Anna And The Invisible Castle

Episode 9. THE VISIT

She managed to sleep again. When she awoken, it was to a sight of sumptuous breakfast on her dressing table, “Papa,” Anna mumbled under a smile and then swirled out of bed. Yawning and stretching, she crossed over to the tempting food, baked potatoes and barley. She sniffed the aroma, she grinned. And then she walked to her windows and parted the curtains to welcome beaming rays of a midday sun into her small room. She even had to raise a hand over her eyes to protect her eyes from direct contact with sharp rays of sun. She peeped out of the window and her eyes wandered across the backyard, to their barns and stable as her bedroom window opens to them, at the backyard while her father’s opens to the frontage, to the gardens and village track road. Turning away from her window, she let her eyes travel across her small room, from the wardrobe to the bed, to the dressing table and then the shoe rack. There was nothing else but she loved and always appreciated her room. Exhaling, she strode out of her room and entered the small hallway. She checked his room, but her papa wasn’t in there so she shut back the doors and made it for the stairs.

She entered the living room, to a drawn up curtains and saw him at last, in the gardens already up and doing. A smile danced across her face and lit her eyes. The fact, knowing she had the world’s most amazing and hardworking father left her heart leaping for joy.

She folded her hands and watched him for a while, and then her hands mistakenly touched her necklace, shifting her thoughts to the one parent that was missing in her life.

The smile on her lips froze. Her gaze settled on the jewelry and she caressed its pendant. Once again she moved her gaze to her father at the gardens. Himself must miss mother too, poor him, she thought because if herself, Anna could miss so much a woman she barely could remember, then what of him that’d shared a part of his adult life with her.

She remembered her father’s strange behavior last night and swallowed a lump. She went cold... Did he really growl like some big dog? Perhaps, a werewolf? No. She shook her head. There was nothing as werewolves, those only existed in folklores, they were just myths, yes..myths. And secondly it seemed he didn’t like talking about witches, or was there something more to it, something he was not telling her, his cupcake?

Talking of witches, a dull image of the witch from her nightmare flashed across her mind, terrifying her to her bones like last night. Anna bounced away from the window. Shutting away the images in her head, she headed straight for the bathroom. In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth, bathed, and in her room, treated herself to the already waiting breakfast.

“Good morning papa,” she greeted as she stepped into the frontage.

Mr. Jones, now busy with raking the weeds, paused and straightened up. He smiled. “How are you?” he asked.

She moved closer, her purple gown scooped in one hand, a basket and hoe in the other. “I’m good, and full too,” she replied rubbing her stomach. “Thank you papa,” she grinned.

Smiling, Mr. Jones watched her strode over to him, watched how she carefully avoided stepping on the seedlings. She got to him, dropped her basket, and picked up the hoe. “Where should I begin Papa?” she asked.

“Are you sure you can do this today? You know, you can just watch from under the shade,” he said pointing to the only tree in their compound, an orange tree. It sat in the middle of the small garden, its branches and thick leaves sheltering a small portion of the land.

“Please papa, don’t stop me from lending a hand.” He tried to hesitate. “Please…” she gave the biggest of grins.

He laughed. “Alright come over here, ” he pointed to a portion. “You can help with that.”

She happily obeyed. The weather was favorable. They had worked for hours when a child from the village led a familiar figure wearing a black hood into their compound. From where she stood sowing seeds into the rich loamy soil, Anna straightened and watched in curiosity how the figure counted coins into the child’s open palms. The child grinned, thanked him and off he went happily.

“Papa...papa,” Anna called for her father’s attention.

Then he heard her and paused raking the grasses. He looked, followed her gaze and for the first time spotted the figure too. He dropped the rake in his hands and went out to meet the fellow.

From the gardens, Anna watched them exchange pleasantries. They had conversed for some seconds, perhaps a minute when her father casted a glance at her direction. She saw him nod the second time to the unknown visitor. Who was that? Her heart raced.

“Cupcake, come over here!” her father beckoned.

Quickly, Anna returned the seeds in her hands back to the container in her basket. She cleaned the surface of her palms on her gown and then she buckled forward. It wasn’t until she had neared the duo that she began to understand why this guest had an aura of a familiar figure. “Eric!” she gasped after finally figuring the jigsaw.

“Lady Anna,” he smiled and freed his face from the hood. He made a slight bow.

Anna curtsied in exchange, a nervous shy smile creeping into her dry lips. But she was confused, surprised. How did he trace Nezmae, her house in particular? Well even though he must have inquired from people in Ascencia about to locate Nezmae, it still doesn’t sums up to how he found her house. She clearly couldn’t recall giving it out to him either.

“You know him?” her father asked, moving his gaze from his daughter to the young man before him.

She leaned towards his ear and whispered, “He’s the Eric I told you about, the trade fair, you remember?”

“Oh, that!” Mr. Jones nodded and again focused on the guest. “You said you come from?” he continued with the young man.

“Ascencia,” Eric replied and tried to concentrate on the man before him. He didn’t need a fairy to tell him he was her father, Anna’s father.

