Daddy

Rosemary paced the hall frantically as she waited for Damien. When he pulled the bedroom door shut behind him, Rosemary sighed and came to him. "How is she doing?"

He nodded towards the foyer and they started to walk down the hall. "She's sleeping finally. She remembers everything now."

Rosemary clutched her chest. "That poor woman. Are you certain you should be leaving her alone right now?"

"There's no safer place for her in all the world, mother. Besides, I hardly have a choice. There are invaders at two borders."

Daniel waited in the foyer and was putting on his cloak as they exited the hall. "I'm leaving Jason and Eason behind as Watch. How's Gretchen?"

Damien shook his head from side to side. "She's seen better days."

Daniel gave him a sympathetic smile and patted his shoulder. "You can take Rhett and the brigade to the South. I'm taking the rest of Agi's riders East."

Damien nodded then looked to his mother. "She's alright for now. Just keep an eye on her until I get back and don't drug her, no matter how much she asks you to." Damien leaned in and kissed Rosemary's cheek. She said, "I'll take care of her. Don't worry, just be safe."

Daniel took Rosemary in his arms then kissed her as a man does when he's about to ride off into battle. "I love you, always." Rosemary smiled and said, "I love you. Godspeed."

As the heavy hooves marched against the cobblestone path, Gretchen's eyes opened, and she pushed herself up in bed. She looked around the room for Damien, but quickly realized that he must've been one of the riders leaving the castle. She rolled her head from side to side, then pulled back the covers and stepped onto the floor.

As she closed the bedroom door behind her, Rosemary came down the hall. "Gretchen! You're awake, please, you should really bed resting in bed right now."

Gretchen looked over to face Rosemary and she could see the grief dripping off Gretchen's face. Rosemary went to Gretchen's side and wrapped her arms around her. "I'm so very sorry, Gretchen." Gretchen nodded as her swollen lips pinched together to stop the sobs in her throat. Rosemary opened the door to Gretchen's room and stood aside as she walked in. "You really need to eat something. Would you rather me have the cook send something to your room?" Gretchen shook her head then went to her armoire and opened it.

As her trembling hands tried to search for something to wear, Gretchen breathed raggedly. "I'm not hungry. I just want to be alone."

"I promised Damien I'd look after you."

Gretchen swallowed down her pain. "I'm fine. I'm just going to take a walk around the castle, I can't lay in bed another minute."

Rosemary nodded and said, "Alright, but don't leave the castle."

Gretchen nodded and Rosemary reluctantly left her room. After she dressed and washed her tear soaked face, Gretchen pulled her sweater tightly across her chest as she walked down the hall. When she passed the dining hall, she looked inside to make sure no one was watching. She turned her attention back to the hall in front of her, not realizing she had been noticed. Jason stood from the table and slowly walked after Gretchen. He stayed out of earshot as he watched her sneak to the library door and walk inside. Jason sighed then walked to the library door. He had done the same thing many times and knew exactly what Gretchen had planned.

Gretchen looked around the room and said, "I want to see him again. Show me Drago, please."

Gretchen closed her eyes and felt the gust of wind weave around her. When she opened her eyes again, she was sitting on the floor with Mara as she held Drago in her arms. Gretchen startled when she heard the bolt pop open, then she turned towards the noise and saw Jason as he slowly looked around at the scene in front of him. Jason's big, dark kind eyes finally settled on Gretchen. "What are you doing, Gretchen?"

She looked back to Mara and Drago and smiled as tears streamed down her face. "I just had to see him again."

Jason walked to Gretchen's side then sat down on the floor and wrapped his arms around his crossed legs. "Mind if I sit with you?"

Gretchen shook her head. "Not at all. Isn't he just beautiful?"

Jason looked at the mirage and huffed through his nose as he grinned. "He's a fine boy. You must've been very proud."

Gretchen inhaled through her nose sharply and nodded. "Oh, I was. Drago was my everything. I spent every second just staring into his eyes and smelling his little head. I was so happy to give Damien a child. So proud to be his woman. Even living in this little fucking shack, he treated me like a was the Queen of all things." She held out her hand. "He made this for me, you know. He gave it to me when I had Drago. We never married properly, and he felt guilty that I gave birth before we could. But I didn't care about any of that. I just wanted to be his and Drago's. I just wanted to live happily ever after in this rickety old house."

Jason glanced around him. "You know, I come here sometimes, too. I let it show me my future, at least the one I have in my dreams. Marissa's all grown up and we have a quiver full of pups. This place makes the things inside your head look real, but they're not real. It's ok to remember him, Gretchen, but this isn't good for you. You need to look to the future; this will only ever bring you pain."

Gretchen sniffed back her tears and nodded. "I know that. It's just, I just feel so..."

"Empty." Jason nodded his head as he smirked. "Yes, that's how I always feel afterwards, as well. It's difficult to love someone so much and be powerless to help them. But this place doesn't have to be one of sadness, Gretchen. This library is very powerful. Your magic is still locked up inside you, let this place help you find it again."

