Hey guys,
So I will post another two chapters today and unfortunately that is the end of the story (I know, so sad) BUT! BUT BUT BUT I have a new Ahk/OC story coming out and it's called Autumn's Day. It's a High School AU and I'll post it after I have completed this story but then I won't update for another few weeks as I am on holiday (unless I have a day in the hotel and I can just post a new chapter very quickly) but don't get your hopes up.
I won't have much of an Author's note for the next two chapters but I just wanted to thank you in advance for being so awesome and reviewing whenever possible... it jsut makes my day and freaks out the people around me (usually because I start laughing or squealing)
So thanks!
Harmony xxxx
Chapter 18: Behind the Name
I lay in bed with my hands outstretched in front of me. In-between my fingers is the golden piece my mum sent me with the word Eloquence.
I got up and opened my new laptop. I typed into google Eloquence Synonyms and opened another tab and googled Behind the Name.
I looked at the first result for both. I skimmed through the synonyms listing each one in order of relevance. I then looked up Jessie in Behind the Name. It came up with two results. I opened both in separate tabs. The first link got me no where, going from Jessie to John. The second result was a little more satisfying as it went form Jessie to Jesse, but it didn't give a definite meaning. I sighed in frustration. All I knew was Jessie, derived from Jesse, meant gift. Gift of what though?
I then had a light bulb moment. I typed in Angelica and only one result came up.
Derived from Latin angelicus meaning "angelic", ultimately related to Greek Yak, yak yak.
The poets Boiardo and Ariosto used this name in their 'Orlando' poems (1495 and 1532), where it belongs to Orlando's love interest. It has been used as a given name since the 18th century.
Boiardo? I have heard that before… ENGLISH! When we were studying the Italian Renaissance!
I jumped up from my desk and rushed to my Year 11 English workbook. I skimmed through the pages till I found the analysis of Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato.
I looked at my writing picking the key points in which would help me. The story of Angelica's struggles and Orlando's Pursuit were followed up in Orlando Furioso by Ariosto. Angelica's struggles? Orlando's pursuit? God that sounds like Ahk and I… wait… how did Ahk get the golden piece?
Did he find it among my present wrappings? He must have…
What does Eloquence have to do with it though? Wait… Katherine said mum liked codes…
I raced to my bedside cabinet and took out the collection of letter my mum had given me.
Ok, first write them all down. I then arranged them all in order of dates.
Appetence
Harbinger
Kalon
Mellifluous
Eloquence
Natsukshii
Riprian
Aleatory
Halcyon
I then did the old look at every first letter. I got:
A
H
K
M
E
N
R
A
H
I couldn't believe my eyes. I tried the trick again wanting to see if I had made a mistake. I hadn't.
My mum did this intentionally, it couldn't be a coincidence with her.
I checked the backs of all the papers and then the golden locket. I held it to the light but it wasn't see through. I shook it and heard the rustle of something inside. I tried to pull the top open it but it wouldn't budge. I then twisted it. I heard the sound of something grinding and I twisted it a little more. Finally, the locket was open and inside were three items. Two pictures and one scroll tied up with a ribbon.
I saw the first picture, it was as small as Jed or Octavius and was a picture of myself, my mum and my father just as we were leaving Sydney Airport. I was wearing my favourite pair of ripped jeans which still fit me and a Beatles shirt. That was always my travelling outfit. I had my usual boots on and my hair was tied back in a plait. I wanted to cry but no tears came so I just sighed.
I placed the picture on my bedside cabinet and looked at the other picture. It was of Ahk and I at Christmas, both wearing Christmas sweaters.
On the back, it said: Your father gave them to me.
My father? Wait… Larry? She called Larry my father? Does this mean that… omg. I still hadn't accepted the fact my own father had died. I still clung on to the feeling that Larry was not my father. The feeling that he was my guardian and not my father… wow it has taken me over four years to realise that!
I placed the other picture on the bedside cabinet still in a little bit of a shocked state. I then untied the small scroll and read the few words on there: Your was friends with the night guards there. I know Ahkmenrah. He is a nice boy.
I couldn't believe this. Not only did I just process the death of my own father but my uncle knew Ahkmenrah? Did this mean that even if I wasn't Larry's adopted daughter I still would have met him? Or would my mother keep as much of distance as possible?
That didn't matter. All that mattered was I had two families. Both may not be complete and may have a few broken parts in them or a few complications but I didn't care for I was now eighteen and my university letter should be coming in a few weeks. I would know how my future would go from there and well… that's all that mattered right now.
L
*A few weeks later*
"C'mon Jessie, we are all ready." I had four letters in front of me. One from Standford, Fordham, Columbia and NYU. I had my hands over my mouth and sighed.
"If I-"
"Just open them will you? The tension is killing old Jedediah!" Jed said from my Standford letter. I nodded.
Surrounding me were Sacagawea, Ahkmenrah, Teddy, Jed, Octavius, Dexter, Nick and Larry all with encouraging and excited expressions on their face.
I opened Fordham first. They accepted me. I felt relieved I was accepted into at least one university.
I then opened Columbia. My hand went a little shaky on this. It was only a small acceptance rate, would I get in?
"We are sorry to say that-" I didn't need to read any further. I was not accepted at Columbia.
"Let's see what Stanford said?" Sacagawea said with her usual determined voice.
I opened Stanford. I groaned.
"No?" Larry asked. I shook my head, close to tears.
"Wait… there is still hope. NYU?" Nicky said holding out the letter. I wanted to burn that letter if it said I was not accepted. I had been dreaming of NYU for three years. I wanted to see everything and NYU offered pretty much everything a university could offer for Archaeology. I sniffed as I opened the letter.
"We are pleased to tell you… I GOT INTO NYU!" I screamed. I started crying and shaking the letter in my outstretched hand up in the air.
"I GOT INTO NYU! I GOT INTO NYU!" I was so happy. Everyone lifted me up and I couldn't believe it.
Finally, everything was falling into place.