Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Twenty Five - Home

    When you and Caspian exited the castle, Tavros was already in the courtyard. A parade of people were passing by the castle gates, and one girl split off and sprinted through them and up to Tavros, who bent a knee and took her in his arms. You were halfway down the stairs when you saw her face resting against his shoulder, and you froze. She looked so much older, even for just a few months apart.
    She opened her eyes mid hug with Tavros, and looked up at you, realizing who you were. She screamed and quickly broke off with him, and ran at you. You did the same, met her at the bottom of the stairs, and held her tightly. She smelled just like you remembered, but she had definitely grown, you could feel her size difference in your arms.
"You're back!" She cried into your shoulder.
"I am. And I missed you SO much..." You cried as well.
"I missed you too. I have so much to show you!" She pulled out of your hug, and you reluctantly let go.
"And I have so much to tell you." You smiled, and you held her face in your hands. "Aslan, you've grown so much in such a short time..."
"You look like a full blown pirate..." Her fingers traced the braided leather strap over your shoulder, and played with the iron claps and rings.     Her hand then covered your own on her cheek, and her eyes got wide as she felt the ring on your finger. She forcefully pulled your hand off her face and held it down in front of her. She twisted the ring back and forth over your finger, then looked over your shoulder at Caspian, who was still standing on the steps. An enormous grin spread over her face.
"I knew it!" She taunted.
"You did." You laughed.
Caspian took his que, and joined you at your side. "Sisni, how wonderful it is to see you safe."
"And you, Sire." She smiled and curtsied, properly, she had turned into a true little lady. "So are you married already?" She asked bluntly.
You laughed, under it all she was still your sister. "Not yet, this is an engagement ring."
"Ooh... so when is the wedding?" She hopped up and down excitedly.
"We... haven't really discussed that." You looked back at Caspian for help.
He smiled and knelt down next to you, facing Sis. "There is a lot to plan, and we wanted to make sure you were a part of it."
Her eyes lit up, "you mean... I get to help?!"
"I don't think we can do it without you, Princess." He chuckled.
She squealed again, and your heart swole as you looked at Caspian. How you loved this man.

*    *    *

    "And I wore this one at the last town council meeting..." Sis threw yet another dress onto the floor after holding it up for you. The previously tidy room was now littered with clothes, toys and books that Sis was showing off to you. You couldn't help but wonder if this was the natural state of it, and the one you were introduced to earlier was after it being abandoned for a few days.
"I'm onto chapter books now," she brought your attention back to her, "Mr. Cornelius says I'm a fast reader."
"I'm not surprised." You smiled. "You do pick things up very quickly."
Sis then started showing off her artwork that she had pinned all over her wall, among which was the replica sketch of your parents that you made for her before leaving. Your heart sank when you saw your parents together.
"Did you ever... find them?" She was focused on the same image.
There was no way to avoid it now. "I did." You softly responded.
"Oh," she paused and began fiddling with a hairbrush she had picked up off her nightstand. "Did they come back with you?"
You bit your lip. "Come sit next to me," your hand patted the bedside, and she obeyed. "Dad is in the inn."
Her bright eyes looked up at you for further explanation.
"He's sick, and Cornelius is taking care of him, but I did bring him home."
"Did Mom not want to come back?"
"She did but..." You stopped, and started over. "I found out our mother is a hero you know."
"She is?"
"Mhm. There is a small island a ways from here, called Terebinthia, and there was a sickness that was killing a lot of people. She cured it."
"Wow... so she's a doctor too?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. But... while she was treating all these other sick people, she got sick herself... I'm sorry Sis... she didn't make it home." You felt yourself choke up.
Sis looked down at her lap, processing the news. Then she looked up at you, and hugged you. "I'm sorry." She spoke into your chest. "I know you really wanted to bring her back."
"I'm sorry too, that I couldn't give you your mother back..."
"But you did."
You furrowed your brow and pulled back enough to see her face. "But Sis, we did the funeral in Terebinthia..."
"She wasn't my mother though, not really. I've only ever known you."
Your mouth dropped.
"I got my mother back, and my sister. You're both to me." She smiled up at you.
You held her so tightly your arms began to hurt. "I love you..." You whispered into her hair as you sobbed.
"I love you too, but you're smothering me..." She mumbled.
"Sorry." You chuckled through your tears, and released her.
"So... what happens now?" She asked.
"I'm not sure. I guess we have to have a family discussion about it."
"With... him?" She seemed uncomfortable saying "dad.'
You nodded, and she turned away with a frightened look on her face.
"Are you scared?" You patted her hand.
She nodded slowly.
"I think he's a little scared too." You smiled. "But I know you two are going to love each other."

