I smiled, “I sent him back where he came from. Back to a place where his abilities will still work but with less power. He won’t be bothering us again.”
Isa sighed, “David, you’re going to have to talk to her, but she is absolutely terrified that you’ll hurt her. She remembers Gildon’s suggestion about raping her and your comment about locking her in a dungeon. She hasn’t been with us for a long time and has forgotten the kind of man that you are.”
“Alright, take her up to my little room and put her on the couch. There’s a chair across the room that I’ll use to keep my distance and try not to scare her more.” I suggested.
I watched them lead Melodie upstairs and noticed Margery behind me. I turned and said, “One thing that you can say about your job, there’s never a dull moment!”
She said, “David, are you ok? You sure weren’t acting yourself.”
I grinned, “The man packed a punch, that’s for sure. I thought he had me for a moment but I broke out.”
She sighed with relief, “You can tell that all the girls are frightened. Are you going to talk to them?”
I nodded, “As soon as I get done with Melodie. If you want you could pass the word that I’ll want to see everyone in the meeting room when I come back down stairs.”
She nodded and went out of the keep.
I walked upstairs and tapped on the door. Chloe answered and I could tell that her soft heart had been touched. She had tears in her eyes, “David, please be kind. Her remorse in sincere.”
I nodded and she walked out followed by a red eyed Isabel. I walked over and sat in the chair across the room from Melodie. I looked at her for a moment and said, “Are you ok now, Melodie?”
She didn’t even look up and shook her head. I said, “You did some awful things didn’t you? I suppose that it will take awhile to forgive yourself for them. I thought you should know that Sir Gildon is gone and won’t be coming back. He isn’t even in the same realm and I doubt he’ll figure out how to return.”
She looked up then with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “My Lord…” I held up a hand and she gave a slight smile, “David, I didn’t want to do those things. You have to believe me! I know I did wrong and hurt a lot of people and if you must punish me, I’ll accept the dungeon as punishment. The other thing that Sir Gildon suggested you do, I beg you not to. I understand that you could if you wanted but please David, don’t do that to me!”
I smiled a sympathetic smile, “Melodie, you’ve known me for awhile and know that I don’t even have a dungeon. You also know that I’ve never forced a young lady to do anything. I admit that when Sir Gildon hit me with his mind control, I was tempted but that behavior was so far beyond what I’d ever do; I was able to shake it off. You won’t be harmed or punished of his actions.”
She came to her feet so quickly that I jumped! She ran across the room and threw her arms around me. She whispered, “Blessed stars David, you are such a wonderful man. I’m sorry for what was done!”
I grinned, “What you did was sent untrained wizards to attack me, on Sir Gildon’s orders. Once they were away from him they could hear the truth and joined me. So, what now? What are your plans?”
She looked at the floor, “I have nowhere to go and no plans. I would love to stay here and am impressed by the changes you’ve made. I know that’s too much to ask, considering all that has happened.”
I shrugged, “The way things work around here is that I ask everyone how they would feel about a situation and we discuss it. There may be some that have hard feelings and we would have to overcome them. Personally, I don’t have a problem with you coming back to us and staying in the dorm.”
There was a soft knock on the door and it opened. Alba walked in and I said, “Funny thing, I was just talking about you!”
Alba smiled sweetly and said, “So it’s true. We do finally have her.” She used telekinesis and pushed Melodie against the wall. “Lady Melodie, how I’ve waited to see you again!”
“Alba, let her go. She should be allowed to talk and defend her actions before you injure her.” I said.
“But David, she was training wizards that could stand toe to toe with any one of us. Remember that? And if she was training wizards that powerful then she must be quite powerful herself! Give her back her wand and we’ll see.” Alba’s voice oozed with contempt.
“Alba, were you aware that Gildon has the ability to control minds?” I asked.
Alba replied, “Weak minds perhaps. You notice that he didn’t have many followers!”
