Chapter 10: Nearing the End
"Found it!" A joyous cry erupted from the library. The guardians smiled as they saw their master come out with a huge grin on his face. "After three days of searching, I've finally found it!" "Very good Master. Then that would also mean that you would be eating a full meal and take a bath again, right?" "Yes. Then afterwards, I'll be on my way to merry old England."
Tomoyo sat on the banks of the lake that Tuesday afternoon. Ever since she brought up the topic about Eriol, her feelings became more mixed and she couldn't help but feel lost no matter how hard she tried to be brave. She put her head on her hands as she tried to settle her confusion for once. But the more she thought about her plaguing dream, the more she became disconcerted. The hour wore on and Tomoyo's thoughts were led to a new direction: How to get home. Not that she did like it here. Her life in Polperro was much better than the one she had in Tomoeda. She had a loving family (including a little brother), caring friends, admirers, and a person who loved her dearly. But it was just. a bit scary if she decides to stay here. She then thought of the biggest consequence if she sticks to the first option: History may change forever if Edward doesn't marry the girl whom he was supposed to wed. But the mere thought of losing Edward- even if he did insult a lot before, was more painful than she could imagine. "What am I going to say?" she sighed. "That I cannot love him because we were not meant to be?" A soft image of Eriol rose in her mind for the nth time of the day. "And if I go back, would I be able to face him again?" "Hi Catherine!" The girl turned and saw Carter walking towards her. Tomoyo put on a smile and greeted back. Carter sat beside her and stared at her eyes inquisitively. "Is everything alright?" She feigned a chuckle. "What makes you say that?" "You look tired. And I doubt that you got a lot of sleep last night, either," Carter answered nonchalantly, as if merely asking if the sun was a bit bright. But being the observant girl that she was, Tomoyo understood that he was talking about her conversation with Edward. "I'm just confused about everything." "Do you have a problem with Edward?" Carter asked, straight to the point. "No. I have a problem with myself." He switched to big bro mode. "Is it anything you can tell me?" Tomoyo was so weary from hiding everything and mistrusting everyone that she couldn't take another. "Yes." Carter didn't say anything, but his eyes told her that he wasn't going to breathe a word about it. "I cannot be with him because I don't belong here." Even if Carter clearly didn't understand what she was talking about, he nodded anyway. "I just happen to be a stranger who happens to be at the wrong place and the wrong time. I came here by accident and until I couldn't get home, I had to pretend about my life. But I don't want to leave this place because this is was everything I wished my life to be. Simple, happy, and with people loving me back. However, because I already do have a home, I cannot just leave them. I'm feeling guilty right now for I tried to forget about them because they had hurt me." She paused and let silence overtake her revelation. After a while, Tomoyo found herself being hugged by Carter. "Don't turn your back on the past, Catherine, because everyone with sufferings must not. It makes you weak, remember that. Facing whatever you have left behind will make your spirit stronger. Catherine," he tipped up her chin. "I understand that you cannot love my friend because you love someone else. And that he broke your heart because of something I don't intend to know. You have mistaken your feelings for your beloved as new feelings of affection for Edward." She smiled in gratitude and hugged him back. "Thank you Carter. I hope you're not mad at me for telling you this."
The next day, Margaret hurried home in the middle of the morning. "Catherine! Are you here?" Tomoyo appeared from the backyard. "Yes?" Margaret handed her an envelope and Tomoyo read the contents. She looked up at Margaret who was looking both happy and sad. "What are you going to do dear?" Tomoyo placed back the parchment in the envelope and sighed. "I'm going to be at the Manor. One last time."
