Chapter 3: Turn of events
They both sat on comfy puffed chairs in the solar, two tea cups on small saucers rested on the table in their middle.
"What are you up to Gladys, you have plentiful materials that'll last you a long time...why do you need more?"
Theon rested his chin on his knuckles wherein his elbow rested on the arm rest for support. He narrowed his eyes at her.
Not long after breakfast, Humphrey had to rush back home to attend to patients while Nero had to pack up his artwork and set it in the town hall against the following day.
While Celeste wanted to take a breather, he had been working too much. So Theon was left with his beloved sister, Gladys.
She had people working for her so she didn't mind whiling away her time with her brother.
"Can't tell you MY LORD," she stressed the title playfully and he snorted out a short laugh.
"I have an important question I've been wanting to ask you, Gladys." Theon suddenly became serious and Gladys' brows furrowed I'm curiosity.
"Anything brother." She gave him the permission to ask. He held her light brown but almost gold eyes with his, intently.
"We age differently sister, I know you're already aware of it but..." He hesitated, trying to find the right words.
His eyes never left her, neither did hers, her eyes stared back at him curiously waiting for him to say what he wanted.
"My point here is...do you have anyone on mind that you would like to settle down with? This is the best time Gladys."
She continued to stare but then she narrowed her eyes at him briefly.
"I have no one on mind brother."
She replied in a way to make him speak further instead of her.
Theon's dark blue eyes searched her eyes for answers but found none. Her answer was genuine and truthful.
"Things change Gladys, feelings change as people age..." He paused when he saw her eyes widen slightly.
"...and it would be a lie if I told you my feelings didn't change for you." He completed what he was saying.
Gladys heart skipped but her facial expression remained unreadable but her eyes showed a lot of emotions.
The room grew silent for seconds as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Gladys was left speechless, she never expected this.
"B-but..."
She couldn't even form a sentence, she looked away and stood up from her seat.
"I'm sorry if I made things weird but I couldn't help it Gladys." He also stood up and took a step of approach to her.
Gladys' heart begun to beat rapidly and she tried to calm it without looking at her brother.
Soon he stood in front of her and carefully placed his hand under her chin and lifted it up so she could face him. When her eyes finally found his, she saw sincerity in them, he was serious.
"Every passing day I fall deeply for you Gladys..."
Gladys frowned at what he said and she distance herself while darting her eyes about, leaving his hand hung midair but he didn't look hurt.
"But you took me as your sister, Theon."
"As I said earlier Gladys, feelings change...you might not feel anything now but with time you'll begin to see things in a different light...I'll give you time to process everything."
She couldn't even seem to say something, her mind went numb. She didn't even know what to do, everything just felt suddenly awkward.
"Do they know?"
She finally mustered the courage to question him while staring at his face instead of his eyes.
"Not at all," came Theon's straightforward response and Gladys sighed heavily.
"Why?"
"I don't want them to know just yet."
He explained briefly to her and she nodded slowly before moving away from him.
"Pardon me b..brother but I really need to take my leave now." He simply nodded and made way for her. She briefly glanced at him before taking her leave.
She didn't hurry or dash out of the room but she took her time to walk to the door before stepping out. Once she was finally out of the room she hurried past the wide corridor, passing many rooms.
Theon had feelings for her?
How was she not able to read his body language those past months?
She face palmed herself and cursed loudly forgetting where she was. Maids passing by couldn't help but stare at her when she cursed but Gladys didn't mind it. She kept walking with her head held high and her heels clacking noisily.
Back in the solar, Theon walked back to his seat and sat on it heavily with a sigh.
He couldn't believe he finally let it off his chest.
At first he wanted to wait a bit longer but he couldn't, he feared someone might snatch her away from him if he didn't act fast.
He felt uneasy and restless, thinking about what she might say another day...will she refuse him?
Theon picked up the small fragile glass tea cup and gulped down the entire content. It was already cold and it didn't help matters.
Gladys hurried out of Theon's manor, she lifted her dress and carefully descended the wide stairs outside the manor. The coachman was patiently waiting for her. When he spotted her he quickly opened the carriage door and when she approached him, he took her hand and helped her climb in.
When she was seated properly, he closed the door and went to take the seat in front. He took the reins and controlled the horses, making them move.
In the carriage, Gladys tried to wrap her head round everything. It really shook her to the core, how could she return such feelings when she looked up to him like a brother.
Now how would she bring herself to face him?
*
Saddled on his dark brown horse with black hair on its head, Celeste took in the fresh air of nature. Everywhere was covered in green, just the way he loved it.
The hooves of his horse made sweet sound as it found its way through the thick bush. It had been a while ever since Celeste went out of town for a small stroll.
He could vividly recall the first time they set foot into the small village, as of then it was a small village but now it was a small town.
"Make sure to reach 'pristine shaw,' don't stop, don't look back, just make sure to reach that village..."
He remembered how their mother instructed them on the day their home town was being demolished. She was strict and precise when she instructed them, there was no sign of tears, sadness or fear in her eyes.
Their father was attacked and injured terribly, he was trying to buy time for them.
Celeste shut his eyes close for a while before opening them again, they where filled with sadness and grief.
Reaching his favorite spot, he alighted the horse and tied the rope to a tree before going deeper into the forest. He could hear many sounds especially the song the mockingbirds sang beautifully.
He sat on the ground covered in green grass before taking off his shoes, when he was done he laid on the ground and let his mind enjoy nature.
What if there was a reason behind the massacre? But what reason could it be?
Their mother was only six months gone then, three months was what remained before they could've welcome their little sister to the world.
But everything went down the drain in a day.
Celeste shut his eyes tightly and clenched his hands to fist. He could see everything in detailed form behind his closed eyelids...
While trying as much as she could to help them out of the house she too was suffering internal uneasiness, she tried to be strong for them. She grabbed a bag and hurriedly pushed in a bunch of strong slim sticks inside it. From time to time her face would comfort in pain.
"Mother please come with us..."
"You don't understand Theon, I'll slow you down...quick! Put all your wands in this bag."
And they did as she ordered, no matter what they told her, nothing changed her mind. She wasn't convinced.
But that was the painful truth, she couldn't go with them. She would slow them down, worst she might stop halfway in pains.
"Don't make use of these wand or your abilities for a while..."
"MARIA! GET THEM OUT NOW!"
Their father interrupted their mother, his voice was a bit shaky and torn.
"We won't leave without you moth..."
"SHUT UP HUMPHREY!" She yelled angrily at him and handed the bag over to Celeste.
"Always use it for good! Never you let the bad side get the most of you!...are you listening THEON!"
Maria, their mother strictly warned Theon on how to use the book that was entrusted to him because it choose him.
It was very difficult to leave, their father angrily told them to leave, he never had the time to say goodbye to them which was hurtful.
"Make sure to reach 'pristine shaw,' don't stop, don't look back, just make sure to reach the village..."
Their mother's voice trailed because she broke down in tears, it hurt her so much to let them go.
They ran as fast as they could but stopped at some point to look back at their home and parents. What they saw left a deep scar.
Their parents were engulfed in flames along with their house. Celeste could still hear the distant cries of his mother as she burned along with their unborn kin.
"NOOOOO!!!!"
Nero let out a sorrowful cry, he wanted to run back but they held him back.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone