Never Say Goodbye
Okay! Ladies and Gents! This might either be the last, or second to last chapter. Depends on how far I want to write it.
Now, for my song(s).
Song:
Friends Never Say Goodbye
By:
Elton John from Dreamworks: Road to El Dorado
Moving on.
xxx
La Locanda Auditore - Found, built, and owned by Rosa and Francesco Auditore. Little Village Italia's most famous of inn's within Enchancia, and at located centrally near the border to accept weary travelers. The Origin of the Brother and Sister duo stems to Italy, but that is another story.
Rays of morning light peeked past moderately thick curtain. Wormwood felt the warmth on his ebony wings. He groaned drowsily rousing from sleep. The blinding light poked his eye, rudely jolting him from drowsy delirium. He yawned loudly, spanning his wings. Lapping his beak, he found himself in dire need of water. Surprisingly, a hand already laid a fresh bowl of water beside his perch on a dresser. Wormwood was greeted by a fully dressed Cedric. Watery beads clung to his hair. The fresh smell of Autumn soap wafted from him. He already freshened himself for his long journey. The sun barely rising, it couldn't be later than six in the morning.
"It is early. I know." Cedric apologetically pet his companion. "But I am afraid we must sally forth." The sarcastic twirl of his finger expressed his contained excitement. Wormwood would normally take a moment to enjoy the cynicism. A twinge of guilt wouldn't stop prodding at his chest.
The night Lydia informally exiled Cedric, the sorcerer spent the first quarter of the trip in fuming silence. No idle traveling conversation, whimsical fawning of passing scenery, or the ever popular beating around the bush with complete strangers. The only sounds from Cedric were pained grunts from tripping or stubbing his toe, and inaudible grumblings of his departure. They crossed into Dunwitty Village, gathering more supplies for the long trip ahead, and eventually found themselves in Sunset Village. There in that village is where Cedric's patience wore thin. Everywhere he turned he saw happy families, elder siblings safeguarding the younger, and lovers enjoying pleasant strolls. Cedric could hardly stand it. It sickened him. Somewhere, a ways after they left the larger village, Cedric just exploded into a rage. He cursed the Royal Family, Lydia, Lezard, the fuzzy animals always lurking, and then his rancor shifted to Wormwood. After all, it was Wormwood's own unyielding disdain for Lydia that initiated Lydia contempt. And because she was fully engrossed under Lezard's charming allure, she banished him. Cedric came to terms with his banishment once they reached Italia. Sooner or later, Lydia would have learned about Merroway Cove. She's smarter than she lets on. Her reaction could have been way worse. She could have...no. She wouldn't execute him. She isn't that sort of person. It's a work of the imagination how far Lydia would go. Being that she is a Skipped Inheritor, as Cedric deduced, the possibilities are endless.
"Not sure where we're going to after we've left the border…" Cedric slumped in a pause on the bed. About a mile out, there is a fork that will either take them to Khaldune or Wei-Ling. Although, staying within the Tri-Kingdom area might not be the wisest course. It's not nearly so farfetched that one from the Royal Family will visit and stumble upon him. "I've never been to Wei-Ling. And I've always wanted to visit."
"AW-HAH!" Wormwood flapped in agreement. Wei-Ling is said to be beautiful this time of year.
"Then it's settled." Cedric commenced packing his things. "Afterward, we'll find the next location to journey to." As Cedric organized his things in his bag, a rolled up piece of parchment fell. He picked it up and opened it curiously. "Oh. I'd forgotten I brought this." It was the gold star Princess Sofia and Princess Lydia presented him the night of his magic show. Those two. They sure knew how to cheer him up. Even if he pretended that he didn't want them too. He was always grateful to them. The prideful fool he is for never admitting it to them.
