Chapter 216: Hello, Granddaughter.
~Gwen's POV~
After my incident with Ava, when I tried to talk to her about my view of the war with Lystra and she screamed at me for not taking her side, I had refrained from speaking about any incident concerning her.
It had been some days since then, and I'd stayed indoors, watching from my chambers and hoping she'd come to her senses.
"Mama, you look worried," came a small voice from behind me.
I turned to see my daughter Iris standing in the doorway, her golden hair messy from playing. At three years old, she had an uncanny ability to read emotions that adults tried to hide. Behind her, Ellis peeked out, clutching a wooden dragon toy to his chest.
"I'm fine, sweetheart," I said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking."
"About Aunt Ava?" Iris asked, climbing onto my lap. "Ellis said she was being mean to you."
"Ellis talks too much," I murmured, stroking her hair. But before I could say more, a loud sound came through.
The first boom sounded like thunder although wasn't. The windows rattled in their frames, and both children pressed closer to me.
"What was that?" Ellis whispered, his eyes wide.
I stood quickly, setting Iris down. "Stay here. Both of you. Don't leave this room."
But as I reached the door, another sound echoed through the castle, shouting. Angry voices rising from the courtyard below. Against my better judgment, I found myself moving toward the commotion, my heart pounding with each step.
As I walked in hurry toward the courtyard, I hear small footsteps following despite my instructions.
"Mama, wait!" Iris called out.
"We want to see too!" Ellis added, his wooden dragon bouncing as he ran.
"Absolutely not," I said firmly, but they were persistent little shadows, trailing behind me as I made my way toward the courtyard.
When I reached the main entrance, I stopped short. The sight before me made my blood freeze. Lorraine stood in the center of the courtyard, and behind her, chained prisoners stumbled through what looked like a closing portal. This was the first time I was seeing a portal.
I pressed myself against the doorway, pulling the children behind me. From here, I could see everything while staying hidden. Ava stood across the courtyard, her posture tense as she faced her grandmother.
Among the prisoners Lorraine brought, one of them stood out. Because Ava kept gazing at him in anger.
"You think you've won?" he snarled, his words directed at Ava. "You destroyed my family, took everything from me, and for what? I guess you are still acting like a whore here right? Everyone," he screamed turning around. " That woman is a whore. She is fucking my uncle!"
Ava took a step back, visibly shaken by his venom. For a moment there, I wanted to slap the living day light out of him.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," Landon continued. "Instead, I let sentiment make me weak. But you'll get what's coming to you. Mark my words after all you can't please my uncle forever. He will certainly get tired of you."
"Language!" Ellis suddenly piped up from behind me, his small voice, a respite from the crazy man.
The entire courtyard went silent. Every head turned toward us, and I felt my face burn with embarrassment. Ellis stepped out from behind me, still clutching his dragon toy, completely oblivious to the danger.
"Mama says we're not supposed to use mean words," he announced loudly, pointing his toy dragon at Landon. "Even when we're really, really mad."
Iris appeared beside him, hands on her hips in a perfect imitation of me when I was scolding them. "And you're being very rude to Aunt Ava. She's sad enough already."
The absurdity of the moment, two small children lecturing a dangerous prisoner while their mother died of mortification, broke the tension completely. Even some of the guards were struggling not to smile.
Landon's rage faltered, replaced by confusion. "Who are these children?"
"Mine," I said reluctantly, stepping into view. "And they should be in their room."
"But Mama," Iris said earnestly, "he was saying bad things about Aunt Ava. We had to help."
Ellis nodded seriously. "Dragons protect family." He held up his wooden toy. "See? Roar!"
He made the most pathetic roaring sound I'd ever heard, which somehow made the whole situation even more ridiculous. Several of the guards actually chuckled, and I saw Ava's lips twitch despite her obvious distress.
"Children," I said firmly, "inside. Now."
"But we're helping," Ellis protested.
"You're helping by going to your room and staying safe," I told them.
Iris looked between me and Ava, then walked over to her aunt with the fearless confidence only children possess. "It's okay, Aunt Ava. Mama says mean people are just scared inside. Maybe he needs a hug."
"I most certainly do not need a hug from a child," Landon snapped.
"See?" Ellis said, nodding wisely. "Scared."
From the corner of my eyes, I see another figure emerging behind Raphael. She looked like me. No. More like the order version of me. I could still see strands of her red hair that was turning white. Who is this?
Lorraine's eyes found her instantly, and a smile that was equal parts knowing and cruel spread across her face.
"It's been a while, old friend," she called out. "I can see the whole family is back together." She gestured deliberately, her finger pointing first to me where I stood pressed against the castle wall, then to the old lady.
My heart stopped. I ignored every detail my heart wanted me to agree to. It can't be what I am thinking.
Lorraine's eyes caught mine. Her smile widened, taking on a predatory edge that made my skin crawl. "I guess the reunion isn't official yet," she added, her voice dripping with dark amusement.
She moved closer to Haggar, leaving the prisoners and the drama of Ava's mad prisoners behind as if they were nothing more than props in a play.
As she passed by Haggar, she leaned in close enough that I had to strain to hear her whispered words; "I'm sorry for ruining your surprise."
Then she was gone, disappearing back through the portal as suddenly as she had arrived, leaving behind the chaos she had brought. The portal closed with her.
Everyone kept quiet, their eyes on me and the old woman, I just realized is called Haggard. I wish I understood why they were looking at me in that manner but I didn't.
Haggar stood motionless for awhile, her shoulders rigid. Then, slowly, she raised her head to look directly at me. Our eyes met across the courtyard, and in that gaze, I saw confirmation of ever
y thought I had tried to suppress.
When she spoke, I wish she hadn't.
"Hello, granddaughter."
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