Listen To Your Heart

Chapter 10

Dear Elsie,

I know it has only been a month since my last letter, but this time I don’t bring good news, unfortunately.

Father has fallen ill, and the healers don’t believe he has much more time left in this world. Last night, he called for you and asked me to bring you home. He wishes to speak to you and as I said in my previous letter, sending you away is the greatest regret in his life. I know so.

I understand it is a lot to ask you since you left home sixteen years ago, and we’ve only reconnected for the past couple of years. However, I believe that time enough has passed for such wounds to heal. You have your own life now and I think he has finally accepted it.

I know Poisart is far, but I also happen to know that money is not a problem for you. So, I ask you, please, come home and let our father make his amends so he can rest in peace. Bring Gilbert and your children. The whole family is already in Nevettia waiting for you and your family. Even Anne has come home. We can’t wait to see you again, little sister.

Yours truthfully,

Theo.

Elsie read the letter at least ten times over trying to take it in what was written. It had been three years since Évè had died and she started communicating with Theo again. She thought about writing to her mother first, but she couldn’t find the words. With her older brother, it seemed much easier, even though it had been years.

She read the letter one last time. A part of her couldn’t believe that Theo expected her to go back home after so many years. Face her family once again wasn’t exactly in her plans, even though she felt much closer to them while exchanging letters with her brother. On the other hand, a part of her couldn’t stop thinking about Lord Ricardus. He had been so harsh with her and she promised never to forgive him.

However, when she really thought about it, it seemed that it had passed an eternity since she ran away with Gilbert and they were caught and thrown away from Nevettia. So much had happened in those sixteen years that Elsie didn’t really know how she was supposed to feel about Theo’s request.

“Mum?” Elsie heard a little girl’s voice coming her direction. Abigail, who was already ten years old, stopped at the door and looked at her mother. “Mum? Are you okay?”

The little girl was a small copy of Elsie and with every day that passed she became even better at fighting at her parents’ academy.

“Yes, Abby, I’m fine,” Elsie folded the letter and smiled at the girl on her office’s door. “Do you know where your father is?”

“He went to the market with Alec, but he said he would be back for lunch,” Abby answered. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“It’s all right, dear,” Elsie smiled at her daughter’s stubbornness, just like hers. “Nothing you need to worry about. I’m asking the maids to serve lunch at the garden, what do you think? It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, about that,” the girl looked at her feet.

“What happened, Abby?” Elsie frowned.

“Well, Emma and I were practicing some fighting outside. It’s such a beautiful day like you said,” the girl rambled.

“Abigail, what happened?” the girl knew that whenever her mother called her by her full name that she was in trouble.

“It was an accident, I swear I was going easy on her, but she tripped and hurt her knee and now she’s crying outside. So, I came rushing to call you,” Abby blurted.

“Oh, Abby, how many times did I tell you to be careful?” Elsie got up from her chair and followed her daughter to the garden.

“I promise I was! I can’t help it if she’s just so clumsy,” Abby whined.

When they both reached the garden, Emma was already being taken care of by Clarisse, one of the maids. Emma had her face swollen red and a bloody knee which had already been cleaned and swathed by Clarisse. Elsie came closer and sat down near her youngest daughter swiping away her tears.

“Hey, Em, it’s going to be okay,” she said.

“But it’s going to leave a scar,” the girl cried.

“Yes, it probably will, but at least you can say that you have a battle scar. How cool is that?”

“That will be very badass, won’t it?” Emma looked at her mother with a shy smile, although her eyes were still watery.

“Yes, it will, dear,” Elsie laughed.

In a few minutes, the whole incident was already forgotten. Emma had already dried her tears and was running once again after Abby. Elsie thanked Clarisse for taking care of Emma’s wound and asked her to prepare the outside table for lunch. On that moment, Theo’s letter was forgotten, and Elsie sent her daughters to get ready for the meal.

In no time, Gilbert returned from the market with their son, who was almost four and Emma made sure to tell them she was going to have a battle scar. Elsie wasn’t as severe as her mother with her children, but they sure knew when to obey her, especially when the tone of her voice changed. She also allowed them to be whatever they wanted to be, as Yvette never accepted that she liked to play with swords and bows and arrows.

They ate lunch under the hot sun and when they finished, the children left to play once again. Elsie watched her children without noticing that Gilbert was also observing her. He got up from his place and offered his hand.

