Hello again
Here's the next chapter
One week later
She knocked on the door lightly. There was no answer.
Wendy opened the door slowly, in case Mary was still sleeping.
She had been in a good mood the last few days. Mary had wandered the halls of the estate, flicking the silver coin Wendy had given her and talking to everyone. She even let some of Eric's snide remarks about her manners pass, which could only be a good sign.
"Mary?" She called into the room.
There was still no answer.
"Dearest, are you sick? You did not answer the maid when she came to wake you…" Wendy pushed the door open completely.
The maid had taken the no answer as a sign that Mary was in a bad mood and had not even tried to open the door.
Wendy stepped carefully into the room; it was empty.
"Mary?" She called again as she looked into the closet.
She became uneasy when her eyes fell on the bed. It was neatly made like Mary hadn't even slept there.
"Mary, whatever game this is, it is not funny." Wendy tried sternly and looked into the bathroom.
The girl wasn't there either.
She stepped back into the room, confused.
If she was not here, where would she be?
If she had gone on a morning walk or something, the servants would have known and told Wendy.
She stepped closer to the bed and saw a fan of envelopes lying there.
Wendy picked one up and looked at it confused. It was addressed to her and Eric in beautiful cursive.
Her hands began to shake as she remembered how sad Mary had been in the last few years.
She struggled but opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.
Every letter was written in beautiful cursive, just like Mary hated to do.
It was an apology.
Wendy's legs failed and she fell to the floor.
Mary had left.
She had left and taken the silver coin with her. Was that a consolation? Was she going to come back?
Wendy did not know what to do. She did not even know she was screaming Eric's name until he came running into the room, followed by servants, Brian, and Adaline.
"Wendy, why are you screaming?" He sounded almost irritated.
Wendy looked up at that man. In that very moment, she wanted to scratch his eyes out.
"She's gone! Mary has run away!"
A few days later.
She heard his breathing grow shallow, and she sat up in bed.
He seemed so peaceful lying there, sleeping. She had not slept in days.
She slid out of bed.
They had gotten word that Mary had boarded a boat for America.
They had contacted authorities in America and reported Mary as a missing teenager, but no one had found her. She had managed to slip away.
She left the bedroom door open as she slipped out.
The estate was oddly quiet. The only sound was her bare feet against the marble flooring.
She had been prepared to go to America herself to look for Mary, but Eric had been against it.
In his mind, Mary had embarrassed the family by running away in the middle of the night, and she could fend for herself now.
Wendy walked down the stairs with a scowl.
And of course, he wouldn't leave her alone because they had to present a strong front. So no matter how distraught she was, how much she wanted to hit him every time she saw him, and how much they fought behind closed doors, they could not fight in front of others.
Her feet landed on the lower level and she looked up at a portrait of her and Eric's families' very first Christmas together, when they had become officially engaged.
The perfect family portrait. The perfect union between two families. The perfect front, too?
Mindlessly, she kept walking.
Mary had prepared letters for both Brian and Adaline, as well as some of her cousins and Wallace and Madeline.
Adaline had been particularly crushed and blamed herself for not being there for her twin more. Wendy tried to console her daughter, but the young girl was heartbroken.
She opened the terrace door and stepped into the night air.
The breeze was cold, and as she stepped down from the terrace, the grass felt wet against her feet.
She walked slowly but with a purpose towards the forest.
The Elven Queen stood in the tree line like she was expecting a visit.
Wendy walked straight into her friend's arms and collapsed in sobs.
The otherworldly creature did not say a word; just hummed lightly and rocked the crying woman.
Whatever is wrong … my little one…?
Wendy looked up and saw her father standing tall. He looked just like he did when Wendy was young, and had his arms around a giggling Eva's waist, while an unblemished Arthur appeared beside them.
"It is Mary…" Wendy sobbed. "She ran away."
To where…? Arthur's voice echoed around her.
"America," She buried her face in her majesty's dress.
There … there … my little girl … Her father said, and she felt his rough hand on her head. She will be fine … she is as brave … and stubborn as you…
Wendy breathed into The Elven Queen's skirts and looked at her family. "But she is so young…"
The Elven Queen gently whipped her tears away.
They hung from the long, white fingers like ornaments on a Christmas tree.
Even young birds take off … for warmer weather… the forest creature said in comfort and stared at the tears.
"But what if something happens to her?" Wendy asked and sat up.
Then I will be there … my brave little hunter… The Queen said and smiled. I will protect them … keep your family safe…
Wendy smiled. Her face felt so stiff it was almost hard to do, and it soon turned into a frown. "But still…"
We can never stop worrying… Arthur knelt down next to her and gave her a boyish smile. But we can forever comfort you … in your sorrow…
Yes… The Elven Queen whispered and caressed Wendy's face before she elegantly rose to her feet. let us dance our sorrows away… she reached her hand down to Wendy. just for the night…
Wendy's hands shook and she reached up and took it. As she did, she felt lighter. Warmth flowed through her. They now stood in a grassy meadow surrounded by elven folk. She looked down at the nightgown, which had turned into a beautiful, smooth dress, like the ones she had danced in at the inn years ago.
