Family Reunion (83 page)

Manny glanced over the treasures, as well the young girls. Taking a deep breath he stood and turned to LuMaden, his eyes going from him, to his wife. She was still unable to look at him, so he gambled unsure of what his actions would bring them.

"King LuMaden - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity. For all you have laid before me, however - I cannot accept these gifts, awards - whatever they are. As I stated from the onset, she is here only for a visit. I am her husband. Her lord! You will never possess enough to lay before me, neither you nor any other man can offer me anything that would tempt me to turn her over to you. She is worth all of that and more, you keep your treasures King LuMaden and I, will keep mine, my wife."

Gasps from those near enough to hear spread word rapidly in disbelief, murmurs of others translating caused the mutterings to rise and embarrass the king. Lena felt a stab of pain within her heart, as her conscience scolded her,
'Lena, don't let your husband stand alone!'

LuMaden's eyes narrowed at him to dare say such a thing for all to hear. Finally, his daughter turned and gazed longingly at her husband, the look in her eyes was all Manny needed to see and in an instant he was given renewed strength to fight for them. She had not dismissed him as he had at first feared, she had simply been afraid. Her eyes were full of love and pleading for him to understand and help her.

LuMaden swallowed his anger, unwilling to further expose his problem for all to see, he stated instead, "The treasures are yours Maynard Webster! What I give, stays given, what I don't, I keep!" He squeezed his daughters hand for Manny to see. "Keep the treasures, or not – that is up to you." Before another word could be spoken, LuMaden turned back to this people, with a clap of his hands he bellowed, "Let the celebration begin!!"

Manny stared at his wife, transferring his thoughts, his strength to let her know, this was not over. Her head dropped in shame, feeling as though any minute she might run from the assembly; frightened of what to do. All thoughts or words left her at the squeeze of her hand. Lena battled a war of nerves, her mind desperately seeking a solution, shattered by the knowledge that continued to drive home one horrendous point, her father intended to keep her from her husband.

When LuMaden looked pointedly back at Manny, he knew that then was not the time, and so took his seat once again. LuMaden then turned to Lena; she turned away and obediently took her place before her mother. Sitting there, she could feel her father's eyes on her as he walked back to his place above them all, his message to her, though no words yet were spoken, came through to her loud and clear,
'This is your home, Ceś alena! These are your people Ceś alena! You were born with a responsibility - Ceś alena! You do not betray your people! You do not neglect what has all been saved for you! Your loyalty lies with your people, your people, Princess Ceś alena!'

Sitting before her people, before her father, before her children and before her husband, Lena fought tears of insanity once again and for a moment, longed for her medicine, more than she'd ever taken – to bring her sweet blissful sleep and to bring an end to so much turmoil in her life…she was tired.

Yet, another voice broke in, calling to her, overriding her father’s; that voice was from her husband, telling her, willing her to hear him, and she did,
'I will not leave without you! You are my wife! You belong to me! We have come too far to stop now! I love you Lena! We have not come this far for nothing! You are my wife…first! You are my wife!'

Lena closed her eyes, to stop the flow of threatening tears, she
could see her daughter's eyes on her, waiting, expecting her to be strong, she after all, faced the hatred of men who could have killed her, and bravely…she stood for what she believed in. Her son, Michael, was watching her, wondering, waiting; she knew she dare not fail him. Her Rory was watching and waiting.

Humiliation seared her as she imagined Maria and her grandchildren also waiting on her to stand up. Last but not least, the one who made her look up, Sandra. She could read the message in her eyes oh so clearly,
'You are not weak! I know you're not! Fight Lena! Fight as you always have! I know you can, fight!'

Lena looked away; she wanted to scream at them all to leave her alone! Didn't they realize…this was her father…King LuMaden!
'Dear God…how do I fight my father? I can fight anyone…anyone…but him.'
She closed her eyes, feeling lost and hopeless. Then a whisper came beside her ear. "Tonight my daughter, you must end this… you do not belong here." Austeao sat back again as if nothing had been said.

Lena quickly wiped away a tear, realizing it all rested on her, it seemed to always come back to land heavily on her shoulders to see things through. She didn't want this battle! Why, just once, couldn't things be simple and easy?! She couldn't stand anymore.
'Please…how many more battles must I wage? Why is there never an end?! Why?! Enough … enough … enough!'
Her mind tortured, a trembling took over her, she shot to her feet, bringing the attention of all to her, and spun to stare at her father. His eyes grew wide, and then narrowed on her. Lena bit back her words, she shook as tears rushed to her eyes staring at him, her tongue trapped and frozen.

"Sit…down." He ground out low, in warning to her.

She shook as she braced herself and sucked back a retort, finally… she turned and ran from the temple; her family stood…LuMaden stood, next Catamon and his mother. The dancing ceased as all looked to their King, stepping from the dais he waved and shouted, "Carry on!"

Obediently all did.

Austeao and Catamon followed LuMaden, Manny and his family tried too but were blocked by Catamon's men. "This way." They ordered.

Manny stood feeling helpless, to see his wife as he just had, shaking and afraid to speak, afraid to fight when he knew she feared no man. He turned back to his family who stared quietly at him waiting, they knew as well as he knew, they could do nothing for the time being. "This way!" Catamon's men repeated. Having little choice, Manny turned and followed them back to the chambers they’d occupied earlier, his family behind him.