You stood outside the inn, holding Sis' hand. She had a death grip on you.
"I want to wait for Caspian." Her voice shook.
"Alright. He should be here soon, he was talking with Drinian on the docks." You turned back to look towards them, and sure enough you saw him appear at the end of the road. "See?" You motioned to him with your free hand.
"My Ladies." He greeted you. "I hear we are about to make some pretty important introductions?"
"Yep. And 'we' requested your presence for a bit of extra confidence..." You smiled at Caspian while motioning to Sis with your eyes.
"It would be my pleasure." He offered his hand to Sisni, and she took it immediately.
Standing between the two of you, each of her hands in one of yours, you urged her in the door.
    Roisin was behind the bar, mixing something, and she looked up when you came in. "Oh perfect timing." She smiled. "I just sent word to the palace, he's awake."
"Really?!" You gasped. "When?"
"Just a few minutes ago, I'm making some porridge to see if he'll take it." She came around the side of the bar and wiped her hands on her apron. Her eyes fell to Sisni between you and Caspian. "You must be Sisni."
"Sis, this is Roisin, she's a very dear friend of mine." You let go of Sis' hand and bent down next to her.
"Hi." She said softly. "Your hair is so pretty."
Roisin giggled. "Oh you're too sweet! Thank you, and I absolutely adore your dress!"
Sis blushed and looked down at her feet.
"Come on," Caspian pressed his hand against your back, "let's go see your Dad."
"Go, please." Roisin motioned to the back bedroom. "He's going to be so excited."

    You had to keep yourself from running down the hall, reminding yourself with every step that Sis was meeting him for the first time. You pushed the door open, and found him sitting up in bed, with Raxe sitting by his side. He was still very pale, but he was alert and talking.
"Bug." His eyes lit up when he saw you, then moved down to your side, and saw Sis. Immediately he began to tear up. "Is this...?"
"Yea Dad, this is Sisni. Sisni, this is our father, Doleraz." You held your breath.
"Sisni..." He whispered. "You're beautiful..."
Sis didn't say a word, or make a move forward.
"Sis, say 'hi.'" You urged.
"It's ok." Your father spoke directly to her. "You can stay there as long as you want to, you don't have to say anything to me, Sweetheart. But if it's ok, I'd really like to hug your sister."
Sis nodded, and looked up at you. You gave her shoulder a squeeze and moved towards the bed. Raxe stepped aside as you approached and you threw yourself onto your father. "I was so scared, Dad."
"I know... me too. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, are you?"
"I will be... ouch..." He flinched as your body weight pressed on his chest.
"Sorry." You released him. "How does it feel?" You looked down at his healing wound.
"Sore." He admitted. "But nothing I can't handle..." He looked up at Caspian. "I'm glad to see you unharmed."
"And I'm very glad to see you awake, Dad." Caspian smiled.
Tears began to fall down your dad's cheeks. "I would have never imagined... two boys, and two girls." He took your hand in one of his, and Raxe's in the other. "How lucky could one man be?"
Raxe chuckled. "Hey, I don't remember signing onto being a part of this crazy family."
"You did the moment you followed her home that first day." Your father laughed.
Sis took a hesitant step forward. "Are you really my Dad?"
"Yes, Sweetheart, I really am." He dropped your hand, and held it out to her.
She slowly approached him, and took his hand. "I don't remember."
"It's ok. We'll make new memories." He smiled at her, and she finally smiled back.