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Chapter XXV - All is Forgiven

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Before Athena Everleigh could stretch her hand to the tall black doors of Beochaoineadh Castle, a voice beckoned her inside:

"Come in, Miss Everleigh. We've a lot to discuss."

The young lass gulped. Sir Claudius spoke with a sweet, mellifluous tone, as though they had been friends for a long, long time—and yet, his teeth were clamped together, talking through tight jaws.

"Of course, Sir Claudius."

She traveled several metres behind him, taking note of his fingers as they curled and uncurled into a fist. She kept her head low, as a servant always should.

The pair reached the Grand Hall where the fireplace illuminated the furniture. Athena's chair, as she had come to know it, was torn more than usual, with new claw marks forming around the armrests. Even with the fire only a few metres away, the girl shivered and quivered. Her stomach lurched, longing to leap out of her body. Athena's eyes narrowed and the world became a vignette.

"Miss Everleigh," spoke Sir Claudius, taking a seat in his oversized chair, "would you care to hear a strange story?"

Athena lifted her eyes, but only to the fireplace. She dared not look up at Sir Claudius. "Of course, Sir."

"I knew you would. You're always up for a good tale! Now then, just yesterday, I awoke in the dungeons, but something seemed… off. Do you know what I mean by 'off'?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Very well then!" He clasped his hands together, leaning forward slightly. "I scouted the room until I discovered the issue: Someone—I don't know who—stole my gold." As he spat out each word his pitch lowered and his rhythm slowed.

Athena's eyes darted across the room, traversing from the writing desk to the fireplace, to her chair. Her chest tightened, transforming into a stone slab.

Sir Claudius cleared his throat. "As a part of the curse placed upon me, I retain some of my dragon powers when human, but not fully. So I was not able to tell who this thief was at first. I assumed a púca naturally, as they have haunted my castle for years, always doing mischievous things. Therefore, upon transforming, I bolted to my room of gold, hoping to pick out the scent of the thief—but something else filtered in through my nostrils. A scent I recognized all too well." The girl squeezed her arms, blood veins preparing to burst. "I backed around, stomping across the stone floor with those ghastly dragon feet, and sniffed. My reliable dragon nose led me straight to a journal entry I wrote yesterday. And do you know whose scent was on it?"

The swelling in Athena's slender neck burst, a dam breaking. All the floodwaters rushed up to her eyes. She pushed them back, but to no avail, and soon the droplets spilled out all over her face and gown and shoes.

"Please… just let me explain myself!" a high-pitched squeal sounded throughout the room from a tiny cat in despair.

"Go ahead." Sir Claudius crossed his arms, huffing.

"I—I am so confused, Sir!" she called. "Yes, I did it! But…" The girl stared at his coat pocket. "May I have your handkerchief?"

"Yes." He pulled it out and handed it to her. She blew her nose, making sniveling sounds.

"Oh, thank you. It's just that… I've had such a difficult time lately. The other night I just had to turn into Milly! There was no way around it! I couldn't go to sleep and I had too much energy pent up inside me. You don't know the feeling. You don't know what it's like to be so many different people at once!" She turned to face him, her bloodshot eyes boring holes into his skin.

"That still does not explain why you stole my gold—nor why you read my private journal entry."

"I was desperate! I lied to my parents that I had gone off to the bakery. The baker promised me 'a special treat'. I didn't have time to go back to my house and get coins, so I just stole some. I didn't know what else to do…." She buried her face in her hands. "And the letter… well, it was addressed to me, wasn't it?!" she shrieked.

Sir Claudius flung himself out of his chair, sending it flying backward. His face twisted like a bear's—nose crinkled, teeth bared. He roared like a beast: "It was a creative writing exercise!"

Athena rose from her chair as well, scampering behind it. Panting, she spoke, "I—I'm sorry… I didn't know…."

Sir Claudius's knees buckled beneath him.

"Sir, listen, I honestly did not know… I felt so curious the other night. When I turn into Milly, I'm not my usual self. I don't think like a human. All I wanted was to—see you in dragon form." She hugged the handkerchief.

He faced the ground, his hair completely submerging his face. "Then why didn't you just ask?" he groaned.

"Because, as I said, when I turn into Milly, I'm… someone else. I'm not human."

"Then how were you able to read that letter?!" His voice caused an earthquake and the earthquake caused the entire castle to rumble and shake. Parts of the ceiling broke off, landing on the stone floors.