She looked down at her hands and felt her face, they were smooth too.
Soft music flowed through the air.
Come now … my little hunter… The Elven Queen said and held out his hand, as the forest creatures around them began to move. Let us dance once more…
Wendy danced. She twirled and laughed until sharp sunlight pierced the meadow.
The music and dancers slowed to a stop.
Wendy sighed and looked at the rising sun.
"It is time for me to go back." She said as she turned to The Elven Queen.
The endless eyes glittered along with the gentle smile. Then … goodbye for now … my friend…
Six months later
"Damnatio Memoriae."
Wendy looked at Elias in confusion. "Excuse me?"
Elias glanced at her and then looked back up to the new family portrait he had just hung on the wall. "It is Latin. It means to condemn a memory. In ancient Rome, it was a severe sentence for emperors and the like. Their statues would be taken down and their likeness and inscriptions removed from any buildings." Elias looked at her again. "And then I think you could say ... it was like the perpetrator never existed."
Wendy breathed heavily and looked up at the new portrait.
Mary wasn't there.
"You have gotten quite a silver tongue over the years." She said.
"And you lost the fire in your eyes." Normally when Elias spoke to her, his voice was smooth, but today it was hard.
She observed him for a moment.
He had gotten wrinkles here and there, as well as a few grey hairs, though his hair was still silky and long. His beard was black and looked sharp.
She knew that the only reason he had insisted on coming and hanging the portrait himself was because he wanted to talk to her.
She breathed heavily. "I try not to worry. Mary is a strong girl; she will make it through."
"You are her mother." Elias smiled sympathetically. "It would be odd if you were not worried."
They stood silently and admired the painting.
"How are you feeling … Wendy?" Elias then asked.
Wendy did not say anything for a while. Her eyes flickered around to different portraits in the hallway. Elias had drawn most of them. He had almost become the Branigan family's personal painter. She remembered how happy she had been when each of them was painted.
"Broken." She finally said. Her eyes landed on the portrait of her and The Elven Queen. People who saw the painting could not believe that Elias could imagine such a beautiful being. "I feel like I let her down. I feel like I failed her in every way. She saw no other option than to run away. I have been allowed to pursue my dreams. And I could not allow her to pursue her ears."
There was quiet again.
"Wendy…" The man beside her breathed. "It wasn't you who failed her."
He reached out to take hold of her hand but stopped midway when a servant passed by and stretched his arm instead.
Wendy looked up at the portrait in front of them. Eric looked back down at her with a polite and dignified smile. He had a hand on her shoulder in the painting, beside them stood Brian and Adaline with the same polite and dignified smile plastered on the face. She remembered how hard it had been to smile knowing that Mary wouldn't be in the portrait. Adaline did not want to be alone that night.
"I want to leave him."
Elias looked at her with surprise.
"One of our children is not with us. And he does not want to look for her because of pride and is too busy removing her family portraits." She continued. "Eric took her leaving like a personal insult."
"He is probably not entirely wrong." Elias shrugged.
Wendy smiled bitterly. "I think I hate him, Elias. I truly think I do."
Elias breathed but didn't smile. If it had been 20 years ago. He had probably picked her up and spun her around.
He smiled a tired, little smile. "You know the reason I never married was because I could not marry you."
Wendy looked away. "I wish you would've moved on many years ago, Elias. I have always felt guilty, that you never left England, never found someone to love or had a family."
He gently took hold of her hand. "That was my choice, my muse. And who knows … perhaps I enjoy pining for something I cannot have."
She slipped her hand out of his and couldn't look at him. "I cannot leave him right away. I want Adaline to be married first. I want to make sure my children are happy and do not need me anymore before I go about this. I do not want my choice to impact their lives."
"What then?" Elias said. "I cannot imagine high society being kind to a divorced woman."
"I do not know; Perhaps I will go back to the inn to be with my family, my brother would probably take pity on me. Or perhaps I will go to America to find Mary. I just do not want to stay with Eric anymore. I do not understand how he can just so easily turn his back on our daughter for hurting his reputation."
"You could always come with me, my fairy muse, and we could start our adventure." Elias smiled rather playfully at her.
Wendy shook her head at him. "We are far too old for that now. People would probably pay me enough to dance with them. Elias, I appreciate your friendship, but…"
He cut her off by gently taking her hands and kissing the top of it. He suddenly looked 20 years younger. "I have waited this long, Madam. And my offer still stands."
Please tell me what you think.
I'm one step closer to the end :)
