"Alisha dear," Agatha said softly. "You haven't touched your breakfast."
Alisha stared at the plate of food in front of her. "I'm not in the mood mother. I have no appetite today."
"How long are you going to go on like this for?" Agatha looked into Alisha's eyes that refused to look back. "Cry when you're sad. When the tears are gone, life will move on. You're still going to have to live life. Face it."
Alisha lowered her eyes knowing her mother was speaking the truth. "I just…it doesn't…I can't believe he's gone. Just like that. One day he was here and the next…" Her voice trailed off. With a shake of her head, she whispered quietly, "He made me a promise. He said he'd never…he wont break it…I just know it…broken promises are merely lies…wouldn't lie to me…West wouldn't ever…he wouldn't leave me."
She looked at her mother. She was such a strong woman, so confident, ready to take on the challenges in life. Alisha sometimes thought she was like that too. As a child, she couldn't stop the tears. She had seen too much. Now it was different. When she felt unhappy, she couldn't help making others miserable along with her. Misery seeks company.
"When your father…disappeared," Agatha said the last word hesitantly. "Do you think if I cried day and night and if I didn't put myself together, do you really think we would be here today? Living life the way we are. Face your fears. The truth is bitter and cold, but you have to live with it. You're not a child anymore. You're a young woman now, so start acting it. West is dead and he's not coming back."
Alisha was angered by her mother's comment. How dare she utter those words!
"No Mother, you face the truth first," Agatha was taken aback "Father didn't disappear. He merely left us. He left his loving wife and helpless ten year old daughter to struggle. For seven long years! I know you haven't slept peacefully. For seven long years, you've held back the tears. For seven long, you've worked harder than a man to support your daughter and yourself. For seven long years we've had to go through so much to keep food on the table. And still… after these seven bloody years, here we are, struggling and suffering."
Alisha paused for a moment. The silence was deafening. "Where is my father?" she looked up, yelling at the skies. "Where is the man who never gave a second thought to the woman he married, the child he abandoned, and the home he shattered? Where is he? You see mother? He's not there! He NEVER was there for me. Father…where are you? Please…"
Alisha blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. "Just give me a sign that you're out there, missing us even the slightest bit. Give me the reason you left us so alone and devastated. Why did u leave us drowning in our own tears? Please…come back to us. I miss you…"
Salty tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked back at her mother with a broken smile. "He's not there; he won't even listen to me for a moment. Still the same…has no time for his daughter. Face the truth Mother. Your husband didn't just disappear. He left us because he didn't care about us. You see Mother? West wouldn't leave me. Because he made a promise. He promised I wouldn't have to endure that all over again. I faced the truth about my Father a long time ago. Maybe now it's your turn to do the same."
Agatha watched her daughter leave the little kitchen. She felt so worn out. She was so tired. Tired of everything. Her head hurt and her heart ached.
Did she really think so badly of her father?
-
When Jonas woke up in the morning, his head ached severely. At first he didn't realize where he was or why his head was aching. It took him a moment to remember the last night's events. As the memories came back to him, he groaned loudly.
That golden haired girl. What was her name? Elizabeth. Gold hair and blue eyes. She was quite eye-catching, with her nice smile. The only thing that tainted her beauty was the fact that she was as dumb as a donkey. All she had talked about was how wealthy her father was and how many people had asked for her hand. Jonas just wanted to shut her up and stuff her mouth with a chunk of his apple tart. Her sickening giggle when he said something, the way she clung to his arm. Argh! It made him nauseous.
Worst of all Christopher hadn't even shown up. Looking forward to seeing his friend had been the highlight of his evening. Apparently, he hadn't returned from one of his regular trips to Ayortha.
"Head aching Prince Jonas?" He hadn't noticed Clarissa walking into the room.
"Oh, I didn't notice you there. Yes, had too much to drink. Everybody was requesting to drink a cup with the Prince of Ayortha." Jonas made a face. "Depressing night it was."
Clarissa chuckled. "Ah, I don't blame you. That Lady Elizabeth could drive any man with his head on right, mad out of his mind. I don't understand how our own Prince Carlton seems to be attracted to her though."
Jonas' eyes widened in astonishment. "He's attracted to that airhead? Ha! Well that just made my day."
Clarissa smiled. "Well, you could also take a walk. Beautiful weather for meeting some people."
"Good suggestion." The prince needed to get out of the palace for a bit. "I could use the fresh air."
"If you feel hungry while you're out, be sure to stop by at Agatha's Bakery." Clarissa said enthusiastically. "She makes the best pastries you will ever lay eyes on. Her lemon pie-"
"You seem to like her food very much," Jonas interrupted. "Care to join me?"
