The Decoder - Chapter 39

Edith

“Where is the exit?” Edith panted, walking along the neverending dark corridor with not a single soul. She felt as if she had been running forever towards an unknown, towards uncertainties, blindly following the single path.

What felt like forever finally came to an end when a single light source came from the end of the corridor. Edith ran towards it with determination, wanting to leave this endless corridor that led to nowhere. She arrived and stood before the blinding white light. She squinted and called out. When there was no answer, she called out again.

“Edith.” A deep voice called out to her from behind and she whirled around. The figure of her father stood a few feet before her, a kind smile on his face.

“Father.” Edith whispered in disbelief and she ran into his arms, hugging her father as tight as possible. How she’d missed her father very much and she would give in anything just to see him again. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

“My angel. You have grown up well and beautiful.” Sir Alcoft said softly while patting her back.

“I miss you, father.”

“I see you have deciphered my message. I’m proud of you, Edith.”

“Thank you, father.” Edith eased away and looked up at her father, at his rich amber-coloured eyes, the very same colour as hers. He looked exactly the same as she remembered him, a kind face with a few wrinkles lining the corner of his eyes.

“Why don’t you visit the Alcoft cottage anymore?” Sir Alcoft asked.

“I do not wish to remember that night…” Edith admitted.

“The memories gathered there are not only sad memories, but happy ones. It’s your home, your childhood.” Sir Alcoft smiled.

Edith was silent as she looked away from her father. Can she do it? Return to the Alcoft cottage and not feeling the dread.

“The past is the past, Edith. We can only move on if we accept the past.” Sir Alcoft pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back again.

“It’s time to move forward.” He chided, and slowly, his body started to fade. Edith realised and she panicked for a moment.

“Father!”

“Move on, Edith.” Sir Alcoft smiled, the final smile, one that is filled with compassion and warmth.

“Father! Don’t go…” Edith pleaded, still not ready to let her father go. The time spent was too short. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks as she watched her father fade into the distance.

“Accept the past.” Her father’s voice continued to echo until finally silence, still and unmoving. Edith continued to sob and after a while, she glanced up at the shimmering light before her. She swallowed and took a deep breath. Her father was right. She can’t be dwelling in the past forever, can she? It only made her miserable. She had managed to overcome her trauma when reading her father’s journal, she can do this.

With a final determination, she wiped her tear-stained cheeks with the back of her hands, took a deep breath and chin held up high, she took a step toward the bright light. Another step, and another, and another…

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5 days later.

Edith stood among the crowd at the City Square, enjoying the celebration filled with the citizen’s happy faces, cheering at their new ruler, the newly elected High Commander of the Militia. She stared at the handsome face of her childhood best friend from afar and smiled, a proud smile. The entire City Square was filled to the brim with citizens from every Streets gathering to meet their new ruler, bundled in layers of clothing. Soldiers lined the edges of the Square, carrying the flag of Rayard, the cloth swaying in the cold wind.

It was a fine day, even the sun chose this day to shine its rays and not a speck of ever-present grey clouds could be seen in the clear sky. Though, the temperature was freezing, and a layer of snow covered the cobblestones. It had finally started snowing just yesterday.

“He looks splendid in his regal uniform, doesn’t he?” Sera said to her left, a cheeky smile plastered on her pretty face. Edith eyed him again and had to agree that he does look splendid. He was attired in a white regal overcoat which hung at his broad shoulders, the cuffs of the sleeves were embroidered with silver swirl-like patterns, and a long white scarf hung around the overcoat’s collar. Beneath the overcoat, was a white jacket embroidered with the similar intricate silver swirl-like patterns at the lapels, and beneath the jacket was a silver waistcoat and black collared shirt. A crisp-white cravat adored the collar with a gold brocade pin pinned to secure the cravat. His strong-muscled legs were wrapped in black leather breeches and tall leather boots. It was her first time seeing Avery in superfine finery.

“I agree.” Edith said while nodding her head.

“I daresay he looks even finer than his brother.” Sera whispered with a smirk, and her eyes twinkled, which elicited a soft laughter from Edith.

“He is one fine man. Your father will be very proud of him, Edith.” This came from Uncle Vern who stood at her right.

