Blind The World

CHAPTER SEVEN

When you and your mother moved back here, Saintfields no longer felt like home to me, I felt so lonely and alone, I came here to visit as much as I could, I was here so often that I forgot my duties as a duke. Forgetting to be careful” William began to explain.

“Being a duke comes with so much danger and enemies, I learnt to be careful”

“But during some of my visits here, I tried to reduce attention, reducing the guards moved with, a reckless choice on my part, I should have known better”

“I got used to visiting you and your mother so frequently, it became part of my weekly routines, I made sure I came regardless of what I had doing at Saintfields.”

“and 10years ago, at that particular week there was trouble in Saintfields, there was a riot going on, the king’s guards killed some miners for a piece of Gold, I was expected to be there, to get justice for them, but I was too occupied with coming to visit my family that I didn’t pay attention to the case and more people had to die” William explain as his voice got shaky, his voice told how guilty he felt.

“My carelessness caused the lives of so many innocent people and almost yours”

"What happened" Alicia interrupted, wanting him to get into the details.

“I had promised you we would go horseback riding, I was so eager to get here I didn’t take necessary precautions, not noticing I was being followed, You and I went horseback riding with only two guards,”

“and We were attacked by some locals from Saintfields who felt I had abandoned them, they were young in their 20s, children of victims the king’s guard m******e, so consumed by revenge they didn’t think about the consequences of their action,” He said pausing to catch a breath.

”i remember it so we” he saying pausing.

“You and I were racing down the hill, you were ahead as always, you rode right into the attacker's trap, your excited smile turned into fear, sword pointed at you, you were terrified, I was even more so, one of them got on your horse, holding a blade to your neck.”’

“The five men surrounded you, they had been following us for hours searching for the perfect time you and I were alone, and the guards were far behind, I tried to fight them off but I couldn’t, I was scared that if I fought too much they would kill you.”

“They threatened to kill you their word "Watch your daughter die like we did our fathers", I have never felt so weak and helpless" William's voice shook.

"I thought I was going to lose you but the guards arrived on time, catching them unaware and the three of us were able to fight them off. Two of them were killed instantly.

“Youths that would have probably done better with their lives wasted away, all because I didn’t pay attention to what was going on in my county,” He said clearing his throat, trying not to let his sadness show.

“in….” he said pausing to catch his breath,

“In the process of all the fighting, you were forcefully pushed down your horse, and you sustained an injury to your skull,” he said as a teardrop tried to fall from his eyes, he pretended to clear his throat hoping Alicia didn't notice

“You almost died, because of my negligence"

“You were unconscious for days, Your mother and I feared the worst, she couldn’t forgive me for putting your life in danger," he said trying so hard to control his emotions, The memory of the event caused him so much pain and guilt.

“The night you became conscious, you couldn’t remember anything about what happened, for some minutes you couldn't even remember your name, we tried to remind you but the trauma you suffered was too much, and you to faint again”

“The physician advised we took it slow, as the damage to your skull caused you some memory loss”

Alicia sat quietly listening to her father's explanations... She had no memory of anything he said, making her think he was right.

“You started to get your memory back but couldn't remember me, it was heartbreaking” he said, clearing his throat again.

“The physician said it was your brain protecting you from the trauma, being the reason you were attacked I symbolized the trauma for you, your mother and I agreed my presence wasn’t safe for you”.

“We both agreed that I stayed away from you until you were old enough to understand," William concludes, looking at the ground to clear his eyes before faking a smile to Alicia.

"This is why I have been away from you"

As soon as he was done talking, she wrapped her arms around him, engulfing him in a warm hug, she could sense how he felt, she could sense that he love her and everything he said was true. .

“I am sorry” he whispered behind her, and her grip tightness.

“It's not your fault we were attacked” she said gently patting his back before releasing him.

She could only imagine what he had been going through.

“It's not your fault those youths made the choices they did” she added seeing him fight himself to believe it, he blamed himself for every bit of it.

“I was the ripple effect from my action, I was supposed to put my people’s need before mine” he blamed himself his eyes laced with guilt and regret. .

“its not your fault, Father” she called out to him, calling someone that for the first time felt, it felt unnatural to her but also somewhat fulfilling, it was something she craved.

A smile appeared on her face, “I have always wanted to call someone that” she said feeling a heavy weight off her chest.

“There no point drowning in the past, you are with me, here That is all that should matter” she said feeling overwhelmed, but trying her hardest to make him feel better.

William looked at her his face forming into a smile. “Your mother,raised you well, I am proud of you” he said, his eyes beaming with pride.

Her smile widened acknowledging the compliment, “Let us make new memories with that lunch, I am starving!” she said as her stomach began to rumble, forcing her father to laugh.

Alicia retired to her room after a day filled with catching up with her father, he told her stories about her childhood, friends she had, and their moments together making her miss moments she couldn’t even remember.

Her father showed her letters her mother sent to him, he kept every letter she had sent, letters containing details of their lives in Veeradawalls,

She wrote everything with hopes he didn’t feel left out of their lives, Reading the letter made her miss her mother, understanding how hard it must have been for both of them to stay away from each other, each letter spoke a story of how much love they shared for each other.

She remembered seeing her mother write in the garden, and whenever she asked her mother what she was writing with a smile on her face,

she would reply “I am writing to my diary”,

Alicia was always curious and had tried on several occasions to read it, but her mother never allowed her.

“This is the last letter she sent to me, days before her death, I would like you to have it,” William said

Alicia sat on her bed taking a deep breath before opening the letter

Her mother’s last letter to her father was a farewell letter, it was as though her mother knew she wasn’t going to survive her illness

It read:

“My dearest William,

I hope this letter finds you well, How are you and our home, I hope your meeting with the king went well, and you both finally reached an agreement.

I write this letter with a heavy heart for I fear it may be my last letter to you, My health keeps deteriorating by the minute I fear I might not make it to the next day.

The news of my death may hit you soon, and I want you to know, I leaving with only one regret, which is not letting our daughter know the amazing father she had, and I hope she forgives me

My dearest William I have but one final wish; that you, give Alicia time to mourn my death for at least a month before you come for her, before you tell her that her mother lied to her.

I wish you could be by my side during these last days but I don’t regret the decision we made 11 years ago, I would always appreciate your sacrifice to protect our daughter, please continue to look after our daughter, I know she is safest with you.

I am always going to be proud of the man I married, and I will forever love you.

From Your wife

Matilda

Tears strimmed down her eyes, as she read the letter, wishing she had the chance to see them together.

A sudden knock came from the door, making her quickly tuck the letter under her pillow.

“Who is at the door” she asked, adjusting her sitting and wiping her tears.

“Alicia, I am sorry, can we talk, it's Miranda!!” Miranda called out from outside the room.