At dusk, I am waking up early as I haven't really slept a wink last night. Josh said to me that we are going to school early to go and finish our homework in the library. I am really slugging it this Evening. I can't find the strength to get up for some reason. I get up anyway and preen my feathers as usual. Then I apply perfume, put on a scarf and pin it with a pin Josh (well, it belonged to Barran before she told him to give it to Lady Autumn, but he asked if it could be my early birthday present. She just said that it was sweet that he was going to give me a present and she gave it to him) gave me. I then hear a knock and a voice at the entrance of the hollow. It is Josh and I tell him to wait outside, without letting him see me, as I want to surprise him with my look.
Josh meets me outside my hollow and he is just staring at me in awe. He picks up my wings and says in Naya'va "It is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Toscarne". I just bow and reply in Naya'va "The pleasure is all mine, your majesty" and we can't keep straight faces anymore and crack up laughing.
"You did the "Prince" bit and called me a lady? You are so funny!" I exclaim while catching my breath
"I have had practice. Especially saying that type of greeting to you that i would never say to anyone else." He replies
"Come on, Prince Josh. A Ga'Hoolian prince should know better than not to keep ladies waiting." I say
We then go. Josh flying next to me and he complements on my perfume. It is really sweet of him to be flying with me to school (or to be exact, the library). I feel like we are sharing some sort of bond thing here, seeing as we do go on dates and junk, but we have to be careful. Lady Autumn caught us kissing once and she says that she will keep the couple a secret, but she doesn't want us to be what she says as "locking beaks" on the school grounds. Autumn knows that I have been with Josh and she says that I am lucky to be with a guy that cares about her, seeing as her brother married her off to Lord Allomere when she was only 16 in an agreement for a whole number of reasons. Besides, she is fairly young anyway as she is only 28 years old.
Getting back to Josh, I laugh when he laughs, he synthesises with me when i cry. I love how he shows empathy and how he always helps the lower half of the class with study. I feel like he is like one of us commoners. Usually, princes are all stuck up, not even caring about the people like me who are deemed "commoners" by Josh's dad (who is a MAJOR aristocrat, seeing as he was born into the aristocracy back in Northern Kingdom), but he is different. Here i go again. Rambling on and on about how great Josh really is when you get past his rank as Prince of Ga'Hoole.
Besides, he promised to have a romantic picnic for my birthday next week and he is really sweet for that. His birthday, July the 15th is the day after mine, July the 14th and I really don't know what to do on his. …Oh he is just so kind and dreamy with those golden eyes…
Right, back to work. Barran expects us to be revising notices for the mid-semesters and We are reading up on history stuff about the Battle of Twilight Dawn (The actual name of the Battle from Legend of Mordecai and Cheyenne) and Lina comes past and knocks my notebook and all my study notes all over the floor. I get mad and almost have the nerve to yell, but Josh tells me otherwise and he helps me pick up my notes. I can't believe how much of a bitch she is. Everyone at the GTA thinks she is an ingrate and that she should be expelled and thrown out of Ga'Hoole.
During the day, in Navigation class, which has Queen Barran droning on and on about something that even she is finding boring, Bryony passes me a note. It says:
"Lina is looking at me funny, Lyd. It is absolutely creeping me out!"
I look over and she is just paying attention to Barran. Her beady amber/hazel Eyes forward, listening perfectly, kind of what a model student (like upper Moon Master) does. I find that good, but quirky.
After school, Josh stays back, as he and Barran are busy marking things together and I head home. When I get home, I just put my bag of books on the floor and then get to study. I know there is our Moon Group meeting tonight, but it is approaching mid-semester exams. The one thing i do is study as practice makes perfect. I also summarise and revise all my topics to make this easier if I need to look something up. My mother is counting on me to get good grades when she comes home and sees my report from this term.
Wrapped up in my work, I lose track of time and i notice that I'll be late to our meeting at the Northern Gate, which is a secluded area in the Great Tree like other places. I hurry to file my notes and fly to the gate. I already see Shard and Bryony there and i join them. Less than a few minutes later, Josh and Parzival arrive and we begin.
