Wow! It has been a good while since I have written anything for Andromeda's Tale! I have decided to rewatch the series and am going to pick up where we left off! Enjoy!
Celestia walked into the ball room of the palace she lived in. There were many, many palaces and glorious buildings to satisfy the Gods in Mount Olympus. Celestia's was quite exquisite. It was made of gold, diamond, and ice and had many gorgeous rooms in it. The main ballroom was the largest, with a grand stair case leading up to over a hundred other rooms.
Celestia saw her daughter, Andromeda, sitting on the bottom stair of the staircase. She was holding her head in one hand and a piece of parchment in the other. Celestia recognized it as the letter Jefferson had given Andrea the last time they had seen each other. The letter had contained a lovely necklace with a whimsical shaped diamond pendant, which her daughter had put around her neck and never removed. No doubt something Jefferson had come by on his many travels across the realms. Celestia had lost count of how many times she had caught her daughter reading that letter since she had come to stay with her for the month.
It had been over a year since Andrea and Jefferson had last seen each other, but he would send her notes updating her on his condition and travels, letting her know he was fine. However, a few months ago, the notes had stopped coming and Andrea had grown worried. Andrea had sent one of her nymph friends, Dariana, to find him and get detail on what he was up to. What Dariana had returned with however, had shattered Andrea's heart. Dariana had returned to the Dark Fortress with a letter intended for Andromeda from Jefferson. Dariana stayed with Andrea as she opened it and read:
Andromeda,
I bumped into your friend while I was in the marketplace today. I realize I have not written to you for a while and therefore I have worried you. To be exact I was trying to avoid you, which, I guess, was not the best idea either. I feel so ashamed of myself, more for the fact of what I actually need to tell you. Andrea, you are a beautiful, talented, and spirited 9 year old girl. You are the daughter of a goddess and the Dark One. Who am I? A thief, a wanderer, a mortal. I really don't know how much I can offer you. Plus, you are so young, and here I am about to enter my twenties. I don't feel that this relationship that we have is appropriate. I will tell you this however, Andromeda, the first time I laid eyes on you, I knew immediately that I loved you. Who knew love at first sight really was a thing? The more I saw of you when I came to the Dark Fortress, the more I fell in love and the more I wanted you. At the same time, I felt ashamed of myself because I knew you were so young. I did not see a future for us that would work. However, I kept trying to make myself see it. I was conflicted and up until recently I still was. I wanted to give you so much more than you deserve, but I am slowly coming to my senses and realizing that I can't. Andromeda, I feel it is in both of our best interests that we move on. I feel like I need to find someone my own age, and you need to find one of your own. For whatever it is worth, I do still love you and always will. I am just afraid if I see you again all of those feelings and longings for you will flood back and I won't be able to stop myself. Distance between us I feel is best. I am sorry to be doing this in a letter but I believe it is the only way. I am so sorry, but I must go now. I wish you all the happiness of the future.
Jefferson
Dariana was reading over Andrea's shoulder and her eyes got really big. She slowly moved around to face her friend. "Andrea…I am so sorry, I had no idea he felt that way. Well….okay, I admit something else that happened sort of led me to think that…..well….Andrea? Are you okay? Andrea?" Andrea's eyes had gone out of focus as she dropped the piece of parchment. A dark aura had started materializing around her. It lingered for a few moments then evaporated. Andrea slowly stood up and walked across the bedroom over to her vanity. She pulled out several drawers and started dumping their contents on the floor as though she was frantically looking for something. "Andrea, talk to me, what's going on? What are you…?" asked Dariana frantically. At last Andrea collapsed on the floor as she found what she was looking for. It was another folded up piece of parchment. Andrea quickly unfolded it and held it out towards Dariana. Dariana took it slowly as she watched her friend drastically grasp a small pendant that hung around her neck. Dariana looked down at the parchment for a moment then read it aloud:
My dearest Andrea,
I wanted to make you aware first of all that your father knows about us. He cornered me a few days ago and had a long talk with me. He had a lot to say, it felt like he went on for hours. He told me that he was willing to give his blessing on us because he knew something we did not. He knew that this relationship was a very special one and was going to "go places". Whatever that means, your father is a very vague man. He told me he had looked into our futures, and although what he saw was only glimpses, he saw that you were at your happiest and he knew that above all else that is what he wanted for you. So, in telling you that, (I am sure your father will recount the 3 hour chat we had to you later, you have been warned) I wanted to tell you how I really feel. I know since we have known each other, I have not admitted to anything. When I first laid eyes on you, I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. It was like love at first sight, if you believe in such things. Then as I got to know you, man, you were so much more than a pretty face. You are definitely the smartest and brightest 8 year old I have ever met. I knew of your origins and that you had god blood running through your veins. I didn't know if that contributed to how smart you were, but it sure impressed me! It was like I was talking to a 30 year old in an 8 year old body (I mean that as a compliment, really). I know I told you when you asked how I saw you, that you are a child. You may be a child physically, but mentally you most definitely are not. With that being said, I have fallen so deeply in love with you that I know I won't be able to live without you in my life. I know it may be frowned upon for an 18 year old man to love an 8 year old girl in the way I love you, but I no longer care. Apparently, your father no longer cares either. Unfortunately, I have to finish this mission for your father and have more journeys I must make. I will continue to write to you my love, and keep you updated on my travels. Just know that I love you and will never stop.