Afterwards...Lydia she...she kissed him on the cheek. He touched that cheek, able to still feel her soft lips on his skin. "Wonder if she saw through Lezard's rouse." He whispered. Wormwood groaned under his breath, shaking his head at Cedric. "I know, Wormy. She's no longer our problem. And yet…" He stuffed the star in his bag, closing it somberly, "I can't stop fearing the worst." What if Lezard hurt her? What if he drained her dry? Or worse. So many fears for Lydia. Where was it all coming from? Why does he care so vehemently? The two despise each other. Lydia hates him from the bottom of her heart now. Still... "Perhaps I should…" Cedric twisted as if he could walk back inside the castle right now. Wormwood's talons hooked his robe, stopping his folly. He goes back now, and Lydia is healed, he'll be sent to the dungeons to rot. "Yeah...you're right." The castle, King Roland...Lydia...it must all be put in the back of his mind. There's nothing he can do. Nothing that will change what has happened.
The innkeeper offer Cedric a full breakfast before he departs. Cedric humbly accepted, but ask that he be allowed to take it on the road. The innkeeper offered no argument. Though she silently wished he would consider allowing himself time to wake up more. The hearty breakfast was put in a container, and Cedric was on his way. Unbeknownst to the downtrodden sorcerer, two suspicious persons sinisterly labeled him an easy mark.
xxx
Sad mornings seemed to be contagious. Lydia was wide awake, but hadn't moved to change from her nightgown. She simply hugged her pillow closely, staring into a void. She may consider moving when Baileywick comes to announce breakfast was ready. Until then, she was still as a log. Lost in her thoughts. Deluding herself...an explosion will signal Cedric screwing up again on something. It's...too quiet. She buried her face in the pillow. She can't stand the silence.
Ubos and Eezeyal gazed upon her from the upper wing. Lydia was taking Cedric's departure hard. They had hoped her extremely late night would keep her asleep well into the afternoon. No such luck. Everyone's internal alarms woke them up. Ubos and Eezeyal can't say they are too surprised. Cedric isn't Mister Popular, but he had a place in the castle. Lydia's just the only one sinking in the hole he left. Ironically, in spite of Lydia's threat to expose and kill him, she never expected him to actually heed her warnings. Guess this is what its like when one loses someone they consider a friend. Lydia may have just lost one of the best...forever.
Eezeyal elbowed Ubos, urging him to say something. Ubos declined and adamantly urged him to break the ice. Eezeyal knew better than to walk on that thin ice. A game of rock, paper, scissors was offered. Best two out of three. The two raised a fist - one being a magical construct. One, two, three. Ubos's rock beat Eezeyal's scissors. One, two, three. Eezeyal's scissors beat Ubos's paper. The last round - UBos won with paper over rock. Eezeyal would accuse him of cheating, but Lydia was in a slump.
"Ahem! Liddy…" Eezeyal perched to her thighs, skipping to her lower back. "Hey, Girly. Yew doin' okay?" A dumb, yet standard, question. He wasn't exactly sure how to initiate the small talk. He meandered up so he could pet her head. "Breakfast is gonna be ready soon. Yew should get ready." Lazily, Lydia snapped her fingers. A bright flash switched her nightgown with her uniform. "I actually meant a shower, brushin' yer teeth, and other hygiene, but…" He sighed resignedly. He gazed to Ubos, running low on ammo.
Ubos saw no other choice. He descended beside Lydia. Her dismal gaze stared through him. Dancing around the issue would get them nowhere. "Lydia, please. Talk to us." Her fingers clawed the pillow tighter. She doesn't want to. Ubos and Eezeyal weren't going to let up. They would have to go straight for the quiver on this one. "Remaining silent in regards to Cedric…" Her knitting brow confirmed his arrow aimed true, "Won't make his departure any easier."
Were it that his leaving was easy. The whole matter was so confusing. Lydia was the one who sent him away. On her orders, and under duress, he left Enchancia. Forever. It was her wish. He tried to drown her, and he knew of Ubos. No doubt he'd try to make a play for him. Lydia wouldn't be surprised if he knew she was a Skipped Inheritor. Cedric's greatest, and possibly most irritating, asset was his innate ability to acquire information. There wasn't a pin dropped in the castle he didn't hear about. Lydia should be happy - no. DIZZY WITH JOY - that Cedric was finally out of her hair. It's all she's wanted for months. It should have been. It should BE! So why does she want to break down, and fade into nothingness.