Athena sobbed once more. She pulled her hair, violently tugging at her scalp. "Fine! Do you want to know the truth, the whole godforsaken truth?!"

"That's all I've ever wanted!" the man yelled, climbing up from his squatting position.

The girl took in her surroundings, gazing into the fireplace, then at Sir Claudius's boots. "Let us sit back down then. Try to be civil about it."

He checked his surroundings as well. "Yes, let's."

The pair rested—they breathed, gazed into the golden flames, and thought of cool autumn breezes.

"I'm not really sure where to begin," Athena confessed, wringing out her handkerchief as though it were a wet rag. Wet, yes. Rag, no.

"You don't have to know," Sir Claudius spoke in a monotone voice. "Just tell me why you read such a private matter."

Athena winced, shutting her frosted blueberry eyes. "I can't quite explain it… Sir, it's just that you're so—mysterious. I want to know about you! I can't help it! The minute you said you knew Henri, I wanted to know more. I still don't fully know about your past, both human and dragon! I want to know, which is why I stay here. But I'm also terribly afraid, because—I don't want others to find out that I work here. That's why I didn't write, Sir Claudius. Because I'm a coward. Just like you said. I was afraid that if someone saw I was writing letters to you they would become suspicious. I wanted to write a letter—I did! But whenever I set myself down at my little writing desk, my fears and anxieties overpowered my will to write.

"But I read every letter from you, Sir. Every single one. I rushed out to the mailboy each morning so I could take the letters addressed to me first. That way, no one in the family knew I was getting daily mail from you. At first, your letters made me smile and laugh. I loved being called 'dearest' and 'friend.' And then, as they grew to be more grave, I smiled less and less. In your final one you wrote, I knew I had to write back to you. I did not want you coming to Dublin, by any means."

Sir Claudius piped in, "Then my intentions were fulfilled." It was the first time Athena had seen him smirk in months.

"Yes, yes they were." She could not contain her giggle.

Why must he be so charming and so harrowing at the same time?

Athena pushed her hair back, running her fingernails through it. "Upon discovering that Henri was your… previous apprentice I—was not sure what to think. But now that I think about it, it makes sense. The style of the castle curtains, the furniture, your garments… All of it! It's in his style. French mixed with Irish. I wonder if he knew that I was your apprentice, and that's why he was always so very kind to me."

"Did he discuss other matters with you besides fashion and clothing?"

"Yes, why?"

"Fantastic! Just like we practiced!" Sir Claudius's face beamed, morning rays shooting out of his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Henri always had difficulty speaking about other matters besides fashion and clothing and garments and so forth. It often drove customers away! I had to teach him how to have polite conversation with people."

"Oh," Athena laughed, "he did that alright. He told me the reason he came to Dublin actually! It was a long story about—"

"Let me guess," Sir Claudius butted in. "A Dublin girl came to his shop in France, but he didn't catch her name. Still, he fell madly in love with her and followed her all the way to Ireland to try and find her."

"Yes! How did you know!? I thought those events transpired recently, not twenty years ago!"

"Why, Miss Everleigh, I came up with that story!"

Athena's face dropped. "What?!"

"It was all just a fib—a conversation-starter if you please. Everyone loves a good romance. It's how he attracted customers. I can't believe he still uses that tale to this day." Sir Claudius leaned back in his seat, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.

Athena huffed, crossing her arms. The handkerchief dangled. "You just ruin the fun in everything, don't you?"

"I suppose you could say that." He took his thick pointer finger and scratched his arched cheekbone.

Athena noticed the contours of his face—the lines, the muscles, the slight wrinkles; and the contrasts—how his bright blue eyes were like wisps in the woods, standing out against the rest of his pale skin and black hair. She could not look away.

Sir Claudius's face drooped. He sighed. "I suppose I haven't been fair to you, have I, Miss Everleigh?"

"Sir, everything has been my fault and I take full responsibility for it."

"Perhaps it was both of our faults. I shouldn't expect you to do all of the things I expect you to do, for you are just a girl of sixteen. You've so much you still must learn."

Athena bowed her head. "I—I usually argue with that logic but, coming from you, I can't help but agree."

"You want so much to be an adult, but you are still a girl," he spoke. "Did you know that you are the youngest apprentice I've ever had?"

"I thought I wasn't your apprentice—merely a housekeeper."

