Chapter VII

The Affair

After a few days and so many hours traveling on the bumpy countryside road and through the dampness of the forest, the royal entourage finally arrived in town.

The busy street was crowded and thundered with chattering voices. People were rambling out prices as if it was a public auction, and people had to yell over one another's voices just to be heard. Commoners cleared the way as the carriage passed through the hectic street. Lining up along the sidewall, people's eyes were suddenly turned, frightened for what was coming ahead. In the distance a small figure could be seen quickly coming toward the street, and it turned out to be Amador. He carelessly pulled out from the street that intersected with the main one and bumped into the royal carriage, causing an accident which knocked over his cart and sent his logs tumbling from their stacks. People gasped at the horrific scene for it was unheard of for peasants to bump into the nobles since all commoners knew better than to get in their way.

Peaking her head out of the little carriage window to see what was happening, Delphine's eyes widened at the sight of Amador, who was lowering himself to pick up the logs.

Her attitude suddenly changed, the pain and sorrow that she had felt months ago—which seemed like forever—rushing suddenly back. Amador could see the hollow of darkness inside her eyes, the spark in her eyes gone, leaving a weariness behind.

Just eyeing him heedlessly, having no idea that she was staring, tears threatened to flood her eyes. Blinking quickly, she settled back into her seat in the carriage and pretended as if nothing had happened, and she flashed Henrik a weak smile of assurance to let him know that everything was fine.



As for Amador, he couldn't look away from her. It was the first time he'd seen her since the summer he'd hollered at her, telling her to go away, to go home, that he didn't want to be with her anymore. Leaving her there all alone, crying out his name like a lunatic, unknowing of what to do or where to turn. His behavior had been a complete disgrace. He had abandoned her and their child. He really couldn't blame her if she hated him now and wanted to kill him. He didn't deserve to live, and he didn't deserve her once unconditional love for him. After all, he hadn't even had the nerve to tell her a simple "Goodbye."

Her once long, wavy honey-brown hair was no longer hanging freely off her shoulders, but was now twisted in and gathered on the bottom into an elegant bun.

Seeing how she avoided his eyes, he turned his attention back to the logs and hurried to pick them up so that he could move out of the way and line up to the side of the wall like everyone else.

The royal horse picked up its pace once again, and rushed down the road.

Taking his last glimpse of her as they passed, Amador took a deep breath. He wanted her so much. But she was no longer his to want; she belonged to him now.

Looking blankly ahead, Delphine slightly turned her head away from Henrik, trying to hide her emotion. She could sense that the tears were welling up and she couldn't stop herself.

"Are you all right?" Henrik asked concernedly.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just dust in my eyes," Delphine replied, not bothering to turn to him as she pretended to wipe dust away from her eyes. "Nothing to be worried about."

Nodding uncertainly, he turned and looked out of the window on his side of the carriage. "We're almost there. I can see the towers," he informed her, trying to lighten up the tension.

"Oh, that's great. I'm exhausted of this trip," Delphine claimed, and then let out a long sigh to hold in the tears.

"Are you excited?" Henrik turned to her.

"What's there to be excited about?" she asked disdainfully. "Just year another passed by before my eyes."

"How can you say that?" he questioned in astonishment.

"I couldn't care less," Delphine scornfully stated.

About to say something, Henrik shut his mouth and kept quiet and just looked at her worriedly now and then. His face became saddened by her sudden attitude. It was as if she had multiple personalities. One minute she was full of joy, the next she was apathetic, and then careless.

From time to time he would find her sitting alone in the garden gazing up in heavens blankly, looking so disconsolate, and sometimes it made him wonder what was going on in her head. What had happened to her? She had been a whole different person before he'd married her, then her personality had just completely changed, and now it seemed like coming back to her homeland had changed her again. Just thinking about that made him reconsider his elder sister's opinion of Delphine. Maybe it was just an act that she had set up when she was around his family, to act innocent and entice his whole family into her will.

"I'm sorry," she suddenly spoke again after a long silence.

"What?" Henrik turned to her in surprise.

"I'm sorry. This long trip is just making me a little impatient and irritated," she softly explained to her husband.

"I understand," se answered her in a low manner, still thinking about her sudden change of attitude.

Back at the market, crowds began to scatter all over the place again, leaving only Amador standing against the wall alone, watching the carriage as it faded down the hill. Looking down at the cart, he began to stroll it to his spot and sat himself down on the ground.

