One
day there was an urgent call from Stephen.
"Andy!
Andy!"
"What
is wrong Dot?"
"You
have to come home NOW!"
What
is it Dot?"
"Father
is dead and there is a really bad man trying to take his place."
"Father
is dead? What happened?"
“This
really bad man came to the castle and he brought soldiers with him then one
night father died and this really mean man is telling me what to do now and I
don't like it."
"Dot
I will be there as soon as I can."
"Promise
Andy?"
"I
promise but do not tell anyone I am coming, okay?"
"Okay
I won't tell anyone. But hurry
Andy."
“Starchild
there is something wrong at home.”
Andrea said with concern in her voice.
"What
is wrong?"
"I
don't know. Dot says my father is
dead. I have to go home."
"No.
You cannot leave the manor." it
was Demon.
"I
have to go." Andrea said stubbornly.
"If you won't take me I will go myself." With that Andrea
stormed out of the room.
“Demon,
you need to take her. It is too far to
walk and she should not teleport.” Celestial
tried to reason with Demon.
"If
I don't take her she cannot go. No more
discussion." Demon was done with
the conversation.
Celestial
continued, "She will transport herself if you don't take her."
Andrea
did not hear the knock at her door.
Starchild
knocked again as he opened the door, "Andrea?"
Andrea
was pacing in her room. Starchild could
feel anger, confusion, guilt, and fear all coming from Andrea. Starchild did not have time to shield
himself from Andrea’s emotions and they almost knocked him over. Andrea did not hear his knock or even
realize he had come into the room. She
paced back and forth unsure of what to do but knowing she had to go home.
"Andrea."
Starchild repeated a little louder.
Andrea
stopped her pacing and looked at Starchild, "You can't stop me. I'm going home." She declared
defiantly.
"We
are not going to stop you." he said quietly.
Andrea
turned and saw that Beast, Celestial, and Demon were now also in her room.
She
looked at Demon and again screamed, "I'm going home and you cannot stop
me." She lunged at Demon pounding
him in the chest with her fists.
Demon
could sense her emotions, not as well as Starchild, but he knew she was acting
out in grief and a feeling of being powerless.
Demon wrapped his arms around her and held her as she continued her
assault on him.
Beast
and Celestial watched Andrea’s assault on Demon and knew she would have to wear
herself out before she could think rationally.
Beast left the room to get tea while Celestial kept watch on Starchild
who had finally crumbled from the onslaught of emotions coming from
Andrea.
Finally
Andrea's fight ended. She was exhausted
and clung to Demon whimpering.
Celestial helped Starchild stand to his feet and then guided him to a
nearby chair. Demon picked up a still
whimpering Andrea and sat down in a chair opposite Starchild cradling her in
his arms. Beast had returned with the
tea and handed a cup to Starchild and took a cup to Andrea.
"Andrea,"
Beast said softly, "drink this."
At
first Andrea couldn't move then slowly the haze began to clear and she found
herself sitting in Demon's lap. She
lifted her eyes to a smiling Beast who was offering her a cup of something
warm. With trembling hands Andrea
reached for the cup as she still clung to Demon. Demon's hand covered hers as
she took the cup from Beast and he helped her raise the cup to her lips to
drink. She closed her eyes and rested
her head on Demon's chest. She felt
safe and secure held tightly in his arms.
"Better
now?" Celestial asked her.
Andrea
merely nodded, her eyes still closed.
"Starchild,
are you well?" Demon asked.
"I
was not prepared for that." Starchild admitted as he shook his head,
"But I am fine now."
Andrea
opened her eyes, "I'm sorry."
"It's
all right. But next time, give me a
little warning." Starchild laughed as Andrea smiled.
"We
have a plan if you are up to it." Celestial said.
Andrea
sat up instantly serious, "You have a plan?"
"Yes.
We knew you would be going home with or without our help so we decided we
should help." Celestial continued, "But for this plan to work you
must hide your emotions. Do you think
you can do that?"
"I
can try. What is your plan?"
At
Andrea's home, the warrior Jonathan had set himself up as king under the guise
that Philip was too young. He would act
in his place. Jonathan planned to wed Queen Levinia by the week's end thus
enforcing his right to rule.
It
was a brilliant plan on the part of The Dark Ones. Andrea's father was gone and her homeland was in jeopardy. This would bring her out of hiding. Since Andrea had been taken to the manor The
Dark Ones had not been able to track her moves. They did not know about Andrea and her power until The Masters
claimed her as The Lady. They were
angry with themselves that she should have gone unnoticed but it had been so
many years since Miranda that The Dark Ones had grown lazy in their watch. It had taken The Dark Ones time to learn
about Andrea but there was not much to find out. The villagers could not give them any information nor could her
family. What The Dark Ones did not know
was that Starchild had placed a blocking spell on the castle and the village,
each person knew Andrea but could not reveal any information about her.
The
Dark Ones had cast their spell of fear and confusion on Andrea hoping it would
give them more time to find her weakness and destroy her.
They
had tried to send in emissaries to the manor as they had with Miranda but all
were turned away without gaining entrance.
This new plan was going to work.
At long last they would lure the elusive Lady out into the open where
she would be vulnerable and then The Dark Ones could destroy her. It was an excellent plan.
Jonathan
sat on the King's throne with Levinia at his side. That trouble-making brat Stephen was locked in his room and his
brothers Philip and Kevin were too terrified to do any harm. All was going well.
"King
Jonathan, there are priests here from a nearby village who have come to pay
respects to the fallen king and to show honor to the new king."
"Show
them in." Jonathan replied to his soldier.