The enthusiasm drained from the young girl's eyes. "Forgive me but I cannot. I need to work…and besides, if you were seen with me…" Clarissa paused and blushed furiously. "My status…"
"Second day in Kyrria, what will the townspeople say if they see my all by myself. They will think nobody liked me in the palace and tried to get rid of me for a while. Come with me and if anybody says anything, I will simply tell them the truth. You are my guide."
"I'll meet you at the front gates in ten minutes then Prince Jonas."
"Alright then!" As Clarissa walked away, the prince called after her. "It's Jonas by the way."
Exactly ten minutes later, Jonas and Clarissa left the palace. She was dressed in a green dress that was simple yet attractive. She blended right in with the townspeople of Frell.
"So you are taking me to Agatha's Bakery?" Jonas asked the raven haired maiden.
"Well yes. I suppose. Agatha is a nice lady. You might not like her much at first but you'll grow to love her."
"Does she run the bakery alone?"
"No. She lives with her daughter and son-in-law. Well at least she used. Poor Alisha. She has only her mother. That lass lost everything. Father, home and all. And now…West"
"What happened?" Jonas interrupted.
"Alisha and West were engaged to be married. They loved each other dearly. Grew up together and all. Alisha had found him on the streets when she was only 11 years old. He was an orphan. Nobody knows how his parents died. Nobody knows who they were. People warned Alisha that he would be nothing but trouble and bad luck. She didn't care though. She brought her back home and her mother, Agatha, took good care of him. At first he refused to live with them. He was 13 years old at the time. Thought he was a man. Soon, he realised he needed all the help he could get. "
"And then…"
Clarissa shook her head sadly before continuing. "He went away one day about 6 months ago. To Ayortha, he had said. Nobody had any news about him. For months, Alisha waited for him. Every night, near the gates of Frell she would wait. Still nothing. Then, just two months ago, Alisha and Agatha received a letter from Alisha's close friends in Ayortha. They had finally concluded that…" Clarissa hesitated. "They had come to the conclusion that he was either captured or murdered by the king's men…"
"What?" some people nearby turned their heads towards the two. The prince had spoken louder than intended. "You're telling me that my father is a cruel and heartless murderer?" With a scoff, he added. "My father would not capture let alone kill a man who is innocent. He probably was guilty of some crime or another."
"Maybe he was, but maybe he wasn't." With a scoff she added. "King Alexander is known for his cruelty. Anyone who speaks out against him "disappears". I'm surprised you do not know of this, then again, your father is a clever man."
"The Ayorthan kingdom is not corrupt. Dare not speak ill of my father. Watch your tongue milady."
Clarissa snapped back angrily. "Not corrupt? If only you knew…Prince Jonas."
The tense conversation was interrupted by a loud shout, "Ay Jonas! Itu biwa staz?" Jonas turned to see his childhood friend riding towards them on a great stallion. Christopher got off his horse and observed Clarissa. Switching back to Kyrrian, he said jokingly. "There I was, wondering; who is this blue eyed, black haired maiden accompanying my friend? I look closer and realize that it's just plain, old Clarissa."
Clarissa shoved the handsome man playfully. "And it's nice to see you too Lord Christopher-Lucasan!"
"Ah," he cried. "I give up, don't hurt me like that. What a horrific name." Christopher made a face. "Who names their innocent child Lucasan?"
"I doubt you were ever innocent," mumbled Jonas under his breath.
"Don't think I didn't hear that!" turning his attention back to Clarissa, he held out his arm for her. "May I have the honor of walking you milady?"
Giggling Clarissa accepted his arm. "Chris, what about your horse?"
"Phantom will follow," he answered. "Did I hear right? Not Christopher but Chris, already?"
"Oh hush!" Clarissa exclaimed. "I'm not head over heels for you like those silly girls. Those girls would fall for any man because of his good looks."
"Aha!" Christopher was laughing now. "So you admit that I am handsome. I must say…you aren't so horrible looking yourself. Who would have thought that our little Issa would grow into such an enchanting lady?"
Jonas noticed that Clarissa was turning a light shade of pink. Forgetting about their argument earlier, he came to the rescue. "Isn't that Agatha's Bakery?"
"Ah yes!" Before walking into the little shop with Christopher, Clarissa looked back to give the prince a grateful look.
Author's Note: yeah...i didnt get 15 reviews...it's ok though. Lots more coming up and more will be revealed about the plot. Please rate and review and leave your constructive criticism.
THANK YOU TO:
ladyoftheUNKNOWN
CaptainFantastic-
singingtelegram
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Meldiriel Indigo Eyes
Kelsey
oohhhh by the way: HAPPY HOLIDAYS