Charlie sighed as he took notes on the mother dragon below him in the
valley. It had been a week since he'd heard Perry's story. She had been
released the day after her awakening, and had returned to work a few days
after that. He still treated her the same, but he felt saddened by the
circumstances in her life, and by what she had to go through. "Imagine not
being able to be with the one you love because of a mere class difference,"
he thought. It was almost as stupid as not being able to love someone
because they were not pureblooded wizards, which unfortunately as he well
knew, was not uncommon. He shrugged and continued observing, then once his
note sheet was completed, headed back to the Administration building, He
entered the transcription area, noting Perry sat in her seat, eyes close to
a sheet of parchment upon which was some very cramped handwriting, Kralen
again. He grinned and placed his parchment on her desk,
"Want me to talk to Kralen for you?" he tried to sound casual even though his heart cried for her. He didn't want to make this awkward for the both of them. She smiled and looked up at him, the tip of her nose smudged with ink.
"Thanks, but this is the highlight of my day." Her smile warmed his heart and he grinned nodding, then with a wave he headed out.
"I'm tired. I think I'll head to my bed early. See you tomorrow, Per" She nodded and waved, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, but they showed pain and sadness at his departure. He quickly walked out into the cold air and headed toward his flat, then without even removing his clothes and shoes he fell to the bed, lying back, thinking, until he drifted off to sleep.
***
Charlie stirred and awoke to a tapping at his window. He groaned and opened his eyes, seeing a snowy white owl fluttering outside. He quickly stood and headed over to the window, opening it, shivering at the cold air that entered with the owl.
"Hey, Horus, whatcha got there?" he took the note clasped in the owl's beak and petted its head lightly. He nipped at Charlie's finger lightly the perched itself on top of the dresser mirror. Charlie ignited the candles in his room then opened the note, wondering why Perry sent him Horus in the middle of the night. He held the paper in his hand, as he read the simple message:
Charlie, Meet me tomorrow morning, breakfastime, by the fountain in the courtyard. There is something important I need to speak to you about.
Love,
~ Perry He dimly wondered what this could be, then smiled and got an owl treat for Horus. The owl took the treat, and with a flutter of wings was back out the window. Charlie watched him for a moment, closed the window, changed into this pajamas and went back to sleep.
He awoke feeling fresh, having slept soundly for the first time in a week. He went through his morning routine of exercising, shaving, bathing, and brushing his teeth, then headed down to wait for Perry by the water fountain. He found her already there, holding onto a sheet of paper, reading it avidly, as if it were a guarantee of life out of Azkaban. She looked up as he approached, and without warning, launched herself into his arms, pressing her lips against his in an excited kiss. He stiffened a bit, and then kissed her back wrapping his arms around her, a voice screaming in the back of his mind that he shouldn't do this, but he didn't care. He wanted to lose himself in the sensation forever. Too soon, the kiss was over and Perry looked at him with sparkling eyes, and a grin that was infectious. He looked at her wonderingly questions swirling in his mind, but he asked the key one that would lead to other answers,
"What was that all about?" She grinned and showed him the letter she had been holding in her hand. He began to read it:
Dearest Peresea,
I borrowed this owl from Maricia, your friend, since she assured
me that this would be the fastest way to get to you rather than
normal international mail. I want you to know, first of all,
that you are my best friend, one that is very dear to me, and
that I would never hurt you intentionally. You know that we are
under the contract for marriage that was agreed upon my our
fathers and that we, being the good children that we are, were
going to follow through with it, even though we both know in our
heart of hearts that you and I are not meant to be together. I
say this because I know you Perry, like I know myself. I know
you do not love me that way, and you know that I do not love you
that way. Your correspondence from Romania, few and far between
that it was, let me know that for sure. With this certainty I
called a meeting of our respective fathers and told them that
the contract was annulled. Needless to say, they raised hell
when they heard of this, calling me an irresponsible child and a
disgrace to the family, and, well you get the idea. I stood my
ground, Perry, for you and me, I stood my ground and told them
that this was the silliest stupidest agreement they could have
ever made. This is not the time of the Spanish Court and class
doesn't really matter in love. Then I gave them my second
surprise, the surprise I am going to give you as well, only that
I know you will be happy for me and not furious, like they were.