Gazing blankly at the people walking past him, he recalled the day Delphine had walked to the market with her mother and a girl who seemed to be slightly younger than Delphine. Possibly her sister, he thought. He remembered the smile she'd given him. It had been the most enchanting thing he could ever hope for, after being with her, of course. He would be satisfied to see that smile again before taking his last breath of life.

"Delphine!" the queen shrieked, running outside to greet her daughter.

"Mother," Delphine greeted her with less enthusiasm.

"Oh, I miss you so much!" Her mother exclaimed, hugging her and kissing her on both cheeks. "Well, look at you! Oh, so grown up and beautiful." She pulled out of the embrace and admired her daughter's new look, and then suddenly her attention went to Delphine's charming husband. " Henrik!"

"Mother," He hailed upon her and sweetly kissed her cheeks.

"Come in, come in!" the queen ordered. "You must be exhausted from the long journey. You should rest," she offered. "Marie, please make them tea and food and bring it to their room."

"Yes, my Queen," the maid who stood next to her obeyed then left into the kitchen.

The day flew by quickly, and soon it was the next morning. The sun had barely peaked out of the mountain, and already everyone was up. The castle was packed with excitement as everyone ran around yelling and hollering at one another.

"Delphine! Delphine!" her mother hollered from the hallway impatiently. "Get up."

"What?" Delphine stirred out of her sleep. "What's going on?"

"How can you still be asleep today of all days?" her mother questioned unbelievably. "Honestly Delphine! Get up."

"Mother, not even dawn has broken through!" Delphine whined, taking the cover and flipping it over her head.

"Henrik, please get your wife up. We need to get prepared for tonight!" The queen sternly said, flipping the cover off of Delphine's head and walking off.

"Amador," the sweet voice spoke his name. "Amador!"

"Delphine!" He shot straight up from the bed, throwing off the covers in a cold sweat, panting. "God, damn!" He cursed himself. He'd had that dream again, the recurring dream of Delphine and him, reminding him of their first night together.

***

]

"Cole," Phoebe softly called him. "Come to bed."

"I thought you said you were hungry," Cole replied from the top of the stairwell.

"Will you two keep it down?" Paige hollered from her room, irritated.

Cole ignored her and headed back into the room with Phoebe. "What's the matter honey? I thought you were hungry," he repeated, closing the door.

"I changed my mind. I'm not hungry anymore," Phoebe said, giving him a half smile.

"Are you sure?" Cole asked, settling himself down next to her and gathering her up in his arms.

"Pretty sure."

***

Finally dawn broke through and morning arrived. Preparations were made around the house that was not quite ready as Delphine slowly paced the room, checking to see if she was in the right castle. The ballroom looked exquisite with its elaborate decorations and a gigantic sparkling crystal chandelier hanging from atop the ceiling.

"Well, finally!" her mother greeted her by the door.

"Don't tell me this is all for me," Delphine remarked.

"Well, of course it is. For the Lord's sake, you're no longer a child," the queen said, walking toward her.

"Oh, mother. This is too much," Delphine replied with a slight bit of sarcasm in her voice. "Absolutely too much."

Glancing at her daughter suspiciously, the queen let another one of her ungrateful comments slide by. It wasn't worth her time or breath to wrestle with Delphine. Ever since the loss of her child, she had been acting coldly toward everyone; even her own father couldn't stand her anymore.

On the evening of the party, every noble person from town gathered to join Delphine and Henrik on their first visit to Romania as a married couple. Throughout the glorious evening, guests had been coming up to the couple and congratulating them on a happy, life-long marriage… which made Delphine want to gag. Ever since the unexpected reunion of her and Amador, she hadn't been thinking straight. It was just like half a year ago when everywhere she turned, she saw his face. It was as if he had some kind of power over her, trying to control her. Maybe he had cast a spell on her. Everywhere she looked, there seemed to be an image of Amador, that face that had brought meaning to her life. Suddenly someone passed through the crowd looking undeniably like Amador, heading for the kitchen. Her eyes focused on the imposter, she began to follow him.

However, the music had tuned up and it was time to dance. Henrik then pretended to be a charming prince, offering his hand and asking if he may have the dance. Seeing how endearing his gesture was, Delphine replied with a cute little curtsy and took his hand. The music and the dance helped her relaxed a little, but the image of the imposter was still stuck in her mind. I've got to find out. she told herself. Faking a feeling of drowsiness, she excused herself from finishing the dance and exited the ballroom and to go outside where she could get some fresh air. Henrik asked if she would have liked him to accompany her, but she declined his offer, saying that she preferred to be alone for a while.

