalid. Galean, leaning against the doorway observing for a time had simply taken the stick from Mary and thrust it into Eveline’s hand before walking away with a sigh causing a flare of anger to arise within her at his arrogance.

“Despite your protestations you seem to have found relief in your stick,” Jophiel laughed lightly, her green eyes bright and fresh observing the falling leaves as they spun about in the light wind that circulated the park gently, teasing the piles of fallen leaves upon the ground, causing them unrest.

“Truth be told I was about to take the stick before Mr Edwards quite literally threw it at me with an expression I can only acquit to stone,” Eveline said curtly, her pale cheeks colouring with an unintended rush of anger, an emotion she had been feeling more of in the last few days.

“You must forgive Galean’s moodiness it doesn’t often show, but he means you no harm he just finds it hard sometimes to overcome…” Jophiel stopped not knowing if it was honourable or not to speak of her dear friend without permission. “I’m not sure I should say anymore.”

“I suppose he feels stuck at the moment, feeling the constant urge to go home instead of wasting his time here,” Eveline said quickly as she limped with determination, another feeling she had been experiencing greatly as of late.

“He has had a tough time,” Jophiel admitted with a sigh, turning her gaze to Eveline.

“I know,” Eveline replied calmly.

“You do?” Jophiel said with raised brows, she had spent weeks trying to gouge out of Galean the reason for his fall into shadow and grief had he so willingly obliged Eveline? A woman he had only met? If he had, she wondered would could have moved him to be so open about his past.

“We had to sit with one another for nearly ten hours in a shelter and so found ourselves engrossed in an ever flowing conversation that deepened with every turn. At first it was to simply keep me awake as I had suffered a concussion but soon we just found some sort of comfort in the sharing of our life stories,” Eveline said with clear eyes as though his openness was not unusual or strange despite it being so to Jophiel. Angels knew very little of the proud man only that he was fair and courageous, a great warrior who had seen too much horror in his young life.

“You will excuse me if I am a little shocked at your admission. Galean is known well for his reserved nature, he is not however known for having a loose tongue.”

“I myself have only known him a short time so I am not really aware of the kind of man he is to others,” Eveline said kindly. “We were under trying circumstances, maybe being so close to death made us more susceptible to talking.”

“I suppose that would encourage him to speak more freely,” Jophiel lied as she brought her hands to rest before her. “So you know of his family?”

“Yes, how dark his days and nights have been,” Eveline answered with graveness. “Grief can do terrible things to the mind when it sees fit too.”

“Yes it can,” Jophiel nodded. “I assume that you know about him being exiled?”

“And Heaven is worse off for it for I have never met a kinder and more honourable man, except of course my husband,” Eveline blushed. “To be honest I have not been in the company of many men or women so my opinions do not count for much.”

“Your opinions count trust me,” Jophiel said with caring eyes, she liked Eveline’s honest nature. “And you are right Heaven has indeed lost a great man but maybe it was fates way of guiding him back to where he really belongs, at home with his family and people, a place where he is truly loved and needed.”

“He has a great many burdens to carry but I think him strong enough for the tasks he has ahead of him,” Eveline said with an air of confidence. “How do you know Galean and my husband?”

“We used to work together for a while, well myself and Theodore along with our friends, Ada, Bram and Peter, we used to be protectors in London,” Jophiel replied wistfully. “And then we met Galean a few years before the First World War, he and I struck up quite a friendship. After his family has been murdered he had fallen into shadow at a time that I too had found myself unable to be around anyone. He sought me out and together we lived in Scotland, high up in the highlands were we could bare our sufferings with a little ease, together.”

“I am glad he found comfort,” Eveline said quietly. “And my husband?”

Jophiel turned her gaze away and felt her nose prickle with sadness but sniffed away the reaction. “You didn’t know that Theodore was an angel am I right?”

“Yes, Galean told me a few days ago,” Eveline replied bluntly.

“And how do you feel knowing that he is an angel and is a lot older than you?”

“At first I didn’t really digest the information, I was so struck by the rest of the revelations I barely found it within me to judge my husband’s conduct,” Eveline answered plainly. “When I think of it now I find myself a little confused. We spoke of it last night and he explained to me that he had been assigned to protect me from a cause I do not yet know of and part of that agreement was that he morph into a child of a similar age. He said that he had been stripped of his past memories and had no idea until he met Galean whilst in hospital a few weeks ago.”

“He was in hospital?” Jophiel asked with concerned eyes.

“He was a RAF pilot and his plane was shot down over London, his friend William had died but he had been lucky enough to release his parachute and fell into the side of building rendering him unconscious,” Eveline explained with a distress look on her face, her lips quivering slightly. “He was not badly injured but had to have an operation. When he awoke he found Galean at his bedside and explained that Galean helped to bring him back to who he truly was.”

“I had not realised he had been injured,” Jophiel said quietly. Of course he wouldn’t tell her, he could barely look at her despite their frank conversation on the way to Bristol. He had reverted back to his cold and distant ways with her, annoyed that she had struck up a friendship with his wife.

“Theodore isn’t one for moaning or simpering about himself,” Eveline smiled. “He is a proud man.”

“He is indeed,” Jophiel muttered under her breathe.

“Does he seem a little altered to you too then? Seeing as you have been friends with him for a longer period of time than I,” Eveline asked with urgent eyes as she released Belle’s hand allowing the child and her canine friend to run along in front of them.

“Theodore has fought in more than one war and with each he is struck by post-traumatic stress,” Jophiel explained, scanning the confinements of the park, ensuring that they were safe from any lurking imposters. “I suppose it is only natural that he be a little altered considering all that is going on, but his true self is still within him even if he is a little more edgy or sharp at times.”

“When last we were in the company of one another on our wedding day he was filled with excitement and hope. He had just been given his first set of orders and like many of the young men sent to war was filled with arrogant confidence,” Eveline began with a soft smile. “He was always bright and jolly growing up, filled to the brim with an easy manner and nature, always my protector and friend.”

“May I ask how your relationship changed?”

“I’m not entirely sure on my part but for Theodore, he began to see me differently after my eighteenth birthday, so he says,” Eveline said with furrowed brows. “He claims that he knew the instant we met that I would one day become his wife.”

“And you? Did you feel the same?”

“No, I only ever saw him as my brother and friend not having any other friends myself,” Eveline caught the end of her cashmere scarf and wrapped it about her neck. “I only began to see him differently a few months before he proposed to me. I understood that no other man would ever understand me like Theodore, that I would never find another similar in likeness to myself.”