Clara stepped back to look at the girl who was supposed to be her little brother's future wife. "Very beautiful, I must say." Glancing up at Margaret, she sighed and gazed upon Tomoyo's lovely form. "But it's so sad to know that you wouldn't be staying with us for long." Tomoyo bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for understanding, Lady Clara." "You're very much welcome." She turned pensive. "However, are you sure that you won't be staying here much longer?" Tomoyo nodded. That nagging feeling had been tugging her heart the moment she woke up earlier that day. A familiar sense of foreboding made anxiety, fear, sadness, happiness, and ambiguity mix altogether in a horrible pit of turmoil. She nearly backed out of the invitation when Margaret called her to get ready because she was feeling nauseous. Even as Margaret was tying her corset a while ago, Tomoyo wasn't sure if she was gasping for breath because of the tightness, or if she was breathing heavily because of the nervousness the feeling of something approaching gave her. Tomoyo tried to calm her nerves as she tried to apply make-up. She nearly smudged her cheek when Lady Clara entered the room and startled her.
Soon, it was time for the regal lady and her foster mother to go, leaving Tomoyo inside the very big guestroom. "Good luck," Lady Clara whispered and shut the door quietly. Tomoyo stared at her beautifully made- up reflection. She was the picture of a noblewoman, with the confidence of a princess doubled with the beauty of a goddess. It was what ensnared Edward to her unwanted trap. She hadn't been able to stop Edward from falling for her, but now that he was, she felt guilty at not answering NO when she was given the chance. She stood up and pulled her big skirt. "I better go."
Edward was clenching and unclenching his fists in pure nervousness as he stood near the platform where an orchestra was playing classical waltz. His father already knew that he didn't have to invite the other ladies because he had chosen a maiden. But the older man insisted that the decision had to be continued. He nearly jumped a mile when his sister tapped his shoulder. "Clara!" Then he composed himself and looked at her expectantly. His sister knew his question and glanced meaningfully at the door. He followed her temporary happy smile and didn't catch the sad one that came next. The music stopped as Tomoyo stood elegantly at the center of the door. Whispers arisen as women talked enviously about the girl and men stared at her. Tomoyo took it as her cue to walk in and Edward strode towards her and asked her for a dance. Though she couldn't contain her nervousness, Tomoyo forced a beautiful smile and took Edward's offered hand. The orchestra played at once and the crowd gave way and formed a circle around the couple. Tomoyo couldn't keep her face from blushing when Edward watched her face in an obviously romantic manner. They moved around the room gracefully, suddenly unmindful of the guests who were watching them. And never hearing the scuffle on the first floor beneath them.
"You have no right to enter, Sir!" the guard boomed. "You don't have an invitation to begin with." Eriol tried to break in. "I don't care if I don't have an invitation. I'm just as important as the people in there!" The guard glanced at his companion, hooked their hands around Eriol's arms, and shoved him down the dirt path. "What is going around here?" The guards turned and tensed up as the tall bearing of Lady Clara met their line of sight. "I demand an answer." "Well yes, my lady, there is this uninvited guest who keeps on trying to break in." "And who could this person be?" They pointed at the young man slowly getting up and dusting himself. Clara's eyes widened in recognition. "It's you then," she whispered. "Let him in," she said in her normal voice. The guards were shocked. "But he doesn't have-" "I said let him in. He is a very important guest." Eriol smiled and walked smugly past the guards. Then he approached Clara. "Thank you Lady Clara. But how did you recognize me?" The lady smiled. "She's waiting for you."
