Lafiel wandered through the 2nd floor of the manors library Lady Sophia Mertel keeping steady pace with her as they came to the spiral stairwell which would take them up seven flights of stairs till they were in one of the three belvederes that sat upon the manor well the centre one wasn't really a belvedere it lacked a roof an was her fathers tower he used for astrology. It didn't take Lafiel long she climbed the stairs with ease as did Sophia till they both sat at a small table with a wonderful view down to the river and the forest beyond.
Lafiel broke the silence as she observed Sophia, "What do you think of the view Sophia isn't it breathtaking?" Sophia felt deep unease growing inside her as she gazed upon the beautiful lands around her gaze drawn to the forest when she spoke in response it was only softly her voice sounded strained, "I...I... Don't know what to say its the most beautiful view I've ever seen Lafiel isn't it breathetaking."
Lafiel nodded as she turned to the letters and her PDA which she had clutched in her hands her face lit up as she began to read through all the replies to the party that had been addressed to her such figures as Lord Canning and Admiral Nelson were coming it pleased her greatly. A sudden thought occured to her she looked up from what she was doing spoke out of curiousity to Sophia she was unsure if she was being rude so she thought to take care in the way she phrased her question, "Sophia will one such as yourself be attending my party I know you are very busy but it would please me immensely if you were there."
Sophia smiled glad from the distraction of looking at the forest, "You don't need to dance with your words around me my dear friend always speak your mind freely. I of course will be attending your party I naturally wouldn't miss it such a special event for you becoming an adult officially it only happens once in a lifetime besides I do believe you need a lady's influence you seem to be overcrowded by men here such a thing would be a pure crime to leave you at their mercy all of your life." Both of the ladies laughed at what Sophia had said Lafiel hugged her like family as she proclaimed, "Thank you so very much I don't know what I would do without you. You are truely my bestest friend to which I know you are indeed like family one might call you like a sister." Sophia nodded, "Yes I don't know what it is I can't quite put my finger on it but I feel the same way it almost feels natural to say you are..." Sophia grimaced as she suddenly clutched her forehead with her right hand as pain lanced through her head Lafiel spoke with concern, "Sophia.. are you alright?" Sophia nodded releasing her head, "It's just a head ache I believe or rather a migraine it just suddenly came out of nowhere but I will be fine it should stop in a moment." Lafiel's eyes looked at her curiously, "You know I must admit I get strange migraines like that.. they are very sudden yet go just as fast as they arrive. The doctors haven't been able to say what it is that causes them maybe you have the same thing?" Sophia shrugged,"Maybe curious that no doctor can tell you what it is that affects one in now day an age one would have thought with our medical advancements one could tell us the cause of the common or rather less common headacke."
Sophia had turned to look back to the countryside to her satisfaction the headacke had passed she looked at the crests of the letters that were from the nobility out of the corner of her eye and pointed them out to Lafiel as she picked them up to Lafiel's surprise Sophia was never incorrect when she told her whom each letter was from. Lafiel had finally gotten through all the letters when she noticed a coach down by the fountain in the courtyard leading to the main entrance she stood up to peer over the edge of the railing she could just make out the crest upon it to her surprise it was that of her family's as her father was away on planet New London there was only one other person that it could that was this historically eccentric apart from her father she mused to herself as she put a hand on Sophia's shoulder and pointed it out excitedly. Lafiel lent on the railing and observed from above as she spotted saw a small retinue of guards and called down almost screaming to be heard, "Hello down there! Hello guards down yonder, would one be correct in thinking that you are guarding the Duke of Arundel's Carriage by chance." A familliar deep voice that belonged to that of the captain of the guard Sir Roger Smith yelled back, "Yes Lady Tarrant you are not mistaken the Duke is visiting your home this day I do believe he went in the direction of the library and is headed your way." Lafiel grinned the head of the Duke's guard had told her many times before about how it was not lady like for her to yell down from the tops of tall building's but he had quietly not discouraged her behaviour even if it was a little more innocent and free from the normal constraints of the nobility and their esteemed manners. Lafiel turned to Sophia and said brimming with joy "Grandad's here come one." Grabbing her hand and pulling her along with her Lafiel ran down the stairs forgetting to close the door behind her as she took off with great haste. She had managed to get to the grand staircase to see a servant exit from the level 5 landing she ran down the stairs Sophia trailing her being gently pulled along till eventually she let go of Sophia's hand as she burst through the door to the library on the fifth landing in a flurry of dresses as she yelled out with joy, "Grandad!" An oldman turned to look at Lafiel the book in his hand suddenly was knocked out of it and thumped to the floor as lafiel dived at him her arms wrapping around him tightly in a warm hug. His expression went from shock to warm adoration as he hugged her back and spoke cheerfully at the sudden occupation of his arms by his granddaughter, "Ah my dear Granddaughter it is lovely to see you to."