“You married him for those reasons?” Jophiel asked wide eyed.

“I love Theodore,” Eveline said quickly. Silence engulfed the pair as they awkwardly walked together. “I did not marry simply because I thought that nobody else would want me.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself Eveline, I shouldn’t have been so nosey,” Jophiel said ashamed that she had been so forward. “Shall we sit down for a moment?”

Eveline called out to Belle and Wordsworth bidding them to stop and turn. Jophiel helped her to sit upon the park bench watching as Belle with a stick in her hand walked back with Wordsworth.

“I know I have led a sheltered life,” Eveline said as she fixed her hat and stilled the stick beside her hip so that it did not fall to the ground. “I was for a time quite sceptical about Theodore’s proposal and we agreed to wait a year before entertaining the idea of marriage. On his part he was filled with passionate declarations and on my own part I was more reserved and nervous.”

“So what was it that made up your mind?”

“After he had finished his year of training I had realised how much I had missed him and war had been declared and I was hit with the realisation that he could lose his life fighting for his country,” Eveline said with quiet contemplation. “He is my best friend and in my head marriage seemed logical. I wanted to become his wife and one day a mother and so we arranged a rushed wedding before he was called to Kent.”

“How very romantic,” Jophiel smiled. She had listened to Eveline seriously and was aghast that she had not regaled the tale of her relationship with Theodore with moving passion and undying love, it had worried her that she thought the young and naive Eveline had felt pressured to marry Theodore who was quite clearly head over heels in love with her for the fear of being on her own and unloved for the rest of her life. Did she marry Theodore out of fear or resignation to the fact that no other human would ever know her the same?  Did she Jophiel hold biased views because of her own ardent feelings towards Cael?

Eveline drew in a deep breathe, had Jophiel seen into her heart and mind knowing the real reasons behind her marrying Theodore?

“Love can be subtle,” she whispered as tears sprung to her eyes feeling herself fall into a state of hopelessness. Life had been so simple a few weeks ago and she felt herself yearning to return to Keswick to her quiet existence without the disruption and confusion that seemed to stalk her from morning till night.

“Don’t cry Eveline I didn’t meant to pry,” Jophiel said quietly, seeing the change in Eveline’s behaviour which forced her to feel shame and guilt. Eveline was not the cause of her heartache, she was a young woman who happened to be caught up in a situation far greater than she anticipated, she didn’t need chiding or lecturing as to her personal and reserved marriage she needed friendship and help for she clearly was struggling within inner worries. Jophiel placed it down to the stress of the last two weeks, she had been caught up in a terrible raid which could have rendered his mortally injured not to mention being the subject of every shadows intent to which she had no idea why. Of course she should be fragile and prone to bouts of depression and stress, Jophiel wouldn’t expect anything less and should have been more sensitive. Eveline unlike her had no experience of the greater world or the spiritual world and needed guidance and mentoring.

“I never cry,” Eveline sniffed feeling disgraced with herself over her sudden episode of sadness. “But ever since that night I have found myself being propelled downwards into a spiral of sadness.”

“You have been through a lot recently, it has only been two days since the air raid in Bristol, the shock from such an experience only really takes hold a few days afterwards,” Jophiel soothed as she wrapped an arm about Eveline, who quickly wiped away a tear with her leather glove smiling weakly. “And to add to all the trauma you have had to experience you have been thrown into a world of confusion, filled with people you don’t know away from the comforts of your home.”

“I seem to bounce between sadness and anger at the moment, two emotions I’m not greatly acquainted with,” Eveline said as she turned to her friend. “I’m not without emotion of course but I have never been so forcefully thrown into the deep end like this.”

“I completely understand,” Jophiel said with a soft voice, her black curls dancing about in the gentle breeze. “Let us not talk of things that may sadden you let us instead speak of brighter things. You are an avid reader I take it?”

“Yes, I love to read,” Eveline smiled cheerfully happy for a change of topic.

“What do you like to read?”

“Philosophy, History, poetry and fictional books,” Eveline answered lightly her eyes drying. “Estelle is an author.”

“Really? How intriguing,” Jophiel said gently as she watched Belle and Wordsworth running about in circles as she tried to catch the end of his tail. “Who is your favourite poet?”

“Gosh it’s a toss between Goethe and Wordsworth,” Eveline replied as she felt the tickling bite of winter upon her pale skin.

“Bushes, valley, silently, you fill with misty light. Easing my soul utterly again, at last, at night,” Jophiel exclaimed as she looked up into the blue sky above, her eyes glazed. “Soothingly you cast your gaze over a dark country. A gentle and friendly eyes guard my destiny…”

“Glad and troubled, times echo in my heart. I walk between pain and delight, in solitude, apart,” Eveline interceded with a full heart for she loved Goethe with a passion. Both women turned to face one another as Jophiel clasped her new friend’s hands within her own. Together they spoke as one.

“Flow on, beloved flood: flow on! I’ll never know joy again. Laughter and kisses, both are gone. And loyalty flows away. There was a time I had as yet life’s most precious thing! Ah, a man can never forget that which torments him... What, unknown to all their art, ignored, by all mankind. Through the labyrinth of the heart wanders in the night.”

“How beautiful and haunting are his words,” Eveline sighed as Belle came to sit beside her, tired and content.

“A most greatly underestimated man Goethe,” Jophiel said with pride.

“My thoughts exactly,” Eveline smiled with ease, her sadness falling away to give birth to the new bud of friendship.

“We should make our way back before lunch is served,” Jophiel said with unwillingly eyes, not wanting to break this moment of happiness between her and her new friend.

*

After putting Belle down for an hours nap in the afternoon, Eveline made her way down to Mary’s library to fetch a book on botany. As she limped towards the door of the library she heard raised voices and turned to make for the study, stopping at the door which was slightly ajar to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“Did you know of the prophecy?” she heard her husband’s angry voice fill the study.

“Lier spoke of it before I left for Keswick,” Galean’s voice returned. Eveline splayed her hands upon the door and wall, bending her head inward with curiosity bubbling within.

“Theodore, Galean knew nothing of the prophecy before that night,” Jophiel argued quietly.

“It doesn’t change a thing,” Theodore boomed.

“Stop being so hot headed Theodore. I hold no claim on your wife, why would I?” Galean exclaimed, his heavy feet pacing about the floor. Eveline furrowed her brows with confusion.