“Indeed. He is proud.” Edith said, and she did not doubt it.

“How are you feeling?” Sera asked.

“I’m feeling great.” Edith flashed a bright smile.

When she had awakened five days ago, her head was foggy due to the effects of the drug Captain Lynch had forced her to drink. Tears stained her cheeks and that was the sign that her dream where she met her father was indeed real. For some unknown reason, it felt like a final parting, a final goodbye and while it broke Edith’s heart, she felt it was time to move on. She will fulfill her father’s final words.

Sera had explained the entire situation to her and all the events that had transpired during her unconsciousness. Avery had confronted the High Commander and best of all, he had reconciled with his elder brother. He hadn’t the chance to visit her in the past five days due to his busy schedule and preparations to take over the High Commander role. Edith had stayed coup up in Avery’s private apartment while she slowly regained her energy. Sera had been by her side the entire time and Lucien had popped in every day to check on her well-being, so he could report back to Avery.

The days past by, Edith couldn’t help missing him, wanting to see him, but Sera had been strict. She did not blame her, and she understood her good intentions. While she was recuperating, Edith had reconciled with Sera as well. They had talked for hours, confessing their inner feelings and Edith apologising and promising to never repeat the same mistakes. Sera had shared her plans to return to Hathage to resume her responsibilities by His Majesty, Lord Noel’s side and Edith felt a pang of sadness of having to be apart from her childhood friend again.

“Don’t worry, we could always visit each other any time.” Sera had said with her cheerful smile. Gone, was the cynical woman Edith had met during her abduction episode.

And, now Edith stood amongst the crowd, smiling at Avery as he gave his speech, addressing the citizens with the promise of peace and reshaping the kingdom for the better.

“I pledge my loyalty as the new High Commander of the Kingdom of Rayard to all my citizens.” He said in a deep voice that echoed across the City Square as he stood on the stage. Miss Ira, Lucien and his brother stood at the side of the stage, a smile equally as proud as Edith’s lit their faces. The citizens cheered merrily, some clapping and some throwing colourful confetti. Edith and Sera clapped as well, joining in the crowd. Deep down, she was relieved to see the citizens accepting their new High Commander though there were doubts among the citizens, but over time, the doubt will lessen when Avery proved his capabilities.

“What are your plans after this?” Sera asked amidst the cheers. Edith glanced at Miss Ira on the stage, dressed beautifully in an exquisite sky-blue gown with several folds at the centre and a silver-white pelisse was wrapped around her slim shoulders. Avery will be married to Miss Ira sooner or later, and she would be left alone. Well, not entirely alone.

Caden and Merille had visited Edith at Avery’s private apartment five days ago after learning of the entire event that took place. They had berated her at first for acting foolishly before expressing their worries and relieves as they warmly embraced her. They had revealed their plans to travel the land and pay a visit to Merille’s parents at her hometown, the Kingdom of Relo, located east from Rayard and Hathage, for a few months. They had invited Edith along for a break, but she had yet to give an answer.

She was tempted to join them because deep down, she couldn’t bear to witness the matrimony of her childhood best friend with Miss Ira. Though, she wished them true happiness, it will break her heart further if she were to watch their intimacies and marriage. She had plans to even quit her job at the Militia and help her uncle at his clinic, and the idea happened to come from Uncle Vern himself after learning of her incident.

“I don’t know, yet…But, I wish to visit the Alcoft cottage first.” Edith said.

“You will? I wish I could join you, but I need to return to Hathage to settle some matters.”

“It’s alright. I intend to visit alone, and I don’t wish to trouble you any further. I truly appreciate your goodwill for staying by my side for the past five days, Sera.” Edith smiled and glanced at the crowd. She could see Caden and Merille at the opposite end, cheering and clapping.

“It’s no trouble, you silly ninny. That’s what friends do, don’t they?” Sera bumped her arm.

“Aye. We must continue to stay in touch.” Edith smiled cheekily and bumped her friend’s arm in return.

“Even if you don’t say it, I intend to.”

“I hope you will reconsider quitting your job at the Militia, Edith.” Uncle Vern said sternly, repeating his words from two days ago.

