[MUSIC RECOMNDATION: CAN YOU SEE MY HEART ~ HEIZE]
The morning breeze brought a wave of emotions, with small birds chirping as they flew from tree to tree.
Lady Hash sat outside the palace. It was only last night she heard from Venantius that Cortez had agreed to stay back in return for their freedom. This made the woman sad, knowing that the young boy was giving away his freedom because of her.
"I didn’t know morning could look so sad until I saw your face," Hieron said from the side, walking to sit beside the woman.
"But you know the saying, if you start your morning heartbroken, it might possibly end with happiness. I don’t know how true that is," Hieron humd thoughtfully at the saying, unsure of its truth.
Lady Hash wiped the tears from her eyes. "Why did you co?" she asked, recognizing the person just by his voice.
Lord Hieron smiled. "Is that a way of saying you missed ?" he teased.
Lady Hash scowled. "You’re so confident. What makes you think I worried about you one bit?" the woman replied, keeping a serious face.
Hieron humd. "Let’s say not one bit, but a little bit. You were worried, yes?" he said with a smile. After a mont of silence, he continued, "How are you?"
It was as if Lady Hash was waiting for soone to ask her this question because her heart had been heavy since everything started. First, she found out that her daughter, whom she abandoned years ago, was alive. Now she is still the sa reason why Cortez would be forced to stay where he didn’t want.
"Do you think I deserve forgiveness?" Lady Hash asked.
Hieron reached out to hold the woman’s hand, causing Lady Hash to adjust in her chair.
"Hash," Hieron started, removing formalities in the way he called her, "You deserve forgiveness. Keeping the things you knew as a secret might have been because you cared too much and you were scared. Scared is good, it ans you have a conscience. So don’t worry about anything, okay?" Hieron asked, squeezing her hand a little bit.
Lady Hash smiled. "Were you always a sweet talker, or am I getting moved emotionally?"
"You didn’t know?" Lord Hieron exclaid. "When I was young, I used to be the heartthrob of every young maiden because of the way I smooth way I talk. And also, it might be because you’re getting attracted to ," the man teased, as they both broke into a small laugh.
While they were discussing, Axilla and Cortez stepped in to join them.
"Greetings, Lord Hieron and Lady Hash," the two lovebirds, glowing with their arms linked and smiles on their faces like Cheshire cats, greeted the older folks.
Lord Hieron cleared his throat. "I don’t want to know how your night went. It’s obvious with the way you’re glowing," the man remarked, causing Axilla to blush.
"Axilla, how are you doing this morning? Did the antidote work well?" Lady Hash asked, getting the girl’s attention.
Axilla let go of Cortez, staring at her mother who looked like blood had left her face, as she was now looking pale.
Lord Hieron decided to let the mother and daughter have the closure they needed. He turned to Cortez and said, "Cortez dear, we have more lessons on what you promised . We stopped at viril-"
Cortez coughed loudly, stopping the shaless man from talking further. "I get it, now let’s go," he said as they walked away from there.
Axilla took a step forward, unsure of what to do next. She stood beside the older woman awkwardly.
"Axilla, are you there?" Lady Hash asked, moving her stick.
Axilla used her hand to bring down the stick. "I’m here, in front of you," she replied before sitting beside her.
Lady Hash held her hands together. "Are you well now? Did the antidote work? Do you feel discomfort anywhere? I should mix up so herbs in case it has aftereffects, so it wouldn’t-"
"I’m fine," Axilla interrupted the woman, because with the look of things, she wasn’t going to stop anyti soon.
Lady Hash nodded without saying anything else. She was surprised when Axilla took her hand and brought to her own face.
"Axilla," the woman muttered, her hand trembling.
Axilla smiled. "Is this how it feels? To have my mother touch my face. It feels so warm and refreshing," the girl closed her eyes, basking in the feeling.
"Axilla," Lady Hash muttered, her voice breaking in the process. She raised her other hand to touch the girl’s face.
"My daughter... What did I do? I’m so sorry..." her voice broke as she brought her face forward. Axilla pressed her forehead to that of Lady Hash with her eyes closed.
"Mama," she muttered softly, and this sent Lady Hash to break into more uncontrollable tears.
"I don’t deserve the na... I don’t deserve it..." she muttered, feeling her heart break into pieces.
Axilla shook her head. "You do. You were a mother to the man I love. You took care of him for years, making him turn out to be the best part of my life," the girl replied.
"But I... I ab- my own child, my blood," Lady Hash said, afraid of saying the word abandoned. It already hurt her soul.
Axilla smiled. "I don’t want to know or think about it. Let’s just take it slow, with ti every wound will eventually heal. I’m hoping for that."
Lady Hash nodded in agreent. Then she said, "Can you say it to one more ti? What you called before?" She asked, unsure if her request would be granted, but she dared to ask.
Axilla smiled. "Mama," she saw the refreshing smile on the woman’s face, and she repeated, "Does it feel so good, Mama?" The girl continued with a smile.
Lady Hash nodded her head, with tears of joy streaming down her face. "It feels so good, my daughter. And also strange, I can never get used to it," she replied, wiping her tears with the back of her palm.
Axilla gazed at the woman. She had never expected that one day she would call soone mother. And luckily for her, it was one of the strongest and most fearless won she ever knew that had turned out to be her mother. It was a blessing in disguise.
"How did you lose your sight?" Axilla asked after they had relaxed from the swirls of emotions.
Lady Hash touched her eyes gently. "It was the night the bandits attacked. I tried to fight back at the one who was stealing our goods when he threw sothing into my eyes. Gradually I realized I had lost my sight. Are you ashad of it?" The older woman asked worriedly.
Axilla nudged her. "No, no. Why would you say that? You’re okay in any form," she replied, holding the woman’s hand.
Lady Hash smiled. It was a start with progress. Slowly, she knew that everything would fall into place for them.
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