“Prophecies are not always reliable,” Jophiel added.

“This one must be if Lagmar and Belem are openly troubled by it,” Theodore returned curtly.

“You are married to Eveline even if you vowed never to touch her,” Galean shouted, his voice breaking with frustration.

“That is beyond the point,” Theodore said flatly. “If the prophecy is correct then she should be with you as fate intended, not me.”

“Damn you Theodore!” Galean cursed bitterly. “She is your wife! She means nothing to me!” At these words Eveline felt herself weaken.

“Two hearts, bound by fate and time shall cast a great light across all seven corners of the universe,” Theodore exclaimed with coldness. “Under the tree of life they shall come, sipping from the fountain of time, binding themselves to one another. They shall become one and together shall overcome all that stands in the way of the light. They shall vanquish darkness and reign glorious forever more…”

“Stop!” Galean thundered. “I have heard enough.”

“Gentlemen may I remind you that we are all friends not enemies? That this is exactly what Lagmar wants? For us to become divided and driven by jealousy and vengeance!”

“Jophiel is right Theodore,” Galean said with renewed calmness. “There is no truth to this prophecy, Lagmar is merely using it as a form of weapon to create division where there should be unity.”

“There are more important matters that we should be focusing on rather than the matters of the heart,” Jophiel added softly.

“You seem to be doing a good job of wedeling your way into my wife’s life!” Theodore raged. Eveline gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as she heard the sound of feet rushing across the room.

“Don’t you ever speak to Jophiel like that again do you hear me!” Galean exclaimed with terrifying firmness in his voice. “You left her remember? You left her with a broken promise of marriage, chasing a fool’s hope that you would return to her like you said you would. Don’t you dare try to manipulate her into feeling guilty or that she is part of the problem. You abandoned her, you made her hold on to a falsehood and broke her heart. I was there when she fell victim to your deceit, I was there when she nearly ended her life because you had not returned.”

“Galean it’s alright really,” Jophiel whispered. Eveline stood back from the door in horror as the revelations seeped into her mind with agonising pain. Someone’s feet fell to the ground.

“What has become of you lately Cael?” Galean asked with a pitiful tone to his voice. “You’re so consumed with doubt and jealousy I would hardly recognise you. Your wife is in peril and yet you fill your mind with matters that are of no equal consequence. Your wife is alive unlike my family who were killed as I was off across the universe protecting Eveline from harm. Why would you think that I would purposely steal her from you? Prophecy or no prophecy?”

“You are too intent on saving your pride,” Jophiel interceded. “This isn’t about us, this is about her.”

Eveline unable to listen to anymore of the conversation turned on her heels and limped her way upstairs, angry and stirred. When she finally reached her room she entered and slammed the door heavily, locking it before limping over to her bed and falling on top of it, crying. As she lay atop the bed, she forced herself to stop crying like a child and to pull herself together. Wiping her face with her sleeves she sat up and made her way to the windows, drawing the curtains and sitting on the ground with her back to the darkened wall, her head sore and heavy. What a fool she had been, what a damned, naive, idiotic fool she had been. And what a fool she was to those surrounding her bar her mother and Belle who played no part in this sick and perverse situation.

“Liars,” a voice murmured within. Eveline shook her head. “No!” she whispered hotly. “But he loves Jophiel not you,” the voice teased on. “It’s because of you that Galean’s family died and Jophiel lost the man she loved. It’s your fault.” Eveline forced her hands into fists and bite down on her lower lip which began to bleed lightly. “No!” she cried out angrily. “But it’s the truth,” the voice hissed. “You heard them say so.”

“I said no!” Eveline cried out, forcing a glass Edwardian vase to explode. Slowly Eveline got up from the ground and limped over to the broken vase which lay cast upon the floor, the red roses scattered beneath her feet. “Blast!” she whispered picking up a rose and setting it on her dressing chair. As she rose from the ground she found herself looking into the mirror of her dresser, her face pale and her eyes dark. With a sniff she placed her hands upon the edge of the table and bent her head low before the mirror. Blood trickled from her lips, dripping off the edge of her chin and spotting her ivory blouse with dots of blood. Quickly she took out a handkerchief from her wrist and dabbed at the blood, wiping it away. When she set the handkerchief down upon the table she felt something within her arise and felt herself change instantly. Looking into the mirror her eyes had changed to black and her head moved in a strange manner. Eveline felt herself become small, becoming lost within this monstrous thing that had erupted within her body and mind.

“Nobody wants you Eveline,” her mouth began to move against her will. “Your mother hides from you because she doesn’t know what to do with you, just like your last set of parents,” her once feminine voice had been overruled by a male voice. “Your husband loves another woman and Galean can’t bear to be around you, you being the reason for his grief.” Eveline fought the monstrous creature within, only to feel a sharp force beat her down with an invisible rod. “You don’t need them to be strong, they will only wear you down and use you and when they are done with you, you will be discarded and alone.”  Her lips curled into a malicious smile. “You know I’m right, just stop and take a look around you.” Eveline was flung to the floor, her body becoming heavy like led. As she lay on the carpet with her eyes on the ceiling she felt the creature evaporate, her body and mind becoming her own once more. With a dizzy head she sat up and filled her mouth with her left hand fist, unable to look at the mirror out of fear. Someone knocked on the door.

“Eveline?” a familiar voice rang out. “Are you in there?”

Eveline took a step back and turned, quickly putting herself together before her husband entered. When the door opened she heard his footsteps and turned.

“Eveline? Are you alright?” Theodore looked about the room, first to the curtains then to the floor where the glass vase lay, smashed into tiny pieces.

“I knocked it down by accident,” Eveline lied as her husband strode over to her, cupping her face with his hands, his eyes burning into her own.

“Your lip it’s bleeding,” he stated softly seeing something within her eyes, not quite able to catch it.

“I must have had a bad dream and bitten down on it,” Eveline said with a roll of her eyes.

“Are you sure you are quite alright? I heard a strange voice when I came to the door,” Theodore searched her face as he gently licked his index finger and wiped her cut lip with it.

“Why wouldn’t I be alright?” Eveline smiled sheepishly unable to against her better judgement to lay her hands upon his wrists.

“You look a little pale and disorientated, was your dream particularly bad?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary I assure you,” Eveline said through gritted teeth, the conversation that had taken place in the study coming back to her. “What are you doing here?”

“I was coming to see if you would like to come downstairs and play chess with us?” Theodore asked with light eyes as though nothing had taken place thirty minutes ago, his anger gone and in place the Theodore she had grown up with had taken precedence. “You love chess remember?”

