Episode 13 - I am his son.

Chapter 13 - I am his son.

"I was an orphan. Father had found me at the battle ground one day at the brink of death." I listened quietly as my brother spoke with sadness in his eyes, that I recognized well. "My whole family had been killed during the war in my village and I was the only survivor left all alone. I was only 11 years old and I was almost on the verge of dying from starvation and neglect if father hadn't found me and saved me that day." Brother's breath was shaky as he remembered his past. "I can't ever forget how I spent weeks trapped with the dead bodies of my family and the other villagers. I remember how I was so terrified of, father when I first saw him. He was so serious and quiet. I was also just like you, afraid to trust." As I listened to Brother's words I began to see how he and I were both very connected through our painful pasts. "I took a very long time to open up tol, father but he was so patient with me and soon I knew that this was the person who would always protect me. This person who has no blood relations to me from now on is my Father and I am his son. I received so much love and care from him that I vowed to be just as great as he was, which is why I became the commander of the Crescent knights. I wanted to become a warrior and do good deeds just like my father and help protect other people." I felt my heart well up with pain hearing my brothers suffering. I gently held his face and spoke. "Y-you h-have been so b-brave…B-brother." His eyes widened at my words, he smiled brightly. "Can you call me brother again?" I smiled brightly "B-Brother!" He lifted me into the air, spinning me around. I screamed delightfully as he laughed. "My lady!" Evelyn and Victor both came rushing in but stopped in their tracks as they watched us dumbstruck. "Commander! I told you to stop spinning Lady Iridesa all the time!" Evelyn shouted and my brother ignored her as he threw me in the air laughing delightedly. I laughed as he caught me. "I-I'm feeling d-dizzy…waaah! haha!" I said as I giggled. Brother flopped down onto my bed with me in his arms and we both laughed. Evelyn and Victor smiled at our sudden bonding and left the room giving us space. "Now, since you are feeling much better, how about we have dinner!?" I nodded my head and he picked me up and took me downstairs.

The dining hall was empty and I wondered where everyone was. "Uncle and Father had to leave. They are dealing with the court case at the moment." I felt worried at his words, what will happen now? What if the Waywards win the case? Brother ruffled my hair. "Don't you worry your pretty little head. It's impossible for anyone to take you away, because they will have to go through us first." I smiled at his words praying he was right. "Now let's go to the kitchen, poor Jacque and Delphine have been so upset as you haven't eaten all evening." Brother enters the kitchen excitedly, calling everyone's attention. The kitchen staff all gathered around me excitedly and I felt so shy not being used to so much attention. "Lady Iridesa is feeling hungry, prepare the best chef Jacque." Jacque excitedly got to work at Brothers words and prepared a personal feast on the table before me. Everyone watched excitedly as I began to eat, feeling my appetite return. I took a bite of the roast duck and the tender meat melted in my mouth and I savored the delicious taste. Everyone seemed delighted to see my happy expressions as I ate. Once my stomach was full I returned to my room and finally managed to fall asleep. All my worries about Father and the court case were all forgotten.

Paris slowly cracked open the door to his daughter's room. He entered quietly not wanting to wake her. He looked over and he felt relief from seeing her deep in sleep. He had been a nervous wreck since that incident and hearing that she wouldn't eat had him so close to annihilating the entire Wayward line. He gently pulled the covers over her as he noticed she had thrown them off in her sleep. "I am not the best at conveying my feelings. For that I'm sorry." He gently stroked her face with the back of his hand. "I want so much for you to accept me. I want to hear you call me father but without Opal I am hopeless. I just love you so much that it infuriates me when someone tries to hurt you." He remembered the way he lashed at her. He hated that she wasn't expressing her pain and he didn't want that. She shouldn't have to put up with anything, he would protect her. "I would kill myself before I would ever hurt my children…" He bent over and kissed her on the forehead. He stood up and left the room. I felt as though there was someone speaking to me. I opened my eyes and my vision was a bit hazy but saw no one. Thinking it was my imagination I fell back to sleep.

A few days had gone by and I had barely seen my father. He had been attending the court hearings and refused to let me go. The council seemed to grow impatient but my father wasn't bothered in the slightest. Uncle Arthur however had made the suggestion that I should go and give a statement that I want to stay with father, this idea infuriated father and he stormed out of the castle to cool his head. I wasn't so sure of the idea either. The idea of talking among so many people frightened me but I also really wanted to help and I really didn't want to leave with the Wayward's but I worried if this went on for too long my father would grow more angry and maybe might decide to just give me away.

"What's wrong, Iridesa?" I was pulled away from my thoughts as Miss Kore called out to me. "N-nothing…" I was attending another session with Miss Kore who was examining my health. I had grown quite used to her and didn't need Miss Delphine to attend all the time. "Are you sure nothings bothering you? You can always talk to me if you'd like." She smiled at me gently as she applied healing magic to some of my old wounds and scars trying to erase whatever she could little by little.

I decided to confide in her and tell her my worries about the court case. She listened to me patiently and once I finished she came up with a suggestion. "What you need is a good distraction and I know exactly what that is!"