“Do you mind walking with me, m’lady?” he asked.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” she crossed her arms, still sitting down.

“As many times as you want. I’m still calling you m’lady, m’lady,” he smiled, and her heart melted as it did since they got together.

Elsie took his arm and they left the maids watching the children while they walked through their garden. They stopped when they reached a bench that had a view to the sea. Gilbert sat down and pulled Elsie to his lap. He kissed her softly and she wrapped her arms against his neck.

“What’s troubling you?” he asked.

“I received a letter from Theo,” she told him. “Father is ill and he wants to see me before he dies. Theo thinks it’s time for me to go home. My brothers and sisters are already in Nevettia. They are waiting for me, for us. They want to meet the children.”

“Okay…” Gilbert paused for a second. “Do you want to go?”

“I don’t know. I thought it would be better if I talked to you about it first. We can’t just leave everything here so suddenly and go to Nevettia, even if it’s just for a few days,” she left his lap and sat beside him facing the waves in the sea.

“No, we can’t, but we can make some arrangements,” he put his arm around her. “It’s all up to you. What do you want to do?”

“I feel like I should go, but I don’t want to drag you and kids into this mess,” she answered honestly.

“We entered this mess together and we are getting out of it together as well,” he looked at her. “We’ll make the arrangements at the academy and I’ll go to the harbour to find us a ship to take us there.”

“Gilbert, you don’t have to…” she started.

“Elsie, right now, all I have is you and our children. We could lose everything we have, but as long as we are together and safe that’s all that matters to me. I never had much, you know that, but you still have your family. They are an important part of you. You know so,” he took her face between his hands and wiped her tears away. “I agree with Theo. Life is giving you the opportunity to accept your father’s peace offering. You should take it and let it heal your heart.”

Elsie leaned forward and kissed him.

“Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll write Theo and we can start making the arrangements as quickly as possible.”

Gilbert hugged her close to him.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Anything for you, m’lady.”

Gilbert and Elsie started to set everything for their journey to leave the academy for a few weeks. They would be back, obviously, but they didn’t want to find a complete mess on their way back. At the end of the day, they had already booked a good cabin on a ship to the north of Mercia and had left good people in charge of their business.

They asked the maids to start packing and it was when the questions came from their children. Elsie sat on her bed with the two girls in front of her and her son on her lap.

“We are going on a trip tomorrow. All of us,” she started.

“Where are we going?” Abby asked.

“To Nevettia,” she answered, and she saw her daughters’ eyes sparkling with excitement. “The place where I grew up. Your father and I are taking you to meet my family.”

“Are we finally going to see the places from your stories?” Emma smiled.

“Yes, not all of them, but a few,” Elsie said.

“It’s going to be just like an adventure!” Alec stood up on the bed and looked at his mother. “Are we going to see pirates on the way?”

“I hope not,” Elsie smiled at her son’s desire for danger.

“But if we do, I’m sure you and Father can beat them in a blink of an eye. Pirates don’t stand a chance against you,” Alec continued.

Elsie laughed and took her children to their bedroom as it was a bit late. That night Elsie barely slept. She was happy to be going home but she was also apprehensive about what she would find when she reached Nevettia. She also hoped they didn’t get there too late.

On the next day, Elsie, Gilbert and the children were ready to leave. The ship would take them back to Darkwell, on the exact same route that did when they left Mercia so many years before.

The ship left Poisart by noon that day. The kids were already playing around the deck excited for the biggest journey of their lives. Gilbert, who had been talking to the captain, approached his wife and hugged her, kissing the top of her head and together they saw Poisart fading in the distance.

“What are you thinking of?” he asked her.

“I didn’t think I would go back home,” she said. “I didn’t think I would leave like that, either.”

“I knew it would happen someday. And I’m glad it’s now. The children will love to see where you grew up. They will be amazed by the castle and to see so much snow,” he said.

“I just wish we don’t get there too late,” she shed a tear.

Gilbert kissed her once again.

“We won’t,” he simply said and held her for a while.

Good winds helped them get to Darkwell rather quickly. The sea sickening wasn’t as bad as the first time around, as they were much more used to ships and boats, having already travelled a bit. When they reached Mercia, they bought horses and warmer clothes, following the main road. Many years had passed but Elsie would never forget her way back home. However, in a matter of hours of riding, the children began complaining. It took them some time and a promise of a big adventure for them to lighten up a bit.

