Chapter 21: My Mother's Secret
The sisters all sat around Nora's bed. She was still sleeping but she was bound to wake up eventually. They had all gone their separate ways for the better part of the last three days and now sat with Nora. Their fallen sister. Rian sat curled up next to Ellie. They were all scattered around the room sitting in various chairs or stretched out on coaches.
Slowly the door opened to reveal Kai, Molly, Katrina, Olivia, Hanna, and Sally. Katrina took up the spot on the other side of Ellie, while Sally on the other side of Rian. Hanna sat on Laci's lap, huddled against the older girls chest. Kai sat with Olivia and Molly on either side of her. They were all silent, no one wanting to say anything.
It was an hour later before Risa herself entered the room. She gazed at all the solemn faces and cleared her throat. They all turned to face her. "I think, I think it's time I explained the truth to all of you."
They all sat up straighter, all except for Rian and Ellie. Nora opened her eyes and turned to look at her.
Taking a deep breath she gathered her courage to say what should have been said years ago.
"Over two hundred years ago there were seven kings or queens who ruled the country. They were pretty much the founders of the countries of today. About one hundred years ago one of the rulers family began to break away and disintegrate. In the end it really just tossed the world into a huge war, destroying the original seven countries. The family lines were said to have died years ago but that's not true."
She turned to look at Ellie who got to her feet. "What she is trying to say is that those seven family lines still live on today. The problem is that there are those who refuse to allow them to take back the power they once had. If those seven countries reunite again then those that destroyed it will lose their power. If you ever heard the original story it was actually one of the seven family's own child that destroyed it. He was power hungry and wanted the whole world to fall under him, so he enlisted the help of minor lords and such.
"It backfired, for those lords would never bow down to the man. The families were then murdered, unaware that at least one member survived to live on. Unknowingly they continued on through the generations until recently had been undiscovered. I suppose it was really not hard to decipher from the fact that all of us had blue eyes."
"Laci, May, your mother was actually of the oldest of the lines. She controlled the greatest portion of land. Then of course Sara, Olria, you two are the second oldest. Then Anne, Talya, Tammy, Iliane, the triplets of course, and then there is Ellie and Rian."
"You said there was seven, that only counts as six." Laci put in.
"Jason is the seventh," Ellie said quietly. "I mean its not like any of us planned on reuniting the lands back to proper, it wasn't meant to be that way. Because we still live it still means that there will always be a chance that they will come together. It was really chance that Father was involved with six of the seven of the line. Actually King David is the only known male that fell into the lines."
"So what does all of this have to do with us trying to be killed?" Iliane asked.
"Well, like I said as long as we live then one day the countries can be put back together. If that happens then those, what, thirty-five countries that brought about our downfall will lose the power they stole."
"Alright but how does arranged marriages work in this?" Tammy asked.
"That was an idea your father had. If he could place you in homes where you would be protected then the lines would continue to draw out. However, Randall's family was one of the ones who went against us. Thankfully Randall wasn't corrupted. My brother, your uncle, was actually part of the line that branched out. It was, I suppose, meant to reoccur again. Ally was taught that we were the reason they weren't royalty."
"He's referring to the fact that indeed my mother is a Queen in the country of Lione. He was second born, her twin, born a minute later. When he found out what our bloodline really was he sort of took over the roll of wanting world domination."
"This still doesn't make sense. If we aren't going to reunite the countries and that's not meant to be then why are they attacking us?" Laci asked.
"Because there was a prophecy stating that we would be doing it," Sara put in quietly. "Despite our best attempts to leave the world in the current shape it's in it won't be. The battle that is bound to happen between us and uncle's 'army' is what makes our secret known."
"So why did father marry the two lines?" Tallie asked.
"Because just before the war broke out the two countries were already about to be bound into one," Risa continued. "They were the two smallest countries but very powerful to say the least. Two of the children, the eldest, ironically, were the ones who fell in love and were going to unite them. At the time, however, we didn't know that Jason was one of the lines and happened to be the other line. So the two are now fully united like they should have been years ago."