Miss Delphine helped me put on a colorful floral dress with a matching pair of gloves. "We must dress you up nicely, after all this is your first outing!" She said excitedly as she helped me put on my stockings, shoes, coat and hat. I looked in the mirror, my hair had been braided on both sides and I had started to look significantly healthier. I felt my head pound at the thought of my first outing. I had never seen much of the crescent city and felt a rush of excitement run through me. I walked out to the main entrance with Miss Delphine escorting me. "You look absolutely adorable!" Miss Kore was standing outside waiting for me. "Now we just need to wait for the knights who will escort us." We heard footsteps approaching and Miss Kore delightfully turned around. "That must be them-?! Eh?! What are you doing here?!" Her expression turned Grimm instantly at the sight of my brother, I ran over to him excitedly. "B-brother!" He lifted me into the air and hugged me right. I hadn't seen him much lately as he had been busy with the court case just like father and uncle. "I heard you're going out today so I decided to escort you, personally!" I smiled brightly but then became worried as I remembered Miss Kore. I looked back to see her eyes twitching. "Who exactly invited you…?" She said, brother just smiled brightly without a care in the world. "Well you asked for a knight and I just happened to be one." She seemed more irritated at his answer. I was worried that this may become a hindrance in our plan so I pleaded with Miss Kore to allow my brother to come along. "C-can brother p-please join us?" She seemed helpless at my request and with a heavy heart responded. "Fine, only for you Iridesa." Brother beamed brighter than ever as he heard her answer.

We walked along the city streets with Brother Tybalt carrying me. I still felt a bit uneasy around big crowds and often hid in my brother's arms. "What do you think so far Iridesa?" Miss Kore asked me excitedly "Isn't it exciting? Look there's so many places we can go! Where do you want to go first?!" I looked around, not sure at first but then my eyes fell onto a jewelry store. "Do you want to have a look?" Brother asked, noticing my stare. I nodded excitedly and we walked over. "Welcome! Sir and ma'am! We have all new and exquisite pieces today!" The shop merchant excitedly greeted us.

He looked over at me and smiled. "You both have a very cute child, are you looking for something for your daughter?" I giggled at his wrong assumption and Miss Kore blushed furiously "we're n-not-!?" She tries to clear the misunderstanding but the shopkeeper doesn't pay attention as he displays various items. "Kore what's wrong? Your face is all red." Brother teased Miss Kore and she became more flustered than before. They both were squabbling with each other whilst I looked at all the different Types of jewelry the shop keeper had set out. My eyes stopped on a particular one. It was an anklet with silver stones that resembled the same color as fathers eyes. I touched the Anklet feeling the smooth stone against my fingertips. I thought of my father and even though we weren't close I began to really miss him. Since that day he hadn't been around me much and I began to feel the similar loneliness I experienced after losing mother. "Would you like to buy that Iridesa?" I turned around to the voice of my brother and I hesitated to answer him as I wasn't sure if it was okay for me to say yes after all the other gifts that had already been given to me. "I know let's try it on!" Miss Kore took the anklet and tied it to my ankle and smiled brightly. "It looks perfect!" Brother doesn't wait for me to say anything and hands the merchant a bag of coins. "We'll be taking this." He looks at the anklet and smiles "it is a wonderful choice! The young missus suits it wonderfully!" We then walk around to other stores and places. The banter between Brother and Miss Kore both continues but it's not as bad as it may seem if anything it's as though they have become quite closer than before. We spent the rest of the day looking at other stores and trying different foods such as meat skewers, fruit tarts and ice cream. I had forgotten all about my worries as I enjoyed the day but my happiness didn't last as long.

I sat at the bench outside with Miss Kore. Brother had gone to the blacksmiths and me and Miss Kore decided to wait outside a cafe on a bench. I kept looking at the anklet around my ankle and smiling to myself. "You really that ankle, huh?" Miss Kore said to me smiling as she noticed how I kept looking at it. "It's sweet of your brother to buy you it and I can see he really like to pamper you." I noticed Miss Kore's expression as she talked about brother and couldn't help but realize it looked very similar to mothers when she would mention father. She continued to speak about him her cheeks a little flushed. "Even though he's such a loud, mindless oaf sometimes I guess he's kinda cute and charming…" I smiled and couldn't help but ask. "Miss K-Kore, do you l-like brother?" She stilled at my words for a second and then all of a sudden her face went completely red and broke out into a frenzy. "L-l-l-l-like!? Who likes who!? I-I just a-admire him I guess!? T-that's all!" I laughed at her flustered outburst. I couldn't help but think maybe Miss Kore wasn't being exactly honest with her feeling Miss Kore noticed me giggling at her and tickled me and I giggled trying to dodge her . "Are you teasing me! Well just wait till your turn comes missy! Then I will be the one having fun!" We were so wrapped up in having fun that we didn't realize someone was approaching us until I was suddenly pulled away. "Waaaah!" I screamed as I was tightly restrained in someone's arms. "Iridesa?!" Miss Kore tried to grab a hold of me but a strange man stood before her not allowing her to come close. "There you are my precious Iridesa! My precious niece!" I heard the voice of woman from behind me and turned around to see a beautiful woman with soft and delicate features smiling at me as she hugged me tight in her arms. She had a rosy complexion and dark auburn hair. Her blue eyes looked at me lovingly as she turned me to face her and held my face examining me. "I can't believe you had to suffer for so long! The only child of my precious sister! How my heart longed to see you!" I didn't know what to do. I was panicking but at the same time this lady seemed so kind that I wasn't sure how to react. I then recalled what she said. "S-sister?" She smiled at me and hugged me again and spoke gently in my ears. "I'm your mothers sister. I'm your dear Aunt Cera Wayward."