"I forgot that I sent him away…" She muttered emotionlessly. Albeit the note of heartbreak in her tone. She sent Cedric far away, all to preserve the honor of her ex-boyfriend. "He was right about Lezard the whole time. I should have believed him!" She cursed herself. Cedric rarely spoke out against someone. His instincts are sharp.
"That shouldn't excuse what he's done! And what he almost did!" Eezeyal doesn't mean to stamp on her seeking to pardon Cedric. She was finally opening up. He had to keep the waters flowing. "The man was - is - shady, Liddy. A venomous snake has more integrity."
"I know. And it shouldn't." She wasn't about to disagree.
"And yet…" Ubos trailed, sensing an ulterior behind her acceptance. She stayed silent, hiding her head under her pillow. Ubos disparaged the foolish pride of the young. Lydia would sooner bottle her woes than admit she succumbed to her emotions. Blame that is fueled by another male figure from years back. "Lydia. If you want to go after him, you need only mount a horse."
"I…" She tensed. Her growling stomach begged her to head to the dining hall. "I can't!" She swung her legs, storming for the door.
"Can't...or won't?" Ubos challenged.
"Do they have to be different?" Lydia quickly fixed her hair and clothes, gripping the door handle in a vice. "Without Cedric here, I don't have anymore secrets. Except for you, Ubos." Ubos cleared his throat nervously. Speaking of secrets, he wonders if he should tell her about the mysterious stranger from the other night. "And he was a traitor." She passed through the foyer. Ubos intercepted her at the last door.
"A traitor you consider a close friend." He pressed.
"Friends…" Lydia scoffed. "That word…" Adelea, Eezeyal, Gwen, Alauna, Ubos - the short list of people who match the word perfectly. Then Cedric and Lezard come along and the definition is twisted. "Depending on who is using it, it's one of the world's eldest of lies." She moved Ubos aside, and left for breakfast. Ubos kept Eezeyal from following. He would take him to get breakfast in the garden. Lydia needed to be alone right now.
xxx
"Okay...let's see here." Cedric opened a map. He marked where the inn was and used it as the starting point of the next trek. He passed the one mile marker about a half mile back. He should be seeing another marker soon at the fork he wants. After which, he'll take the left trail to Wei-Ling, and will switch maps for that trail. Such a smooth hike. Cedric couldn't ask for a better trip.
"Instead of Royal Sorcerer, I should have been a Trail Guide!" Cedric patted himself on the back. "Maybe that can be my new profession. What do you think, Wormy?" Wormwood rolled his eyes. From Sorcerer to Guide. What a step down in resumes. "Oh, who asked you!" Cedric pushed his beak. "No one ever said I had to be a Royal Sorcerer forever. The pay isn't as good as everyone likes to think." Good enough he can afford to blow up his workshop and put it back together. The renovations for the added space in his old workshop weren't cheap.
Wormwood yawned wearily. He and Cedric have been walking since daybreak. Wormwood flew for the first stretch, but lost energy somewhere after the bridge before the mile marker. Cedric shared his fatigue. While the trip was smooth in destination, the traveling part was murder on the soles. Cedric should have invested money in a horse, at least. The hitch: he doesn't know how to ride so well. Truthfully...he thinks horses have it out for him. Nevertheless, Wormwood would like a spot where he can kick up his feet and maybe sleep a little while longer.
"At the fork, we will rest." Cedric promised him. "Try to hold on for a little while longer." Wormwood promised nothing. He might die on his shoulder.
Shadows shifted behind trees. The ne'erdowells from the village sniggered at what they just heard. The time to pounce was drawing nigh.
xxx
Breakfast was proceeding as languorously as the morning. Baileywick and the servants attempted to brighten the morning with hearty hellos, wishes for good days, idle chit chat. It didn't last longer than two minutes before an awkward silence engulfed the banquet hall. It mostly surrounded around Lydia. She sat with her head propped, solemnly pushing strawberries and pineapples around in her fruit bowl. The awkwardness intensified when her family sputtered to find ways to donate pennies for her thoughts. She was feeding the dark cloud looming over her head.
