Chapter 44 - James' Journey

"Dresses, for you" Michael shouted with a big smile. He spread out the clothes for Martha to see.

He had left earlier to get her some dresses. She would need it as she had come with none except the one she had on.

"Exactly they are those of my liking" she exclaimed and put both her hands on her cheeks in excitement. "Gorgeous and magnificent" she moaned.

"You told me, you remember?" Michael moved close to her. "Everything. All the things you can't tell anyone else" he sighed.

"Stop making me feel like a kid" she smirked.

"You have forgotten?" he asked curiously, shrinking the skin around his eyes. Martha must have forgotten. It had been a long time ago.

"Things that I couldn't tell anybody else but you" she scoffed. "I don't really remember" she confessed.

"It will be better not to stir hurtful memories. You must have spent a lot of time in getting over them" Michael said sadly. He turned away from her.

"You know I would appreciate it if you can take me back in memory because I don't have a clue about what you are saying" she must have really forgotten but that felt strange.

Bad memories could only be suppressed not removed from remembrance. He turned back to her.

"It was our annual auction. You came with all your families. The Queen and all your households were here" he paused to see if she was recollecting piece by piece.

She was not remembering anything at all. She kept staring at Michael to complete the story. She seemed like she was an outsider in the story of her life.

"Isn't that the only time we used to come down here, annual auction of the great kingdom of Darnley" she laughed after she had obviously noticed that Michael was waiting for her contribution.

"How can someone be as forgetful as you are right now or are you pretending to me?" he had become confused. He was not getting any of the reaction he was expecting.

"The last time we met, we were definitely kids who couldn't differentiate between right and left. I do not remember a bit but you are surely talking about a sad experience from the looks of it" she explained, like she was trying to save herself.

"You have really grown from a simple girl into a different woman" Michael shook his head.

"Actually, you are not the first to say that" she smiled.

"Anyway, that year you were very sad. You were crying. You didn't want to return back to Harvey with your parents. You said they were cruel just because they expected you to be a boy" Michael revealed finally. He could still picture her crying profusely in his head.

He was there with her consoling her, urging her to prove herself to them.

"Martha was just acting like the little girl she was" she laughed and took the dress from Michael.

Michael had become overwhelmed with surprise. He was doubting if the lady in front of him was really Martha.

"Why are you starting at me like that? Did I say something that time, if I did. I'm sorry. I apologize for everything. And please stop looking at me weirdly. You are making me awkward" she said without being modest.

Martha wouldn't speak like this as Michael could remember. She was not only tender but soft with all her actions.

There was no way she could have changed like this.

"Are you really Martha?" he pulled the clothes in her hand.

"What is that supposed to mean? Am I an impersonator?" she put her hand on her chest slowly.

"What I was talking about was the most important thing to Martha. There is no way she could have forgotten that" Michael said sternly.

"Yes, I will prove to you that I am Martha. But you have to do me a favour. You will go and get a maid here. I will undress and show her the scar on my back right above my waist" she said and started sobbing.

"You should really remember that. When I climbed that tree with you but you are just careless and scared me off...." she couldn't continue as she was now crying bitterly.

Michael could remember vividly. She fell from a tree, crashing against branches as she fell through. Only two of them knew about that except a strange man from the woods that helped them in treating her.

"I am sorry. I am not doing this to make you cry. I was just trying to look out for you" he hugged her and rubbed her head.

"Leave me please. I have seen and heard enough. You have all made me regret coming here for refuge. Of course your palace isn't a sanctuary" she continued crying.

"Shhh" he shushed her playfully. "You won't regret coming here but enjoy it" he consoled her.

*****************

The Alpha King walked to meet James as he came towards him. He gave him a big hug and a warm smile.

"You know I was planning to send for you if I haven't seen you in the next few hours" he touched his face, arms and back. He was obviously checking if he was alright.

"I am okay, Father" he quirked a smile.

He didn't believe what the Alpha King just said. He didn't love him. All he was doing was fake to make James think he cared for him.

"You have been scarce and quiet for sometime" he sighed in relief.

"Yes. I am feeling the pangs of betrayal" he scorned.

"It will happen but you have to get over it as soon as possible. When it lingers, the mind weakens. Then the body. I do not want that for you" he patted him on the shoulder. He kept smiling like he was happy.

"That is the reason I have come to see you" he paused and stood right to be face to face with his father. "I do not want a weak mind and a weak body" he asserted.

"So what can I help you with?" the Alpha King asked softly.

"I want to go away for few days. I will camp in the woods. Engage in some games and get my head back on top of my body" he touched his head with a finger and smiled.

"Is that a way to dispose your sorrow?" the Alpha King asked with curiosity.

"I couldn't think of any other, Father" he replied quickly.

"Then so be it. You can as many days as you want" he laughed.

James felt sad. The Alpha King didn't even want him close at all. He quickly gave him his permission to go. He must have wanted that to relieve him of his burden of having him around.

"Take as many guards as you want" he walked away from James back to his throne.

"I want to be. Alone" James solicited.

"What?" he turned back quickly. "You want to go out there alone. That is dangerous and you know that" he showed concern which James believe was a sham.

"That's the best way for me. I will be happier if I can go alone" he repeated.

"This is like asking to be allowed to put yourself in harm's way" the Alpha King protested.

"I will send signal at the slightest sign of enemies" he conveyed.

"You go, but be careful out there" he approved of his request. That was what he wanted, he wanted him hurt or even disappeared finally, James thought.

"Thanks, Father" he bowed and turned to leave.

"James" the Alpha King called him back.

James turned to him right away but his father had refused to say anything. He was silent and they were staring at each other in the eyes.

"Father" James wanted to stir the words out of him.

"I want you to know something. No one blames you for what he did and you shouldn't blame yourself. What happened to us, none of it was your fault. I just want you to know that" the Alpha King said awkwardly.

"I do not blame myself for any of it. I just want some time to myself" he argued.

"People think they don't deserve to be among people when they have done something wrong. Tell me that is not why you want to be alone" he pressed further. He obviously wanted to force words out of his mouth.

"I need to be alone. It is becoming unbearable for me. After Molina, it was Harold" he moaned sadly.

"You shouldn't feel bad for Harold. He deserves what came on to him" the Alpha King consoled him indirectly.

"I feel bad for myself. I didn't deserve it. Any of it!" he yelled angrily. He was directng that to his father within him. James believed didn't deserve the way he was treating him.

"It's okay. Be calm" he lowered his hands to ease him. "Do what you have to do and be happy, my son" he concluded.

"Thank you, Father" he gasped and walked away from the palace hall.

If Quentin did not fail him. He should meet his father's dead body by the time he would be back.