The music stopped and everyone clapped. Edward led Tomoyo to the platform and cleared his throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with great happiness that I welcome you tonight. For this night will be forever ingrained in my memory as, I step off the pedestal of being a bachelor and move higher into marriage. The guests gasped and tried to figure out if the lady beside him was the one. Tomoyo's heart raced when Edward turned to face her and take her hand into his. "Catherine." She never heard the rest of his proposal as the feeling of anticipation raced through her bloodstream. Someone's coming! Her mind shouted. She quickly turned to look at the door and right there and then, a man of tall height and Adonis-like features appeared and drew the attention of the rest. Edward saw him and narrowed his eyes at the stranger. "I don't recall Father ever inviting a stranger." "Eriol," Tomoyo whispered. But not soft enough, because Edward heard her and felt dangerous amounts of jealousy take over him when he saw Tomoyo stare longingly at Eriol. "So you're the reason why Catherine didn't accept my first proposal," he spoke with great disdain. "Who are you anyway? The one who first stole her heart and broke it?" "Correction," Eriol remained impassive yet his eyes spoke of possession. "I'm the man who would forever own Catherine's heart." A collective gasp sounded in the ballroom. Edward glared at him and demanded fiercely. "How dare you speak of her as if she still loves you!" A twist of pain pinched Eriol's heart but he ignored it. He went towards the platform yet no one dared to make a move to stop him. They sensed power around the stranger, even though they didn't have the ability. His eyes spoke of murder to anyone who bars his way. He stopped in front of Tomoyo and looked at Edward straight in the eye. "I dare because she's mine," he said lowly. Tomoyo sucked in a gasp, not believing what she was hearing. Eriol turned to look at her and his eyes misted over. "I'm sorry for suddenly leaving Tomoyo. I didn't mean to break your heart. Something very crucial came up and so I never got the chance to tell you what I came back for in the first place. I love you and I hope that you would still be mine." She gulped and blushed hotly as Eriol took her hand and led her down the platform. She couldn't think of anything else but the fact that Eriol was holding her hand and looking at her with undying love. She wanted to melt. Edward's jealousy entangled with rage, as he knew that he would have to fight to the finish. "You're not going anywhere with her, Stranger. You have to challenge me first." Eriol pulled Tomoyo's body with one hand and stared back evenly at his rival. "And so be it." Just when Tomoyo was about to interfere in the coming bloodshed, she felt inexplicable faint and fell down.
Tomoyo's eyes slightly opened and were momentarily blinded by the brightness of her surroundings. She struggled to regain full consciousness when someone hushed her. "Everything's going to be okay, Tomoyo," a deep voice spoke and cuddled her body closely. Was she being carried? Tomoyo thought. Her head turned to one side and came in contact with a soft fabric that covered hard muscles beneath. She inhaled the scent of cool after-shave and shivered as a warm hand caress her face. "We're going home."
"Found it!" A joyous cry erupted from the library. The guardians smiled as they saw their master come out with a huge grin on his face. "After three days of searching, I've finally found it!" "Very good Master. Then that would also mean that you would be eating a full meal and take a bath again, right?" "Yes. Then afterwards, I'll be on my way to merry old England."
Tomoyo sat on the banks of the lake that Tuesday afternoon. Ever since she brought up the topic about Eriol, her feelings became more mixed and she couldn't help but feel lost no matter how hard she tried to be brave. She put her head on her hands as she tried to settle her confusion for once. But the more she thought about her plaguing dream, the more she became disconcerted. The hour wore on and Tomoyo's thoughts were led to a new direction: How to get home. Not that she did like it here. Her life in Polperro was much better than the one she had in Tomoeda. She had a loving family (including a little brother), caring friends, admirers, and a person who loved her dearly. But it was just. a bit scary if she decides to stay here. She then thought of the biggest consequence if she sticks to the first option: History may change forever if Edward doesn't marry the girl whom he was supposed to wed. But the mere thought of losing Edward- even if he did insult a lot before, was more painful than she could imagine. "What am I going to say?" she sighed. "That I cannot love him because we were not meant to be?" A soft image of Eriol rose in her mind for the nth time of the day. "And if I go back, would I be able to face him again?" "Hi Catherine!" The girl turned and saw Carter walking towards her. Tomoyo put on a smile and greeted back. Carter sat beside her and stared at her eyes inquisitively. "Is everything alright?" She feigned a chuckle. "What makes you say that?" "You look tired. And I doubt that you got a lot of sleep last night, either," Carter answered nonchalantly, as if merely asking if the sun was