Chapter 9: Her father's home.
Connor lead the horse down the road. "You still okay, Celeste?" He asked softly.
Celeste looked up and smiled. "Yeah. I'm just thinking." She replied quietly. In her lap, she held some embroidery; normally she wouldn't touch it but it was a tradition in her family for the bride to make something. She waved the cloth at Connor. "Does this look like a rose to you?" She asked.
Connor eyed it. "Well, it's beautiful, but completely out of character for you. Shouldn't you make something more...appropriate?" He offered.
Celeste arched an eyebrow. "Tell me what you think I should make." She asked. "I have no idea. My grandmother made a flower, and so did her mother and her mother before her. It's practically a tradition to make some type of flower." She added in annoyance.
"Well, it's a stupid tradition. We should break it. Make a sword or a wolf or something." Connor said firmly. "Something beautiful and strong."
"A sword is beautiful?" Celeste asked, smiling. Suddenly she sat upright. "Look! Is that the village?" She cried, eager and young sounding.
Connor turned his head and smiled. "Yeah. It is. Celeste..." He paused and looked at her. "You're a good person, and I love you. Just--remember that, okay?"
Celeste smiled innocently. "Okay. Come on, I just need to ask one question!" She urged him.
Connor climbed in front of Celeste and galloped into the village. The people moved around uncertainly, watching them and grumbling.
Celeste touched Connor's shoulder. "Help me down. I don't think they like us being taller than them." She whispered.
Connnor shrugged, and slid off before helping Celeste down. Then he turned to face the people. "Relax. We're not here to stay. She wants to know who her father is. Please, just tell her that much." He shouted.
An old man walked forward and looked at Celeste. "What makes you think that we know?" He asked in a low, croaking voice.
"Because...my father was born here. I've never met him but I have to know." She begged softly. Connor reached out and held her hand as she continued. "Please. I...I need to go home soon. I haven't been home in so long."
The man frowned, and then carefully eyed her. "Hm.You do look like a young man who left here some years ago. The last we heard of him, he was in a dungeon for high treason against the queen. She had 2 of his children." He mused. "His name was Cedric. Do you think you could find him again?"
Celeste nodded and walked away slowly. Then she turned to look at Connor. "Cedric. I've heard of him. He was...awful." She whispered. "I don't want him to be my father."
Connor sighed softly. "Come on, Celeste. Let's go home. It's high time you did...and high time we married." He said softly. The couple left quietly, leaving only a trail of tears that fell from Celeste's cheeks.