‘Perhaps
these priests could perform the marriage ceremony tonight.’ Jonathan was
suddenly anxious for the arrival of his visitors.
"Your
Majesty, my brother and I come to pay homage." The first priest
spoke. "First, we pay condolences
to the queen on her loss. May God Bless
you my child."
Queen
Levinia only nodded afraid to say anything.
"Father,"
Jonathan began, "are all of you priests?"
"No
your majesty." This is my brother
and this is our attendant."
"May
we see the former king? Is his body not
laying in repose?" The second priest asked.
"Behind
you." Came the reply from Jonathan.
There
was a gasp from the priests' servant.
"Death
does not sit well yell with your attendant." Jonathan laughed.
The
first priest grabbed the arm of the attendant "Quiet!"
The
second priest looked at Jonathan.
"By what right do you claim the throne? Did not King Bartholomew have children to rule after him?"
"I
claim the right to rule by marriage."
"Then
you have married the queen?" the second priest continued.
"Not
yet. I was hoping you could marry
us." Jonathan smiled at the priest who merely bowed.
The
first priest spoke up, "There were no children to ascend the throne?"
"Why
do you ask so many questions?" Jonathan was getting nervous, "Who are
you?"
"Being
men of the church we must be certain all is in order before we can proclaim you
king.” The second priest responded.
"Of
course, you must be certain." Jonathan agreed. "There is a son, but he is young. His mother and I agree that I will rule until he has come of age.
The
priests looked at each other and nodded, accepting this answer.
"Doesn't
the throne belong to the oldest child?" came a voice from the back of the
room.
"I
have told you the boy is too young. Who
is that speaking?"
"You
have said the son is too young, but the son is not the first born."
"What?"
Jonathan stood up angrily. "Who are you?"
"I
am the first born of King Bartholomew and Queen Levinia. I am the rightful queen.” Andrea moved from the back of the room
revealing herself.
Starchild
and Beast also took off their priest disguises, Demon took off his attendant
robe. Celestial materialized in the
room seemingly from no where. Just then
there was a thunderous crashing noise and Stephen came running into the room.
"Andy! Andy, I knew you would come." The
little boy threw himself into his sister's arms in front of a now speechless
Jonathan.
"What
was that noise Dot?"
An
angry Stephen pointed at Jonathan, "He locked me in my room and wouldn't
let me out. But I knew you were here so
I blew up the door."
Stifled
chuckles came from The Masters. “I knew
we could never fool you." Celestial laughed.
"They
did not tell me there was a daughter." Jonathan moaned.
All
eyes went to Jonathan.
"What
happened to my father and why have you treated him so dishonorably."
Andrea was growing angry as she spoke.
As
Andrea addressed Jonathan, his soldiers surrounded her and The Masters.
"Did
you think you could defeat me?” Jonathan laughed.
With
a wave of her hand Andrea sent Jonathan flying across the room hitting the far
wall. Andrea nodded and all the
soldiers dropped to the ground unable to stand.
Andrea
walked over to Jonathan as he was pinned against the wall. "Who sent you to do this to my
family?"
Jonathan
cowered at the iciness of her tone.
"I
don't know. They said I would be
king. I don’t know who they are."
"The
Dark Ones." Demon whispered.
Stephen
hugged his big sister as best he could since it was now very apparent Andrea
was with child.
"Stephanie
says it is almost time Andy." Stephen whispered.
"I
hope so." She whispered back.
"Andrea?"
"Mother."
Andrea
closed the space between her and her mother leaving Jonathan hanging on the
wall.
"I
hoped you would come but afraid for you if you did." Levinia hugged her
daughter.
"I
had to come. You were in danger."
Andrea explained.
"How
did you know?" her mother asked.
"I
called her." Stephen said hanging his head. "I know I shouldn't have."
"You
did the right thing my son." Levinia told her son, "I am very proud
of you."
"Philip
are you all right? Did he hurt
you?" Andrea was concerned for her brother.
"We
are unhurt. We couldn't stop him."
"That
is not your fault.”
"Now
that you are queen are you coming home?" Kevin asked.
"We've
missed you Andy. Please stay here
now."
"No!"
Demon bellowed. All eyes turned to
Andrea.
“I
hadn't thought about it."
"Stephen
take Andrea to her room, she needs to rest." Queen Levinia told her son.
"Andrea…"
Demon began.
"It
must be her decision." Starchild said as he placed his hand on Demon's
shoulder.
"Come,
we need to make sure the castle is safe." Celestial said as he guided
Demon out the door.
Stephen
led Andrea to her old room where he insisted she lay down on the bed. He crawled up on the bed so he could sit
next to her placing his hand on her stomach.
"I've
missed you Andy. Can you stay here
now?"
"I
don't know Dot."
"You
are queen now right? Can't you stay
here and be queen?"
"What
about The Masters?" Andrea asked.
"We
don't need them, they can go home." Stephen stated matter of factly.
"Don't
you like The Masters Dot?"
"They
are all right, but I miss you Andy…and how can I take care of Stephanie if you
aren't here? Stay here with me Andy,
please?"
Andrea
didn't know how to respond to her brother.
She felt torn, she was after all, the first born therefore she was
legally queen and it was her duty to rule over her land. But, she was The Lady of the Manor, she had
a responsibility there too. She was
carrying the child of The Masters, could she keep her child safe if she stayed?
*****
"She's
not coming back with us." Demon said to no one in particular.
"She
will do what is right." Starchild said calmly, but secretly he was
worried. Would Andrea come back to the
manor or would she stay behind.