a bit bright. But being the observant girl that she was, Tomoyo understood that he was talking about her conversation with Edward. "I'm just confused about everything." "Do you have a problem with Edward?" Carter asked, straight to the point. "No. I have a problem with myself." He switched to big bro mode. "Is it anything you can tell me?" Tomoyo was so weary from hiding everything and mistrusting everyone that she couldn't take another. "Yes." Carter didn't say anything, but his eyes told her that he wasn't going to breathe a word about it. "I cannot be with him because I don't belong here." Even if Carter clearly didn't understand what she was talking about, he nodded anyway. "I just happen to be a stranger who happens to be at the wrong place and the wrong time. I came here by accident and until I couldn't get home, I had to pretend about my life. But I don't want to leave this place because this is was everything I wished my life to be. Simple, happy, and with people loving me back. However, because I already do have a home, I cannot just leave them. I'm feeling guilty right now for I tried to forget about them because they had hurt me." She paused and let silence overtake her revelation. After a while, Tomoyo found herself being hugged by Carter. "Don't turn your back on the past, Catherine, because everyone with sufferings must not. It makes you weak, remember that. Facing whatever you have left behind will make your spirit stronger. Catherine," he tipped up her chin. "I understand that you cannot love my friend because you love someone else. And that he broke your heart because of something I don't intend to know. You have mistaken your feelings for your beloved as new feelings of affection for Edward." She smiled in gratitude and hugged him back. "Thank you Carter. I hope you're not mad at me for telling you this."
The next day, Margaret hurried home in the middle of the morning. "Catherine! Are you here?" Tomoyo appeared from the backyard. "Yes?" Margaret handed her an envelope and Tomoyo read the contents. She looked up at Margaret who was looking both happy and sad. "What are you going to do dear?" Tomoyo placed back the parchment in the envelope and sighed. "I'm going to be at the Manor. One last time."
Clara stepped back to look at the girl who was supposed to be her little brother's future wife. "Very beautiful, I must say." Glancing up at Margaret, she sighed and gazed upon Tomoyo's lovely form. "But it's so sad to know that you wouldn't be staying with us for long." Tomoyo bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for understanding, Lady Clara." "You're very much welcome." She turned pensive. "However, are you sure that you won't be staying here much longer?" Tomoyo nodded. That nagging feeling had been tugging her heart the moment she woke up earlier that day. A familiar sense of foreboding made anxiety, fear, sadness, happiness, and ambiguity mix altogether in a horrible pit of turmoil. She nearly backed out of the invitation when Margaret called her to get ready because she was feeling nauseous. Even as Margaret was tying her corset a while ago, Tomoyo wasn't sure if she was gasping for breath because of the tightness, or if she was breathing heavily because of the nervousness the feeling of something approaching gave her. Tomoyo tried to calm her nerves as she tried to apply make-up. She nearly smudged her cheek when Lady Clara entered the room and startled her.
Soon, it was time for the regal lady and her foster mother to go, leaving Tomoyo inside the very big guestroom. "Good luck," Lady Clara whispered and shut the door quietly. Tomoyo stared at her beautifully made- up reflection. She was the picture of a noblewoman, with the confidence of a princess doubled with the beauty of a goddess. It was what ensnared Edward to her unwanted trap. She hadn't been able to stop Edward from falling for her, but now that he was, she felt guilty at not answering NO when she was given the chance. She stood up and pulled her big skirt. "I better go."
Edward was clenching and unclenching his fists in pure nervousness as he stood near the platform where an orchestra was playing classical waltz. His father already knew that he didn't have to invite the other ladies because he had chosen a maiden. But the older man insisted that the decision had to be continued. He nearly jumped a mile when his sister tapped his shoulder. "Clara!" Then he composed himself and looked at her expectantly. His sister knew his question and glanced meaningfully at the door. He followed her temporary happy smile and didn't catch the sad one that came next. The music stopped as Tomoyo stood elegantly at the center of the door. Whispers arisen as women talked enviously about the girl and men stared at her. Tomoyo took it as her cue to walk in and Edward strode towards her and asked her for a dance. Though she couldn't contain her nervousness, Tomoyo forced a beautiful smile and took Edward's offered hand. The orchestra played at once and the crowd gave way and formed a circle around the couple. Tomoyo couldn't keep her face from blushing when Edward watched her face in an obviously romantic manner. They moved around the room gracefully, suddenly unmindful of the guests who were watching them. And never hearing the scuffle on the first floor beneath them.