They arrived at Nevettia about a fortnight after they left on the middle of a sunny afternoon. As it had been years the smallfolk had seen Elsie, no one recognized her with her short hair and tanned skin. She wasn’t the little girl that left the north years before anymore. They reached the front gate when two guards stopped them.

“What do you want?” one of them asked.

“I’m Elsie Asheye of Nevettia and I wish to see my brother, Theobald. I believe he is expecting me,” Elsie said showing the man the letter.

“I’m sorry, my lady,” the man said and both knights bowed to her. “Please, come in and we will let Lord Asheye know that you’re here with…” the guard looked at Gilbert and the children.

“My family,” Elsie answered him.

The same man opened the gates, while the other rushed to the castle to announce their arrival. They got off the horses and entered Nevettia’s keep. The three children and even the nanny were awestruck.

“This place is huge,” Abby said not knowing where to look.

“And even more amazing than the stories,” Emma completed.

“I’m glad you like it,” Elsie smiled.

“But it’s too cold,” Alec complained.

“It gets worse when winter comes,” Gilbert answered and picked the boy up.

He was also very nervous to go back. He hadn’t heard from Ury and didn’t even know if he was still there, so he made a mental note to pay a visit to the forge and their old cottage just in case. He thought that would be nice for the children to see where grew up as well and use it as a way to show them that life wasn’t as easy as they had it.

Gilbert was a little afraid of Elsie’s family’s reaction to him, as well. Although many years had passed, he was scared that some of them might still hold him accountable for what had happened. Gilbert made sure not to show his apprehension to his wife, though, aware that she might need him to have her back if things didn’t go well.

One maid and three servants approached them. The two young men took their horses away and the maid took their belongings to their rooms. The third servant bowed and smiled at them.

“My lady, you brother awaits you in the main hall with the rest if your family. Do you want me to lead you in?”

“Thank you, but I believe I still know the way,” Elsie replied, and her heart began beating fast.

The servant left and Elsie took a deep breath. She looked at Gilbert and he smiled encouraging her to go on. Fighting the tears in her eyes and ignoring her heart pumping fast in her chest, she took her daughters by hand and started walking. Gilbert followed beside her with Alec.

When the doors of the main hall opened, Elsie saw all of her family standing in the middle of the room, waiting for them. Lord Ricardus was the only one absent.

“Welcome home, little sister,” Theo said standing in the middle of everyone with his wife next to him.

“I’m glad to be back,” she replied as she got closer to them. “I believe you all remember Gilbert. And these are Abby, Emma and Alec.”

Noah was the first to walk towards her and give her a tight hug. Elsie barely recognized him. He was a grown man, not the little boy she remembered.

“We missed you, Elsie,” he said.

“Look at you! You’re taller than me and you have a beard!” She smiled.

“Sixteen years is a lot of time,” Mylla made her move approaching them for a hug as well.

“You have no idea how much I missed you all,” Elsie replied.

When they let go, Noah introduced his wife and Mylla her husband, who seemed very lovely people, although they were a little out of place once they had never met Elsie before. While Noah and Mylla took their time talking to their nieces and nephew, Elsie took Gilbert’s hand and they walked towards the others. Anne was already crying when she reached her sister.

Elsie had also been in contact with Anne. At first, she hadn’t had any responses, until Theo told her on his letters that Philippe had died almost ten years before and so she wasn’t living at Elopia anymore. When she finally had Anne’s new home, they started communicating again. Anne told her all about Philippe’s death on a hunt and that not much after she met Sir Hugh Sutton of Nordale. He was the lord of a few lands on the South. He wasn’t spoiled rich, but they fell in love and Anne realized she didn’t care about riches anymore. They got married and already had a lovely boy about Emma’s age and a sweet girl two years younger.

“You look so amazing, Elsie. I couldn’t believe Theo when he said you were coming,” Anne pulled Elsie into a tight hug.

“You look good too. You look so happy. How have you been?”

“I’ve been so blessed these past years. You have no idea. We’ve got so much catching up to do,” Anne smiled and waved for a bearded man to approach them. “This is Hugh, my husband,” Elsie shook his hand analyzing him from head to toe. “Let already tell the news, we are expecting our third child! Can you believe it?” Anne smiled.

