Gifted

31: Decision

Charles

I was in a cold place. It was dark, and I couldn't see as I stumbled along. I was whispering her name over and over, but it was as if my voice didn't work. At last I fell to my hands and knees in despair.

Suddenly a ray of golden light landed on me, and I lifted my head. It was Hera.

She wore a long golden dress, and an elegant headdress adorned her long, spun-gold hair. She smiled at me, kneeling beside me and taking my face in her hands.

"I'll always come for you," she whispered.

"Stay home," I begged weakly, but she silenced me, pressing her lovely lips to mine.

Suddenly the light dimmed to a cold silver, and I shivered. Hera's eyes grew wide.

"Don't let them take me away," she pleaded, and I held her tightly to my chest. I clutched her, unwilling to let anyone touch her. She cried out as hands appeared from the blackness and gripped her dress and hair and ankles, tearing her dress. I felt myself being pulled away from her, and a figure appeared.

Gerard.

Ronan appeared beside him, and Gerard reached over ripping at Hera's dress as she fought. My eyes grew wide, and hers pleaded with me.

NOT AGAIN.

I jerked awake, gasping. Ronan looked over at me from the fire, then turned his attention back to whatever his companion was saying.

I twisted my wrists, trying to free them from the bonds that lashed me to the tree, finally giving up. I watched Ronan get up and approach me. He crouched down.

"Do you think your pretty little wife will come for you?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"What will you do to her if she does?" He shrugged.

"Hand her over to the man she belongs to," he replied. "Donovan Black paid your cousin Gerard for her; she belongs to him." Anger sparked in my chest. "I heard from some of my associates that he plans to hand her over to the king, who is, after all, a lonely man." I pulled against my bonds angrily.

"I'll kill him," I snarled. "I'll kill you both!" He chuckled, straightening.

"I guess we'll have to see, won't we?" Then he walked away. I lifted my eyes.

"Please, God, if you're there, don't let her come..."

Hera

I heard Eva crying as I slowly woke, but a woman's voice hushed her. I opened my eyes.

My mother stood there, holding Eva quietly. Her hair was loose, something I rarely saw. I sat up.

"Mother?" She turned, smiling in a defeated way.

"Hello, dear." I looked away.

"Are you here because of the whole... incident?"

"Yes." She laid Eva back in her cradle, then sat on the bed.

"Will God protect him?" I whispered. "I need him when I have this baby, Mother." I saw tears in her eyes as she brushed mine away.

"We can only keep praying." She straightened. "Come on. Everyone else is downstairs."

My oldest sister Artemis saw us first. She ran to me, hugging me tightly.

"Remember what I told you," she whispered, "about the pain going away? When we thought Charles was dead?"

"Yes," I choked.

"I think I was wrong." I broke down.

"I'll never be able to just live, will I?" I sobbed. "Not when we're married."

"Everything will go away someday," she assured me weakly. "I'm sure of it." Percy approached us, and for some reason, I thought of when Gerard shot him. He had healed well, but it haunted me.

He didn't need to say anything as he hugged me tightly, and I refused to cry.

"Tell us everything," I heard my father demand gently as I pulled out of my brother's arms.

I explained everything with a shaking voice, and when I finished, they all protested.

"You can't!"

"He wouldn't want you to go, so why would you?"

"I won't allow this."

"Please, Hera..."

"I have to," I said. "I have to bring him home. I owe it to him."

"But the baby, Hera," mother protested.

"Charles brought me home when I thought I was never going to see him again. He saved me, now I need to repay him. I love him, and I'd go through a thousand years with Gerard if it would protect my husband." I stood up. "I need to go pray some more. I'll be down in a little while."

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