I gave a mirthless laugh, “Thanks a lot, Princess Ornery! He actually had me for a bit and I don’t consider myself weak!”
Alba turned and looked at me, “He almost took control of you, David? He is really that powerful?”
I nodded, “Oh yes, he was quite powerful and if we hadn’t been from the same realm, he might have had me. I’ve forgiven Melodie because I felt his ability and I know that her actions weren’t her own. Perhaps you should let her go and rethink this thing.”
Alba sighed and released her telekinetic hold on Melodie. She turned to her and said, “I’m sorry Mel. I’ve been accused of acting without thinking. If David forgives you, then I’ll forgive you.” She walked to Melodie and hugged her. She asked, “So, are you going to come back and rejoin us?”
I said, “Alba, my love. If you will stay up here with her for awhile and keep her company, I’ll go talk to the rest of the girls and see if I find anymore hard feelings.”
I went to the meeting room where everyone had gathered. “I have two bits of news and will ask for input in a moment. I know that some people might have an opinion, but hear me out first.” I said. No one said and thing and I continued, “I’m happy to report that Gildon has been transported out of this realm, back to where he came from.” That news was met with smiles and applause. I held up a hand for quiet and said, “The second thing is, Melodie was with him and when Gildon wasn’t around her for awhile, the control spell was broken. She feels deep remorse and regret for the things that she was made to do while under his control. She has asked us all for forgiveness and I’m bringing her request to you all. If everyone agrees, she’ll be coming back to us and staying with us in the dorm. Everyone remember that eight of you were once under his control and might be able to understand better than the others. Perhaps you could explain it to them. I was under his control for a moment and it made me believe that what he told me was the right thing to do. Can anyone imagine me taking the virtue of an unwilling young lady in the middle of the courtyard? For a moment, I was going to do it. Talk about it and let me know what the group decides.”
I turned and walked our and heard the noise start behind me. I started up the stairs and saw Alba starting down. She had an amused smile and stopped me, “Chloe is with her but I had to leave for a moment. Melodie was afraid that if she was allowed to stay that you’d make her an instructor.”
I nodded and said, “She is qualified and I might do that after she’s been back for awhile.”
Alba giggled, “I’m glad she talked to me before you offered to do that. She asked if you still required instructors to sleep with you!”
I chuckled, “I hope you put an end to that crap. I thought I’d finally heard the last of it.”
She gave me an innocent look and said, “I told her that instructors were required to sleep with you twice as often as regular consorts. Was I wrong, David?”
“Alba, you ornery thing!” I chuckled.
“I told her the truth about it and she was happy. How’s the meeting going?” she asked.
“I’m letting them work it out and decide if they are willing to forgive her. The eight ex wizards-in-black should help swing things her way.” I said.
Alba nodded, “I think that I’ll go see what’s happening. I have a perspective they might not know. I’ve forgiven her and if I can, anyone can.”
After twenty minutes I went to the meeting room and was informed that Melodie would be accepted
back. I smiled and sighed, happy that my family was together again.
I went upstairs to pass on the word to Isa and Alice. I walked into my living room and told them the news. Alice said, “David, that’s wonderful news. I know you love your family. Now, could you get Chloe for me? My water just broke!”
The end?
*Look for the third and final book (with David as lead) Coming soon!
About the Author
Daniel Harris is an Independent writer and e-book author. His last book, Another Typical Day has been published by Createspace in paperback and in e-book format by Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. He has been a fan of the fantasy genre since Disney’s The Sword in the Stone.
He was born in the late 60’s and remembers life as teenager as choking on hairspray in the 80’s. Later he discovered that coffee is really creative juice and now can’t live without it. He is the father of four living in Arkansas with his wife and youngest daughter. The others have grown up and have given him lovely grandchildren that he intends to teach about the fantasy genre too.
The Wizards of Eredwynn 02 - Another Typical Day, Too Page 20