I am getting married. Her name is Lisandra Oratta. Her family
runs a small bodega a few blocks from where my office is. I love
her, Perry. I love her so much it hurts me. I want to marry her.
I want you to be here for the wedding. Most of all, Per, I want
your blessing. You are my best friend. I hope you are happy in
Romania and I hope you have found love there, just as I have
found love here. Thanks for the dragon pictures. They were
great. It was a good idea to make them look like if they had
been painted or drawn. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours,
Ariel
Then she handed him another paper, from her pocket. This one was written in flowy woman-style writing. A letter from her parents, he decided. It read:
Dearest Perry,
Hola, mi amor. How are things in Romania? How is the weather? Are you bundling yourself up properly? I still don't like the idea of you being so far away, but it is your life and I am very proud of you, even if I don't show it. I apologize for the bad air between us these past years. I was just honoring tradition. I love you, honey, and I want what is best for you. Now I realize that I did not trust your instincts and that I should have. You know what is good for you. I hope we can start over, again. I know that Ariel has written to you, and so I understand, now, what you have tried to tell me before: that class and rank are not the most important things in the world. You have so much to offer and I know that one day you will find a man, on your own, who will cherish you, as you deserve. Needless to say, Ariel and I had a long discussion when he came to make his announcement. Then I talked with your father and he agrees as well. You are to choose your own path and destiny. We will help you if you want it, but we are no longer going to try to run your life. The old tradition is dead, and we must face that. You are your own mistress now. We are proud of you. Write back soon.
Love,
Mami y Papi
He looked up at her, wonder in his eyes, his voice stuck in his throat. He dared not hope what this meant, for that would be cruel if he were rebuffed. She smiled and nodded whispering,
"This means I am free, Charlie. It means exactly what you hope it means. It means that you and I are free to love each other." He just looked at her, shocked, speechless as the words sank in. Then he let out a loud whoop, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her up twirling her around in a circle, while she squealed and laughed, holding onto him. He then took her face gently in his and kissed her. A sweet kiss that held promises and hope for the both of them.
"Want me to talk to Kralen for you?" he tried to sound casual even though his heart cried for her. He didn't want to make this awkward for the both of them. She smiled and looked up at him, the tip of her nose smudged with ink.
"Thanks, but this is the highlight of my day." Her smile warmed his heart and he grinned nodding, then with a wave he headed out.
"I'm tired. I think I'll head to my bed early. See you tomorrow, Per" She nodded and waved, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, but they showed pain and sadness at his departure. He quickly walked out into the cold air and headed toward his flat, then without even removing his clothes and shoes he fell to the bed, lying back, thinking, until he drifted off to sleep.
***
Charlie stirred and awoke to a tapping at his window. He groaned and opened his eyes, seeing a snowy white owl fluttering outside. He quickly stood and headed over to the window, opening it, shivering at the cold air that entered with the owl.
"Hey, Horus, whatcha got there?" he took the note clasped in the owl's beak and petted its head lightly. He nipped at Charlie's finger lightly the perched itself on top of the dresser mirror. Charlie ignited the candles in his room then opened the note, wondering why Perry sent him Horus in the middle of the night. He held the paper in his hand, as he read the simple message:
Charlie, Meet me tomorrow morning, breakfastime, by the fountain in the courtyard. There is something important I need to speak to you about.
Love,
~ Perry He dimly wondered what this could be, then smiled and got an owl treat for Horus. The owl took the treat, and with a flutter of wings was back out the window. Charlie watched him for a moment, closed the window, changed into this pajamas and went back to sleep.