“Oh, Annie, I knew that bastard was the problem. I’m really happy for you,” Elsie hugged her sister once again.

“About what happened…” Anne began.

“It’s been too long, Anne. It’s all forgiven and there is no need for us to relive all that,” Elsie said and turned to Anne’s husband.

“Sir Hugh Sutton isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes, my lady. I’m very pleased to meet you. Anne has told me a lot about you,” he smiled, and Elsie thought he really seemed genuine.

“Only good things, I hope,” she laughed. “She had told me a lot about you as well. You better keep making my sister very happy, Sir Hugh. If I hear that you hurt her in any way, I’ll have your head on a stick just outside Nevettia’s walls.”

“Elsie!” Anne exclaimed.

“I don’t think you should worry about that. Anne makes me very happy and I have no intentions of hurting her whatsoever,” he replied.

“Good, let’s keep it that way,” Elsie said with smile and turned to her mother who was standing right behind them.

“You have a beautiful family,” Yvette said, and she didn’t sound as cold as Elsie had expected.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Your eldest looks just like you when you were her age,” Yvette continued.

“Abby just learnt to use daggers and she can’t wait to have her own sword. Emma wants to sail the world and little Alec just wants an adventure,” Elsie told her mother.

“Yeah, they are definitely yours,” Yvette said with a shy smile.

“I try to let them be free to be whoever they want to be. But now I understand the things that you did and said to me. I understand the need of rules, although I don’t agree with all of them. I’m sorry I was such a brat and I hope I’m as a good mother to them as you were for all of us,” Elsie answered.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” Yvette pulled her daughter into a hug, while they both cried together.

“So, have you told them what a terrible mother I was to you?” Yvette cleaned her tears away with a handkerchief.

“Obviously not,” Elsie laughed at her mother’s concern. “But they will love to get to know you, especially if you have any nice stories to tell them.”

The smile on Yvette’s face didn’t fade and she left with Anne to talk to the three children, who were loving all the attention they were getting.

Gilbert was still behind Elsie. He knew she wanted him to be there for her, but he didn’t want to interfere on her family reunion.

“Gilbert,” Theo called him aside. “I’m glad to see you are making my sister happy.”

“Anything for her, m’lord,” Gilbert replied.

“Call me Theo. We are family after all.”

“How is he?” Elsie approached them and Theo understood she was talking about Lord Ricardus.

“He had better days. The healers are giving him herbal teas for the pain, but there isn’t much more they can do. Father is still lucid, but there aren’t many hopes for him, I’m afraid,” Theo told her.

“How is Mother taking it?”

“She spends most of her day with him. She is trying to enjoy the little time she still has with him. I don’t blame her, you know?”

“Yes, I understand,” Elsie answered.

“As I had already told you in the letters, Father has been calling for you. Yesterday, he spent the whole day saying he had to talk to you and Gilbert.”

“Is he awake now?” Gilbert asked.

“Yes, I can take you to his chambers,” Theo offered.

Elsie looked back at her children surrounded by her siblings.

“It’s all right, Elsie. They will be fine for a few minutes. They have the Asheye blood. They are home and we are their family too,” Theo smiled weakly.

“They won’t even notice we left for a while. They are too busy with all that attention,” Gilbert added.

Elsie ended up agreeing with them and Theo led them to Ricardus’ chambers. It was the same one he always had shared with Yvette. He was sitting in the bed, staring at the window.

“Father?” Theo called. “Father?”

“Yes, Theobald, I can hear you,” Ricardus didn’t take his eyes off the window and his voice was slow and deep.

“Elise is here with Gilbert,” Theo announced.

Ricardus turned to look at his daughter and son by law.

“Hello, Father,” Elsie said with teary eyes.

“Theo, give us some privacy,” their father asked and he left. “Come closer, child.”

Elsie walked to the bed and Gilbert stood still near the door.

“I’m not a child anymore,” Elsie broke the silence.

“I can see that. You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman. But you will always be my little girl,” he smiled weakly.

“Father,” Elsie started, but Ricardus held his hand out to her.

“I just wanted to apologize for what I have done. There wasn’t a day gone by that I haven’t missed you. I am your father and I will always love you. It broke my heart to make you leave, but I couldn’t do anything. You broke your promises and ran from your duty. I had to remind myself everyday of that to stop myself from sending someone to bring you home,” he stopped for a while to take a deep breath. “I don’t have much time left and I just wanted to make sure you’d forgive me.”

