Immortal Love (35 page)

“You saw your mother?”

“And she showed me that you were in
trouble.”

“You put yourself at great risk coming to
save me.”

She wiped the blood away from his eyes, and
threw her arms around him again. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive
me.”

“I could do nothing else.”

Randolf touched his shoulder. “She saved your
life,” he said nodding to where McPhearson’s body lay.

Dominick stared at it for some time, then
turned back toward his wife. “She has saved my life in more ways
than one.”

She could feel what was unspoken between
them.

Liam rushed through the forest. Randolf and
Erik helped Dominick to his feet. Liam dismounted next to Robert’s
body.

Dominick moved toward him. “I’m sorry,
Liam.”

Liam stared down at his brother, saying
nothing at first. Eleanor sensed regret. “I’m not surprised that
this has happened,” Liam said. “I saw him ride into the meadow
after Eleanor. His obsession with her was his undoing. May he rest
in peace.”

Dominick stepped back as Liam drew his sword.
Randolf and Erik quickly withdrew theirs.

The ringing of metal set Eleanor’s teeth on
edge. Her heart couldn’t endure another battle.

Turning the point to the ground Liam held it
low on the hilt holding it out to Dominick.

“Swear on this sword that there will be no
more fighting between Aurora and Godwin. That you will not try to
extend Godwin’s borders by taking McPhearson land, and that there
will be peace between us until we are both dead.”

With both hands Dominick circled Liam’s sword
around the hilt. “I promise to take no land belonging to you and to
uphold peace as long as I live. But you must also uphold your
pledge that you will not raid Godwin land.”

“This shall be done.”

Dominick handed back the sword. Four men
carried Robert’s body to his horse. Liam mounted. Looking down at
Eleanor he said, “Farewell, my lady. Your beauty is only matched by
your stout heart. I wish you both well.” Then he and his men left
the forest. Dominick held out his arms and Eleanor ran into them.
The two watched the procession leave. “Last night I thought I had
lost your heart.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Dominick, my heart
will always belong to you, and no matter where you are it will
always call you home.”

M
onths later, Eleanor
looked beautiful as she sat before the fire, brushing her long,
silky hair. Dominick could look at her forever. She expelled a deep
sigh as she rubbed her swollen stomach.

“What is on your mind, sweet wife?”

“For the first time in many years Godwin is
at peace.” Her fingers worked out the tangles in her hair.
“Treaties were signed and prosperity for both Godwin and Aurora has
begun. “Liam is a good leader. His people will do well under his
care.” He sat beside her, also relieved that the two land owners
had become strong allies. “How is Martha doing?”

“We can’t keep her down. Zenon has given up
in frustration.” She gave her hair a few more strokes. “I saw Ruth
today. She and her baby girl are thriving. I’m so glad Ralph got
the girl he wanted. I only wish he were here to see her.” Her eyes
filled with sadness.

Dominick reached out to hold her hand. “I’m
sure he knows.”

Her face brightened. “Have you seen him?”

“No, I believe he has moved on to a better
place.” Since opening his mind to Isolde, souls had reached out to
him for help. Some he could aid, but most he couldn’t. He was
cautious about closing them out for fear Isolde might not be able
to reach him in a time of need. Her spirit was not as strong as it
once had been, probably due to McPhearson’s death and the safety of
her daughter.

“Then I’m happy for him. How are Ethan and
Matthew doing?” she asked.

“They’re doing fine. Ethan has a bit of a
rebellious streak, but hopefully as he grows older he will
understand the reason for his tasks.” Dominick filled with pride as
he looked at Eleanor’s stomach. He kneeled in front of her and
pressed his head to her belly. “You are my precious child, and your
father loves you very much.” Their babe moved gently under his
chin.

Eleanor removed her jewelry and placed it in
a box before getting ready for bed. “God’s teeth!”

Eleanor turned at her husband. “What’s the
matter?”

“Your mother has been showing me this box for
over a week now. She has been scaring me to death. Every time I saw
her I thought you were in some kind of trouble.”

“It’s just a simple jewelry box. It’s the
only thing given to me after her death. The jewels were already
gone. No doubt my fa—mother’s husband sold all her jewels to keep
up his drinking and gambling.”

“There is something about it that’s important
to her.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

He looked more closely at the intricately
carved wooden box. It was like the visions Isolde had shown him.
“There must be more to it.” He rubbed his hands along the top and
sides and bottom.

“It sounds hollow.” When he ran his hands
along the inside again, he felt a small latch and pressed it.

A small drawer sprung out of the bottom.
Inside was a folded piece of parchment and a gold medallion with an
emerald jewel in its center. On the back of the medallion was her
name.

Eleanor looked confused when she saw her name
on the outside of the parchment.

“Dominick? Look, it has my name on it.”

“Well, open it and read it.”

With shaking hands she
broke the seal and opened the letter. She read it out loud to
Dominick.

My Dearest Daughter,

How do I begin to tell you how much I love
you? My soul swells with it. Your mother and I were very much in
love, and it still blooms today. Please know that you were
conceived in love, a love so deep there are no words to describe
it. But I was not allowed to follow my heart.

My sweet Eleanor, I want to shout it over the
rooftops that I have a daughter. Yet it is with a heavy heart that
I admit I cannot claim you as my own. There would be a scandal and
I do not wish for your mother to endure humiliation from members of
this small-minded court. But in my heart you are my own. I grieve
the loss of you.

I have obligations to our country that
required me to wed another. It is a political alliance. It’s an
alliance with no warmth. How I miss your mother’s smile. The memory
of it warms my heart on cold nights.

