Touch of Flame

The day arrived for Darcy to leave with her father, and as she packed, she could see Ephraim observing her with worry. Closing the chest, she turned to him. "I will be alright." She assured him. 

He tilted his head and asked, "Shall I come with you?" 

She smiled and said, "You can\'t, Ephraim. That will be dangerous." 

He sighed but nodded. Darcy walked over to him, where he half sat on the dresser. As she neared, Ephraim\'s arms, strong and comforting, gathered her close, pulling her into a kiss that promised sweet memories to tide her over in his absence. She yearned for his presence already, his touch, his scent, and his radiant smile, all imprinted deeply in her heart.

"I\'ll miss you," she whispered as their lips parted.

"And I you," he murmured back.

"Look for me at the party," she promised, her voice laced with anticipation.

Ephraim nodded with a soft smile. 

Darcy teased him about his new camaraderie with Ares, "Meanwhile, you\'ve got your new friend to entertain you." 

"Yes, but it isn\'t quite the same," Ephraim responded, disengaging himself from the dresser to lend a hand with the heavy chest.

"I would hope not," Darcy retorted with a playful smile.

Together, they maneuvered her luggage to the carriage waiting outside, where their friends and family had gathered to bid farewell. Darcy\'s heart ached at the prospect of parting from Ravina; a whisper of fear stirring in her chest at the thought of losing her sister again. 

"Take care, Darcy," Ravina urged, her hands clasping Darcy\'s tightly. "And don\'t be unnecessarily brave."

A chuckle escaped Darcy, "I\'ll bear that in mind."

The farewell rituals unfolded in a series of hugs and solemn promises. Richard surprised all by offering his hand to Malachi. "Take care of Ravina," he told him.

Malachi\'s initially shocked response morphed into a nod of stern agreement.

Richard then turned to Ephraim, a reassuring tap on his shoulder, signifying his trust, before wishing Nazneen luck in her forthcoming endeavors as a ruler. Finally, he faced Darcy, their shared gaze signaling their readiness to depart. As they entered the carriage, they lifted their hands, waving a final farewell to their loved ones.

Darcy\'s journey presented her with new faces, and her escorts recognized her even though she couldn\'t recall them. Among them was a stern-faced man, his stature suggesting an age in the mid-thirties, whom her father introduced as a high-ranking army official.

His formality, addressing her as \'Your Highness,\' initially seemed odd. But as the reality of her new status sank in during their travel, she understood she would have to get used to such deference. She was a princess now, and the implications of that realization were profound.

Upon their arrival at the kingdom, an enthusiastic crowd, eager to welcome their king, met them. This display was a strategic move by Ares, ensuring that the king\'s return was common knowledge, thwarting any potential ploys by Andrew.

Speaking of Andrew, Darcy sought to understand her past relationship with him. Her father provided insight, explaining that she and Ravina were particularly protective of Andrew, who was but a child of thirteen when she disappeared. Now, he was a young man of nineteen and, according to her father, not so much malicious as simply lost.

"He is not a bad person. He is lost. We all changed after the tragedy. We all lost our way. He needs my help." He said. 

Darcy acknowledged her father\'s words with a thoughtful nod. The resounding cheers from the crowd outside became more pronounced, a clear indication of the awaited king. Drawing back the curtain, Darcy peered through the window, her gaze meeting a vibrant spectacle of eager subjects, their faces illuminated with joy and hope.

She could hear the resonating echo of the grand castle gates creaking open, a sound that reverberated through her being. As their carriage crossed the threshold, the atmosphere grew even more electrifying, a tribute to the significance of their arrival.

Upon halting, Darcy was gently assisted down from the carriage. Her descent was welcomed by the sight of numerous well-wishers. Among them, a young man caught her attention. With crystal blue eyes and fair hair, he radiated youthful energy. The surprise on his face was apparent, while the woman standing beside him, presumably his mother, remained placid, her face devoid of any discernible emotions.

"Father?" The young man\'s voice echoed his surprised expression.

Darcy was momentarily taken aback. The man currently known as her father was, in reality, her uncle. A fact she had to keep in mind.

"Andrew," Richard greeted, his voice brimming with warmth.

Andrew seemed to hesitate for a moment before overcoming his initial shock and embracing Richard. "I thought you were dead?" he confessed, his words shrouded in uncertainty.

While his sincerity remained unclear, his shock became even more palpable when his gaze fell on Darcy.

"Corinna?" he queried, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes, I found Corinna," Richard confirmed, quickly adding, "She doesn\'t remember much," to spare Darcy any awkward explanations.

"Oh," Andrew responded, his gaze intently studying her, "I am glad you are safe and back home."

"Thank you," Darcy replied with a polite smile.

Richard then turned to acknowledge his supposed wife, who managed a forced smile. Unlike Andrew, her feelings about the situation were transparent.

Abruptly, an elderly man emerged before them. His features bore the hallmarks of time, deep lines etched across his weathered face and his eyes, clouded with age yet clear with emotion. These watery orbs were primarily focused on Darcy, taking her in with a softness that mirrored a personal bond.

"Corinna…" His voice trembled, choking on the name he must have thought he would never say again. The corners of his mouth quivered, and his voice cracked with raw emotion. His hands, gnarled with age, were clasped before him as if in prayer or desperation.

Darcy frowned, a crease of confusion marring her brow. She had no recollection of the man before her, yet his familiarity suggested an intimate bond. This encounter was another jarring moment in the string of dissonant experiences since her return.

"You are here. You are safe. Oh, my dear." His words were uttered in a shaky breath, each one tinged with relief and a touch of melancholy. 

Feeling lost in this sea of unfamiliarity, Darcy looked to Richard for guidance. His introduction provided some context, "This is Bram," he said, leaning closer and whispering, "Secretly, your godfather." 

Then he looked at Bram. "Corinna has problems with her memories. She doesn\'t remember much from the past." He explained.

His explanation about Darcy\'s memory issues seemed to make Bram\'s already teary eyes well up even more. "I am sorry," he managed, his voice strained with unshed tears.

"Um… it is alright. I am fine," Darcy said, a hint of reassurance weaving through her soft-spoken words. Her sympathy for his emotional state was genuine, even if her memories of him had yet to return.

Bram then looked around and behind them. "Where is Ravina?" He asked. 

Darcy could see a muscle tick in her father\'s jaw. "Bram," he began, putting a hand on his shoulder. It was as if he wanted to say something but couldn\'t. "Corinna is here now. Ravina will too," he said. 

The old man nodded. "Yes, you should rest now, your Majesty. Is there anything I can arrange for you?" 

"No, thank you." 

Bram moved out of the way so they could be shown to their rooms to rest. Eventually she had to part ways with her father, which made her nervous but one of the guards, heavily armed followed her in silence. It was all so odd to her, with servants and guards following her everywhere. Once they arrived in front of her room, the guards opened the door for her to enter. 

Meanwhile, Richard and Meredith retired to their quarters. Once they were alone in their room, Meredith turned around to confront him. 

"Where have you been all this time?" she asked, her arms folded across her chest.

"You don\'t seem happy to see me," Richard said calmly.

"You didn\'t answer my question."

"I was looking for Corinna."

"You left your son to look for your niece," Meredith retorted, her words edged with accusation.

Richard took a deep breath and decided they both should stop pretending now. He wanted to make things right, and what he did to her was terrible. 

"Meredith. You know she is my daughter." He said softly.