It had been two hours since Lafiel's grandad had arrived he now occupied an arm chair next to a high arched window in one of the many state rooms in the manor as he observed his granddaughter change dress after dress in preperation for her birthday. He scratched his head his through his shock of pale blonde hair which was almost completely snow white as he puffed on a cigar.
Lafiel couldn't make up her mind none of this was quite right the designs the tailors showed her were very modern and although beautiful didn't feel quite right for the occasion. The current dress she had on was red and bared her back it was accompanied by the most bright red ribbon was fastened around her waist she stood in the ante room off of the stateroom and was most unsure of herself she hesistated at the door not happy with the dress she had on she suddenly felt shy and didn't want her grandad to see. "Come my granddaughter I can not see you from all the way over there hidden behind the door." Lafiel heard the duke call after her and she responded, "No, I don't know about this dress... It's not... It's not comfortable grandad." Her exscuses were suddenly came to an abrupt halt as she found herself being slowly propelled forward through the door by Sophia who whispered in her ear, "Oh don't be shy you look beautiful I know how we both feel negative regarding red going with blonde hair but you look wonderful." Before Lafiel could protest Sophia found herself face to face with her grandad.
Lafiel suddenly exclaimed, "See grandad it is most uncomfortable." Her grandad realised without a moments glance that written across her face was an expression that depicted a great self conciousness she was truely feeling uncomfortable rather than the dress itself bothering her which he had presumed was the case as all the dresses she was trying on were tailored especially to her measurements of the finest quality materials. It was in his opinion that he should boost her confidence, he spoke with cheer taking his cigar out of his mouth "I may not be the most knowledgable about dresses but you do look most beautiful my dear. Remember that it is not just what you wear my dear that makes you beautiful but you yourself and what is inside. Know that people will warm to you no matter what you wear for you are a truely beautiful young girl inside there is no need for you to feel subconcious what ever you wear." Lafiel grimaced as she realised her grandad had picked up on how she felt. She sighed as she said exactly what she felt, "You are far to perceptive Grandad, you know me too well. In truth I feel exposed wearing this dress it isnt the style of the dress I just do." Her grandad smiled puffing on his cigar as the smoke vanished instantly curtesy of the environmental systems his tone came out very level, "I do believe that is both the privelege of being a Grandad seeing through ones grandchildren as one would look through clear blue sky and I also believe it is a priveilege of being as old as myself. Why don't you try something on that you would like to wear rather than searching for something that you think will impress people. You never were very competative when it came to fashion as a lot of young ladies are and as nobility I do believe one may wear what one damn well pleases."
They both turned suddenly as they heard a soft titter against the silence that had set in to find Sophia with her right hand placed flat again her mouth in a vein attempt to hide her lips which had curled into a smirk but as they looked upon the small titter gave way to gentle giggle which echoed lightly around the room. "Lafiel his Grace his right as nobility you may wear what you like think of no one else but you and your wishes your nobility but more importantly it is your birthday hun its special for you. How about you go try on that blue dress you loved that one." Lafiel went to protest but before the but that was forming on her lips could leave them Sophia had put her arm around Lafiel and steered in the direction of the ante chamber giving her a playful and gentle push in that direction Lafiel went off into the other room while Sophia called after her, "Enjoy yourself hun this is meant to be joyful and fun picking out a dress on the lead upto your birthday not a tedious tour of duty on a battlefield."
