134 Not Made For the Throne
AUTHOR'S POV
They were all relieved to find Helena by the bonfire, almost dozed off. Immediately, their eyes averted to the rebel whom they've been wanting to kick out of the group for a while. However, Haelan seemed to be unbothered with Andrew being there. He did played a part fighting against the dark healer. So, they decided to ignore him until they find a way to get rid of him. Surely, they are all walking on eggshells with Andrew around.
Andrew was tossing a few more firewoods on the dying bonfire. Just when he was about go back to Helena, Atrius and Umbriel have already fenced off the celestial traveler from the rebel. Andrew had no choice but to sit across the bonfire, beside Ottis and Jac. Impatiently, he'll have to wait again for another chance to go near Helena.
"Hey", Atrius flopped beside Helena, whose eyes are very droopy.
"Hey", Helen she replied with a timid smile. She remained lying to her side as she watch the flames burn the firewoods to coal.
"How are you?", Atrius asked considerably.
"Alive", Helena answered.
"Here, Sir Haelan", Umbriel placed Helena's staff beside her. "Right where it belongs", he said as he lay on a slate of a rock beside Helena. He couldn't take his eyes off Andrew, whom he find extremely dangerous.
"You good with that?", Atrius referred to Andrew who kept his longing gaze at Helena even at distance.
"No", Helena immediately answered.
"The way he stares at you… it's annoying. We can't let that rebel join us", Atrius gave Andrew a side eye as he utter his great displeasure in the rebel's presence.
"We'll ask him to leave, then", Helena said blandly. They shared a silence where only the crickets' chirps, and Jac's loud snores can be heard. Atrius thought everything's alright until he saw Helena silently crying without blinking her eyes.
Holding himself back, Andrew is dying to sprint towards Helena and wipe her tears away. Ottis who deliberately notices Andrew's odd gestures after seeing Helena crying, elbowed the uncanny rebel. "Men cry too, you know", Ottis said that made Andrew nod in Ottis' favor.
"Sorry about your father", Atrius said.
"That was not my father", Helena snorted a little as she wet her warm lips.
"You know you can share it with us", Atrius said. "I know it's been hard and heavy, but you can share the weight with all of us until the load is lighter for you to bear again", he held Helena's hand and squeezed it before letting go. Andrew felt suffocated in the thin air of stoicism he built up. Feeling his face fluster, he's starting to lose his mind seeing a man too affectionate to his woman.
"He never attempted to harm me or my mother in any way", Helena said. "So what I saw in him today… that isn't my father. I'm just afraid… I don't know if I have enough courage to save Agalea or myself", Helena had certain thoughts of giving up as she lose the light of hope on her path.
"We are all here. Besides, your mother is still out there. We'll do the best we can to find her", Atrius said as he kindle a spark of hope for Helena.
"Thanks, Atrius", Helena sat up and wiped her tears. She leaned on Atrius' broad shoulder and smiled. "Thank you for being my friend", she said that ultimately made Andrew jealous. Andrew flounced more firewood in the bonfire that startled everyone.
"Sir Haelan", Umbriel said for everyone to ignore Andrew. "I hope it's not too much of a bother..", he had these pair of eyes brimming of curiosity. "May I ask how it's like to be a daughter of an excellent royal guardian? I've been meaning to ask… because Tris, as you all know… is known as the greatest celestial healer that ever existed in the kingdom of Nether", Umbriel asked. Jac suddenly woke up as if he heard something too interesting not to miss. Ottis sat on the edge of the rock he's seated on, interested about the celestial healer who made the King fall madly in love.
Even Andrew, who never heard of such stories before, held his breath to finally discover a piece of his people's story.
Helena was a bit surprised seeing all of them absorbed about the story behind her mother. In truth, they haven't really talked anything about her life yet - the female soul traveler who passed the admission tests for men in Brandenburg. Helena realized that to these men… she's nothing but a mystery who holds so many secrets. "It's nothing extraordinary compared to your maternal relations, I suppose", Helena started. "My mother, Beatrice, wanted to be a baker and a home maker… but, our situation in Aelmere was lacking given that we only live in a carriage pulled by a couple of horses", Helena fiddled her fingers as she look down. "I never saw her use her powers, even her skills. I didn't know she's a Celestial too. When my powers were born, my father taught me how to use them, but my mother taught me to control them, and never wield any of my powers. I was forbidden to use my capabilities, as how my parents refuse to use theirs", she said.
"How did you survive? Like, how do you get you food?", Jac wondered. Ottis glared at Jac for thinking about food when they were talking about a soul traveler. "What? Food is life", Jac mouthed.
"Since we were nomads, we only gathered fruits and nuts… and anything we can get by the roadside.", Helena explained to satisfy Jac's concern about food. "Sometimes when we're lucky to come by some homeowners who are kind enough to share their meals, we could eat something nice. Nevertheless, we only eat what we can find in the arid lands of Aelmere", Haelan paused and creased her brows a little. Her face glowed as she clearly realize how she was truly nourished way back. "Come to think of it… We never really got hungry or thirsty, and even in the dry lands of where I came from… my mother always have something to feed us", she said.
"She's using her powers", Andrew presumed with a soft smile. He was swayed with how decent Helena turned out to be despite lacking so many aspects in life.
Sobbing a little, Jac felt a tiny pinch on his chest. He felt pity on the life Helena lived. "I'm sorry I stole your berries and tarts in Brandenburg", he cried like a big baby.
"You dumbass, pick fruits tomorrow and replace those damn tarts and berries!", Ottis grunted as he tweak Jac's ear.
Helena chuckled as Jacomus weep exaggeratedly. "It's fine, don't worry", she said. When she gaze at Andrew, he was ogling at her with all the affection flooding in his head.
"Sir Haelan", Umbriel called with eagerness to break the stare game Andrew is playing with Helena. "By any chance, would you face King Silvius and introduce yourself as the only heir, or at least sit on the throne where you rightfully should be?", he suddenly asked. Once again, everyone waited on bated breath as they all look at Helena.
"I'm not made for the throne, Umbriel", Helena simply said. "This kingdom already have the prince to fill that seat. Besides, King Silvius is not my father to begin with", she added.
"You look good under the crown, though, squirrel", Ottis said as he shrug his shoulders.
"And many girls would be rushing to your palace chambers all day too, I suppose", Jacomus nodded with a very naughty smile. Helena and Atrius shared a disgusted look as they throw pebbles at Jac.
Their laughters prevailed all around. "Don't mess around with the prince", Ottis strangled Jacomus jokingly for messing around with Helena. Jac just bursted out laughing.
Smiling idly, Umbriel seemed to be bothered with Helena's decision. He ought to hear a different answer, more like accepting her fate to be the heir to the throne. This is why he never told Helena where the traveler's stone is, inspite of her apparent eagerness and desperation to find it. Umbriel saw a bright future in the rotten state of the kingdom in Helena's greatness.
Umbriel jolted when he met Andrew's intent look focused on him. Andrew tilted his head as he read what the curious priest is cooking in his mind. Then, he peered keenly on them one by one. He envy the bond that they built. And they way they treat Helena, he realized that these men who's been with her for quite sometime surely have no idea that she is a woman.