Sitting on the fountain with its little angels armed with bows and arrows, shooting out sprays of water, she looked up into the sky and wished that she had never wished for a charming prince to sweep her off her feet. Damn the shooting star! This was not what she had asked for. Maybe it is, but this certainly was not the way she'd imagined it. Distracted by her thoughts, a voice came from behind her and interrupted her reverie.

"Lovely night isn't it?" Darkness covered the intruding figure as it looked up toward the clear sky. "Wish every night could be like this."

Startled by the voice, Delphine jumped up and twirled around. "What are you doing here?" she asked bitterly, confused by his presence.

"I'm here to deliver the logs," Amador simply answered. "Quite a party, huh?" he commented, changing the subject. "You must feel wonderful having people throwing parties in your honor."

"Hush up!" Delphine barked. "What do you know about me?"

"Shouldn't you be inside with everyone else?" he ignored her comment and tried to be conversational. "Why so gloomy, show some spirit."

"What's to show?" she gallingly spat. "I've lost everything… including my soul."

Looking at in her with pure remorse, he approached her and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you care? You didn't care about us then, why now? What's the sudden change?"



"Delphine, you know why I did what I did," he reasoned. "It was best for you and the baby. I did it to protect you and the baby."

"Well, it sure as hell did a lot of protecting!" Delphine argued. "You don't know what's best for me, Amador." She shook her head holding in the tears, trying to stay strong.

It was the first time she'd spoken his name in months. It seemed so foreign to her tongue. She spoke with such clarity of agony and anger in her voice, he couldn't figure out if she was talking out a pain or hatred.

Confused by her comment, he looked down at her abdomen and noticed her flat stomach. He may not have been well-educated but he found it odd that a pregnant lady as far along as Delphine didn't seem to be showing. Afraid to even ask what had happened, he instead questioned, "Where's the baby?"

"Dead," she stiffly replied.

"What?" he barely uttered. Tears started to form in corners of his eyes, and then fell freely down his face.

Delphine turned away from him, runnels of tears springing up from her eyes as she remembered the way she'd found out the sorry fate of their baby. She remembered many restless nights where she'd stayed awake, frightened to go to sleep because she couldn't stand the cries that continuously haunted her.

Unexpectedly, Henrik marched himself out to the courtyard and joined Amador and Delphine. Quickly wiping away her tears, Delphine turned to him and quietly told Amador to leave. Slightly nodding his head, he quickly turned and walked away, pushing the barrel loaded with wood.

Suspicions filled Henrik's eyes as Delphine moved toward him to assure him that there was nothing going on between her and the peasant.

"Don't mind him; he's just here to deliver the logs, that's all," she offered before Henrik even asked.

Nodding his head, they returned to the ballroom together.

***

"Phoebe! Get up, Phoebe, get up!" Cole said insistently yanking at her.

"What?! It's Saturday!" Phoebe whined.

"Phoebe, look." Cole pulled her up into his arms and pointed to the window.

Gasps of astonishment filled Phoebe's voice. "Oh, my gosh!" she shrieked jumping out of bed. "Oh, my gosh!"

"Isn't it amazing?" Cole wrapped the comforter around him and her as they looked out the window.

"I can't believe this. This is the first snow in a decade!" She snuggled under Cole's embrace. "This is want I've always wanted."

"What? Snow?"

"No, this. Us. Together like this," Phoebe answered with a warm smile on her face. "Who knows, this just might be the only white Christmas we'll ever spent together. Who knows when the next one might hit?"

"Sooner than you think," Cole answered, and kissed her cheek.

***

The next night was quieter than the previous night. The tensions were awkward. Henrik was on to her, and she knew it. They hadn't spoken very much after the party.

"Will it be all right if I take a small walk to get some fresh air?" Delphine politely asked her husband. She always knew how to butter him up; a little sweet talk always got her whatever she wanted.

"Certainly, my dear; whatever makes you feel better," Henrik answered, allowing a weak smile to form on his lips. He was uncertain about letting her go but he conceded, deciding it would be a perfect chance for him to follow her and see what she was up to.

