Earlier that day
“Felicity come outside I have something to show you” Fletcher called from outside. The wind blew sending rose petals from the garden flying about on the porch where he sat. Fletcher brushed his sandy hair out from his eyes and smiled. The sun warmed his face, and his smile grew larger as his younger sister shuffled her feet.
“Look at what I found” Fletcher told her.
“Brother did you forget that I am blind?” Felicity asked. She smiled to herself.
“You know what I mean,” he groaned “Use your powers.”
“I know that you didn’t find that pink meteorite. You bought it from that nice man down the street” Felicity told him.
“Hey, I thought you could only see through people’s eyes” Fletcher looked at her surprised.
Felicity opened her eye lids to reveal her beautiful gray eyes, a smile creased her lips, and she moved her head back to move her sandy hair from her eyes “I can also see the future in my dreams.”
“So you know today is a special day then right?” he asked. Fletcher picked up his sister and spun her around.
Felicity grimaced “don’t go see her today.”
Fletcher set her down gently “today is my birthday, I promised her when I became of age we would marry, and I know you have never liked her.”
“It’s not that,” she paused “monks are going to come and attack the house today.”
“Wow now you are coming up with stories” Fletcher laughed.
“It’s true, my powers showed me” she yelled. Felicity twisted her face into a pout.
“Ok Felicity then I will make a quick run, and be back” Fletcher told her as he ran down the path.
“I know you are lying, remember I can feel your emotions when I look through your eyes.” Felicity screamed.
Fletcher continued past the front gates, waving at the guards in the front as he passed. As Fletcher ran he thought about his sister’s ominous words, but decided nothing could stop this from being the best birthday. With his love on his mind, and a spring in his step, Fletcher ran towards Ceri’s house.
Fletcher arrived to see Ceri waiting for him. He stopped and watched her as a breeze went by. He loved to do this when she wasn’t paying attention. Her blond hair waved with the breeze, her jade green eyes shined in the sun, and her smile sent shivers down his spine. He stood there suddenly nervous, but walked with confidence when she smiled at him.
“Fletcher” she yelled. She ran towards him.
“Ceri” he yelled back. They held each other in a long embrace.
They walked through parks, their hands never leaving the others, and whispering sweet nothings into each other. Fletcher and Ceri arrived at their favorite spot in the park. The fountain in front of them bore statues of monks holding pots that overflew. It marked the place where they first met. Fletcher looked Ceri in her eyes and knelt down. Ceri’s knees grew weak.
“I promised you something a while ago, and now I want to make good on that promise” Fletcher said. “I love you with all that I am Ceri. Will you marry me?”
“Yes of course Fletcher” Ceri answered him.
Fletcher slid the engagement bracelet onto her wrist. They kissed and held each other never wanting to let go. Fletcher and Ceri walked out of the park arm and arm.
“Wait isn’t that near your house?” Ceri asked. She pointed towards smoke rising into the air.
“Felicity’s prophecy! Tell your father that I’m going to need soldiers” Fletcher barked. He ran before hearing her response. “I should have listened. Please be ok” Fletcher thought to himself.
Ceri ran as fast as she could towards her house. She fell skinning her knee in the process, but kept moving on. Ceri finally reached her house and opened the door.
“Dad, Fletcher needs help” Ceri screamed at the top of her lungs.
Her father came down stairs surprised at the look of bewilderment on her face, “what’s wrong?”
“Smoke is rising from Fletcher’s home” Ceri said while gasping for her next breath.
“Calm yourself it’s just monks” her father told her.
Ceri calmed somewhat until she remembered Fletcher’s sister, “how did they find out?”
“They didn’t keep it a secret because until now being psychic wasn’t bad,” he said “besides I told them” he finished.
If a breeze had flown by just then, she would have been swept away. “Why would you do something like that?” she asked. Ceri fell to her knees in grief.
“Because I hate his father” he screamed. “That man has always embarrassed me, he is more in favor with the king, and it’s my time to be recognized. Ever since your mother passed its’ been hard” he finished.
“How could you?” she asked. Her tears caused her makeup to run, leaving black lines down her face.
“I did this for you. So you can keep your expensive clothes, makeup, and so we can live. Do you know what the church is giving me for this?” he asked. He rubbed his hands together and smiled.
“You are evil and so is that damned church” Ceri yelled. She stood and began walking out the door.
Her father grabbed her arm, made her face him, and slapped her knocking her down to the floor.
“You will not talk about the church or me that way” he replied.
Ceri sat on the floor sobbing for Felicity, Fletcher, and herself. |