THIRTY-THREE
Jindra had been unable to sleep during the night and had wandered down the hall to Coren's old bedroom. As she stood in the middle of the room, she thought that she could still feel her brother there. Some of his clothing still hung in the wardrobe and there were many small mementoes that he had not taken with him scattered about. Even though her brother was gone, there was still so much of him in the room and she found herself comforted by it.
Jindra sat on the edge of Coren's old bed, turning a large piece of shiny black rock over in her hands. She remembered when the two of them had found it on the ocean shoreline in Palas. They had fought over it for an hour, before their mother had taken it away and threatened to throw it back into the ocean. Not wanting her mother to follow through on her threat, Jindra had reluctantly let Coren have it. Much to her brother's credit, however, he had let her carry it back to their grandfather's house before taking it back. Jindra was surprised that Coren had kept it all these years. She was so wrapped up in her memories that she never noticed that her father had entered the room until he sat down next to her on the bed.
When Erich looked down into this daughter's face, he could see the glint of tears on her cheeks. Without a word, he put his arms around her and pulled her close. Jindra buried her face in the front of his shirt. "I feel so empty -- so lonely . . ." Erich kissed the top of her head.
"Why? Why did it have to be Coren? It's not fair . . . it's just not fair!"
Erich smoothed his daughter's hair with his hand. "I keep asking myself that same question -- and I still haven't found any answers. Sometimes there are no answers."
Jindra pulled away from her father's embrace and looked up at him. "Well that's not good enough. I want answers, father -- and I won't give up until I get them. I want to know what happened -- I want to know why it happened. Coren deserves that much."
Erich Roh looked at his daughter and his hand went up to brush the hair from her face. "We'll have our answers, Jindra. They promised a full investigation . . ."
Jindra snorted, "Oh please! We both know what kind of investigation will be done. Some government flunky will look like he's doing something to appease us -- while he's actually doing nothing but sitting on his rear-end in a cushy little office somewhere."
"You forget I'm one of those government flunkies with a cushy office." Erich gave her a small smile.
Jindra gave her father an annoyed look. "No you're not -- you actually have a heart. I know that you'd really care enough to find out the truth of what happened; and we both know that isn't likely to happen . . . but I won't let it rest, father. I don't want some arrogant jerk to say that what happened was Coren's fault -- because I know it wasn't. I know that he didn't cause the accident -- I know he didn't!"
Erich reached her his daughter's hand. "I know . . . I don't believe it either. I-I've had this strange feeling that something isn't right -- but . . . but I don't know what to do about it. I was tempted to approach Commandant Varada, but -- but I just don't know enough about what happened yet. I can't go to him just because I have a feeling that what happened wasn't really an accident. I-I need more information -- some actual proof."
"Then we'll just have to get proof. You have to stay on top of them -- you have to keep after them. Please don't give up, father. I don't care how many toes you have to step on or how high up the ladder you have to go -- just promise me that you won't let it go. Promise me that you won't let Coren's memory be tarnished by this."
Erich looked into his daughter's tearful eyes. "Don't worry, love; I'm not going to let this go. I want to know what happened as much as you do. You have my word, we will find out the truth."
Jindra reached out and embraced her father. Pulling back she looked him in the eyes. "I-I'm sorry father . . . sorry for disappearing . . . sorry for treating you so badly . . ." she looked down and took a breath, "I've been so horrible to you for the past few days -- you needed me and I pushed you away. I'm so sorry -- I didn't mean it. I love you so much."
Erich felt tears in his eyes and he quickly blinked them away. Cupping Jindra's face in his hands he kissed her on the forehead. "I love you too . . . no matter what you say or do, Jindra. You're my daughter -- I can forgive you anything, you know that."
Jindra took her father's hand but remained silent for a few minutes. Her voice was soft when she spoke, "I-I-I know we haven't been that close -- not like when I was younger -- but . . . but I want you to know how much I admire and respect you. You've always trusted me and let me go my own way -- and I've always been grateful for that, you don't know how much. I-I-I just don't want to ever be a disappointment to you -- all I've ever wanted is for you to be proud of me."
Erich squeezed her hand. "Jindra, love -- I've always been proud of you. You're intelligent, independent, beautiful, caring, and artistic; you have such a gentle, caring nature. What father wouldn't be proud of such a daughter? You've become everything that I hoped you'd be." Pulling his hand from her grasp, Erich embraced his daughter.
After several moments Jindra pulled away from his embrace, her cheeks were flushed, and Erich could sense that he had embarrassed her. Trying to give her some time to regain her composure, Erich stood up, walked to the single window and looked out. Jindra glanced up at her father and he appeared to be deep in thought. After a few minutes, he turned towards her and spoke. "Jindra . . . about -- about Folken Lacour . . ."
Jindra stopped him before he could continue. "No father, please -- not now."
Erich had turned to face her and he had a puzzled expression on his face, "Does that mean that you've finally . . ."
"Come to my senses?" She finished the sentence for him. Jindra shook her head, "No, it doesn't. But I'm not going to give up on him either. We are going talk about this, father. But not here, not tonight."
"Jindra -- you don't understand what you've gotten yourself into. You don't know anything about him. He isn't even from Zaibach."
"I know everything there is to know about Folken Fanel, father." Jindra saw her father's eyes widened as she said Folken's real name. "That's right -- I know. He told me everything. I know who he really is -- where he came from -- how he came here." She stood and walked towards her father.
"Jindra if you know of all that, then you have to understand what that means. Despite his birthright, he won't ever be . . . what he was intended to be -- he's been all but declared dead."
"I don't care what it means, father. Folken has left all of that in the past. I know that he won't ever be the king of Fanelia -- but that means nothing to me. I fell in love with him before I knew anything about his past. I don't care if he's a king or a beggar on the street. I'd still love him -- he's the only man that I'll ever love. I know you think that I'm too young and that I don't know what love is -- but I do, father -- I do. Folken's like a part of me -- he completes me -- and I feel so empty inside when he's not with me." Jindra took a breath and looked up at her father as she spoke, "Please, I don't want to argue with you about this now; not here in Coren's room. But I don't want you to be angry with me . . . "
Erich reached out and rested his hands on her shoulders. "I'm not angry with you Jindra; and you're right, this isn't the time or place. But you and I -- and your mother -- will finish this conversation later." Giving his daughter's shoulders a gentle squeeze; he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Its late love, you should try to get some rest." Jindra nodded her head and then silently followed her father out of the bedroom.