Sophia turned from the entrance to which Lafiel had dissapeared through to sit in a chair opposite the Duke and looked out the window at the blue sky. The Duke put his Cigar out in the ash tray on the little table as he issued a command to a servant who stood by the doorway, "I say James do fetch me a cup of tea if you would be so kind." He turned to Sophia in a warm paternal way he spoke to her, "My dear would you care for some tea or perhaps maybe something to eat?" Sophia realising that the duke was actually observing her looked him in the eyes as she spoke, "Well my Duke." The Duke had raised his hand to interrupt her his face kind, "Call me charles or even Grandad my dear at your leisure you after all seem to have become like family a sort of sister to Lafiel of sorts." Sophia was suddenly taken aback and caught off guard by the Dukes sudden frank and strange statement after a moments pause of careful thinking she spoke again deciding that it did please her greatly to think of this grand duke as a grandfatherly figure, "Well.. Grandfather I would be most delighted to have a cup of tea it is indeed a lovely afternoon for it." It was Sophias turn to observe the Duke in his reaction to her calling him by such a personal name. It surprised her to see that the Duke seemed to look secretly satisfied about something he chose to keep to himself but her gaze was suddenly drawn to Lafiel who had came skipping with joy into the stateroom.
Lafiel skipped along the room a smile evident across her face till she stood in front of the Duke and Countess Mertel she wore a light baby blue coloured dress it had puffy shoulders and was styled in victorian elegance of old she twirled around on the spot her dress flowing with her. "Isn't that much better your smiling and happy hun and what a beautiful dress you look beautiful the dress suits perfectly." Said Sophia as she watched Lafiel spin around. Lafiel spun around once more coming to a stop facing Sophia as he replied excitement clear in her voice, "I know isn't it beautiful I love this dress its wonderful look at it is so beautiful and it really catches the elegance of the victorian times of long ago." The Duke happy to see his granddaughter smiling once more got up to help himself to another Cigar from a little metal container on the fireplace across from the window turning back to Lafiel he spoke to her, "I must say it is wonderful to see you smiling and the blue dress looks wonderful on you; now my dear would you care for some tea while you try on more dresses." Lafiel smiled," I would love some tea Grandad that would be most lovely." She suddenly had an idea, "I think I have decided on what dress I would like I will wear my favourite dress and see what ideas we can come up with come along Sophia let us see what the tailor thinks. We will be back in a moment Grandad." Lafiel grabbed Sophia's hand gently and pulled her up out of the chair as they departed the room Lafiel almost jumping up and down with excitement.
The Duke lit up his cigar addressing James once more, "I do believe that will be tea for three james." The servant bowed and left the room as well. The duke sat pondering things just as James returned through the doorway carrying a tray with a teapot and cups just as Lafiel came through almost dancing in the air Sophia following at a more orderly and leisurely pace.
"Grandad look look its wonderful Sophia has come up with a marvelous idea of a sash tied behind a rose look it compliments my favourite dress remarkabley. Thats it I think I am dressed for my birthday." Lafiel announced as she hugged her grandad over excitedly. The Duke responded smiling, "Steady on my dear I am glad you are happy this is wonderful news you are now already for your birthday your father and myself will take care of all the other preparations."
As Lafiel's father gently manouvered her from her birthday party with his hand on her left shoulder guiding her along. She became very curious to know what was going on alas her father was not giving any hints or signs as to what it was about he wished to talk to her in private. On the way to the Marquis's office Lafiel spoke with great excitement about what Lord Canning had said regarding a possible position running a new embassy to Rheinland located on planet Berlin. Her father congradulated her though with great surprise when she glanced side ways at him he almost seemed in pain or was it dread that was written across his features. It sent a shiver down Lafiel's spine to see the man she regarded as being the strongest person in the whole wide word have such a look upon his face. His features were tight as if they had suddenly began marching to their deaths.
Lafiel wrapped her right arm tightly around her father leaning her cheek upon his arm. As they arrived at his study the Marquis opened the door and gently moved her on ahead of him closing the door behind them and then turning the key in the door locking it much to Lafiel's surprise. The Marquis gestured for her to sit in the right hand side chair opposite his desk as Lafiel sat down she realised that the other chair was occupied by Sophia and that her Grandfather was also present sittin over on the lounge a lit cigar in his mouth observing everyone in the room.