Sofia, seeing no reason to dance around it, touched Lydia's hand. She flinched slightly, glancing out of the corner of her eye. There were those worrisome eyes. "You okay, Lydia?" She asked tenderly.
Lydia laughed dryly. That's one way to break the ice. "Yeah…" She ruffled Sofia's hair. "I'm fine, Kiddo. Just...a lot on my mind, is all." Lydia caught Sofia staring at her headband. "No. Not about that. That situation resolved itself." Sofia blushed. She doesn't mean to stare. "I don't mind you staring. I looked at it strangely too when Fauna first gave it to me." She stroked it. And the awkwardness grew. Eyes shifting, body language urging follow up from others. Lydia rolled her eyes. "Come on! Ask away! I've heard them all!"
Roland, James, and Sofia hummed uncomfortably. They weren't sure how to ask without sounding insensitive. Miranda asked all her questions in the past. Amber set her fork down, deciding to be the first. "Do you sleep with it on?" She tapped her tiara.
"Actually, no. I don't have to. When I'm asleep is when my magic is at its most calm."
"Do you remember anything from last night?" Roland asked next with shaky confidence. "What you said, did - anything?"
"Not really. It's in bits and pieces. Some of it is indiscernible blurs. Nothing out of the norm."
"How long can you go without your headband?" James eyed it with adulation. "Can you never take it while you're awake?"
"I can. I can go a little more than half a day without it. Then it starts to become unreasonable." A kind term for it. "I prefer not to though."
"Does Adelea know?" The new question beckoned Miranda.
"She was the first one who found out after The Fairies. You'll never believe how excited she was. You'd think she met Pocahontas!" One of Adelea's favorite of Princesses.
"What does your instructor think?" Roland came around again.
"As long as I keep a lid on it, he has nothing to say." Or, at the very least, he hasn't bothered to say anything. Ubos doesn't seem to want to comment. Roland found it to be a pretty dismissive means to what can be considered an issue. "Any other questions?" Lydia welcomed. She was starting to feel a little better. That is until Sofia changed the subject.
"Are you worried about Mr. Ceedric?" Lydia's fork punctured the strawberry. Her face dimmed. Sofia clamped her mouth closed. Amber and James nervously bit their lips. Roland and Miranda, on the other hand, were curious of that from the beginning of breakfast. The headband was just a minor distraction.
Lydia set her fork down, leaning back and throwing her head up with a lethargic sigh. "Is it that obvious?" She mentally cursed herself.
James released a breath, then said, "I don't think a message painted across the country would do it justice." Thus, she is so obvious that James of all people noticed. He's smart in other regards, but pretty oblivious when it comes to another's feelings. Sometimes. "Aren't you two supposed to hate each other?"
"That's what we fooled ourselves into believing." Lydia circled two fingers on her temples. As she admitted, she considered Cedric a friend. Which warmed him to admit he wanted to protect her. Everything fell apart. Fault doesn't reside solely with Lezard. "Winifred and Goodwin weren't able to find him? As in, at all?!"
Speaking of Cedric's parents, both bid their farewells after everything calmed the previous night. They felt they were no longer needed and decided to return to Mystic Meadows. While Winifred wanted to tear the countryside apart to find her son, Goodwin assured her Cedric would be fine. He needs the solitude to sort his matters.
"No." Roland regretted to inform her. "They searched his known hideaways, favorite markets. There's no sign of him." Lydia can't say she's too surprised. Cedric's remarkable at concealing himself. He won't be found unless he wants to be. And she did warn him if she found hide or hair of him she would kill him. Kill may have been too strong a threat. "By the way, do you know why he left in the first place?"