Sir Claudius furrowed his thick brows. "What makes you say that?"

She folded the handkerchief. "Because of all the wrongs I've committed against you. How childish I've been. You never taught me anything so I figured that I was just a housekeeper from then on."

"Athena, no, no! I did not mean that at all! I—I don't know what I meant…. I shouldn't have treated you that way." He reached out to her, but she flinched. "Oh, oh…." The man looked away and tucked his hand beneath his legs. "I apologize if you feel that way. I never meant for you to just be my housekeeper."

"You also, time after time, have lashed out at me when all I did was ask simple questions. I couldn't possibly know they were sensitive topics for you."

"Yes, I—I'm sorry." He leaned his head down in defeat.

"I forgive you, Sir. I only hope that we can move forward from here. It upsets me quite a bit when we get into arguments." She smiled, color returning to her cheeks. Her pristine face glowed in the firelight. "I would much rather be your friend. I am so sorry for everything I've done to you, and I hope that you can forgive me."

"I do." He faltered. "You—you said you wanted to know more about me?"

"Yes!" The girl leaned forward, almost tilting out of the chair. "Tell me everything! Anything!"

"Oh, alright… No one has ever asked before. And if they did, I had to lie. Let's see." He looked up at the ceiling, pondering. "I was born during a time of great sorrow: at the height of the Black Plague. Deep in a cave. Not only did the plague affect humans, but dragons, too. Thankfully, most dragons remained in their caves so not many of us died. Still, though, my parents considered it to be a sign. And a sign it was! I was always considered to be the 'Odd-One-Out' in my clan. No one liked me. I already told you that."

"Yes, I remember. That's why you wanted to become a human." She counted on her fingers. "So, you are five-or-six-hundred-years-old?!"

"Roughly," he spoke. "I haven't been keeping count."

"What was the world like back then?" She leaned her chin on her palms, staring deep into his ocean eyes.

"There weren't as many cities—not all this hustling-and-bustling. Dublin was still large, but definitely not anything like it is now. Life was… much more traditional. Most certainly. For instance, there were Druids."

"Druids! My mother has spoken of those! But I never really knew what they were!"

"They were old Irish peoples—oral storytellers who held many sacred traditions and healing knowledge. Much of my knowledge of potions came from them actually. I learned under a Druid. They filled several roles in society but those are the two I remember most. But they have mostly disappeared from Ireland, I believe. I have not seen one in many, many years." He glared into the girl's eyes; they interlocked. "I must teach you one of the tales sometime so that the legends can be carried on. Would you like that?"

"I would, Sir. I want to know of your past and all of the stories you collected along the way!"

Sir Claudius cocked his head. "Why do you want to know so much about me? I know I'm 'mysterious' as you say, but, is there any other reason?"

Athena dropped her chin and rubbed her palms together. "Perhaps it is because… you have the answers to questions I've been asking my entire life. I've always wanted to know if there were any live púcaí besides myself! And although you are not a púcaí, you are a shapeshifter. You've also raised questions I didn't even know I had. Everything about you is a mystery that I want to unravel. I want to… help, Sir. I know not everything is my business, but I want to help you with all of your troubles, if I may. Other than that, I want to preserve the Irish culture. I cannot pretend I do not see it happening, Sir. I've seen what's been happening even in my brief time here in my small town: I do not speak Gaelic though my mother does. Father always tells me to speak proper, but… how can one speak 'proper'? There are so many languages and cultures! There is no 'proper' way to do it! There can't be! I want to prove that to him. I want him to understand that the Gaelic culture is important, too, and has every right to be revered—not merely British, Roman, and Greek cultures." Her indignance melted away into embarrassment. "I've spoken too much, haven't I?"

Sir Claudius's cheeks flushed with heat. "Not at all." The man scratched the back of his head. "Actually, you have spoken the exact thoughts I've had for quite some time."

"Really?"

"Yes, Athena. You understand more than you think you do—more than I thought you did, in fact."

"So, you underestimated me?" The girl winked, her eyes sparkling like the ocean in the middle of the day with the sun high-in-the-sky.

"No, no!" He waved his hands. "Never."

"I thought so."

"Would you… care to learn some more then? About being an apprentice, I mean? I teach you some potions? Start you off with the basic training?"

"I would love that, Sir."

The man rose from his chair first, leading Athena to the potion room. She followed suit, watching his cape flapping and his strong thigh muscles the entire way.