The Marquis sat back in his chair his lips resting against his steepled fingers observing both ladies in the silent study his face was like an open book not the usual blank slate full of elusive meanings. In his eyes reflected great sadness and pain. Lafiel placed both her hands in her lap clasped together it was all she could do lest she reach out to him to console him of what ever might be plaguing his mind. It wasn't till her eyes fluttered to the desk did she notice the two medical syringes resting there ready for use. Lafiel turned to her Grandfather who made no motion except to tap his cigar upon the ash tray before bringing it back to his lips and looking to his son nodding grimly.
With a deep sigh Tarrant lowered his hands to the arm rests of his high backed chair his voice was unsteady as he spoke threatening to give way to an ocean of emotion, "Well my dear girls, it is time. For a long time now it has been time and I have bided it waiting on further till we come to this day when there is but one course of action left. I am going to tell to you girls about your past though indeed by the end of our meeting you will both most probably have remembered all that has been kept hidden and secret from you. Know that I have carried this secret long heavy upon my shoulders for the better part of fourteen years and it has been my burden and my heart ache everyday of those fourteen years. What I am going to tell you will most probably shock you but bare me no ill will and know from the very beginning that I did this for you both out of my deepest love as a parent for I love you both my dearest of daughters."
Lafiel and Sophia's eyes had flickered to one another but they had remained stone still and silent as the Marquis spoke.
"It happened long ago now yes, fourteen years to the day to be precise of the accident on your joint birthday. It was a particularly harsh winter the fog had clung strong to the forest and manor grounds it hadn't been till your brother Augustus had come charging through my study door that I had heard that something had befallen you both at the river as soon as he had entered I had departed the manor at a run grabbing Oliver as I ran through its halls. The three of us set out at a run through the treacherous fog I had heard your screams and lament Lafiel as you called for your sister and used it as a guide to you. Alas when I managed to find my way to you Sophia was no were to be found and you were colder than ice your teeth were chattering so badly you couldn't form words any longer you were just pointing to the river and wailing and without a doubt I knew Sophia was in the river one might call it parents intuition but I foresore with dread what had befallen the oldest of my twin daughters. I clutched you dearly to my chest Lafiel and yelled to Oliver that I was getting you indoors and summoning a medical team which had contained some of the sharpest mind I knew. I passed more people as I ran to the manner headed in the direction of the river carrying search lights. I managed to get you into a hot bath in your ensuite it broke my heart as you screamed for the warm watered burned you as if it were boiling you ended up vomiting half a gallon of river water up as you screamed. I found you suddenly taken from the bath as the medical team had finished setting up in your room. I kissed you as I let you go for in my heart I knew that that may have been the last time to ever seen you."
Sebastian Tarrant breathed heavily as he continued, "Additional medical teams had come in to take post in your room next door Sophia. When I had heard over the communication channel that they had found you alive washed up on the river bank a kilometre down river I almost fell down the river in my haste to be by your side I found you coming through the entrance hall Oliver cradling you in his arms your face was pale and lips blue. I feared the worst when I got to you and he handed you into my arms and all you could say before you passed out was is Lafiel safe before you passed out and I managed to get you to the medical teams."
"I thought I was going to die that day from heart break, Sophia had been put straight into stasis so it would buy them enough time to treat you. I had quickly been brought to Lafiel's room as it was in her room that a parents heart broke. The hardest thing a parent ever has to do is see their child in pain and this was of the worst kind you screamed for me papa and I stayed by your bedside where you begged for an end to it all your words pleaded Papa papa I feel so cold.. it hurts... it hurts... no needles... hurts its so cold PAPA! make them stop it hurts! make them stop!. As Lafiel had taken in a lot of river water and managed to contract a foreign virus, it was so foreign to the scientists and medical teams that when they came to put you under anesthetic and pain killers they had no effect. The virus just fed off of it as it combined itself with your DNA rewriting it yet maintaining the original DNA sequencing. As the needles were placed in you continued I held you to the very end in my arms when they managed to finally place you into stasis. An put you to sleep so you had nolonger to suffer the burning fire through your body of the virus or the pneumonia."
The Marquis let out a Sob as tears began falling as he remembered and spoke on, "They had managed to stabilise you both although it was clear after four months in stasis the virus in Lafiel had stopped by miracle. It was in that moment i made the hardest decision and that was to place both of your minds under a memory block to suppress all traces of the event and any links to your sister for it was in that decision the gravest betrayal and crime I could commit against you both and seperate you both from the shared childhood you deserve and Sophia from her true father. It was under my thoughts that you both would not cope with such traumatic events and should Sophia not survive it was in the best interest to protect you both as you were both so young."