“Who will be playing?” Eveline asked as she turned to open the curtains, Theodore standing at ease, watching her open the marigold curtains.

“Ada, Bram and myself,” Theodore said as she came back to him with a pleasant smile upon her face.

“Where is mother?”

“She has a headache and is resting,” Theodore answered as he took her hand and placed it within his own, briefly kissing her blood stained lips. “So?”

“Where is Jophiel?” Eveline watched as Theodore’s eyes clouded darkly.

“She is helping Mary and Helen with dinner,” he said with twitching lips.

“Okay I shall play with you,” Eveline exclaimed following her husband out of their room and down the corridor. They made their way down to the study quietly, each silent to their thoughts. When she entered the room, she found it free from both Jophiel and Galean and drew in a sigh, she did not know if she could quite stand to be in their presence. She knew they were not at fault but she had been the one that had caused them incredible amounts of pain and she, filled with guilt and shame could not quite bare to meet their gazes. Eveline waited whilst her husband pulled out a chair for her and sat down. She looked about the table at Ada and Bram and studied their profiles. Ada was shorter than Bram, his face soft and trusting with blue eyes just like the other angels. It was true that they all shared similar features, Galean less so, him only being in part angel. They were fair to behold and one felt the gentle aura that radiated from them. They were not as strong or big as Galean but were lean and fine, their features beautiful and quaint. Ada was the quieter of the two and had always a pensive look in his timeless eyes. Bram was livelier and never had a problem with conversing, he was the glue that was so badly needed, and he entertained those around him taking away the sizzling tension without consciously doing so. It was hard not to love these new angels, they were so alike in appearance but so very different in personalities. Eveline felt herself relax in their presence and witnessed the visible change in her tense husband whose shoulders relaxed and face fell, the lines of tension disappearing, his lips curling into a soft smile and his eyes sparkling. This was the Theodore she loved, this was the Theodore she knew. But this wasn’t all of Theodore she realised as she moved her queen. With this realisation came the painful truth that she really didn’t know him very well, he never would have struck her as a man capable of leaving a woman behind to serve his own selfish purpose. Theodore had always looked at Eveline, they spent every day together running through fields and examining nature with light hearts and love. It was true that he had indeed become more tense and stressed since their being reunited and now she knew why. Could she blame him for marrying her when he had been stripped of his memory? Could she become ignorant of Cael and simply submit to Theodore? Did he secretly despise her for making him fall in love with her against his master’s orders? She simply did not know. So many unanswered questions and so much confusion and she whilst all this external mess was accumulating about her she had changed since she had been bitten, she was becoming unlike her normal self. Emotions she held in check arose so suddenly within her that she hardly knew how to contain them. The monstrous creature that had crept up on her today had never been present before and she worried that she was morphing into something dark and nefarious against her will. Underneath all of this worry what truly worried her was the need to go to Galean and not her husband for help, when she listened to him speak of her this afternoon her heart had fallen into a bottomless pit. She had in a short time shared so much with this new and curious man, they had an unspoken bond of friendship between them that she had become profoundly attached too. But she was the reason for his mess, she had inadvertently killed his family and she felt for the first time a true weight of guilt upon her shoulders. Why she had caused all of this mess she still did not know, but she knew that she would never be able to speak openly with her new friend again, knew that he must have gone through great pain to simply be in her presence. Still he was giving up his life despite all that she had done to him to protect her.

Eveline looked down at the board and found herself falling into a trance, the voices of the men around her fading away. The voice deep within her had been right. She had ruined the lives of those around her. Deep in thought she barely felt the presence of Wordsworth and he came and laid his scruffy head upon her lap as if knowing her pain.

“Hello,” Eveline smiled down at the dog. “Can I have a kiss?” she asked pleasantly. The dog needed no command he lifted his head and licked her face softly. “My boy,” Eveline soothed and she wrapped her arms about him, getting down from her chair so that she was face to face with him, her constant friend and companion. “I love you,” she whispered into his large ear. Wordsworth replied with a low grunt.

“He is a beautiful dog,” Jophiel said as she entered the room and came to stand beside Eveline and the wolfhound. “I think he loves you with complete devotion.”

“I love him with equal amounts of devotion,” Eveline said quietly, looking up into Jophiels face with furrowed brows and an anxious expression. Jophiel saw the look of anxiety.

“Come with me a moment Eveline, I wish to show you something,” she said with a gentle smile and kind eyes. Eveline rose to her full height, her long fingers within Wordsworth’s shaggy coat.

“She hasn’t finished,” Ada groaned looking up from the table with sad eyes.

“I’m not sure she is really wants to play Ada,” Jophiel argued lightly as she took Eveline’s arm and entwined it within her own. “Come let us go to the dining room.” Eveline followed Jophiel out of the room staring back at her husband whose brows were also furrowed. Silently they entered the dining room a lit with candles, the fire burning brightly in the centre. “Come I am by command of Galean to attend to your wounds before dinner.”

“It’s alright my foot is fine as it is,” Eveline said as she took a seat at the dinner table.

“I am also commanded to hear none of your protestations,” Jophiel smiled warmly, her face content and happy considering the fact that she had been ordered to dress the wounds of the woman that has forever ruined her life. Eveline kept quiet, arguing with Galean was futile and yet a little glimmer of hope arose from the ashes of their ruined friendship and she felt warmth that he had thought of her.

“I’m truly sorry,” Eveline heard herself say, her eyes on the fire.

“Sorry for what?” Jophiel said with raised brows as she took off Eveline’s patent shoe before rolling down her nude stocking and laying it on the ground beside her discarder shoe.

“For causing you pain,” Eveline whispered as she felt Jophiel remove her bandage.

“You have caused me no pain Eveline, why ever do you think you have?”

“I heard your conversation with Galean and Theodore this afternoon on my way to the library,” Eveline confessed shamefully. Jophiel stopped unrolling the bandage and looked up into the grievous face of Eveline.

“What did you hear?”

“Enough to know that I have caused you and Galean irrevocable pain that cannot be redeemed,” Eveline sighed heavily. Jophiel found Eveline’s hand and took it within her own.

“Look at me Eveline, please,” she pleaded forcing Eveline’s golden gaze to find her own pair of green eyes. “Believe me when I say it is not you who have caused me pain. I hold nothing against you and never will for I have found a friend in you and that is something I never thought could happen. If anything you have brought me comfort and I am thankful for that.”

