Here we go with the next chapter! I wrote this as I was preparing for my very first account presentation, which was in Las Vegas earlier this week. Giving presentations is always nerve racking; but, I'm happy to say that it went well and the group was excited about what I had to say! Oh, and if you have never been to Las Vegas, it is such a cool place!! I'm not a gambler; so, I didn't think I'd really like it, but it was great!! I even had some time to be a tourist during my trip, which doesn't happen very often. I went to the Venetian and saw Phantom and let me tell you, it was AMAZING!! I had an awesome seat (fifth row Orchestra!) and the best news is that I got it at half price. I had already seen POTO before this, but it was still fabulous! I was all smiles. :)
Thank you poloplaya4e, teardrop456, shortstef, NordyGirl, and Gu-Brath-Faol for your continued readership, support and reviews! I always love hearing from you!
Disclaimer: I do not own the story of Beauty and the Beast. However, all original ideas and characters found in Heal The Heart are mine.
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Chapter 3 - Love
After calming herself down, Ariana quickly resumed her flight back to her home. She moved swiftly through the forest; but, her vision was clouded with the events of the past hour. That was close. Too close. Oh, how long can I possibly continue to avoid his advances? Why is Caleb so persistent in claiming me as his own when everyone else in the village thinks I'm - Immersed in her thoughts, Ariana failed to see the figure before her and was startled when she bumped into the form. With a gasp, she returned to the present and fearfully scrutinized the person in front of her, who was now picking a few plants off of the ground and returning them to her basket.
The woman turned her gaze to look at her assailant. With an echo of surprise in her voice she exclaimed, "Ariana! Why, you gave me quite the start!" She took a closer look at the girl, only to find her staring forward, wide-eyed and shaking like a leaf. "Whatever is the matter, little one? I apologize if I've frightened you."
Ariana gaped at the woman as recognition set in. Dressed in a plain green dress, the elderly woman had her white hair pulled back into a bun, and her normally merry blue eyes now held a glint of concern. "Nana?" she whispered.
"It's me, Ariana. Even though we don't see each other as often as we used to, don't tell me you've forgotten me? What are you doing out here all alone, girl?"
"Nana," she whispered again in relief. It wasn't Caleb or any of his men; but, Ann, the village mid-wife, whom she affectionately referred to as Nana. The woman who had helped her parents raise her and was like a grandmother to her. Instantly she wrapped her arms around the woman and enveloped her in a huge bear hug.
The mid-wife pulled out of the warm embrace and looked down at Ariana with apprehension; clearly the child had been through something upsetting. "What has happened, dear heart?" she questioned. Ann looked down at Ariana's disheveled appearance and her voice hardened. "It was him, wasn't it?! Did he hurt you? Did he try to…?" She shook her fist in the air and turned her head left, then right. "Oh, where is he? I'll tear that fiend limb from limb!"
Ariana shifted her gaze down to the ground and fiddled with the folds on her skirts. Nana had a keen ability to recognize when someone wasn't telling her the truth. She knew she couldn't lie to Nana and finally admitted with a sigh, "Yes, Nana, it was Caleb. He…he tried to capture me again; but, I managed to get away."
"By the skin of your teeth it seems! Ariana, darling, you can't keep this up forever!"
"I know, Nana," Ariana agreed.
"He's a cruel one, he is!" Ann paused and regarded the girl before her. She has truly turned into a strong and lovely young lady. That swine doesn't deserve her, nor would he appreciate her intelligence or her beauty. But someone else, on the other hand…now that idea held promise. It certainly was time that she took a husband. Dare I even suggest it? Oh, why not! When you're as old as I am, people tend to forgive slips of the tongue. "Ariana, have you given any thought as to who you want to marry? A nice boy from the village, perhaps?" she ventured cautiously.
Ariana shook her head. "I don't plan on getting married, Nana. I'm not sure I want to."
Ann raised her eyebrows in astonishment; she hadn't expected to hear this response. "Never marry? Why ever not, Ariana?"
"You never married, Nana," Ariana reminded her elder.
"Well…ah…no," Ann stammered.
"Then why must I?" she countered. "Why can't I be like you?"
Ann sighed and sat down next to a patch of daisies. "Come here, child; have a seat next to me." Ariana did as she was told and looked up expectantly at her adoptive grandmother. "Just because I never married, doesn't mean I was never in love, Ariana."
Ariana's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she asked, "If you were in love, Nana, why didn't you get married?"