"Lina was staring at me funny. That really crept me out, big time. Remind me never to look in her general direction ever again without warning of her eyes." Bryony shudders in fear
"I agree, Bry. Lina is pretty creepy when it comes down to it. When i went to pick up my textbook, there was a note inside it. I swear she is hitting on me and i am already taken. That girl must be blind and deaf or something not to notice that I am, above all things, taken." Josh adds
"That is just not cool. She is wrecking her schoolbooks and, to top it all off, I am practically the only one allowed to write letters or notes in that fashion. Did I mention I use the stationary set my mum gave me for my last birthday?" I point out with a little anger towards the issue at hand
"Hold on. Does anyone have any of their notes received with them?" Bryony asks
"I do, Bry. She gave this thing to me in History yesterday. She is totally like creepy" Parzival replies with emphasis on the "creepy" to make her weird
"Hand it over, sport. I want to look at them closely." Bryony instructs him
Parzival hands it over and it is the same sort of paper, torn from a workbook. If we could find whose book it came out of… hmm… A lot thought comes to mind at this moment. Is Lina the culprit? Who knows, but we have come up with a deduction. The culprit uses workbook paper to leave these notes. I know what Josh is thinking of: A post. If we steal Lina's workbook, she should end up dobbing us in and we would get busted and given detentions and flint mops for a whole month.
Josh devises a plan and he explains it to us. Wee going into an absurd amount of detail, but this is for a greater cause.
"Alright, we agree then. We have to monitor Lina's movements. Shar and Bry monitor her in the classroom. Parz, monitor her when we are in training and Lyd and I will follow if she is acting strangely. We Clear?" Josh asks
"Clear." We reply in unison
We then are in silence and don't know what else to talk about. Bryony breaks the silence, by sneezing and then we say "bless you".
"There is a party at Skye's place. Anyone wants come with me?" Bryony asks
"I'm up for it." Shard replies, sounding a little undecided
"I live for parties, Bry." Parzival announces, seeing as we all know it is in his domain
"Josh, Lyd, ya coming?" She turns and asks us
"Nah, we're going to wait for Lydea's mum if she is coming home tonight." Josh answers for us
"That's cool. Come on, boys. It ain't a party without us!" Bryony cheers
They fly off in high spirits to go to some girl's weekend party. Parties in Ga'Hoole seem to happen all the time when you come to think about it. Well… The students in the GTA are none other than teenage Owls who are young adults and we do want to have some fun sometimes. I know Josh had lied about that. I burst out laughing after they leave and Josh looks at me funny before laughing with me. He makes a very convincing liar, even though he is a bit too honest from time to time. Also, he is not supposed to lie as prince anyway as he could end up making a massive situation out of things. Like the rumour that Lady Autumn and Ezylryb were planning to run away together (because we all know he has a crush on Lady Autumn and she suffers being married to his enemy in parliament) and it was all sorted out Before Allomere returned from a Search and Rescue Chaw Patrol. No one is allowed to speak of that or Ambala will be on our asses like *snap* that.
"Nice one. She believed it. You are just so good a lying." i complement while catching my breath, which I am finding hard to do as I just want to laugh more and more
"Thanks." he replies as she is in the same situation too.
After catching our breath, we sit there and just listen to the ocean and look at the sunrise. That means we have to go to bed soon in curfew (It is like one of them movies). I think that i have to get my head out of clouds sometime soon. I mean, really have to. I bet Josh thinks I'm a dreamer. I don't care. Mum calls me an "optimist" or maybe a "Hopeless romantic" and I find that annoying.
Now that we are finally alone, i have a thought coming to mind like Parzival to a party (that means, just comes no matter what the moment).
"Do you think that your parents will allow us to be together? Someday they will find out and i don't know what they would say really." I ask
"Mum, maybe, since she would be happy that I found a pretty and smart girl like you. My Dad, i am not so sure. He expects so much of me anyway and also we do have this fight we have been having for a while and… Well… I don't think he would allow this to happen." He replies
"I feel the same about my mum. She would think that you are smart and responsible to be dating me. She would say that my grades are everything and if I got one bad grade, I don't know what she will do. She isn't really here to encourage me or help in any way, but she expects a lot. Besides, I'm thankful I'm not you." I say
"What does that mean?" He asks straight away in shock of what I said
"Well... I just..." I try stutter as i try to explain (I hope he doesn't hate me for saying that)
"Don't worry. I know what you mean. Oh, I'm not mad at you or anything. No one can be mad at you. You are too honest and nice to say something vicious." He complements
I giggle and blink my eyes as he wraps me under his wing as i hear ruffling of feathers behind me. I turn around to see if someone is there or not. I hope that wasn't Lina... (Or worse…)
The spy flies off to tell Boron of what they are doing. He hears this and overreacts from the truth of this being real, seeing as his one fear might someday become true. Without telling Barran of what is going on, Boron sends his guard to separate Josh and his girlfriend, Lydea, and to bring him Josh in the process. The guard are quick to comply and head towards the Northern Gate.
Without knowing the danger, the two teenage owls are just having a good time by themselves as they are laughing at some funny jokes. In the trees, the master guard waits for the right time to intervene and to grab Josh and Lydea to separate them. They watch over the pair, who have resorted to be speaking Naya'va, are just talking when the guard come and ruin the fun. Some take Lydea and take her away; as she flings her claws around and beats her wings to try and release herself. She is screaming "Let me go!" as they take her away. This is making Josh angry as he might know what is going and for taking Lydea away.