“How can you be so kind when it is because of myself that you were abandoned by my husband and his promise of marriage,” Eveline said with serious eyes. “How can you not feel anger in my presence?”

“Theodore left me before he knew you,” Jophiel said with anguish in her voice. “You did not force him to leave me, he choose to leave me behind and I foolishly clung onto the hope that he would return with the same love and devotion he had promised once.”

“How can you bare to be in his presence? I am so angry at him, so very angry,” Eveline admitted sourly. “And I hate myself more than I could ever hate anything. Why all of you have put everything on the line for me I do not know and I wish I did because then maybe it would make sense and I could find clarity amongst the smoke that seems to engulf me.”

“Eveline I too wish that I could grant you the clarity with which you seek, but I cannot,” Jophiel said firmly. “I will grant you this piece of information however,” she held Eveline’s wavering gaze. “Have you read Dracula by any chance?”

“Dracula? No, why? Am I vampire?” Eveline asked with coloured cheeks.

“No,” Jophiel laughed deeply. “No you are no creature of the dark. There is however a beautiful line within the book and it is this, listen carefully and trust in my words.” Eveline leaned forward with curious eyes. “There are creatures of darkness in life and there are creatures of light, and you are one of the light, the light of lights.” Eveline gulped quietly as she digested the beautiful words.

“I am the light of lights?”

“That you are and I will have you know that angels who serve the light would willingly give up their life’s to ensure that you stay alive. I know this makes no sense because you have yet to be enlightened as to who you are, but know that you are precious and worth all the hassle that comes with protecting you.”

“But I’m just me,” Eveline said quietly as Jophiel began to clean her wound tenderly. “I’m just Eveline, an angel like you and Theodore.”

“You are no ignorant woman, you and I both know that you are more than you think yourself and that is your greatest fear in life because you so desperately want to mould in to normality, to be like you fellow men, but you are not man and were not made to be a face within a great crowd of faces.”

“I don’t wish to be more powerful than those around me. I don’t want power or superiority, I want to be normal and flawed and a face within a great crowd of faces,” Eveline petitioned hotly. “I don’t want the burden of having to please others or to be some great creature of light that everyone beneath is dependent on. Can you understand me?”

“I understand you perfectly but there will always be leaders who are destined to lead, many end up corrupted by power and position but you are different,” Jophiel said as she placed Eveline’s foot into a bowl of warm water. “You can challenge that power and desire within you, you can stand up to it.”

“I wish none of this had happened to me, I wish I could go back to the way I was, a war time wife waiting upon her husband,” Eveline whispered as Jophiel arose and stood behind her, fixing her hair with pins as her foot bathed in the antiseptic water.

“There are so many people beholden upon corrupt men and women, in need of someone to give them life and faith in life,” Jophiel lectured as she unpinned Eveline’s hair and let it fall down behind her, flowing thick auburn curls that glowed in the candle light. “They are waiting for someone to become their leader. You are not perfect, you are flawed but you are greater than those who need you. And perfection lies within the imperfect.”

“You make me sound like a character akin to Jesus or God,” Eveline said with cautious eyes. “I am nothing like them and want none of their power or burdens. I just want to a simple life, to bask in the simple things like the beauty of nature and the beauty which lies in mankind. I wish to be an equal, always an equal never anything more.”

“Come let us not argue it has been a trying day for both of us, rest your eyes while I do your hair and give in to the moment,” Jophiel lectured. “That’s it.” Eveline closed her eyes slightly as Jophiel re did her hair, basking in the lovely feel of her fingers running through her thick strands of wild curls.

*

Galean entered the Georgian house with cold hands and quickly closed the door behind him look up at the great grandfather clock. He was ten minutes early and sighed with relief. He needed to have some space and found himself walking to Bath Abbey where he had spent a good hour sitting in the pews deep in thought. On his way home he scanned the area close to the house to make sure there were no shadows about. Content that they were safe he finally made his way back, intent on shaking off his solemn behaviour in spite of all that burdened him in order to spend some time with Belle who had pestered him to find a book on botany in the library. Taking off his hat he ran his fingers through his hair before taking of his thick black coat and hanging it up before cautiously storing the small brown bag of soft sweets under his arm making his way towards the stairs. Galean stopped as he passed the door of the dining room and stepped backwards, peering through the small gap, his eyes resting on Eveline who was perched on a chair, her injured foot seeping in a bowl of water whilst Jophiel was pinning up her hair for her. He observed her quiet state, her eyes closed and her nose pointed upwards as she was attended too by Jophiel. Despite his fear surrounding the prophecy he found himself smiling gently as she twitched her freckled nose slightly, twisting her fingers upon her lap not quite able to relax.

As he looked on he could feel someone’s piercing gaze upon his back and turned finding Theodore’s hard stare on him. With lowered eyes and a shake of his head Galean stepped away from the room and made his way up the marble stairs with a sigh. Of course he knew that Theodore must have been affected by the prophecy but his altered behaviour was in Galean’s eyes unacceptable and it was causing a ripple effect to occur between his allies who were trying to protect his wife. There were greater problems at stake other than the state of Theodore’s heart and he Galean had to concentrate on them or else he would find himself in a precarious situation, a situation that only brought him grief and unneeded stress to the already stressful burdens he carried. Did he find himself caring for Eveline? Yes it was hard not too she was infectious and filled with surprises and he found himself constantly surprised by her and it was refreshing amidst the constant chaos.

Quietly he knocked at Belle’s door and heard her running about inside causing him to smile.

“Come in!” she announced with a loud laugh. Galean opened the door and found her running about the room with Wordsworth who had found his way up into her room. The dog turned to Galean with a lop sided grin. “Galean!” Belle beamed running to him and wrapping an arm about his waist. Wordsworth followed suite and barked loudly, his nose wet and searching, finding the brown bag. “What’s in the brown bag?” Belle asked with flushed cheeks as she brought Galean into her room.

“I got you a present but it will have to wait until after dinner,” Galean teased looking round the room which was a mess. “What happened in here? It’s a mess.”

“We were playing hide and seek,” Belle smiled as she began to tidy up her shoes and few dolls that lay upon the carpet. “Do you want to play too?”

“I thought you wanted to search for a book on botany?” Galean smiled as he helped the child to tidy up, Wordsworth trailing after the bag, sniffing it wildly and barking.

“Yes I forgot,” Belle answered as she finally stopped clearing her room and picked up her teddy, placing his worn face against her lips for comfort.