"You have no right to enter, Sir!" the guard boomed. "You don't have an invitation to begin with." Eriol tried to break in. "I don't care if I don't have an invitation. I'm just as important as the people in there!" The guard glanced at his companion, hooked their hands around Eriol's arms, and shoved him down the dirt path. "What is going around here?" The guards turned and tensed up as the tall bearing of Lady Clara met their line of sight. "I demand an answer." "Well yes, my lady, there is this uninvited guest who keeps on trying to break in." "And who could this person be?" They pointed at the young man slowly getting up and dusting himself. Clara's eyes widened in recognition. "It's you then," she whispered. "Let him in," she said in her normal voice. The guards were shocked. "But he doesn't have-" "I said let him in. He is a very important guest." Eriol smiled and walked smugly past the guards. Then he approached Clara. "Thank you Lady Clara. But how did you recognize me?" The lady smiled. "She's waiting for you."
The music stopped and everyone clapped. Edward led Tomoyo to the platform and cleared his throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with great happiness that I welcome you tonight. For this night will be forever ingrained in my memory as, I step off the pedestal of being a bachelor and move higher into marriage. The guests gasped and tried to figure out if the lady beside him was the one. Tomoyo's heart raced when Edward turned to face her and take her hand into his. "Catherine." She never heard the rest of his proposal as the feeling of anticipation raced through her bloodstream. Someone's coming! Her mind shouted. She quickly turned to look at the door and right there and then, a man of tall height and Adonis-like features appeared and drew the attention of the rest. Edward saw him and narrowed his eyes at the stranger. "I don't recall Father ever inviting a stranger." "Eriol," Tomoyo whispered. But not soft enough, because Edward heard her and felt dangerous amounts of jealousy take over him when he saw Tomoyo stare longingly at Eriol. "So you're the reason why Catherine didn't accept my first proposal," he spoke with great disdain. "Who are you anyway? The one who first stole her heart and broke it?" "Correction," Eriol remained impassive yet his eyes spoke of possession. "I'm the man who would forever own Catherine's heart." A collective gasp sounded in the ballroom. Edward glared at him and demanded fiercely. "How dare you speak of her as if she still loves you!" A twist of pain pinched Eriol's heart but he ignored it. He went towards the platform yet no one dared to make a move to stop him. They sensed power around the stranger, even though they didn't have the ability. His eyes spoke of murder to anyone who bars his way. He stopped in front of Tomoyo and looked at Edward straight in the eye. "I dare because she's mine," he said lowly. Tomoyo sucked in a gasp, not believing what she was hearing. Eriol turned to look at her and his eyes misted over. "I'm sorry for suddenly leaving Tomoyo. I didn't mean to break your heart. Something very crucial came up and so I never got the chance to tell you what I came back for in the first place. I love you and I hope that you would still be mine." She gulped and blushed hotly as Eriol took her hand and led her down the platform. She couldn't think of anything else but the fact that Eriol was holding her hand and looking at her with undying love. She wanted to melt. Edward's jealousy entangled with rage, as he knew that he would have to fight to the finish. "You're not going anywhere with her, Stranger. You have to challenge me first." Eriol pulled Tomoyo's body with one hand and stared back evenly at his rival. "And so be it." Just when Tomoyo was about to interfere in the coming bloodshed, she felt inexplicable faint and fell down.
Tomoyo's eyes slightly opened and were momentarily blinded by the brightness of her surroundings. She struggled to regain full consciousness when someone hushed her. "Everything's going to be okay, Tomoyo," a deep voice spoke and cuddled her body closely. Was she being carried? Tomoyo thought. Her head turned to one side and came in contact with a soft fabric that covered hard muscles beneath. She inhaled the scent of cool after-shave and shivered as a warm hand caress her face. "We're going home."