How dare they take Lydea away like that? I know who is responsible for this, my father. He must have found out… Oh crap! I know where this is going; a lecture and I don't think that mum would have backed this decision. Is he trying to tear the family apart? As I am mad for all that is going on, it is time to yell.
"What are you doing?" I yell
"That is confidential, Prince Josh." the Master Guard replies
"I demand you let her go under my orders as Prince of Ga'Hoole and a second in command to my parents!" I order
"That is not within your power, Prince Josh, as it is an order from a higher rank from yours. An order from your father, the King of Ga'Hoole." The Master Guard replies again
"Come on. Let her go. He better have not told you to chuck her in a cage or something. If he did I will rip him limb from limb and I don't care that he is my father." I yell.
"No, Prince Josh. However, you are to come with us." he informs he as guards grasp on me.
I struggle to set myself free as they are taking me home. When I am almost there, I hear screaming in Naya'va and my dad say "IN ENGLISH, Barran!" In a pissed off voice (seeing as he can't speak it). As I enter my home, the two voices are louder as we walk into my room and my mother yelling at my father. I think she knows what he has done and is going off at him. Knowing mum, she would kill anyone for messing with me or dad (when she is not pissed off at him for some reason). She is the only one of my parents that gets me. Since I was 13, Dad hardly knows i exist most of the time, because of our fight.
"He is 17 years old, Boron! He isn't a puppet or an owlet anymore. He is your, soon to be coming of age, son. He isn't a child anymore!" Mum yells
"Barran, this is for the best. Something that you don't understand anymore. What happened to you? You used to want the best for Josh and now you have turned into a hypocrite from what you first believed. That is why you don't get involved in my decisions. Go to bed or something!" Dad yells back at her
"How dare you call me a hypocrite? I still believe in a peaceful world, it is you who has lost it. Years ago, you were agreeing with me and you didn't treat me like I don't know squat nothing. YOU ARE JUST A BASTARD WHO HAS THE POWER GONE TO HIS HEAD!" Mum screams
"YOU ARE JUST NOTHING MORE THAN A STUPID DRUNKARD AND A BAD INFULENCE ON OUR SON!" dad yells (I am getting really pissed off now that he is yelling at my mum)
"YOU ARE THE BAD INFLUENCE! YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RAISE HIM TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE OVER THE GLAUX-DAMN GREAT TREE AND YOU HAVE BEEN PRESSURING HIM TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN STUDY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS!" Mum yells (and she is correct at that)
"SHUT UP YOU BLASTED, VILE WOMAN!" dad yells
He hits mum and she hits him back he gives a "oh that is it" look and throws mum against the wall opposite. Mum is aching in pain and she is staring to cry and yet …dad feels no regret for what he has done? The guards are shocked as much as I am and mum whimpers as she lies against the wall. How dare he do this to her! He can't talk to or treat my mother and his wife like that! How is he her husband and my dad if he treats her like crap and beats her when she makes him go into that sort of anger spiral? How long has this gone on for? Is he a traditionalist or what? After helping mum to her feet I start defending myself and mum's honour as i am really peeved now.
"What the hell, dad?! You ordered the Royal Guard to do bring me here, against my will and you dare throw my mother into the wall? Look at her; she is almost going to cry because of you! What is wrong with you?!" I yell as I help mum up
"He also had a spy on you, Josh" Mum adds, while still whimpering
"Shut up, Barran! You don't get involved, you idiotic woman." He orders
"You don't get enough sleep if you think hiring a spy is good parenting! THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE!" Mum yells back, finally getting her confidence (and anger) back
"You had a spy on me?" I ask "What the fuck dad?!" I yell
"He did, Josh. He absolutely did! After i had told him not to even think about doing that. Guess what, son... He did!" Mum answers
"What did i tell you?" Dad asks Mum getting in her face and glaring at her
"No one yells at my mum like that. You are a jerk, dad. A real jerk!" I yell as I push him into the wall
"See, Boron! He thinks you are a jerk. I agree with him." Mum adds toward my statement
"ENOUGH! I have had it up to here with the unruly behaviours of you and that child. GUARDS, TAKE QUEEN BARRAN TO OUR HOLLOW, IMMEDIATELY!" He orders
"THIS ISN'T OVER, BORON! WHEN YOU COME TO SEE ME I'LL SCREAM UNTIL YOUR EARS EXPLODE!" Mum yells as she is dragged away.