She smiled back and waved to him as she exited the room. She needed to be alone. She needed to get out of the room and be on her own, to be free to think about whatever she wanted to without fear of being interrupted. Staying in that room for the past two nights had been too much for her. It brought back too much anguish for her to handle. She could still felt that presence at nighttime and the uncanny cries. It was more from a distance now, maybe because it was her lost sense of presence that had driven the spirit away.

Wandering mindlessly into the woods, she finally found herself standing before the familiar wooden door. The sudden feeling of that lost little girl in her rushed back… the feeling of the little girl who was trying to find love in the man who had saved her.

Balling up her fist, she raised it up hesitantly and knocked. Her fingers were suddenly fidgeting, and she felt like there was a huge knot in her stomach. She could feel the sweat breaking out on the back of her neck.

Suddenly the door swung open, and she looked up quickly with tears already wobbling in her eyes. She didn't know were it came from; it was just there, on its own.

"They killed her," she said hoarsely, her voice breaking with tears as she looked up into his eyes.

Confused for a moment, Amador finally understood what she was talking about. Anger suddenly overtook him, and his face turned flamingly red in light of the blazing embers. Seeing this, Delphine looked away and was about to leave but Amador called her back.

"I'm sorry." His voice was sincere and filled with remorse. "I'm sorry I never trusted you."

Turning back to him, trying to hold her emotion in, she spoke quietly, "What's done is done." And then she started walking toward the lake, knowing fully well that Amador was going to follow her.

"You see this lake?" she rhetorically asked. "You should've let me drown. I would've been happier dead than alive."

"You don't mean that," Amador uttered, coming closer to her.

"Don't I?" She turned, facing him with tears on her face. "After all, my life is just a show for everyone. I have nothing. Even if I did, it's all gone. Which is what I should've been. Gone, disappeared off the surface of the earth. This is not a life, this is a rotten punishment."

Amador quickly pulled her in for a warm and deep embrace and tried to calm her down by rubbing her back. It felt so good to have her in his arms again. It felt like old times. He loved how her face buried in his chest.

"I'm sorry, it was all my fault. I should've listened," he whispered softly to her, as he himself wanted to cry along with her. He wanted to mourn over his daughter's death. He wanted to kill himself for what had happened. "I'm so sorry."

Looking up at him, a small smile formed on a corner of her lips. "It wasn't your fault. None of this was." That said, her tears began to fall again in earnest.

Wiping the tears gently off her face, he moved his hand to her abdomen and softly pressed against it. He then fell to his knees and rested his head on her stomach and whispered, "I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry," as tears conquered his eyes.

Falling down as well, Delphine lifted up his face and forced him to look at her. She didn't blame him for any of it. It had been the anger that was talking before, but now she felt no anger for holding back feelings, just sadness.

"If only I had listened to you, our baby could've lived," he said apologetically.

"Could have," she whispered, and nodded her head slowly.

"I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through. I know you hate me—" She then cut him off by shaking her head.

"I don't hate," she cried. "I don't blame you for anything, Amador. You gave me something that no one else in this world ever could: freedom. And for that, I thank you." Just as that was said, she leaned in and kissed him softly, but couldn't contain herself and she passionately explored his mouth. In return, Amador pulled her in for a deeper embrace and kissed her hungrily. Their mouths were blazing in fire, as both of them wrestled to be closer to each other.

Pulling away slowly, Amador huskily asked Delphine to go inside because it was getting cold. Agreeing, she stood up and they headed back into the small cabin.

There they stayed in each other's arms and talked about everything that had happened in the time they had lost contact with each other.

Delphine told him how it had happened, how she had lost their baby. And how the spirit had haunted her ever since, how she their baby had been a girl through her cries. Every now and then he would stroke her head and give her a kiss just to assure her that everything was going to be all right.

She then would tell him a funny moment of how she pissed off Gabrielle because she was being such a pain in the neck. She felt so comfortable with him, as if she could say anything and not have to worry about being ridiculed for her wording.

Then he shared his thoughts on how their child would have been. She could see the hope and love in his eyes when he described them. His hands were rubbing her stomach in circular motions as his eyes lit up, and it made her felt like she was actually pregnant again.

After a few tears and laughter, they sat in silence as their fingers intertwined together. They felt like they'd been in each other's arms forever. Delphine laid her head against Amador's strong chest and breathed in his scent. As for Amador, he was just happy that she was in his arms once again.

"Amador," she called him softly.

In reply he kissed her cheek, as she continued, "Whatever happens, I'll always love you."