"Alright, so let me get this straight," Talya started. "Because of the fact that we are part of the old bloodlines it means that we are going to bring the country back to its original six countries. That, without trying, we are going to do this. So our lives are at stake for the sake of one man's greed and corruption?"
"Pretty much," Ellie said with a shrug. "You all were supposed to live hidden in this whole stupid affair but they had better plans. Ally really was jealous of Laci. Her father pushed her to do what she did but she's long lost."
"Wait a minute. Did you just say your mother is actually Queen of Lione?" Anne said suddenly.
"Yes."
"Doesn't that mean you were a princess all along? So aren't you just uniting those two countries as well?"
"Yes," Risa said.
"Oh well isn't this just grand. First we find out that our lives are at stake for the simple fact that we are royalty. Then Ellie was a princess to begin with. Next your going to tell me that we have to actually unite the countries."
"Well no we don't have to. When we become known then we will be stuck with a bit more problems. I really don't want to do what they are asking of us." Ellie replied quietly. "I just want to have a family."
"None of us do but what about that prophecy."
"It said that the six are bound by blood and by heart. It just says that those who are going to do it are related all around by not only their heritage but their closeness. Because we are all sisters and very close they just assumed that we would be the ones to do it," Sara said in a slightly bored tone. "The problem is none of us are fit to be able to rule, well except maybe Ellie. I don't want to any more than she does."
"So we are leaving the world as is?" Nora asked.
"Why not? I mean do you all really want to take on the responsibility that it is asking us to take on?"
"Isn't it sort of like our job though?" Tallie asked.
"It can be if we want it to be. It's a choice we have to make here and now. Do we all want to be Queens or just leave us as is? I mean I already am going to be but that was what I wanted. Well not in the sense of taking over eight smaller countries but this one, the one that's my home. I doubt Jason and I would fair to well with that kind of responsibility. Besides if he wants a big family there is no way I am going through that mess."
"I'm not doing it either," Nora chimed, the oldest of the triplets. "Sorry but I am content with just being a blacksmith's wife. That's all that I want to be, besides I love being a blacksmith any how." Tallie and Gira laughed but agreed with their sister.
"I couldn't do it, I'm not cut out for it," Laci said with a smile. "I could barely handle when Arthur left, I doubt I could manage a country."
"Ain't that the truth," May said with a smile.
"I'm not a people person I couldn't rule even if I tried." Sara said smiling as well.
"Well I definitely couldn't, I love fighting too much," Anne put in.
"So do we still have to fight?" Rian asked.
"Yes we do. This battle is far from over and won't ever be over as long as we live or our children. Though, I think it's about time to get some revenge don't you all think?" Ellie said quickly.
"Tallie, Gira, I hope you get that person back for what they did to me."
"Of course we will Nora!" They both said at once.
"Like we would ever allow someone to live after that," Gira said with a snort.
"Why do I have a feeling this doesn't seem as big as it's supposed to be?" Tammy questioned Rian.
Rian regarded her older sister for a long moment. She could only shrug in reply. Tammy had a feeling this wasn't really the reason why all of their lives were in danger. There was something deeper, something hidden. So what really is Risa's secret? It has to be something bigger than this, I just know it. Why won't they just tell us the truth? Tammy watched all of them carefully and noticed that Iliane was watching them just as curiously.
She knew her sister would catch on just like she did. Iliane looked up at her sister, a question in her eyes that she couldn't answer. So she shrugged indicating she was just as confused as she was.
Ellie watched her sister's exchange and knew they would want to figure out the truth and she wasn't planning on telling them, ever.
Jason watched the sun slowly set. His mind was hundreds of miles away as he recalled the day he heard he would be a father.
Ellie had woken up feeling sick. She didn't know what was wrong with her and said it had been like that for a few days. They had just arrived at the house they would be staying at for the next two weeks.