"Not all stories have happy endings, dear heart," Ann confessed, as her eyes began to shine with the initial sign of tears. "It was a very long time ago; I was even a bit younger than you are right now. It was mid-autumn and I was out in the field, similar to the one we sit in now, gathering what was left of the plants and flowers for the mid-wife I was apprenticed to before the first snow fell. As I explored the foliage, I climbed over what I thought was a fallen tree branch when I faintly heard a cry. Looking down, I realized to my sudden horror that I had stepped on a human leg and soon found the body covered in fresh leaves. Well, I thought whoever it was, was surely dead and I swallowed a scream. Yet, a hand started to slowly rise up among the brush and on impulse I grabbed it. Pushing back all of the vegetation from the body, I looked into the face of the most handsome man I had ever seen. His soft brown eyes gazed back at me and he whispered 'angel.'' A fond smile graced Ann's lips. "He thought he had died and gone to Heaven, the poor man, and I quickly assured him that he was merely lying in the meadow and very much alive. His name was Tirian and he was a knight-in-training; his horse had thrown him, knocking him unconscious from the fall and breaking this right leg. Anyway, to make a long story short, we fell in love. I tried to fight it, he was to be a knight and I was merely a plain girl; but, love is not something we can combat or control and it sometimes shows up in the most unlikely places. Dear Tirian loved me for who I was, he didn't care about my status, and soon I found myself betrothed to him. It all felt like a dream; we were so happy." Ann paused and wiped a tear or two from her eyes. "And then the dream turned into a nightmare. Tirian was slain in battle one week before we were to be married and I was lost and alone. I loved him more than anything and could not replace his love with that from another man, so I remained unwed."
Ariana also wiped away tears from her eyes. "Nana," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"He was a wonderful man and I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the time that we had together. So you see, Ariana, I have been in love and I was to be married. It is a beautiful thing, with the right person, and I want you to think twice before you deny yourself such happiness."
Ariana picked a daisy and started pulling out the petals. "I don't trust anyone in the village who might say they love me; everyone here thinks I'm wild and unnatural. That I have bad blood because my mother was a mercenary." Ann started at this sudden confession; however, Ariana didn't seem to notice and continued. "The only reason anyone would want to marry me is because of my appearance and that's not the kind of marriage I want," she ended quietly.
"Ariana," Nana chided. "Your mother was one of the best people I have ever known! She is not to be ashamed of! Jocelyn could give any man a run for his money with her swordsmanship skills; and, she certainly did on more than one occasion!"
Her words brought a smile to Ariana's face. "I'm not ashamed of my mother, Nana. I loved her."
"As you should! She rode through this town with her troop and I don't think anyone was more surprised than she was that a simple candlestick maker could tame her adventurous heart. Yet, your father did it; sweet spoken, mild-mannered Henry captured her fancy and your parents fell madly in love and were married. It's a beautiful story, really; and, shortly after that I helped deliver you. You were her greatest treasure, Ariana," Ann recollected affectionately.
"And I let her down," Ariana said painfully.
"Let her down?! Nonsense! Why do you think that?" Nana exclaimed.
"She tried to teach me everything that she knew, Nana," Ariana began. "I learned her survival skills well enough; but, I was never good with a sword."
"Jocelyn wasn't training you to be a mercenary, Ariana, nor did she expect that you'd want to be one! She just wanted to give you all the tools she could impart to you that might be useful in your life," Ann argued.
"Why did she leave us?" Ariana asked. "How could Daddy have let her go?"
Ann sighed. "It wasn't an easy decision for either of them, dear heart. Your mother gave up the life of a mercenary when she married your father and accepted the plain task of being his wife. She was retired but she was still the best. Jocelyn was also the only female mercenary in these parts; so, when she was summoned by King Jordan for a special assignment, she didn't have much of a choice, I'm afraid."
Ariana bit back a sob. "She died on that assignment," she whispered. "She fought and won so many battles and I can't even win one against Caleb," she added miserably.
"Your mother was a brave and wonderful woman; but, the two of you are entirely different people, Ariana. Don't forget that. Besides, there are new families moving into town regularly now, with all the upheaval going on in these parts. Perhaps someone new will come along that will catch your eye?" Nana hinted.
She shook her head. "I doubt it. Besides, while Caleb is in charge he won't ever let me go." Ariana suddenly turned contemplative. "Nana? Didn't you live close to King Jordan's castle once? What ever happened to the crown prince of these lands? I think he's the only one now who can help us fight Caleb and overthrow his authority."
After a long pause, Nana finally answered. "Yes, Ariana, I used to live near the castle. As for the prince, no one knows what really happened to him or his estate."
Ariana's forehead wrinkled as she searched her memory. "I don't even remember his name; the whole town seems to have forgotten about him."
"Perhaps it was meant to be forgotten," Ann mused and then looked up at the sky. "Run along now, pumpkin, it's getting late; and, I know your father will be beside himself until you return."
Ariana took a few steps forward, and then turned around when she noticed that Nana hadn't made a move to follow. "Aren't you coming, Nana?"
Ann shook her head. "I've got a few more flowers to pick for my calming tea before I can head home."
"In that case, here, let me give this to you now," Ariana said as she unhooked a fish and handed it to the elderly woman.
"That's very kind of you, child; but, I insist that you keep it. I want you out of that monster's reach and don't want you outside unless absolutely necessary. That fish will keep you at home for at least another day." Nana stepped forward and gave her a hug. Pulling away from the girl, a glitter of amethyst caught her eye. "Oh, I see that you're still wearing the necklace that I gave you at your Christening."
"I love it, Nana; I never take it off."
"I'm glad to hear that, dear. It makes me feel close to you when I know you are wearing it. Goodnight, Ariana. Say hello to your father for me."
"Goodnight, Nana. I promise to come and visit you soon!" With that, she turned and ran home, hoping her father hadn't gone to sleep yet so that he could eat his fish for dinner.