“Well dinner is in five minutes so how about we go downstairs and eat and then when we are finished we can search the library and you can have your surprise, will that do?” he asked picking the happy and content child up in his arms and walking back through the doorway and onto the corridor. Throughout dinner, everybody was busy chatting with one another and Galean found relief, the tension easing away as they ate happily. As he sipped on his wine he observed how Eveline purposefully kept her gaze from him, her eyes forever on Theodore who sat up proudly, listening to her intently as she regaled to Ada a tale involving herself and Theodore when they were younger. Galean didn’t mind much as he was busy chatting to Estelle who relayed to him some of her worries about Eveline.

“There is something of which I should have told you Mr Edwards,” Estelle exclaimed as she sipped on her tea.

“Yes?” Galean raised his thick brows.

“When Belle and myself were standing upon Broad Street taking in the utter destruction of the road a strange thing occurred, a strangeness I have not been able to discuss until now,” Estelle said quietly not wishing to draw attention to their conversation, thus leaning her head into Galean slightly.

“Go on.”

“When you came to us that night you said that you had witnessed this dark lord Lagar?”

“Yes, I have seen him a few times in my life not many.”

“When I was looking through the debris and rubble I saw a man very like that slithering, vile thing standing quite still and unmoving, his eyes piercing straight through me like ice,” Estelle whispered with disturbed eyes. “One moment he was there watching us and the next he was gone.”

“And you are quite sure it was Lagar?” Galean asked seriously setting his glass down cautiously.

“Absolutely Mr Edwards, those eyes I am sure belonged to Lagar.”

Galean sat back and pursed his lips bringing his right hand to his chin as he thought about Estelle’s statement long and hard. What was Lagar doing there? More importantly how had he known that they were there?

“There is something else I wish to discuss with you Mr Edwards if you would be so kind,” Estelle pursued politely.

“Of course,” Galean murmured.

“My son you know is greatly stressed that much is obvious and so I didn’t want to further his distress over my daughter but I wonder if you have happened to observe a change in her, a change that I myself have noticed since that night?”

Galean looked across at the now quiet and unmoving Eveline who had suddenly withdrawn into herself and sighed. Yes he had noticed a change in her and he knew that a part of that change was a natural reaction to all that had passed, but he also was aware of the bite upon her throat and that its mark upon her had widened. She had told him that she had been bitten by a creature when out walking but he greatly disbelieved her words, seeing something else lingering behind her gaze.

“She is quieter than usual I grant you that,” Galean smiled. “But I believe she is simply suffering from a case of shock which is perfectly natural considering all that she has encountered recently. She has been thrust from her quiet life in Keswick, being spun in two directions since that night. I am sure in time she will settle a little and find a little of her strength again.”

“You are sure that it is just stress Mr Edwards and not something else?”

“I am positive that she is just suffering from stress Estelle,” Galean lied not wanting to further Estelle’s already deeply filled bowl of anxiety. Galean would keep his eyes on Eveline to make sure that she was okay, if he felt that she was altering in a way that was beyond her control he would take action but until then he had to keep himself at a distance not wishing to infuriate his friend any further.

“You will forgive my anxiety Mr Edwards, I find myself consumed with it these days,” Estelle murmured into her tea, her own brown eyes downcast and tired.

“All parents worry about their children and you would be right in doing so, but do not let it take control of your life,” Galean lectured gently. “She is safe and well protected I promise you.”

“I worry for them both,” Estelle replied her voice faint and airy.

“They have each other which is a great comfort to them both, they are stronger than you give them credit for,” Galean said with firm eyes.

“I know they are strong Mr Edwards,” Estelle smiled. “But I wonder if their strength will enough against these creatures of darkness.”

“Theodore is a respected angel Estelle, he has lived long and has experience in these situations. As for Eveline, she is learning day by day. Her skills with daggers is quiet surprising for someone untrained and beneath that quaint and fair face lies a determined woman, not ready to give up all that she is and stands for. She is constantly surprising me.” Estelle stared at Galean curiously sensing something deeper within his words, not knowing what.

“Can we go now Galean?” Belle asked over the table, her short legs swinging from the chair impatiently.

“Have you finished?” Estelle interjected.

“Yes,” Belle smiled showing Estelle her empty plate.

“Well then off you go to the library with Mr Edwards,” Estelle smiled as the child climbed down from her chair and kissed her cheek, running round to Galean and taking his hand.

Eveline watched them leave and turned to Theodore.

“I am going to go with Belle to the library just to act as the chaperone, is that alright?” she whispered to her husband.

“You’re sure you don’t want to stay?” Theodore returned with a weary smile.

“I would like to spend some time with Belle if that is alright before I bring her up to bed shortly,” Eveline said with unwavering eyes.

“Alright, I will see you in a while,” Theodore kissed her cheek lightly before she arose and left the table. Eveline stood outside the library and smoothed her skirt over her legs and adjusted her blouse before entering finding Belle on Galean’s shoulders, her index finger lightly wavering over the spines of books.

“Can you see it?” Galean asked unaware of Eveline who was watching them fondly from the doorway.

“What was his name?” Belle asked merrily.

“Darwin,” Galean said. “Dee, A, R, W, I and N.” Belle stopped and took out a small book.

“I found it!” she cried out, taking the book into her hand as Galean turned to face Eveline.

“Mr Edwards,” she said lightly, quickly lowering her gaze to his feet.

“Eveline we were just finding Mr Darwin’s book on the origins of species,” Galean announced as he set Belle down on the ground.

“Don’t you think that is a tad too difficult for Belle?” Eveline replied with a faint smile upon her lips as she watched Belle climb up onto a leather chair opening the book.

“I suppose so,” Galean shrugged. “She can take a try at least.”

“I’m not so hopeful Mr Edwards.”

“Please it’s Galean.”

Eveline ignored him and went to sit upon another chair crossing her legs and watching Belle intently. Galean felt her slight and blinked twice, unsure as to what exactly he had done to deserve her slight but made his way to Belle none the less. Eveline was correct in thinking that Belle would find the contents too hard and so got up onto her feet and made for the shelves. After several minutes of scouring the shelves she found what it was she was looking for and made her way over to Belle.

“Here, try this,” she smiled as she set a small book in her hands.

“The secret garden,” Belle announced quietly, opening the book before handing it to Galean.

“Would you like me to read for you?” he asked handing her the small brown bag.