“I will reconsider, uncle.” Edith gave him her sweetest smile.

While the celebration went on, Edith snuck away from the crowd after informing Sera and Uncle Vern of her plans to visit the Alcoft cottage. Avery had stepped off the stage and joined his brother, Lucien and Miss Ira’s sides. Edith made her way down the street from the City Square to Cyel Street to Dastren Street and past Eder Street. The Streets were devoid of life, for its residents had gone to greet their new ruler and celebrate the happy occasion. A sense of serenity and peace filled the surroundings around her.

Edith walked past the archway that led into Falborg Forest, tugging at her scarf to keep her warm as she strode through the snowy pathway of the forest. Skeletal branches shot upward at the skies and a cold breeze swept past her, caressing her cheeks. A snow rabbit hopped past her. The peace and quiet of the forest were inviting and how she longed for it, it was as if time had stopped moving.

She continued through the wide pathway, her ankle boots crunching against the one inch of snow, leaving shoe trails behind her. When she arrived at the intersection before the one that led to the lake, she veered right where the pathway widened into a medium-sized cottage ahead of her. As she walked the trail, trepidation filled her nerves and she willed them away. She chanted her father’s words in her head over and over.

“Move on, Edith. It’s time to accept the past.”

The chant calmed her nerves as she called fort all the happy memories and her childhood days spent at the family cottage. She walked on and on and finally arriving at the end of the trail, her eyes gazing at the cottage that was once her home. It was a cozy-looking cottage made of bricks painted in a soft blue. She remembered the day she had painted the cottage with her father and Avery when she was ten years old. The roof was thatched with its arched windows and a single chimney. Bushes surrounded the cottage as Edith walked up the stone path that led to the front wooden door, painted in hazelnut brown. A bell had fallen off and lay atop the wooden floor. She picked up the bell and opened the door, the hinges protested from lack of use and Edith stepped into the threshold, her eyes raking over the entire lounge. The couches were worn, and a film of dust coated its surface, two wooden chairs toppled. At the corner of the lounge, the pianoforte remained untouched. Portraits and paintings fallen off from the walls, splinters of glass littered the floor, her boots crunching under them as she walked past. Memories from that night threatened to surface to her mind and she quickly replaced them with the happy memories. She wouldn’t succumb to her nightmares, not here.

“Move on, Edith.”

Edith took a deep breath and moved on to the kitchen, pots and pans hung on the hooks against the dirtied walls, untouched. Spiderwebs clung to every corner of the ceiling.

“Would you like to try a cookie?” Young Edith had asked Avery.

“Yes, please.” Avery had cast a warm smile her way it stole her breath, her cheeks turning pink.

Edith smiled at the memory and continued her steps to the back door. She stood at the threshold before the small set of stairs, surveying the small garden to her left. There was a brook ahead and it was frozen over. She remembered there were times when her father would spend his time there, taking in the wonders of nature.

She turned right to the porch and sat at the edge of the floorboards after brushing the snow from it, not caring if it will dirty her midnight-blue ankle-length pleated skirts. The tip of her boots barely touching the ground as she stared ahead, rubbing her bare hands to create some warmth in them. While she stared at the brook and the bushes and trees lining the brook ahead of her, memories came forth. She basked in the memories and she longed to return to those memories. But memories are memories, and they are priceless. She was in the present and it was time to look forward. What am I to do?

There was no way she could be with Avery for he belonged to another, and there was no way she would stay in the Militia, pretending that things were as they were when in reality they were not. She lowered her lashes and allowed herself some peace.

Edith sat still for the next half an hour, reminiscing the past and learning to accept them. She had fulfilled her father’s quest, and she still remembered the peaceful expression on her father’s face before he faded in her dreams. He was happy. The notion of it made her feel at peace. She could live in this cottage once she cleaned the mess, but she would be all alone. The idea of being alone wasn’t very appealing to her because she craved for Avery’s presence, craved to be by his side.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a boot crunching on snow to her left and Edith turned to look at the source of the sound.

“Edie.”

Edith’s eyes widened at the sight of Avery, still dressed in his regal uniform, looking every inch the new High Commander. It took her a moment to believe the person before her was real and not some apparition she’d conjured up.