Lydia wished that subject wouldn't come up. She's not exactly proud of it. "He and I got into a huge argument about Lezard." Everyone figured Lezard was the cause. No surprise there. "I didn't want to believe he was out to get me. So I told Cedric to leave. That I…" 'GO! LEAVE! IF YOU EVER COME BACK...I WILL KILL YOU!' "That I never wanted to see him again."
"Lydia…" Miranda gasped.
"Cedric's done terrible things, Mom! Most unforgivable by every standard!" She blurted. What she learned...it tore her in half. "When I saw him try to drown Lezard…"
"What exactly has he done?!" Miranda pressed. She must know what drove such a deep wedge.
"That doesn't matter now!" PAH! Sorceress Princess? Try the Princess of Soft Hearts and Fools! Here she goes again! Protecting that traitor and his lies. He's gone! Far away! Never coming back! She should tell Roland and Sofia what he's been plotting and it'll keep him away. She should want him to stay away. "Serves me right for falling head over heels for a liar, huh." She laughed derisively, rubbing her stinging eyes. "Cedric's as shady as they come...but at least he never pretended to like!"
"You miss him?" Roland set a hand to her shoulder. "Don't you?"
"I really don't know." Do I miss him? She questioned himself. Or am I sorry that I blamed him for the one crime that wasn't his? On top of the dozens he's committed. She really doesn't know. She doesn't know anything. Except that eating wasn't very appealing at the moment. "Can I be excused? I don't seem to have an appetite."
"Of course." Roland gestured, permitting her to leave.
"Thanks…" Lydia raced for the door, closing it, and barring her family from prying further.
"Will she be alright?" Amber worried.
"I truly wish I knew." Roland gazed somberly at his muffin. "First she learns her ex-lover despises her, then her secret is revealed, and then she finds out her friend is gone." That's a mountain not even the Bear King himself would dare to scale. Too dismayed by the overwhelming terrain. "I'm surprised she isn't in a worse state. I wish we could help."
"Nothing will do will help her." Miranda soberly remarked. "At least not enough to bring her out of her funk." The harsh reality of adulthood: problems won't go away with heartfelt words, or family support. "This is one of those moments where Lydia will need to decide what the best course of action will be."
"What do you mean, Mom?" Sofia tilted her head. "Best course for who?"
"For her and Cedric." Roland bobbed his head comprehensively. The kids, however, had question marks around their heads. "She can let him go, and be too far to bring back. Or she can go after him and patch things up."
"What's stopping her?" James shrugged. Sounded like an easy task.
"Pride. Past resentments and a rivalry. But mostly pride." Lydia certainly had a lot of that. "She'll figure it out. I just know it."
xxx
Lydia slumped miserably to her window sill. The sun may be hanging in a clear sky, but there were clouds dampening the day. The castle...the sunrise...it just wasn't the same. There's a gaping hole in the center, and she's falling to the protracted bottom. The longer she sits around thinking about it, the farther she sinks. 'You miss him...don't you?' Roland's question haunted her. Her stomach knotted. Why should I miss him? Should might as well be replaced with Would. Why would she miss him? He's done nothing but cause her headaches, threaten her family, and makes her days miserable. Even still, part of her wants to go to his workshop and confirm for herself that Cedric had left.
He's gone, you moron! You sent him away! She buried her face in her arms. He's never coming back! That's all she's wanted. She's wanted him gone, and now...now she's questioning her decision? What's wrong with her? Be happy for pitty's sake! Why can't she be happy? Fine! Yes! He was right about Lezard and tried to save her! But he tried to kill her before! He almost hurt Sofia and her family on numerous occasions. He often treated it as a joke or miscalculation. At the same time...because of him...she's grown stronger. Not as a Sorceress, but as a Princess as well.
The pagoda just outside her window in the gardens awoke an old memory. The site of her first real heart to heart with Cedric after he tampered with her memories. She doesn't know why, but that was the moment the walls allowed her and Cedric to grow closer. Only to have them tossed miles apart.
