by Asia
Emerald look at the beautiful sunrise, trying to clear her head from all the thoughts that laid heavily on her mind.
she looked at the black stone and wondered what her mother meant by saying it was her destiny. she turned the stone around, checked it from every angle, but didn't see anything that might indicate something unusual.
she felt a lick on her leg and looked down to see Brandy sitting next to her, she whined and licked her again, her brown eyes held sorrow. and Emerald knew she understood her. she knelt down and hugged her. her tears flowing free on her cheeks. Brandy lifted her head, licked her tears and whined again. Emerald caressed her neck and behind the ears and felt her tension ease.
she sat there for a while, listening to the quiet of dawn. the tree near her window was now full with birds singing and hopping from one branch to another. she loved that hours of the early morning, when the nature was still pure, with no human hand on him. she smiled to the beautiful starling that hopped close to her, whistling a song. he got scared when he heard growling. Emerald smiled and patted her stomach. 'are you telling me it's time to eat ?' she thought.
she got dressed and went to the dining room. no one was there. it was too early anyway. so she went straight to the larder. to her surprise she saw Astel there.
"good morning." Emerald smiled.
"good morning dear, what are you doing here so early ?"
"I woke up very hungry. why are you here so early yourself ?"
Astel smiled in puzzlement "don't you know ?"
now it was Emerald turn to wonder "know what ?"
"your father is going for a business trip with Margaret, they are going out early. so I'm making them breakfast and some food for provisions."
"no one told me. when did he told you this ?"
"it really doesn't matter dear, here have a piece of cake, and I'll make you a nice cup of tea."
Margaret got down the stairs to see Emerald sitting near the table. "can I join you ?"
"sure." Emerald raised her head "I'v heard you are going on a trip."
"yes, we will be back tomorrow evening." she was about to say more but changed her mind.
in that minute the carter walked in and announced that the carriage was ready.
Margaret went up to Joseph's room to call him.
when she got back she looked strangely at Emerald.
Astel helped the wagoner to put the food and the luggage in the carriage.
after everything was ready Joseph got in the carriage.
"just a minute." Margaret asked and went back to the house, and gave Emerald a big hug.
Emerald had an eerie feeling Margaret was saying goodbye, as though she would never see her again.
*****
Emerald got up the stairs back to her room. though the day was just started, she felt very tired and wanted to rest. she opened the door to her room, and was surprised to find Sam sitting on her bed. looking over the room she saw Nanny near the window. she looked at Sam and saw worry creases on his face, but his posture held determination. "Sam...is everything okay?" she hesitated.
Sam looked at her strangely. he waited a minute, then opened his mouth to answer "yes, everything is okay..." he motioned to her to sit down "there is something I want to talk to you. please sit down."
Emerald looked at him suspiciously "is it about Nanny ? because I thought of that, and I..."
"hey, wait a minute. how do you know about Nanny ?"
Emerald looked down "I heard you and Meg talking." she said, a bit embarrassed.
"what did you hear ?" he hoped she heard it, it would be so much easier.
"I heard you talking about Joseph, of what he said to Nanny..."
"and that's it ?"
"yes " she replied "that's it "
Sam sigh. so she didn't hear it all. "it's not about that."
"but what are you planning to do about it ? we can't just..."
"would you let me talk ?" he cut her in the middle of the flow. "please?"
Emerald looked at him, then on Nanny, and nodded.
"I have been thinking of something, something that would help you be with Joharran." he saw her eyes sparkling and continue "as I told you before, there is no way for you to be here together...but...no one said you can't be together somewhere else."
"I...I never thought of that." she was in shock, but got over it quickly. she was going to be with Joharran. it was unbelievable.
"I didn't finish. the problem is where would we go...Joharran has the slavery mark, he would be recognized. and there is Nanny's problem...we have no where to go without your father finding us."
her face fell.
he saw it and hurried to continue "there is a solution, but...I need you to think about it before saying yes or no. would you think about it ?"
Emerald nodded again. she couldn't trust herself to speak.
"we can make a journey."
"we ?" she was surprised.
"yes. you, me, Joharran and Nanny." he saw her confusion so he tried to explained "I have to go with you, I can't let you go alone." 'I don't think I can live here without you' he thought to himself, but didn't say it "I planned everything, but I need you to know the risks. if we go, you would never see this place again. not your father, not Margaret and not my mother. it would be a long and difficult journey."
"I don't mind." she interrupt his words.
"I know you don't, you are a tough girl. but there is more. we would go to Joharran's home. it's the only place that would be safe from your father's anger. but you would have to get used to everything. in the journey himself it won't be a problem. when we would get there it would become tough. you would have to wear leather, you won't have your warm bed, you would have to kill animals for your living. all your comfort would be gone. but most important, you could never tell anyone where you are from. it is the hardest thing."
Emerald looked lost.
"don't answer now, think about it." he turned to Nanny "let's leave her alone for a while."
they walked out of the room, but before Sam closed the door he turned to her again "one more thing, you have to make it quick. we don't have much time."
and they left her sitting on her bed, still in shock.
*****
it took her a few minutes to readjust herself. she sat in silent on the disarray bed, thoughts running in her head. she wanted to go, but the fear from the unknown was strong. though she had some tough times here, there were still things that she didn't want to leave.