“How did you know I’m here?” Edith asked as he walked over to her, closing the gap between them.

“Sera told me. I was searching for you. I wanted to see you.” Avery said, his expression one of longing.

“I’m happy for you, Avery. Congratulations on your promotion. You deserve it.” Edith smiled then.

“Thank you.”

Silence.

Edith started feeling uncomfortable as she had so many things to say to him, but she wasn’t sure where to start. This was the first time she was tongue-tied around Avery. Before she could say anything, Avery broke the silence between them.

“How are you doing, Edie?”

“I’m doing well. Thank you for saving me and for letting me stay at your private apartment.”

“No, you saved me. Though, I have to admit I wasn’t pleased with the things you did without telling me.”

“I’m sorry…I thought of telling you once you’re done with your work. You were occupied.” Edith said guilty. She knew what he was referring to as Sera had told her. The plan to reconcile him and Lord Noel and her decision to share the details of the message as well as the details on Operation Z to Sera. She was glad the operation had been called off.

“The past is the past.” Avery sighed, repeating her father’s words.

“You finally visit the cottage.” He continued.

“Yes…I think it’s about time to move on. I can’t dwell in the past forever. I dreamed of my father. He was happy.” Edith said wistfully.

“I’m happy to hear that. May he rest in peace.” Avery gave a small smile.

Silence reigned in again between them. Edith decided to break it with whatever she could think of at the moment.

“Won’t Miss Ira be looking for you?” The words were out before she could pull them back.

“Why would she be looking for me?” Avery frowned.

“Well, you are to be wed to her…” Edith said softly and averted her gaze.

“I have annulled my engagement. Ira agrees with it.” Avery’s words drew her gaze back to his. She couldn’t believe what she was listening. Annul?

“Was it because of…me?” Edith asked, somehow dreading to know the answer. She did not wish to be the cause of their annulment. Her stomach twisting in knots.

“No…Ira knows my feelings for you, and she did not wish for a one-sided love. She has plans to travel the land soon to discover her purpose in life. It was a mutual agreement to annul the engagement, so do not think it’s because of you, Edie.” Avery took a step forward.

“I see…” Edith muttered. A part of her felt relief at Avery’s explanation, and another part of her was happy that he was no longer engaged to another. Avery stepped into her line of vision and knelt down before her, reached for her hands and held them in his gloved ones in a gentle grip.

“Avery—"

“I have been thinking for a long time and wondering how to form the words.” He said as his gaze fixated on hers. In the daylight, surrounded by white scenery, the green in his eyes shone brighter and she was lost in the sea of green.

“What do you mean?”

Avery took several deep breaths then.

“Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife, Edie?” He finally spoke the words that Edith secretly fantasised from time to time. She was so stunned to the point where words had left her, her mouth gaped as she stared at him.

“Edie, love?”

“I know this may be a surprise for you…” Avery added, and she blinked, her cheeks turning pink and tears shimmered in her eyes.

“Edie?! Why are you crying?” Avery said in a panicked voice upon noticing her watery eyes. She blinked once, twice, and the tears streamed down her cheeks. She wanted to wipe them away, but her hands were clasped in Avery’s.

“I’m sorry, Edie. If you do not wish to accept—” Avery released one of her hands and reached up to swipe away at the tear.

“No…I’m just so happy…” Edith quickly say before he misunderstood.

“Is that a yes?” Avery’s eyes shone with hope.

“Yes, a hundred times yes.” Edith said through tears of happiness, her vision becoming hazy. She tried to control the tears, but they just continue to come. Then, Avery pulled her toward him, making her bent slightly as his mouth connected with hers. He kissed her deeply and passionately, pouring all of his affection and longing in it. His hands cupped her face while hers rested on his shoulders. He eased away from her for breath before kissing her again and again, showering her with kisses.

“I love you, Edie.” He whispered against her mouth before his lips moved to kiss away the tears.

“And, I to you. Thank you, Avery.” Edith beamed with delight and chuckled softly.

“I promise to make you the happiest woman on this land.” Avery grinned and moved to kiss her temple. Edith giggled.

“You alone is my happiness, Avery.”

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