“Mr Edwards she will surely have a sick stomach,” Eveline protested as the child opened the bag and took out a jelly baby and popped it into her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

“I only purchased a few don’t worry,” Galean smiled as Belle handed him one. “Thankyou.”

“Evie do you want one?” Belle asked as she held out the bag.

“Of course!” Eveline smiled taking a sweet. “It’s not every day we get to have sweets, they are such a luxury now.”

“Let’s start shall we?”

Eveline quietly took off her shoes and lifted her feet so that they curled under her legs and sat back into the leather as Galean began to read aloud.

“When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression,” Galean began. As time passed Eveline found herself surrendering to exhaustion and quite happy that Belle, Wordsworth and Mr Edwards were content she closed her eyes for a while.

Belle and Eveline were fast asleep in their chairs as Jophiel entered the library, Galean and Wordsworth sitting together before the fire.

“Gosh they must be exhausted,” she whispered, closing the door behind her and coming to sit with Galean who smiled. He could not remember a time when he had spent such a pleasant hour reading. She noticed that both Belle and Eveline had blankets draped about them as they slept peacefully.

“I don’t know whether it would be cruel to awaken them,” Galean said as he closed the book and laid it upon the carpet.

“Let them sleep for another ten minutes it is only eight,” Jophiel whispered as she picked up the book. “I love the secret garden.”

“I have never read it before but I must agree it is enchanting to read even as an adult,” Galean said with a smile.

“Where did you go this afternoon?”

“To Bath Abbey,” Galean muttered as placed his back against Belle’s chair and crossed his legs in front of him.

“Did you find solace there?” Jophiel asked as she flicked through the book.

“A little if truth be told,” Galean admitted to his friend. “And you?”

“I sat in the park for a little while and found a little solace like yourself.”

“You believe me when I say that I am not actively seeking to destroy their marriage?” Galean asked with pleading eyes.

“Of course I believe you Galean,” Jophiel said with certainty in her voice. “I know you too well and you are an honourable man.”

“Thank you.”

“However,” Jophiel began raising a hand to silence Galean. “Just listen to me for a moment before you speak. Theodores fears about this prophecy are real and Lier believed it to be true as well, that we should not simply discard. If your fate is in fact bound to Eveline’s then you must tread carefully.”

“Jophiel don’t you think we have much more important matters to be discussing other than this?”

“Yes we do on that I agree, but this prophecy has set Theodore on edge and the conversation that we had this afternoon did not go unheard,” Jophiel turned her gaze to Eveline, whose face was smooth and undisturbed. Galean turned his gaze to the sleeping Queen and sighed.

“What must she think of us Jophiel?” he said with anguish in his eyes.

“She believes herself the root cause of all our woes Theodore, she believes she is a problem to all of us,” Jophiel said softly, seeing the twitch of Eveline’s nose.

“Did she overhear me discussing my wife?”

“Yes.”

“No wonder she hasn’t been able to meet my gaze then,” Galean said slowly, closing his eyes briefly with shame.

“She is confused and irritated and I believe depressed as well,” Jophiel said as Wordsworth moved over towards her. “Have you noticed it too?”

“Yes but she has been through a lot, I suppose it is only natural that she should feel upset,” Galean answered. “It doesn’t help that her husband has become possessive of her and suspicious of everyone about him.”

“Cael can be a law onto himself at times that much I’ll warrant him,” Jophiel shrugged. “Hopefully he can pull his head out of the sand and find focus.”

“Things will ease between them when I leave in a few days,” Galean said quietly.

“You’re leaving so soon?”

“I have too, I cannot be stuck between them both,” Galean said as he ran his fingers through his hair. “And I need to get home, my kingdom is on the brink of war, I must attend to my responsibilities.”

“You’re sure there isn’t something else that is forcing you to run away?” Jophiel said with knowing eyes. She wasn’t ignorant of the growing bond between Eveline and Galean and it was this that had troubled her when taking into account the prophecy. She knew Galean was honourable and that he would never willingly attach himself to a married woman, he was too good and kind. But she could see that he was struggling within himself and wondered whether the struggle came from an unspoken claim upon Eveline.

“What would I be running from?” Galean asked with suspicious eyes.

“From yourself and your fears,” Jophiel said kindly.

“I am not running from myself or my fears Jophiel I am merely going home, a decision I had made long before meeting Eveline,” Galean said firmly.

“I don’t want to make you frustrated Galean,” Jophiel said with clarity. “But I would understand if you found yourself running from a feeling you put to rest a long time ago, a feeling I fear you may have found growing quietly without your knowledge or want of it.”

Galean looked across at Eveline. “Jophiel you tread on dangerous grounds.”

“I’m sorry, forgive me.”

“You are forgiven,” Galean said sombrely.

“Heiden forbade Cael to marry her because he knew that she was intended for another,” Jophiel whispered as Belle stirred.

“How do you know that?” Galean enquired.

“Lier told me. I just didn’t think it safe to entrust that information to Cael seeing as he went ahead and married her.”

Belle awoke before Galean could respond and stretched her arms and legs wide.

“Come on you,” Jophiel said as she rose from the ground. “Time for bed.” Without speaking Belle waited for Jophiel to bring her up into her arms with her teddy in her right hand. With a yawn she closed her eyes and fell asleep on the angel’s shoulder, with a small wave to Galean before leaving the room. Galean sat before Eveline and unbuttoned his collar looking for his mother’s jewel and placing it in the palm of his hand. It was a precious jewel, found in the mountains of Dragna, where the dragons of Meer lived. She had been the chieftain’s daughter who happened to be a dragon lord and when his mother had married his father the high King Ballour, she had two jewelled necklaces made from the rare diamonds within the mountains, the great dragon Nunya breathing over the stones. Galean rubbed the star shaped jewel within his fingers. His father had told him that the stones were filled with dragon magic and that two true hearts could hear one another’s call and upon hearing one another the jewels would glow, a beautiful and warm golden hue. Both his mothers and fathers necklaces had been bestowed upon him and he had given his mother’s necklace to his wife, but the myth surrounding their power never showed itself and when he found her dead, he took the necklace and draped it about his neck in remembrance of her.

