Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Twenty Seven - Fatherly Advice

"Ladybug, where have you been?" He asked when you stepped off the stairs.
"Oh just doing some inventory." You turned away from him to hide pink rising in your cheeks. "I heard you were looking for me?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk to you about something." He said rather seriously.
"Oh. What's wrong?" You asked.
"Nothing Bug I just think you and I should have a talk." He smiled at you, gesturing to the railing at the stern. He handed the helm off to another man and led you away.

"I know I missed out on raising you. I will never get that opportunity back. But that doesn't mean I don't think about all the conversations we missed out on. All the lessons I should have been there to teach you..."
"Dad it wasn't your fault..." You interrupted.
"I know, I know. But there are still certain things I would feel better knowing we spoke about."
"Ok..."
"You and Caspian for instance..."
You blushed. "Dad... I..."
He waved his hand to stop you. "Now I know you're a grown woman and are more than capable of making your own decisions, but I think you should know that your mother and I wanted to instill a specific set of values in you, and your sister. It might be too late, but if you would still be willing to hear me out.?"
You nodded, panicking internally about the direction of this conversation.
"Your mother and I were about your age when we met. Now I was no innocent when I first landed on that island, I know what the life of piracy involves... your mother however was, she was saving herself for marriage."
You turned redder.
"Your mother and I were raised very differently. Your grandfather was extremely strict with her up until the day he passed. Don't ever tell her this, but I am secretly glad he did before she and I met...I would have dreaded to meet him... Anyway. He instilled in her the belief that her body belonged to whatever future man she married, and that if she soiled herself before then, she would be unwanted. We were both adamantly against passing those beliefs onto you and your sister, believing that you should be free to make your own choices...but... I also never imagined the day when I would see you with a man you were clearly madly in love with. Albeit a great man, who is intelligent, kind, and compassionate, but that gift cannot be taken back once given. You cannot give it again. I just want to make sure you understand that before deciding who to give it to..."
"Oh great... this talk..." You thought to yourself. "Way too fucking late Dad..." You didn't have the heart to tell him that gift was stolen from you long ago, that it was taken forcefully in exchange for your freedom. You also had no desire to tell your father about the steamy, passionate sex you and Caspian had been sharing behind closed doors the last several days. In your silence, your father continued.
"More than anything Ladybug, I don't want to see you get hurt. I'm sure you have discussed this with him already but, Caspian being King of Narnia, there are certain expectations of him on who he should marry, and if you choose the life of a Pirate Lord your path would be on a different trajectory than his. I already expressed my concerns to him about this, that day in the desert. I also told him I don't wish for an explanation from either of you, as your business is your own. I just wouldn't be doing my job as your father if I didn't check in with you about it..."

His words rang through your head like a bell. Nothing he said was out of line, or untrue, all your doubts of your future with Caspian had been suppressed recently as you were releshing in his love and company. This was a conversation you would have to revisit with him sooner rather than later... but you didn't want to think about it.
Though...it had just occurred to you, who better to seek advice from than a man who was in your exact position twenty or so years ago? You took a deep breath.
"Yes, we have discussed it in the past. Though lately it seems like we have both been ignoring our own doubts and fears. Honestly I have been trying to just live in the moment while I had the ability to... Dad... I love him." Your breath caught as this was the first time you admitted it out loud to anyone but Caspian.
"I know Bug." He patted your hand sympathetically.
"He says he loves me too."
"He does."
"Why can't that be enough?..." The tears pressed on the back of your throat. What a stupid question. You sounded like Sis when she asked you all that time ago why can't two adults who love each other just get married.
He pulled you into a hug, which only allowed the tears more secrecy to form into your eyes "Sometimes it is. You just happened to fall in love with a King, which is not your fault. Fate works in strange ways."
"What would you do?" You asked into his shirt as the silent tears soaked it.
"If I had to go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't change my decision to give up a life at sea for your mother. If she were royalty though, I suppose I would have had to decide if I would be content as a secret to her people in exchange for continuing to love her in private. If I could bear the thought of her marrying another, consummating that marriage, bearing an heir to the throne, all while remaining by her side, serving as a silent lover."
You sniffed. "I'm not sure I can do that... I think it would hurt more..."
"Then you have to tell him that Bug. What you do between now and then is up to you, but don't let yourself get dragged through something painful if it's not worth it."
You hated that he was right. The words cut like a blade to your heart but they were all things you would tell Sis, or Raxe if they came to you on the same subject.
"Yea..." You agreed silently.
"Just know I'll always be here for you." He kissed the top of your head.
"Thanks Dad." You whispered.