“I told you I’d never do that,” she said crying. “But I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t.”

Elsie sat on the bed and Ricardus pulled her into a hug even though he felt the pain throughout his body. When he let go of her, he gestured for Gilbert to come closer.

“Come here, young man,” Lord Asheye said and Gilbert walked towards them. “I know it’s a bit late, but I’m giving this marriage my blessing.”

“Thank you, m’lord. You have no idea how much this means to us,” Gilbert said.

“It’s me who thanks you for making my daughter happy and for never letting her go, like I did.”

Gilbert just nodded without a clue of what to say.

“Your mother told me you have become the owner of a sword fighting academy. Is it true?” Ricardus turned to Elsie and she nodded. “Please, tell me. I want to know how you’ve been.”

Gilbert pulled a chair closer and Elsie made herself more comfortable on the bed. Together they told Lord Ricardus what had passed on the sixteen years they were away. Elsie was glad to see her father and she was much more relieved to put all the anger behind her. However, she noticed that he was very weak and the faces he made whenever he felt pain. When Ricardus fell asleep, Elsie and Gilbert left the room.

“How are you feeling?” Gilbert pulled her by the waist to make her look at him.

“Lighter. I really needed this,” she answered resting her hands on his chest. “We should bring the kids to meet him tomorrow.”

“As m’lady commands,” he smiled shyly.

She gave him a kiss and they left for the Great Hall for dinner. All her family was there once again, but this time her nieces and nephews were there as well. They sat between their children and food was served.

During dinner, Elsie took her time to meet her siblings’ children and she had never seen her own kids so happy and excited. Yvette was smiling for the first time in a while to see all her children gathered together again, although she wished her husband was there too.

“Uncle Noah, did you know that my mother is the most skilled woman of all Poisart? There isn’t a person in the continent that isn’t afraid of her,” Abby told him excited.

“Don’t forget the time she killed that huge man who was selling children as slaves. I don’t know how, but she found his trading spot and they had this big duel. The whole city still talks about it. The man tried, but Mother stuck her sword straight into his heart. She went home without one single drop of blood on her clothes,” Emma continued.

“It wasn’t exactly like that,” Elsie said blushing.

“But it sounds just like you, little sister,” Theo smiled.

“When I’m older, I’m going to make my own swords just like my father and I’ll kill all the bad guys with them just like my mother,” Alec said getting up his chair with a knife on his hand.

“Alec, be careful and sit down,” Elsie said taking the knife off his little hand. “As we already talked, only when you’re older.”

After a long night of storytelling and sharing experiences, the mood of the family lightened. The next day, Elsie took her children to meet her father and he was delighted to get to know his grandchildren. The kids told him many tales of their lives in Poisart and even shared a thought or two about Nevettia’s keep. Ricardus laughed painfully at their stories, but he felt much more at peace after their visit.

Gilbert also took his children to the forge after being told that Ury was still there. His old master and fatherly figure had grey hair and a beard, but he was still just as strong and well spirited as always. Ury was ecstatic to see Gilbert again and to meet his children. Abby’s first comment when they entered the forge was how small it was. Gilbert gave her a warning not to be rude, but then Emma broke the tension by showing Ury she knew a few things about the forge, while Alec fumbled around.

It would have been the happiest moments of their lives if it weren’t for the situation that drove them there. Both Gilbert and Elsie felt nostalgic and were so amazed to see their children playing with their cousins and bonding with their aunts, uncles and grandparents.

However, five days later, Lord Ricardus passed away. His funeral was prepared, and many people came to say their last goodbye. Ricardus was buried next to his brother and father at Nevettia’s crypt.

Two days later, Theo was named the new Lord of Winterfell. There was a feast in his honour, but none of the Asheyes felt like celebrating, not even him. Soon, Elsie’s siblings started to leave with their families. Noah and Mylla were the first ones and Anne left a few days after them. In the end, Elsie was the last one to leave.

She was just about to get on her horse, when Theo approached her.

“I just want you to know that you are always welcome here. You and your family,” he said.

‘Thank you, Theo. For everything. You are also welcome in Poisart to stay with us, anytime you want,” she hugged him.

Elsie got on her horse and looked at Gilbert on his with their son sitting in front of him.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes, let’s go home,” she smiled.