Galean heard Eveline groan and looked up from the jewel and watched her as she moved about nervously as though trapped within some dark dream, her eyes twitching and her mouth quivering. Cautiously he crawled over to her and looked into her fair face, for fair she was. Galean dropped the necklace from his hand and found he had the opportunity to have a look at her neck whilst she was asleep. Gently he pushed away locks of her hair and gazed upon her throat, horrified at the change in the mark. The area under her ear and stretching down to her collar bone had been contaminated, her veins a deep black. Galean’s eyes widened with fear, he had to search for help quickly fearing for her life. Sitting back he gently placed the strands of her hair back into place. His old friend and high priest of the north Anvin would have known what to do but he wasn’t here and Galean needed to find someone who dabbled in the occult who could help Eveline before it was too late. As he fretted he heard her sigh and turned his eyes to her face once more and found comfort as she smiled slightly, the bad dream passing, her features relaxing into a peaceful state. Without thinking he gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand and felt her move again, another smile forming upon her red lips, her bottom lip baring a small cut that caused him to crease his brows. Such coldness dwelled within her fair skin it sent a shudder through him realising how cold she was. He lifted his hand away and brought the blanket that covered her to the middle of her back up around her shoulders. With one last lingering look he sat back and took to his feet, lifting the book up and settling himself upon the leather chair, opening the pages to where he had paused. He would wait for her to wake before retiring to bed.

*

Eveline opened her eyes and found him staring into oblivion, the small book on his lap, his eyes thoughtful and deep. She lay still for a moment and simply gazed at him, so concentrated on whatever it was that was burdening him. His legs were crossed over one another and his right hand lay under his chin as he gazed into the flames oblivious to her.

“No one knows the weight of another’s burden,” Eveline whispered gently. Galean’s eyes did not flicker as she spoke, he simply smiled weakly.

“George Herbert.”

“I haven’t read much of his poetry but it is a line I often say to myself when my mind is filled with unwarranted anxiety and unrest.”

“You constantly surprise me Eveline,” Galean sighed his shoulders visibly falling.

“I hope I surprise you in a positive way,” Eveline said as she sat up on her chair and stretched her feet before her, yawning lightly.

“You do,” Galean said flatly.

“What troubles you Mr Edwards?”

“Jophiel told me that you were eavesdropping this afternoon,” Galean answered, turning himself to her and folding his arms before him.

“I was.”

“I want to assure you that I do not blame you for what happened to my family, although I am sure that it came across in a curt manner, it was not intended to be for your ears.”

“I wonder what indeed you would have said if I had been there?” Eveline mused darkly. “Mr Edwards there is much I do not understand about all of this, much I cannot even begin to accept but you spoke the truth when you spoke of having to save me instead of your family.”

“I did,” Galean said with honest eyes. “But I do not blame you for their deaths and would never wish you to think that I am angry or repelled by you.”

“I would understand if you didn’t want to be in my presence.”

“But I do and I would hope that our friendship will not be negatively influenced by what you heard this afternoon?” Galean asked with pleading eyes.

“I am afraid it must Mr Edwards, my husband believes that you and I are bound to one another, by fate itself,” Eveline whispered as the candles flickered wildly, causing shadows to form upon the walls. “I know you will protest but my husband is despite his kind and compassionate nature also quite proud and stubborn, he will not take such news lightly even if it proves illegitimate or futile.”

“Cael has always been privy to his pride but I had hoped that logic would greatly outweigh his illogical feelings,” Galean groaned inwardly.

“We become possessive about the things we hold most dear Mr Edwards, you would be the same I believe,” Eveline said wisely.

“That being said I must take my leave in a few days after the fund raising ball,” Galean said darkly, turning his gaze away from her piercing eyes.

“I did not know there was to be a ball so soon,” Eveline whispered with shaking hands. “Here?”

“Yes here, Mary told me this morning so that I would have time to purchase the proper attire,” Galean replied with a slight smile. “It will not be a great event there will only be a few dozen people attending, Mary is aware that you have been through a lot and are most likely not willing to attend.”

“She would be right, I am tired and generally not in a positive state of mind at the moment,” Eveline admitted, feeling relief at being able to openly express how she really felt knowing she would face no judgement on care.

“I have observed,” Galean remarked candidly. “Maybe it will help to lighten your worries for an evening.”

“I wish Mr Edwards, but I highly doubt a ball will alleviate my troubles however small it is,” Eveline said with a sigh. “I will however attend if not for myself then for Mary who has been so kind in accommodating us here over the Christmas period.”

“Well I’m sure she would be grateful,” Galean said kindly seeing the flickering of the flames in her eyes. Eveline turned her eyes to the carpet and curved her back over so that she could rest her elbows upon her knees.

“Why are you leaving so soon?” she asked shyly.

“I have no need to stay now that you are safe and well,” Galean lied seeing the slight distress in her lowered gaze.

“And there is nothing I can say to keep you here for a little while longer at least until Christmas has passed,” Eveline whispered. “Belle will miss you.”

“I have responsibilities that need attending too Eveline and my people need me, I am already betraying their loyalty by being here as it is,” Galean lied in part again, for it was true in a way. It truth if he dared allow himself to acknowledge it, he needed to get away from her. Eveline was causing him to fall prey to the prophecy, ever since he had first met her and she had laid her hand upon his heart had he felt an unearthly connection to her. The time spent with her had only heightened his suspicions of what was secretly occurring within the very hidden depths of him. He could not risk any such feelings arising, not for himself and especially not for her. Eveline was married to his friend and he was not ready to part with the memory of his wife. Staying would only prolong the arduous situation that he had found himself in. If he wanted her to survive, he would have to leave her in peace with the man she had married with a full heart.

“I understand Mr Edwards,” Eveline whispered as she got to her feet, folding up the blanket and setting it down upon the chair.

“Eveline I did not mean you offence, you must see that I cannot stay, my staying will only irritate Theodore further,” Galean pleaded rising to his feet also.

“I thought we were friends Mr Edwards?” Eveline asked with solemn eyes.

“And we are of that I assure you,” Galean urged coming to stand before her. “But your husband is right, I need to leave you both in peace. This burden of the prophecy will only cause things to escalate into a situation that will only cause division and pain. If you are to be protected then you need to be surrounded by those who are united and strong.”

“I understand,” Eveline said submitting to the truth, for he was speaking in earnest as they both knew it. Galean had nothing to say and simply looked on, defeated and bent. “I think I will retire now if you don’t mind?”

“I mind not,” Galean said quietly, waving her away with the flick of his hand.

“Goodnight Mr Edwards…Galean.”

“Goodnight Eveline.”

© Iseult O'Shea and OneCrown&TwoThrones, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Iseult O'Shea and OneCrown&TwoThrones with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.