Concerned for his wife's welfare he took her to go see a healer. He sat outside waiting patiently for her to come out. When she didn't appear and the healer did he began to worry.
'Would you mind coming with me?' She had asked him. Nodding his head he followed her inside and down to the room where Ellie was waiting. Her head was in her hands she looked up when he entered the room. He could tell she had been crying.
Worried he hurried to her side. 'What's wrong?'
'Nothing is wrong persay. I'm just shocked is all.'
'What are you talking about?'
'Jason your wife is pregnant.'
He just sat there for a moment, not quite clear on what she had just said. 'Jason, we are going to have a baby!' Ellie said her eyes alight with something he had never seen before.
Of course he was still having a hard time grasping what was just said. He thought they would at least wait a few years but apparently fate had something else in mind. When it finally dawned on him that he would be a father a smile broke out on his face. 'This is wonderful!' He practically shouted.
Jason picked Ellie up and spun her in circles, kissing her passionately. She laughed when he set her down. 'I can't believe this.'
'Me either.'
'Congratulations, the both of you.'
'Thank you, thank you so much,' Jason said with a grin.
His mind slowly traveled to the night before they had arrived in the city.
Ellie sat leaning her back into his chest. She had been silent ever since they had left the house. He remembered listening to her screams as she woke from her nightmare. Her eyes were frantic and full of fear and worry.
'We have to get home! We have to go now!' She had shouted to him. Now they both sat gazing into the flames. It hadn't been but two days ago that they had heard the great news. Now they were running home to save her sister's lives.
'There is something I have to do, when we get home. I can't tell you what it is exactly or why I am doing it but you have to trust me Jason. Don't come after me, not at first. I don't want you getting caught in this as well.'
Jason frowned when he heard this. 'I'm not letting you go Ellie. You're with child! I can't let you just walk away from me without some sort of explanation.'
She turned to face him, her eyes locking on his. 'Jason, you have to trust me. I have to do this. Please, I promise to return to you. Give me a week and a half then come for me, until then, don't come. Trust in me, please, that's all I ask of you. Do you trust me?'
His frown only increased and he wanted to say "no" but he knew he couldn't. He did trust her, he knew she could take care of herself but that didn't mean he wanted to see his wife, his love, yes he loved her, walk away from him.
"Jason? Do. You. Trust. Me.' her blue eyes were practically begging him to say yes. They both knew she could never turn and walk away without his trust in her. Whether they said it or not they both knew they loved each other and they would do anything to protect the other.
'I trust you. I trust you will come back to me and we can be together.'
She smiled at him. 'Thank you Jason. Thank you,' she said before she kissed him.
Ellie entered her room to find him gazing out the window. His mind was somewhere else and she smiled slightly. Closing the door quietly behind him she slowly made her way over to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder, pulling him out of his trance. "Hello," she mumbled.
"Hey, how is Nora?"
"Doing a lot better. What were you thinking about?"
"Just remembering when we heard the great news." He could feel her smile into his shoulder and grinned as well.
"I thought you were mad for a moment. You were so silent."
"I was shocked. I was hoping for a year or so together, just each other but I don't mind being a father."
"I'm glad considering the child is yours. I thought the same thing, just us."
"We'll have plenty of time together and we will be together, watching our children grow up."
"Yes, that's what counts." He turned around to face her, holding her close to him.
"I love you," he mumbled in her ear.
"I love you too."
May sat in her room, gazing out the window. She twisted the ring on her finger, her mind moving from subject to subject. Richard entered the room quietly and was surprised to see her awake. Slowly he walked over to her. He set his hand on her shoulder, letting her know that he was there.