I have also enclosed a memento of my affection towards you, and hope when you wear it, I can remain close to you even if I may be far away.
I love you my darling and am forever yours,
Jefferson
Dariana stopped reading and looked over at Andromeda. She was bent over sobbing on the floor and still clutching the pendant which must have been the memento that Jefferson had described in his letter. "Andrea….I am so, so sorry. I…..there are no words," said Dariana as she tried to comfort her heart broken friend on the floor. As Dariana leaned closer to her friend, Andrea suddenly grabbed the front of her shirt and looked at her with crazed, desperate eyes. Dariana looked at her with fright, she did not really know what her demigod friend was capable of, "Andrea…..what?" "Dariana, whatever you do, do not mention any of this to my father, I am going to hide these letters where he can never see them, and you are not to breathe a word of them to anyone. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Dariana looked at her friend's tear filled eyes and said, "Yes, I swear, I won't tell a soul." Dariana would keep this promise too, for unbeknownst to Andrea, she had just compelled her friend. That meant that Dariana had no choice but to do what her friend had told her. Compulsion is basically mind control through eye contact. However since no one was aware that Andrea had this particular power, including Andrea, they had no idea that is what she had just done. "Andrea there is something else I must tell you but I am afraid to," said Dariana carefully. Andrea levitated both letters in front of her and made them vanish out of sight. "That letter that you just read was the one he gave me the last day I saw him," said Andrea in a somber tone. "I don't understand how he could have changed his mind that fast. Maybe it is because he has not seen me in a while. I think he is confused…." said Andrea gasping. "Andrea, I think there is more to it than that," said Dariana. Andrea glared at her friend, "What?" "Andrea, please don't hurt me, but there is something you should know." "WHAT?!" said Andrea desperately. "When I was in Jefferson's village, I had hung around for several hours. After he came to give me the letter, I saw him leave with this pregnant woman." Andrea's eyes got wider. "I got suspicious so I asked around, Andrea I am so sorry but…..but I believe what Jefferson said in his letter and….ANDREA! I'M SO SORRY," Dariana began crying. "The pregnant woman she was…they were….her and Jefferson are…" "NO!" screamed Andrea in anguish. "Stop, don't say another word," Andrea ran to the window and threw it open, as she breathed heavily. Dariana stood and looked at Andrea fearfully, "Andrea, what are you going to do?" Andrea turned around and stared at a picture on her bedroom wall. She was still breathing fast as silent tears continued to rain down her face. Dariana gazed at Andrea and knew the "calm" demeanor was just a front. She could sense her friend's soul tearing apart from the outside. "I….I need…my mother. I need to go see my mother." Andrea turned to Dariana, "Thank you my friend for all you have done. I hate that the circumstance are what they are. For now I need to be with my mother. You must go now. I need to be with myself for a time before I depart for Olympus." Dariana wanted to hug Andrea for a split second, but quickly thought better of it. She turned to leave, then looked back at Andrea curiously. "What are you going to tell your father?" "That…." said Andrea after she had turned to look back out the window, "does not concern you." Dariana knew that she should have kept her mouth shut. "Of course my Lady, forgive my boldness." Dariana gave Andromeda a deep bow, "I hope all goes well, my thoughts are with you my Lady." With that, Dariana walked out and was gone.
Andromeda continued to stare out the window as her thoughts ran wild. 'HOW COULD HE? He goes and marries another woman and gets her pregnant while leading me on to think he was madly in love with me? Then he dares to break up with me through a message given to my nymph? DOES HE NOT REMEMBER WHO I AM? I AM THE DEMI GOD DAUGHTER OF CELESTIA AND THE DARK ONE. HOW DARE HE' Andrea began to breathe hard once more. 'I COULD KILL BOTH HIM AND THAT WENCH LIKE IT WAS NOTHING.' Andrea's thoughts were starting to escalate with anger. Then all of a sudden her breathing began to slow. 'No…I…..I love Jefferson.' As she began to think about her love, tears came back. 'I love him, I will never stop loving him no matter what he has done. I am incapable of it. I also know deep down, he still loves me and in his mind he is doing what is right. So how can I blame him? I really need to see my mother hastily.' Andrea then began to multi-task with packing some essentials and looking for parchment to leave her father a note. 'My mother always knows what to do with matters of the heart.'