'i would never see Margaret again' she thought, then she remembered her last hug in the morning. suddenly she remembered something else. she would never see her mother's grave, or her mother's sister. 'I would have nothing that would remind me of her.' she clenched her emerald necklace. 'I have this, and I have the stone...the dream, mother told me I would have to make an important decision. she also said she is letting me go...'. she knew what she had to do then, she got up and headed to the guest room.
Sam sat on the edge of the seat, he could hardly wait for Emerald's answer.
"Sam, stop being so jitter, you are going to make me nervous." Nanny said calmly "everything would be fine."
Sam was about to say something, but jump when he heard the door open. he eyed Emerald fiercely. she smiled a nervous smile "well ?" Sam ask.
"yes."
Sam sigh with relief. he looked over at Nanny, she only smiled.
"well, what are we waiting for ?" he said full of enthusiasm.
"what, now ?"
"no, you silly. we have to prepare. beside, we can't go before dark." Sam smiled at her. "now, lets go to your room. are you coming Nanny ?"
"I'll be there in a minute, go on" she encouraged them.
"but what about your hand ? it is dangerous to go on a journey that way, and your cast." Emerald was worried.
"I would be okay, we are riding on the horses. and I'll try to think of a solution about the cast."
Emerald was about to argue, but stopped when she saw Nanny come in. she had a package in her hand.
"this is for you." she gave her the package.
"but Joharran said to take only what's necessary." Sam scold her.
"I think she might want it. beside, I got the impression he think we are going on foot. it won't matter if we are riding the horses."
"you talked to Joharran ?" Emerald was in total surprise.
"and he is a very nice man." Nanny smiled at her. " now, open it."
Emerald took the package and opened it, and her eyes grew wide.
*****
"that is...beautiful." Emerald whispered hoarsely. "thank you." her eyes sparkled with tears. she patted the white delicate fabric in her hand .
"don't thank me sweetie, Margaret made the most of it. I just did the measuring" Nanny handed her an envelope "this is from her too."
the tears ran freely on her face now. she looked at Nanny "she knew."
it was more a statement then a question, but Nanny nodded anyway.
Emerald took the envelope and opened it. the letter was wet from tears.
dear Emerald.
I know you didn't love me in the beginning, but we developed a tight friendship in the past few years.
though you never saw me as your mother, I thought of you as my daughter.
my beautiful, talented, wise daughter.
every night after I was praying, I said thank you to your mother, for letting me have you.
now, I have to say goodbye.
I wish you would never have to go. but I'm glad to know that you would be happy. that you would be free to make your own choices.
I wish you to have felicity. you deserve it.
Nanny and I made you a wedding gown. I want you to wear it on your special day, so you would remember me and know that I am happy for you.
you would always be the daughter of my heart.
farewell
lovingly, Margaret
*****
Nanny packed the dress carefully to a small bundle and put it on Emerald's bed "well, time to get ready." she said and walked away from the room.
"it's a bit scary" Emerald whispered.
Sam nodded but said nothing. his hand hurt, but he didn't want to say anything from fear that she would change her mind.
Nanny came back a minute later carrying bags that were designed to be carried on the horse back. Grace and Brandy came bouncing after her "it's awfully quiet today, isn't it? where is everybody?"
Sam grinned impishly "I send them outside. there is no one here to take care for. I would say they took my offer with no rejections."
Nanny laughed at his little ploy." well, I see you are ready for everything". she turned to Emerald who was laughing also "shall we start packing?"
"what should I take?"
"unfortunately not much. I packed everything we need already, take the things you don't want to leave here, and some underwear..."
Sam suddenly remember something Margaret told him about Joseph followed them "why don't we put Grace near the door, so we would know if someone is coming." though Joseph wasn't here, he feared someone might be watching them.
"what about the dogs ? I can't leave them here..." Emerald exclaimed.
Sam sigh, he never thought about it "why won't we take them ? "
"Brandy is old, I don't know if she would have the strength for the journey." Emerald said sadly.
and Nanny added "not to mention the extra food to take."
Sam thought of it for a minute, then he smiled "if she get tired you can carry her on star's back. we will manage with the extra food"
Emerald smiled at him with gratitude. she walked to her desk and opened the drawer. looking at all her memories she collected over the years. knowing she couldn't take it all.
"here, take this." Nanny handed her a pouch. "we can take all that can get in it."
Emerald opened it and looked at the inside, there wasn't much space. looking at her drawer she knew that she couldn't get everything in there to the small pouch. she put the letter from Margaret, the stone and the small bear her mother gave her when she was four years old. she always slept with it under her pillow, and she had no intentions to stop. looking at all the other stuff she sigh. she couldn't decide.
she got up and walked to her closet. she opened it and caress all her books, she knew she had to leave them and she hated the thought of being without them. they were her friends ever since she learned the first letter.
"what about clothes?" she asked Nanny.
Nanny smiled at her "you wouldn't take any of those dresses honey."
"well, what am I suppose to wear?" she got angry hearing Sam laughing.
"this is very dangerous for a woman to travel. so...we won't be women." looking at Emerald puzzled face she added "I made us men's clothes." she saw her face changing from puzzlement to understanding then to a big grin. "it was my idea" she said proudly.
Emerald started to laugh, Sam caught, up and soon they were all laughing their heart out. putting their problems and fears down for just a moment of pure joy.
suddenly Grace started barking. they stopped laughing at once and Emerald ran out of the room to see what happened. she got to the stairs and looked down, and her heart fell down to her knees.
'what the hell is he doing here ?'
*****