"It was funny how things turned out. All the problems that arose and no one could figure out why. The fact that I was hurt just before you arrived. It all fits somehow. Like someone planned it to be that way. Those times where I thought I could finally be myself again, all those times I was with you. I felt like my old self again but then something would remind me of what had happened and I broke free. I kept pushing you away but always wanting you closer than what you were. Could I really ever get over it? How could I get over it? If there is a way I want to know, I want to be able to be with you and not be scared to do so," she finished quietly.
She still had her gaze locked outside not seeing the tears that ran down his cheeks. "If there is a way we can find it." He said quietly. Slowly he sat down beside her and turned her to look at him. She was shocked to see the tears in his eyes and the sorrow in them.
He pulled her into his lap and she rested her head against his neck. His fingers slowly ran through her hair. Tears slipped down her cheeks. "I hate them for doing this. Doing things to all of us." Richard didn't say anything just held her tightly.
Rian smiled as she watched Daniel working on the stack of papers in front of him. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed as he continued to work. She made her way over to her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hey," she whispered to him
He sat back and smiled up at her. "Hey, how are your sisters."
"Normal of course but my mom told them her 'secret'."
"What does that mean?"
"It means she told them something to cover up everything else. I don't think they are ready to know the truth."
"Well lets just hope they don't get mad when they find out the truth." Rian nodded and Daniel went back to his work. Annoyed Rian moved to sit on his lap so she was facing him. "Rian!"
"Daniel! You need a break, you've been working for five days straight. I've spent a total of two hours with you and it's annoying!"
"I'm sorry but my parents just dropped all of this on me."
"You don't even get the property for another year why now?"
"Something about needing to learn to work and all of that." Daniel said with a sigh as he rested his forehead against hers.
"Well as far as I am concerned you are done working for a couple of days. Now I want you to go take a bath then go to bed."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine just go and do get something to eat, you hardly ate anything for dinner." Daniel gave her a weak smile and kissed her. She watched him leave the room before turning to the work in front of her. With a sigh she pulled back her hair and turned her attention solely on the papers.
She didn't spend all that time with Ellie and her father for nothing. Besides it was only a bunch of stupid reports on supplies and she did those quickly any how.
Tammy and Keith were both sitting in their room, quietly reading by the fire. Her head rested in his lap and he had his feet put up on the coffee table. "They didn't seem mad," he remarked quietly.
"Well as long as Ellie was in control they wouldn't be. That I am thankful for. She always got everything done without a problem."
Keith smiled wide. "So when do we tell them about our baby?"
"Oh they are going to kill me for that one. Hiding their niece from them."
"They'll understand I am sure."
"When is your mother coming with her?"
"She was supposed to be here an hour ago, she probably just got caught up. She isn't staying though, my aunt needs her."
"That's too bad, I've really missed her."
"And she's missed you I am sure." Tammy smiled and sat up. Closing her book she set it down on the table and stretched.
"I hope she gets here soon, I'm dying to see her."
"I'm sure you are, she's missed you." When he finished the door burst open and a tall woman walked in. She carried a three year old with her on her side. "Mother."
"Hello Keith, hello Tammy."
"Hello Jessica. Hello sweetie!" Tammy said as she lifted her daughter out of her grandmother's arms. She had her mother's red-brown hair and her blue eyes but her nose, chin were her father's.
Smiling her daughter hugged her fiercely. "Hi mommy."
"Thank you for bringing her," Tammy turned back to Jessica.
"It's the least I can do for my granddaughter." Tammy hugged her before moving back into the room.
"Thanks mother."
"You're welcome son. You two be safe."
"We will!" Tammy said as she watched Jessica leave the room.
"How's daddy's little girl?" Keith said as he picked her up and spun her around.
Laughing the two sat back down and the three of them curled up on the couch together. Tammy slowly ran her fingers through her daughters hair, smiling the whole time.
A/N: Now that was a bit fun don't you think? Well alright so that wasn't the REAL secret but its still coming, why ruin all the fun? Ne how the story is now COMPLETELY DONE! well typed up that is, it is officially 24 chapters long and that means just three more left to read.
Seritha