He awoke feeling fresh, having slept soundly for the first time in a week. He went through his morning routine of exercising, shaving, bathing, and brushing his teeth, then headed down to wait for Perry by the water fountain. He found her already there, holding onto a sheet of paper, reading it avidly, as if it were a guarantee of life out of Azkaban. She looked up as he approached, and without warning, launched herself into his arms, pressing her lips against his in an excited kiss. He stiffened a bit, and then kissed her back wrapping his arms around her, a voice screaming in the back of his mind that he shouldn't do this, but he didn't care. He wanted to lose himself in the sensation forever. Too soon, the kiss was over and Perry looked at him with sparkling eyes, and a grin that was infectious. He looked at her wonderingly questions swirling in his mind, but he asked the key one that would lead to other answers,
"What was that all about?" She grinned and showed him the letter she had been holding in her hand. He began to read it:
Dearest Peresea,
I borrowed this owl from Maricia, your friend, since she assured
me that this would be the fastest way to get to you rather than
normal international mail. I want you to know, first of all,
that you are my best friend, one that is very dear to me, and
that I would never hurt you intentionally. You know that we are
under the contract for marriage that was agreed upon my our
fathers and that we, being the good children that we are, were
going to follow through with it, even though we both know in our
heart of hearts that you and I are not meant to be together. I
say this because I know you Perry, like I know myself. I know
you do not love me that way, and you know that I do not love you
that way. Your correspondence from Romania, few and far between
that it was, let me know that for sure. With this certainty I
called a meeting of our respective fathers and told them that
the contract was annulled. Needless to say, they raised hell
when they heard of this, calling me an irresponsible child and a
disgrace to the family, and, well you get the idea. I stood my
ground, Perry, for you and me, I stood my ground and told them
that this was the silliest stupidest agreement they could have
ever made. This is not the time of the Spanish Court and class
doesn't really matter in love. Then I gave them my second
surprise, the surprise I am going to give you as well, only that
I know you will be happy for me and not furious, like they were.
I am getting married. Her name is Lisandra Oratta. Her family
runs a small bodega a few blocks from where my office is. I love
her, Perry. I love her so much it hurts me. I want to marry her.
I want you to be here for the wedding. Most of all, Per, I want
your blessing. You are my best friend. I hope you are happy in
Romania and I hope you have found love there, just as I have
found love here. Thanks for the dragon pictures. They were
great. It was a good idea to make them look like if they had
been painted or drawn. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours,
Ariel
Then she handed him another paper, from her pocket. This one was written in flowy woman-style writing. A letter from her parents, he decided. It read:
Dearest Perry,
Hola, mi amor. How are things in Romania? How is the weather? Are you bundling yourself up properly? I still don't like the idea of you being so far away, but it is your life and I am very proud of you, even if I don't show it. I apologize for the bad air between us these past years. I was just honoring tradition. I love you, honey, and I want what is best for you. Now I realize that I did not trust your instincts and that I should have. You know what is good for you. I hope we can start over, again. I know that Ariel has written to you, and so I understand, now, what you have tried to tell me before: that class and rank are not the most important things in the world. You have so much to offer and I know that one day you will find a man, on your own, who will cherish you, as you deserve. Needless to say, Ariel and I had a long discussion when he came to make his announcement. Then I talked with your father and he agrees as well. You are to choose your own path and destiny. We will help you if you want it, but we are no longer going to try to run your life. The old tradition is dead, and we must face that. You are your own mistress now. We are proud of you. Write back soon.
Love,
Mami y Papi
He looked up at her, wonder in his eyes, his voice stuck in his throat. He dared not hope what this meant, for that would be cruel if he were rebuffed. She smiled and nodded whispering,
"This means I am free, Charlie. It means exactly what you hope it means. It means that you and I are free to love each other." He just looked at her, shocked, speechless as the words sank in. Then he let out a loud whoop, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her up twirling her around in a circle, while she squealed and laughed, holding onto him. He then took her face gently in his and kissed her. A sweet kiss that held promises and hope for the both of them.