“Very well, come on in,” Mr. Jones said beckoning the guest into their house, to a sofa in the living room, himself settling for one close by. Anna went on into the kitchen, to prepare coffee. It was a normal routine. Even though she knew it was wrong, Anna couldn’t help eavesdrop into their conversation from the kitchen.

“How are your parents?” that was her father querying Eric.

“They’re fine, sir.”

“Do they live in the city of Ascencia too?”

“Yes, they do.”

“Remind me of their names again.”

Eric hesitated. He continued with his initial lie, he’d tell them the truth when the time is right, when he has gained their trust enough not to blow his cover. He hoped they could bring their selves to forgive him by then. “Sir and Lady Blackwood,” he said and cleared his throat slightly.

“How was the ride from Ascencia?”

“Rough, but it’s of a great adventure.”

“You’ve never been to Nezmae?”

“No,” Eric took a deep breath. “This is my first time of leaving the walls of Ascencia.”

They were still talking, this time of how interesting the last trade fair was when Anna presented a jug and two mugs on a tray. She poured coffee to the mugs and served one to her father, and then the other to Eric. And then her gaze met with Eric’s and he gave a warm smile. “Thank you,” he whispered. Feeling shy, she set the tray on the center-table and was about to escape the room when her papa came calling. He asked her to seat with them.

“The coffee is nice Lady Anna,” Eric commended and smiled at her.

Anna was now more than shy. There was something full of impulses about him that made her knee buckle whenever his gaze was on her. The way which he looked at her, the way he smiled at her, his voice, the aura surrounding him. At times she wanted to just run away, but most times she wanted to explore whatever it was behind this feelings. She brought back her attention to the room, she smiled back at him, a quivery smile.

“How old are you, Eric?” asked Mr. Jones as he took a sip of his coffee.

“I shall be eighteen in few days’ time,” he replied. “And you, Lady Anna?”

“Sixteen, I’m sixteen,” she mumbled and silence enveloped the room, a kind of magnetic silence that notified Mr. Jones he wasn’t needed right there. He finished up the contents of his mug and replaced the mug on the silver tray.

“I would give you two some privacy,” he announced and stood. “I’m sure my Anna would take the pleasure of showing you around our humble abode, right cupcake?”

The two protested as if they weren’t more than happy to have some privacy. Anna followed her father to the door. “Papa, you need to get some rest.” Her voice was low.

“Have you seen the way he looks at you? I can tell he likes you.” His voice was low too.

“Papa!” she jokingly hit his arm, “Stop please!” They both stole glances at Eric, he was now playing the cards on the table all by himself.

“I don’t know cupcake…there’s something about him that doesn’t sums up but I can’t tell what exactly it is.”

“You don’t like him?” Anna braced herself for the worst. She knew how strict her father could be when it comes to keeping male friends, the reason she didn’t have any.

“No, no, not that, cupcake. He’s such a sweet boy, sorry young man but, it’s like there’s something he’s not bringing to light.” Mr. Jones saw how his daughter’s shoulders draw up with sudden tension. “Or it could just be me, you know, scrutinizing an innocent young man.”

Anna folded her arms and glanced back at the guest, he was still busy with the cards. Then her gaze was back at her father, “I don’t know papa…” her voice was filled with confusion.

“It’s nothing serious cupcake,” Mr. Jones re-assured again. “Just go over and make your guest, sorry our guest comfortable. You can show him around, I’ll be at the garden in case you need me.” He smiled.

She obeyed and went back to Eric. Their gaze met, locked and he smiled a cool smile that flattered her next step. She sank into the closest chair and returned a smile.

“You really are your father’s daughter,” he said. “What of your mother?” he queried and immediately wished he could take back the question. Liveliness evaporated her face, replacing it with a somber expression. When he was sure she wouldn’t be replying the question, she came talking.

“She’s late, died when I was a toddler,” she mumbled, her gaze was on the empty space before her.

“I’m so sorry,” he said and watched her reach for the necklace on her neck, the way she touched its pendant had him curious. “Is that hers?” Their gaze met. She nodded, but said nothing. “Do you miss her?”

Her gaze broke away again. She sighed. “Every day I try not to, I try not to miss her but it’s so hard.” She blinked, “I miss her so much. I only have to hold on to those blurry babyhood memories I have of her, I nurture them and refuse to let them go.”

“It hurts,” he whispered and she looked at him.

“Yes, it hurts,” she concurred. He poured coffee into her father’s mug, went over and gave it to her. She mumbled a thank-you, and took a long sip. “My father is doing all he can to mend the tear in my heart, but I still wish she was here. The worst is my father won’t open up what happened to her.”

“Maybe talking about her death leaves him hurting too, more than you do. He must be trying to heal as well,” Eric thought aloud.

“I thought as much too, that’s why I don’t bother him to do so,” Anna agreed. She heaved a sigh and buried her face in her hands. Eric wished he could cross over to her and hold her in his arms to soothe the pain, the pain that weighed her heart but since he couldn’t bring himself to do so, he found another way, with words.

