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ROSEMARY (noun): Rosemary is an herb and it represents constancy.
Branch Clue: Madrigal
He held her face in his hands, screaming his words out, urgently trying to get his words to reach her. With all the explosions outside, the screaming women and crying babies, she could barely hear him. People were running everywhere and just like the two of them, were screaming their goodbyes. Every minute or so, a bomb goes off and - who knows, there might be one planted at the station as they speak. Everything screamed urgency, time running out. And as if on cue, the train lurched forward, signalling its nearing departure.
"I'll meet the both of you there, Madeleine. I promise," Will assured her, wiping the desperate tears running down her cheeks. He kept his voice from shaking, preventing Madeleine to feel the dread spreading all over his body. "Don't worry. I promise to get on board the next train. I promise."
Promises, promises. If it wasn't her husband talking to her right now, Madeleine Cahill wouldn't even think twice about believing anything he says. "Will..." she moaned, looking at another explosion dangerously close to the station. "I can't –" she gasped out, only to be silenced by another uniformed soldier.
"Madeleine, I need you to listen to me carefully. Take care of yourself. Your condition," he snatched a worried look at her gently bulging stomach, "requires you of that. I need you to promise me." His gold eyes - an odd shade similar to a lion's mane - blazed with the intensity of his words as they searched her face for signs of strength. "Promise me, Madeleine!"
"I-I pro-promise," Madeleine sobbed, clutching his sleeves tightly and swallowing the wave of nausea threatening to overcome her speech. "But, Will," she pleaded, gripping his arms tighter. "I-I can't possibly..."
"My mother will take care of you and if I don't appear at the doorstep in a week's time," his voice broke as fresh new tears spilled from his wife's haggard face. "I need you to run away. As far away as you could." He hastily wiped the tears away and gave her the best reassuring smile he has.
"I'll wait for two more days after that," she replied stubbornly, taking his face in her hands and looking deep in his golden eyes as if she was trying hard to embed them in her memory.
That made Will laugh. Laugh for what it was worth. He threw his head back in laughter at the defiant set of Madeleine's face with her jade green eyes flashing indignantly. Reminded him of the first time he met her. Under the rain. "Hey, what's that? Are you starting to not trust me?" he asked, pinching her cheeks good-naturedly.
Madeleine twisted her face away from his grip, smiling slightly. "I trust you. And he does, too." She placed a loving hand on her belly. "You're going to be there when he comes out and you're going to be there during his birthdays," she stated, her tone ringing finality as if she could do anything about fate's design.
Will chuckled. "Of course, of course, Madeleine Davis nee Cahill. Oh, and for good luck," he reached inside his coat pocket, revealing a single strand of rosemary. The only thing that makes her feel better when morning sickness hits. The scent oddly calms her. "Constancy," he said, breathing the words out and placing the rosemary inside Madeleine's chest pocket. "Fidelity. Forever."
They looked deep in each other's eyes, lost in their own world, knowing that it wouldn't last. With their fingers intertwined, a silent message passed between the two of them. Constancy, fidelity, forever.
"Madame! The train will be leaving soon," a soldier barked out, his faded blue military uniform demanding fear and intimidation. The towering Caucasian soldier had his shoulders squared, blocking the way entirely. His dark, stormy gray eyes glinted with authority and brewing danger. On regular circumstances, Madeleine wouldn't even blink an eye at this sort of coercion and would only retort with one of her own staggering glares. She's been through more than enough times of death-defying stunts to even think of shaking under a greenhorn. But, now... under the pressure of a raging war started by her older brother - Tomas - against Luke's people, nothing could scare her more than the thought of this soldier lessening what could be the last seconds she has with her husband. Alive.
Seeing as the woman wouldn't budge, the soldier continued in a more exasperated tone. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to move out the platform. The train will be leaving, you see." The soldier crossed his arms across his chest for good measure.
Will Davis shakily stood up from his kneeling position, but made no other move after that. The train lurched forward again. Seeing no other way, the neophyte soldier pushed Will out of the train, sending him stumbling down the ocean of crowd straining to get a last glance at their loved ones.
"Will!" Madeleine screamed at the top of her lungs, reaching out her hand frantically. "Will!" The soldier wrapped an arm around her waist like a vise. "Let go of me!" she snapped, giving his hand an ear-splitting whack. "Will!"
The train doors gave a violent shudder, hinting their closure anytime soon. "Don't hurt her!" Will yelled, noticing vicious look on the soldier's face and the slow closing of the doors. He was only a couple of feet away from the doors, but with all the people scrambling to get nearer, he can't even stand up. "Madeleine, no more crazy escapades, alright? Forget your mission from here on out. For me, please."
Madeleine could only nod, paralyzed with fear and desperation. "Will, I lo –"
Will gave her a sad smile, full of everything he wanted her to know and keep. "I know, sweetheart. I know." He tapped his chest twice, looking at the rosemary he gave her. "Forever."
The doors closed and Madeleine never saw him again.
Constancy.
Not after waiting for nine days. Or waiting for fourteen days.
Fidelity.
Forever ended, leaving a withering rosemary in its wake.
Forever.
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Characters: Madeleine C., Will D. (OC)
Author: AngelicSpring
Next: Aloe, a Tomas clue, by FascinatingRhythm
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. – Lance Armstrong
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