Chapter 35


After eating, Julian was quick the leave the dining area as he felt himself being pressed in by people. He needed air and time to reflect. The Gungan slowly trailed into the castle's library planting himself down in one of its cosy, leather chairs. There he sat with his head in his hands until finally he mustered up the energy to pull the bracelet from his pocket.

Julian knew what he had to do, despite what the prophets said it was none of their business. They were too concerned with tradition and superstition to worry about the feelings of others. This was personal, his father's only wish.

But it was easier said than done. The girl was becoming attached and overly compliant with her father and the prophets. This was not what Er Shua or Alishka had wanted.

What if, influenced by these men, she refused the proposal?

Julian sighed rubbing his nose when the quiet creak of the door's opening sounded. He gazed around the bend to see Adia entering the library. Instantly, Julian went to shove the bracelet back into his pocket but it was too late. Adia had already noticed it.

"That was my mother's where did you get that?" the girl inquired, pulling up a chair she gave him a look of concern as she noticed his worried stare.

"Er Shua gave it to me."

Julian let Adia take it from him, watching her as she ran her fingers down the delicate gold pattern.

"It's a marriage bracelet isn't it?" The girl's stare turned to Julian. "Er Shua really did want my mother."

The Gungan nodded.

"Yes and vice versa."

The girl gave him a shocked look, suddenly taken aback by this new information.

"Then what happened? Why did she marry my father instead?"

Julian licked his lips, gathering his words.

"Er Shua and Alishka had intended to marry. They'd talked about it secretly and even planned that the day of her coming of age Er Shua would ask for your mother's hand."

Julian exhaled. "But things backfired as one morning a strange visitor came to Alishka's farm where she lived. It was the prophet, Lord Yah. He too had come to ask for the girl's hand in marriage."

"What happened?" Adia urged him on.

"Naturally, Alishka refused stating her intentions of marrying Er Shua but it was considered one of the greatest honours for her to wed the prophet. That very day, Alishka's father permitted her marriage to Lord Yah rather than Er Shua. Upon hearing this news Er Shua was devastated and before she was taken away Er Shua gave her the bracelet vowing that their bond would never be broken and that wherever she went, he would ultimately follow. The very day Alishka was wedded to the prophet, Er Shua commissioned himself to become a Guardian." Julian sighed. "Eventually realizing that Er Shua was a risk, Lord Yah had him reassigned to the city of Otoh Gunga where there he was supposedly to keep watch over the society's advancement." Julian shrugged. "In Otoh Gunga he met my mother and when Lord Yah finally thought that he'd gotten rid of Er Shua I come into the world bearing the scar of the Shul's Guardian. My birth was the signal of your coming and so they needed to prepare for you and just two years later you come into the world." Julian sighed "I guess you basically know the rest of the story."

The girl nodded slowly as Julian noticed the tears running down her cheeks.

"My mother never loved my father."

Julian grabbed her hand shushing her. He ached at the fact that she had to hear the story but she needed to know the truth.

"She may have never loved your father but she loved you more than anything in the world. She and Er Shua could never have been together because it was for a greater purpose and in the end they submitted to that."

With the bracelet inside he closed her hand, holding it tightly. His stomach lurched painfully as he felt it knot but Julian knew this time was the best opportunity he had.

"The prophets will want you to wear the locket of the Shul. Its meaning is no different to that of any other ornament, it's just a symbol of our," Julian hesitated. "Commitment."

The Gungan shifted in his seat, digging his gaze into Adia.

"Despite what they say, wear this not only for me but for Er Shua and your mother. It is what they want. It's a symbol of their finally being together."

Adia closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"I don't know." She whispered. "I don't know what to think or do."

She sobbed pulling away but Julian pushed on. Showing her that he was determined and meant what he said. Eventually the girl sighed, clasping his hand she gave him a slow nod.

"Okay."