Gretchen reached out as Mara kissed Drago's forehead. She tried to touch his little face, but her hand fell through the mirage. "How do I do that?"

"Well, first you need to put all this away, Gretchen. You don't have to forget, just put it on the shelf for a while."

Gretchen took one last look, then closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she and Jason were sitting on the rug at the center of the room surrounded by bookcases full of scrolls and old books.

Jason smiled then pushed himself to stand, then held out his hand to help Gretchen up. As she stood and looked around, she said, "So, what now?"

"Just close your eyes, Gretchen. Just close them and clear your mind of all those things. Everything you need is in there, you just need to put away the distractions. Just quiet them all and listen to the voice inside your head. Let it show you the truth of things."

Gretchen closed her eyes and breathed deeply through her nose. She imagined herself putting her memories in shoe boxes and then stacking them in her closet. Jason said, "That's it. They aren't gone, Gretchen, you can still look at them whenever you wish. Now, just breathe. Just breathe in and out and listen."

Gretchen swayed from side to side as she breathed slowly in and out through her nose. She saw herself walking through the forest, her hands along her sides touching the twigs and tall grasses as she passed by. The ancient voice spoke softly in her head.

Jason smiled. "That's it. Just let him take you where you need to be. Let's see what Fate has laid out before you."

Gretchen inhaled through her nose then smelled the dirt on the forest floor and the wildflowers in the clearing as the sunlight shined down on them and warmed their petals. Jason walked alongside her and looked around her vision. "You're doing it, Gretchen. You're seeing it. Keep going."

They walked together through the forest and she looked over to him. "Did everyone know all this time?"

He pulled his lips to the side. "No, not everyone. Rhett and Thorin aren't like us and no one is as powerful as Damien or Daniel. They thought it was best you remembered on your own. I don't know why they changed their minds. It must've been something significant. Damien loves you. He wouldn't force this kind of pain on you unless there was good reason."

As they neared the edge of the woods, the air became colder and the wind blew through the trees as a dark presence made itself known. Jason and Gretchen looked around as the air filled with rage and despair. "I know this place," said Jason. " We're near the kingdom of Eliphas." As he heard the approaching hooves beating against the ground, Jason grabbed Gretchen's arm then pulled her out of the way as Agamori and his horses drove past them.

As a terrible feeling washed over him, Jason said, "We should turn back, Gretchen. It isn't safe here anymore."

Gretchen pushed past him then kept walking the path. Jason followed her. He knew why Agamori had been sent to Eliphas and didn't want Gretchen to find out this way. "I have to see, Jason. It wants me to. I have to know."

Jason swallowed hard and shook his head to himself. Suddenly, the horses could be heard again from the other direction. Jason and Gretchen stood out of the way while the riders passed them again. Gretchen looked up to see a man in a cloak turn around and look at her. His eyes widened as he realized who she was. "Gretchen!"

"Daddy!" she screamed as she started running to the horses. "Daddy!"

Jason wrapped his arms around her from behind as the vision faded away and the library returned. "It's alright, Gretchen. It's alright. He's on his way. You'll see him soon."

Gretchen's knees buckled under her and Jason slowly lowered her to the ground. She shivered as her teary eyes looked around Jason's face. "Was that real? Was that real or am I just having another fucking nightmare? Tell me! Tell me, Jason!"

Jason nodded. "It's real Gretchen. Your father was killed. Agi's bringing him to you as we speak."

Gretchen closed her eyes and began to sob. "Oh, Daddy. No!"

Jason pulled her close to his chest and she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "We didn't mean for you to find out like this. I'm so sorry. I didn't know this would happen. Please, don't be cross."

Gretchen sat up and looked in Jason's eyes. "Everyone knew? Everyone knew what happened to him and no one told me."

Jason closed his eyes and sighed.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? What the hell is wrong with all of you?" Gretchen pushed herself up. "Why would you all do that? That's my father. What if it was your father Jason? What if it was Ben?"

Jason pushed himself up. "I can't tell you why they didn't want you to know. I just don't know."

Gretchen wiped her hand across her mouth. "Damien knew." She thought back to Haldir and how he told her he had important things to take care of. As the bile of betrayal rose in her throat, Gretchen retched and spit on the floor. She knew Damien was acting suspiciously. He seemed like he was having second thoughts about sleeping together. "He knew the whole time."



*As a little thank you to you all, I'm giving away free coins. I was trying to figure out the best way to distribute them because I only have 10 sets of 50 to give away, and thought that the end of a chapter would work. Here's the redemption code...DDBFYX...if it doesn't work it's because they were all used or have expired, not to worry though, I will be giving away more soon.If you join my Facebook (@authorjwhite) or IG (author_j_white)pages, you'll get the latest on giveaways and new stories. I just released Tessa's Wolves in paperback through Amazon and will be giving away 5 signed copies as soon as they come in from the publisher. Have a fantastic day!**