It is just my dad and me, alone. My room falls into an instant silence when mum is extracted and taken away by the guard. We can hear her kick and scream in the distance as she is taken down the hallway to her and dad's room. I know what he is going to do, a lecture. Dear Glaux! This is the worst punishment in the world, even more then execution, exile or anything along those lines. I refuse to make eye contact. That is the smartest thing to do in this situation. He starts talking when my eyes look away. He grabs onto my shoulder. Oh Glaux… this is personal related issued…
"Josh, son, you are almost an adult now and i need to tell you something that I have kept a secret from you ever since before your mother and I got married and coroneted. Long ago, i gave up everything to find your mother during the war, since she was on a mission of her own accord that she would have risked her life in. It was when it was three weeks before I was to marry a Northern Kingdom Princess by the name of Shia'ja Schana when I ran away. I don't want you making the same mistake or abandoning your duties as a prince if you and that girl ever decide to run away. Understand this, you and that girl, Lygeia..." He starts his lecture
"Lydea." I correct him, peeved that he got my girlfriend's name wrong and from before with mum
He then let's go and walks over to the window and looks out of it then continues "Whatever. If you understand me the point is clear. I want you to find love, but that Lydea girl is trouble and she'll get you into It. I don't want you to get hurt or killed and that would break your…" He says before uttering some things under his breath about mum "…mother's heart and I don't want that to happen to her if something happens to you. She loves you as much as I love her…" He then trails off into another lot of stuff said under breath. I roll my eyes and then he continues "Also, this kingdom needs an heir to take over it. Especially, Glaux forbid, if something happens to me and your mother, if she would be alive in that case scenario, she would be unfit to rule by herself, you would need to take your place and replace me as king. Lydea will only get you killed if you stay with her and I don't want that to happen to you."
"What do you mean by "Lydea will get me killed"? She is harmless, never leaves the Ga'Hoole tree, has no enemies and a scholar who is like I. She would never get me into a fight that I'd not be prepared for." I ask
"What I mean is that… Will you please just understand that you would get killed if you were to defend a girl like her." Dad replies
"You taught me long ago to someday find a way to be king with honour, strength and courage. It is a bunch of lies forced into my young and naïve mind. Who do you think you are to try and manipulate me?" I ask
"I am your father, Josh Nyctea, weather you like it or not. You are as arrogant as your mother in understanding. Guards, seal him in his hollow for three weeks." He orders
"No! I am not putting up with this! I am right, you hear. I am right, you are wrong!" I yell as the guards clutch onto me as I am about to attack as I am getting fed up.
"Board up is windows and doors, make sure there are guards and no possible escape. He is as bad as his mother!" Dad orders
I struggle as they hold me back. The one who is my father leaves my room and I yell he leaves one last thing: "How dare you call yourself my father, Barran's husband and the King of the Kingdom of Ga'Hoole!"
I get sealed in. They block the entrances with boards of wood and guards everywhere. All i can say now is: "Lydea, I'm Sorry..."
From next door, I hear mum and dad talking. If he dares do more damage to my mother, I will break this door down. This is all that transpires:
"Why is it that you have to make all the decisions. I have never stood by any of them since 1999 and it will stay that way!" Mum yells
"Barran, I have tried so hard when it comes to being your husband and I don't know what to do to make you happy anymore. I am busy all the time and I know if I can usually be at events or on our date nights. Also, I am sorry for tossing you into the wall. What will I have to do to make you stand by me once more as my beloved wife and the Queen of Ga'Hoole you used to be?" Dad says with a saddened and remorseful tone in his voice
"Boron… Why do you treat me like I am nothing? Why do you think that you are always right? I have stood by you for what will be 20 years, 18 years of marriage and the two years that we were together when we were in our late teens, and now you… have hurt me in a way that I may never… recover..." Mum says
I hear her adorable and somewhat loud sobs coming from the other room, she must be more emotionally scarred than anything else. I hear dad say "It's ok… Don't cry, my dearest" in a voice that I can hear still from here.
"Why is it that I have no say and you always think that I make a terrible mother?" Mum asks while sobbing
"I just want everything to just be ok. Josh is growing into an adult and I want to make sure he doesn't do anything. I wouldn't want him to get hurt. I do hate him for all the times where he thinks that I am nothing more than a monster, but I do still love our son and am proud of him. I would ask you for your say, but you don't encourage him to study as much as he should. Is that ok or are you going to yell?" He replies
Mum sniffs and says "I am not going to yell."
"I know you and you are a good mother, but he is going to graduate school in the spring and in December in the summer and I want to make sure he learns all he has to. You are an excellent ryb, Barran. You have taught those kids well." He says to her
"Oh Boron... I am not as good as a teacher as you when you take my classes. The kids learn lots from you, my love." Mum coos before I hear her ladylike giggle
I swear that they are kissing and I just go to bed. Now that I am locked in my room for the next Glaux-knows-how-long I might have to learn to get used to being in here for a while and being for more than that… eugh…