He swallowed. “I don’t know much about your mother Lady Anna, but I’m certain she’d be so broken to see you not moving on. I know it sounds awkward, but you have to be strong not only for yourself also for your father. You’re such a brave young lady judging from the way I saw you arch the other day at Ascencia,” he leaned forward, at the figure whose face was still buried in her hands. “But when life throws lemons at you, you make lemonades out of it. You just have to be stronger and never give up in your future.” He waited…and then she raised her head, her eyes were wet, tears- he thought. Their gaze locked, they exchanged a nerve-calming smile. “You can do this, I believe you can,” he added.

She smiled, nodded slightly. “Your parents are both alive, huh?” she changed topics, turning tables at him.

He nodded, “Yes, they are.”

She reached for her coffee, she sipped. “How does it feel to have both parents alive, together?”

“Beautiful, sweet especially my mother, she’s the best. She makes sure things are always alright with me even though she must obey my strict father’s unbending rules.”

“Rules, exactly like my father, he hates it when I run around with my friend, Miel. So many rules, just like the table cloth,” she pointed at the dining table, “You must have it removed before serving any dish. You must not talk while eating.” She laughed at the thought, slightly shaking her head. “Isn’t it amazing?”

He forced a grin, but how would he tell her it wasn’t that sought of rules he was talking about. This one has to do with one that forbids his freedom, have him locked up behind the tall walls of the palace. He wished he could tell her who he really was, he yearned to come clean. “Speaking of Miel how is she? Is she from Nezmae too? For once one will think you both are sisters?”

Anna smiled. “We’ve known each other since I was six. We have something in common. Her father died shortly after she was born. It’s amazing how we draw strength from each other and our parents, I mean her mother sometimes plays the role of a mother to me, the same goes with my father for her.” She saw the question in Eric’s eyes. “No!! Don’t even think about it! They are better off as friends too, don’t tell me you suggest they get married.”

Eric tried to hold himself from shrugging, all to no avail. “You can never tell, Lady Anna.”

“No, no,” Anna shook her head. “You won’t be saying this is if you know Mrs. Bouston, that’s Miel’s mother, even her own daughter can’t stand her most times.”

“Why?” he was curious.

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s such a nice woman, but she talks quite a lot.”

“You mean to say she nags?”

“O my God not that, not at all,” she replied and paused for a breath. “I-I meant, she likes talking a lot more than listening. She can discuss something big out of something so little and if I must confess, she’s also a good story teller. I even told her about you and at first she was shocked.”

“Why was she shocked?” he reached for his mug, he sipped.

Anna snickered, circling a finger round her mug. “Mrs. Bouston thought you were the Prince of Ascencia.” He literally choked the coffee in his mouth, he coughed. Quickly she darted after him with a table napkin. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized not having a clue on the truth she had just hinted. She froze at the contact of their hands; it felt magnetic, strong like a spell but she quickly withdrew back to her seat and watched him help himself with the napkin. She resumed. “I assured her you were not the prince and then, and then she told me a story about an evil princess who is the reason why the Prince of Ascencia is locked away behind the walls of the palace.”

“What?” his eyes were wide open, wider than Anna has ever seen them be. And then he recollected himself and took a deep breath, “Would you care to share this story with me?” he smiled.

Anna hesitated. She wasn’t supposed to tell this to someone else. “I- I,” she was indecisive.

“Please Lady Anna,” he begged. “Tell me, please.”

Anna swallowed. There was something in his voice, in his eyes that said of something unsaid. He was more than curious and it left her curious too, and confused. “It’s such a long story.”

“You can summarize it. Make it short, very short.”

She sighed and sipped her drink. And then she told him, everything. When she finished with the story, he sprang to his feet and thrust a hand in his hair. “So that's what all these is about,” he alleged. She didn’t understand him, but she could tell he was furious, very furious. Anna remembered. Well, the story did make her herself furious too at learning of such evil that ruled a heart of a then Princess of Ascencia.

“I felt this way too,” she acknowledged. “I wonder how the Prince must feel growing up confined behind those walls of the palace all his life.”

He had his back to her so she couldn’t see the pain, the betrayal that seeped his energy now. He shut his eyes tight and took a sudden breath, and then he faced her again, all calmed down again. “Lady Anna, there’s something I must tell you…”

“Good day, Mr. Jones!” a familiar voice interrupted from outside.

“Miel,” Anna gasped, stood and darted to the window. She was right, it was Miel. The girl had a basket in her hand loaded with fresh vegetables.

“Good day Miel, how are you, how’s your mother?” that was Mr. Jones.

“Very well, thank you! My mother said I should give you these,” she motioned at the vegetables in the basket.

“Oh that is so kind of her, you must thank her for me.”

The girl smiled. “Where is Anna?”

“Your friend is inside,” Mr. Jones said tilting his head towards the house. “Please give the veggies to her, and don’t forget to thank your mother for me,” he reminded.

Anna came away from the window and her attention was back on Eric who was still standing. “Well, speaking of my best friend Miel, she’s here.” She smiled. “Do you mind joining me in a small game?”

He smiled..“Shall we?”