"And I shall love you till the day I die," Amador answered lovingly, pulling her in tighter.

About an hour passed without Delphine or Amador realizing it. There was still so much to talk about, but all they wanted to do was to savor every precious moment they could spend together as much as they could. Relaxing in each other's arms for as long as they could, Delphine snuggled her head closer to Amador's chest and tied her arms tighter around his waist. It didn't quiet travel all the way around his big waist but it was enough for her to have a good grip on him.

Smiling to himself, he stroked her head and swept her hair behind her ears and kissed the top of her head. He then slowly pulled away and turned her around to face him. "You have to go," he whispered without realizing he'd uttered the words.

She gazed into his eyes with her puzzled ones, and he gently brushed her hair back behind her shoulder and smiled, "I don't think a walk would've lasted this long."

The grin that broke out on her face quickly captured his heart, causing him to grin as well, and she mischievously replied in a childish tone of voice, "I could've been lost. You know how vast this wood is."

"Delphine, you have to go, darling," he softy insisted and cupped her warm, rosy cheeks that had been pressed to his chest. "As much as I would like for you to stay, you must leave for your own safety. I don't want to cause you any more heartache."

"But leaving you is the heartache," she whined.

"Oh, Delphine," he purred into her ears as he leaned in and gave her a soft peck on her temple. "There will be plenty of time for us to be together. But, now you must go before they get suspicious." He slowly pulled away again and caressed his thumbs against her cheeks. "I don't know if I could live with myself if something happened to you. Now, you must leave."

Obeying his request, she nodded her head in agreement and tentatively got up.

As they pulled each other in for a last embrace, things started to get emotional again, particularly for Delphine.

Brushing her tears away, he told her how much he loved her and how he would always be there for when she needed him, even if she was thousands of miles away.

"I don't want to go," she sniffled. "I want to stay here with you. I love you, Amador. I don't want to leave you…again."

"You must. If you don't, they'll come and look for you, and we'll both be in deep water," Amador persuaded before Delphine pulled him into a deep kiss that he lost himself in as they both stumbled for the bed.

"Delphine," Amador moaned, as he laid her down onto the pillow.

Outside, a mystical region of the wood blocked out the moonlight so that no light could shine through and nothing could be seen from inside or out.

"Amador," Delphine uttered breathlessly as she tried to remove his shirt, but he wouldn't have it. He quickly stopped her before they could do something that they both knew couldn't happen.

"No, Delphine. You have to go," he murmured as he kissed the crook of her neck.

Acknowledging this, she agreed, and he helped her up. She straightened out her dress, and fixed her hair, and they gave each other a final goodbye kiss. Delphine pulled away and removed a ruby necklace from her neck and handed it to him.

"This is for you. My grandmother had given it to me the day she died, and her mother had passed it on to her. It was going to be for our daughter. But now it's yours," she said as her voice threatened to crack. "She named it 'Eternal Necklace' because it's supposed to represent the undying love for one's lover. That was why her husband had chosen ruby for the necklace; its colour stands for love. He had given it to her the day he asked her hand in marriage. Romantic, isn't it? Here, it's yours now."

"No, no, I can't take this. It's too precious. You keep it," Amador pushed it back to her.

"No. Please, take it. Love me, and take it. Sell it if you need to, when you need the money." She placed it on his palm and closed it. "Remember me," she then whispered. "Remember our love and our baby."

"I don't know what to give you back in return," he uttered.

"I don't need anything except your love," she kissed him softly on the lips and then breathed, "Farewell, Amador," and opened the door to leave.

"Farewell, Delphine."

Just as she was only a few feet from the door, a figure came up from behind and grabbed her.

Delphine let out a frightened scream, and a horrified Amador dashed out of the cabin to check on his lover.

"Quite a walk you had, eh?" her attacker cynically remarked close to her ear, sending chills down her spine. She knew exactly who it was without even having to turn around to look.

"Henrik, I can—I can," she stuttered looking back at Amador, worried for his life more than her own.

"Can it!" Henrik hissed. "Get him!" he ordered, and out of the blue, four guards came out from both sides of the cabin and arrested Amador.

"Amador!" Delphine called out as she struggled against Henrik's grasp, as Amador himself tried to break free from the guards' grasp. He managed to break free but a guard kicked him from the back to weaken him.

"Destroy this place," Henrik roared, as the other two guards obeyed, surrounding the house with fuel and setting fire to it.