The Queen Mother arranged for your mother to
marry the man you now call your father. He is a man who will keep
this secret for a great deal of money. Your mother has no choice
but to marry him for your sake.

Along with this letter I send you the
medallion. Please wear it always as a reminder of my love for
you.

Take care, my darling, for I hope to meet you
one day.

Your loving father,

King William

The parchment fell to the floor. Her eyes
filled with tears. Dominick picked up the letter and read it
again.

He saw the King’s motive clearly. By the
decree of his marriage The King was protecting his daughter in the
only way he could. Dominick took the medallion and placed it around
her neck. He kissed her gently, then with a happy smile he leapt
into action. His veins pumped with energy. He began throwing her
things in a trunk.

“Dominick, what are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m taking you to see your father.”

E
leanor could barely
breathe as she waited inside the King’s private chamber. Dominick
held her shaking hand. Her legs felt weak.

Then the King entered. She nearly swooned the
moment she looked into her father’s eyes. King William's eyes
welled with tears.

William touched the medallion she wore. “You
look so much like your mother. I still miss her so much.” Without
any warning the man gave her a great hug. “Oh, my darling, you have
no idea how I have prayed for this day.”

Eleanor couldn’t hold back the tears. This
was her father, not the evil man she had grown up with, but her
real father. When he took her in his arms, she felt the bond
between them.

Finally, he stepped away and held her
hands.

“Look at you, my darling daughter, all grown
up and having a child of her own.” He turned to Dominick. “Thank
you, Thank you for keeping my daughter safe.

“I hope now you see why I decreed that the
two of you had to marry. It was to protect you, Eleanor. I tried to
do that all your life. I sent my best soldier, Zenon. He and his
wife were to watch over you. I knew the man your mother had been
forced to marry was the most despicable sort. I just wish she would
have come to me before she—”

It was time for her to tell him the truth
about her mother’s death. “There is something you should know. My
mother didn’t kill herself, she was murdered by her husband.”

William pulled away. “How do you know
this?”

“Isolde showed me,” Dominick said.

William looked as though he was choking. “So
my
true
love was murdered,” he croaked.

“Yes sire, I’m afraid so.”

Dominick led him to the closest chair and
gave him some wine.

The King took a deep gulp. “I thought you
couldn’t see the dead any more.”

“Her spirit is very strong. The love for her
daughter tore through my barrier. She warned me whenever Eleanor
was in trouble.”

“I believed your mother had been too
distraught by our separation. That the man she married was horrible
beyond words, but I could never understand how she could have left
you behind. Now I know the truth. May her soul rest in peace.”

The wound of her loss opened again, and
Eleanor could barely speak. “We are hoping some day she will.”

The King beckoned for her to sit beside him.
“There is something I want you to know.” He took her hand in his.
“My darling, I hope you understand that I cannot claim you as my
own, for if I did you would be thought of as my bastard child, and
I can’t have that. It would put you in danger from grasping
would-be heirs whose greed makes them stupid and thus dangerous.
Know that in my heart you are my daughter.”

His words filled her heart with joy. She
squeezed his hand tightly. “I understand and I am content.”

“I’m glad you are.” He looked down at her
belly. “When your child is born send me word and I will come to see
my daughter and grandchild. I can barely believe the word I’m
saying. I’m going to be a grandfather.” His face sobered, and he
turned toward Dominick. “I pray your love for her is deep and
true.”

Dominick stood straight and tall. “There is
none truer.”

“Good, then honor her always, for she is the
beloved daughter of a king.”

E
leanor and Dominick
stood near the cliffs of Godwin as she tossed a bouquet of fall
flowers tied with pink ribbon into the sea.

“Thank you, Mother, “she whispered.

Dominick held her tightly and the two of them
watched the waves take the bouquet out into the ocean.

A cool breeze swirled around them and out of
it, Isolde’s spirit walked toward them. Her beautiful face held a
smile.

“Mother.”

My precious child, so long I have waited for
you to see me, but your heart would not allow it. The only way to
reach you was through Dominick. His love opened your heart to me. I
prayed that some day you would find happiness. Dominick has been
the answer to those prayers.

I could not believe my good fortune that
he could see and hear me, even if it were only for a moment.
She turned to Dominick.
Dominick, the door I have opened in your
mind will close when I leave. You will never be haunted again by
the souls who have not found the light.

“Leave? Mother you can’t leave!” Eleanor
protested.

Dominick held her tight.

It’s my time, dear heart. The two of you have
found the love that binds you together. Through your love for each
other I have found my peace, and I go to it happily.

Tears fell down Eleanor’s cheeks. “I miss
you, Mama.”

Aw child. Remember that I love you, and it
lives in the love you have for each other. You will hear my voice
in your baby’s laughter. Think of me as I am now. Not the tormented
woman I was when I walked among the living. Remember our time
playing on the beach. Show my grandson our cave and have great
adventures in it.

We will be together again some day. I love
you always, my darling.

Isolde’s apparition began to glow, and warm
air swirled around them.

Hold tight to her Dominick, for her love is
what you have been searching for your whole life. Guard it, for it
is precious.

Suddenly, the apparition burst forth in to
thousands of tiny lights that circled them like a caress before
Isolde's spirit spiraled up into the cloudless sky, and
disappeared.

Dominick and Eleanor clung to one another.
Eleanor’s emotions were mixed between happiness and sadness.
Moments passed, then she smiled. “A son.”

“A son,” he said, returning her smile.

The two of them stood arm in arm looking out
toward the horizon, each remembering what Isolde had told them, and
finally they understood her
Immortal Love
.