"There is a lot I haven't shared...with you along the road…" She turned from the heart wrenching sight, wrapping her arms to herself. "In spite of that, there would always be...tomorrow's episode." She rose to her feet, sauntering somberly across her room, "Su-dden-ly...that is not true! Here rose another av-e-nue!" She clawed her chest, "Be-ckon-ing a great divide!" She tore at her ripping heart. Her head shook fervently, "We asked no questions! We claimed our sides!"
Lydia shoved her doors open, meandering into the hallway, "Who's to say who's right or wrong?" She weighed her hands to passing maids. "Whose course was braver run?" The servants shrugged regretful they couldn't answer, and proceeded with their work. "Are we still...that's if we ever were…" She met her gloomy reflection in the hallway mirror, "Were we meant to be…" She placed a hand on the mirror, "As one?" He reflection changed into Cedric, bringing tears to her eyes.
"What is DONE," She twisted away, storming off, "Has been done for the best!" She emerged in the throne room, wiping her stinging eyes. "Though the mist…" She distantly stroked Roland's chair, "In my eyes...might suggest…" She sniffled, fighting in vain to dry her eyes, "Just a little...con-fu-sion about what it'd cost." She found herself at the door to Cedric's old lair, strolling up the stairs to his workshop, "That if I started over…" Her fingers wrapped to the handle. Her stomach knottedat the undone locks, "I know what I've lost!"
"THE SAME JOY!" She burst into an empty space. Her heart shattered like frail glass. "The same sad-ness!" Nothing left but trinkets and cobwebs. "Each step...of...my way!" She spun in a fury, searching high and low for any sign or hair of Cedric and even Wormwood. "That fought me...and taught me...that FRIENDS never saaaay…" She threw herself to her knees, letting her tears spill to the floors. "Never...say…" She gazed upon her palm. The precarious situations she's found herself in with him. The number of times both have comforted each other. The blows they dealt in both disdain and moderate dislike. The castle halls echoed loudly with Cedric and Lydia's adventures. Everywhere she turns, history has marked her and Cedric, and...a strange twist of fate has tied them together.
The air in the workshop was growing stuffy. Lydia locked the door behind her, escaping with all haste. She retreated to the ballroom. Thankfully it was empty. That is...until the ballroom cast spectres of another fond memory. An illusionary crowd designed to cheer or jeer at the entertainment performed. The waltz of a charismatic sorcerer and an uncertain Sorceress Princess gliding sketchily in tandem of three step counts. The crowd jeered for a short while, stunting the Princess's self esteem. Soon though, once the Sorcerer helped he to drown the words and immerse herself in the music, jeers turned to cheers, and the Princess ended her waltz with a graceful curtsy.
Lydia almost forgot about it. In that moment...she realized...Cedric and Lydia came to rely on one another. TRUST one another. They...became friends.
"We never said goodbye…"
"Princess Lydia!" Chef Andre flamboyantly cheered her name. "Perfect timing! There is a new recipe I would like you to taste."
"I wish I could, Chef Andre, but I've got to go!"
"BUT-WHOA!" Chef Andre was spun aloof when she darted out of the ballroom. "Princess?! Wonder what the rush is?"
xxx
Lydia's bedroom doors cracked on the walls with a SLAM! Ubos and Eezeyal threw their playing cards in fright. They lunged over the edge of the bed canopy, catching Lydia diving into her closet. Her uniform was thrown askew to the floor, and she emerged in her long maroon shirt, black pants, and thigh high black boots. She fastened a belt at her waist, furling her shirt at the split. She rolled the cuffs to her elbows, buttoning them securely. She then threw on a dark brown cloak.
"Ubos! Eezeyal!" She bellowed, sliding her wand and a spare in her boots. The two appeared out of thin air, saluting and ready for her command. "Let's go!" She ordered Ubos and Eezeyal, storming for her doors.
"Where?" The pair asked adamantly.
Lydia threw on her hood, and turned to them. The fire in her eyes sent excited chills down their spines. "We're bringing Cedric home!"
To be continued.