In the village, the celebrating would go on into the night but within
the palace, it had come to an end. The Websters were back in the guest accommodations of the palace, standing about and wondering what next. Were it not for the circumstances hanging over them, they would almost feel welcome. The entire section of the guest chambers was at their disposal, luxurious and filled with all comforts, yet between them and Lena, stood huge double doors, two sentry's and an entire palace. Where they were kept was like being in another mansion altogether. Separate sleeping quarters for all were near, a layout of foods upon trenchers, within each chamber, delicious wines, and they could roam at will within their rooms and out onto the balcony that completely closed them in with no stairs or way off.

Manny stood looking out at the vast jungle before them; he could see his ships from his vantage point. He could hear the celebrating in the village down below and once again, he wished he had broken this one promise, to bring her back there. They all waited for the young servant girls to leave and upon their leaving the sentry guards gave a courteous nod to them and made their exit to stand outside the doors.

Mike was the first one to speak, "Is it just me, or does grandfather not like us?"

"Yes it is you…
and
he does not like us." Hope answered. "I’m beginning to feel as though this is a running theme in our lives, not being liked by our grandfathers, can’t figure it, I always bathe." Hope joked.

"Echm, Hope…not funny." Mike informed her as he paced, "He has spared us only an odd glance and I pray that we do not all live to regret coming here. She's my mother for goodness sake! How can he keep us from our own mother!? What's more, I feel more a prisoner than a guest!" Mike continued.

Manny stood quietly listening, thinking, praying and not knowing what to do as his family spoke behind him, "When we gonna get to go play?" He heard Felix ask. "Come, it is late, time for bed." Maria moved into action, "I'm not tired."

"Move it!" Mike ordered.

'What in God's name am I to do? My family is here. I cannot fight this man and jeopardize them. Would he hurt them? Does it not matter to him that his blood flows through their veins?'
Manny
stood wondering.

"You don't think he will really force her to stay here against her will, will he? I mean, she hasn't been a Princess for years." Rory spoke up, moving alongside his father.

"I'm afraid that's exactly what he's going to try to do. Dad we have to figure a way to get us and mother out of here." Mike added joining them.

"This is not a time for making plans as if against an enemy. This is
entirely different. This is a problem with family. Only one person can force the solution, that person is your mother. She alone is the only one to free herself." Joe stated from where he lounged sipping on wine and tasting the various fruits. Mike looked at him a moment, feeling a little irked at his calmness.

"Well it's nice to see someone is enjoying the king's hospitality!" Mike announced. Joe shook his head. "No harm will come to us, especially of you all, her children."

"How do you know?!" Mike blasted impatiently.

Joe shrugged, "I just know. We are safe. We simply have to wait until your mother has had enough."

The discussion went on with Manny standing making no comment, wondering at that very moment what was happening with his wife.

* * *

"Shhh, you must not cry any more-…" Austeao spoke in soft French to soothe her step-daughter, seeing so much of her sister in her. "I cannot help it! He has separated me from my family! I thought I would never say such a thing but I am sorry we returned! I am sorry I brought my children to see me weaken before my own father like a waif with no will of her own!" Lena returned, lying on her cushioned bed, hating herself and her existence as her step-mother sat holding her. "My God, my life has been nothing but a circle leading me back here! The very place I long ago sought to escape! Ashtaphere did me a favor in selling me away."

"What he did was wrong and will never be forgiven."

"I forgive him! The only lord I seek to be under is Maynard Ramsey Webster!" She declared heatedly.

"Esa, did you not know that your father would never accept him as your lord!? If you felt as you do, why did you return?"

Lena lay with that question on her mind, "I – I wanted him to see, I wanted them all to see – where I come from…my home. The life that was once mine, I wanted my father to see me – alive, well and happy…I went through more than you can imagine because he searched for me. And my husband …risked all to bring me back here! Only for him to pull this!"

"Hmmm, are you certain? Sounds to me, that your reasons for returning was to throw your life and
white
husband in his face-…"

"No! I love my father!"

"As well resent him! Yes…you do. You came to throw all that he
has dedicated to you in his face."

"I never wanted it, not any of it! My life was hell here! Most all of my brothers and sisters hated me because of him! All but Catamon…he was all that I had."

Austeao stroked her brow and wiped at her tears. "Well…no one forced you to come back…
you
returned. You started this… and now, you must finish it."

"No! I don't want to! Help me leave this place, please! Help me and my family escape, once we get to our boats and board the ships – we will leave and never return! Please mother!"

Austeao sighed, "You were
free
Ceś alena, if what you say is true,
you
were free. Because you have come back, you must stand up and face what there is with your father. With your return, you started this, now,
you
must finish it. Enough of these tears, come, dry your eyes - your father has sent for you. He is being considerate in letting you know your fate. I fear it is time you accept things for the way they must be…or… not… come along now."

"No! I don’t want to! Please don't make me!"

"You – have – no – choice! Pull yourself together and follow me … he waits for you."

LuMaden stood on his balcony, looking out at all that was his, remembering all that he’d had to do to get where he was. With the slant of his head, he heard his daughter enter his chamber.

"I am here father." She announced softly.

LuMaden turned his head and looked at her. "I was just standing here looking out at all that is ours. This island, the people…all mine, one day to be yours." He stopped and stared as she kept her eyes down unable to look at him. "Do you know the things I endured to be a king?"

Lena remained silent, knowing she was not expected to speak.

"At the end of it all, the one true joy of my life was your mother, Aurelia. No man has seen beauty such as hers. I have not loved again since her Esa…not
loved
. The one thing I had left of her, was you, you! As a newly born babe, I held you in my arms, rocked you, held you and prayed…don't take her away from me too." LuMaden looked away. They stood for moments, LuMaden silent and in thought, Lena wiping away more tears, finally she spoke up gently. "Dauda I wish to see my hus-…"