The Marquis face was pained most of all to admit that but still more was to come forth, "The effects of the virus were known almost instantly within the year you slept Lafiel your weight dropped dramatically but you never became any skinnier, your immune system built up to the point were as far as we know you are immune to viruses,desies and other such ailments and by far the most noticable one you stopped aging. Sophia kept aging on the other hand an we thought she had been saved by cybernetics implaced in her to keep her body going and increase the strengh of her body to heal alas it was in years later that we found she too stopped aging and the same virus came to surface in her blood."
The Marquis's voice wavered, "Sophia was moved to be looked after by another family close friends of the Tarrants the Mertel family and it is under their last name your life was disguised and you went on to rise within the ranks of the armed forces to the level of captain your superior intellect and physical abilities made sure of this. I kept Lafiel by my side as she was the first to be brought back into the world an as she aged extremely slowly it was very easy for myself to make up six years though in truth it broke my heart to seperate you both for it was only at the advisement of others that this was thought best and you pryed from me."
The duke made a small coughing noise his eyes too were full of tears and reflected guilt to which he felt he came to stand behind the girls wrapping his arms around them both as he spoke, "Blame not your father solely for your seperation for it was the three men of the Tarrant family that brought this seperation about and least of all your father to which it almost killed to do especially after the loss of your mother. The secret has hurt him most and affected him day by day more than you could ever know " The girls looked to the oldman an in his eyes they saw both kindness and remorse.
Everyone turned as suddenly they heard the click of the lock to the study door as it was opened as Oliver entered his features firm yet not unwarm as he surveyed the room locking the study once more before he took the dukes place on the lounge he spoke his voice strong yet not unkind, "Indeed all three of us had our role to play in the decisions that were made. I as your uncle take full responsibility for my part in the affairs that took place in the cover up." Lafiel looked at Oliver incrediously he spoke before she could say anything, "Oh yes my dear I am your uncle and my true name is Oliver Charles Tarrant younger brother of your father over there. I saw it as a good idea to erase myself from both your memories as I forfeited my noble title an joined the service of MI5 and it would of been best as serving body guard to my niece that she not be emotionally attached to me should something have befallen myself she might have put herself in danger as she is deemed very unpredictable in my eyes. It was I who had also placed the story of your mothers death being at the hands of the Kusari she in fact had made it back with the refugees before the war broke out, she was later killed by a similliar virus a year previous to the accident. You can not fault my brother as a desperate parent he devoted all resources at his disposale to saving your lives. "
Sebastian Tarrant put a hand to cut off Olivers barrage of words as he deemed it extremely blunt in a time that needed tact and great care. He had regained some composure as he spoke regarding what else was known regarding the virus after effects, "It is unknown why Lafiel's age locked at the age of eighteen and why the virus in your body Sophia didnt kick in till later but at this point in time we know that time has not moved for you Sophia past the age of twenty one while for Lafiel she started aging once more it can only be an assumption that she will once again stop aging once her body has physically aged to the age of twenty one. I am afraid it is also not known why the virus affected Sophia differently but it has made her a lot stronger and faster than any human being her reflexs are tremendous it is yet to be seen but greatly hypothesised that she is stronger and faster than Oliver with his cybernetic implants."
"Now you both know the secret that has been held on for so long. Yet there is but one more course of action to be done this night before you both rejoin the party. The memory block is to be removed it is a simple thing you just require a minor injection." Said Charles Tarrant gesturing to the syringes on the desk, "If we may?"
Sophia could only nod she was shocked amazed and felt a million other emotions welling up inside of her at the moment she just offered her arm. Oliver stepped over and administered it just as Lafiel bolted out of the chair heading to the door she grabbed the handle which refused to turn just as her Grandfather appeared by her side. She almost screamed, "No I don't want an injection you can't make me." Her Grandfather went to put an arm around her to console her but she bolted back over to her fathers side of the desk. The Marquis moved like lightning one moment he was in his chair the next he had gently grabbed Lafiel lifting her off her feet in his arms cradling her like a baby then sat down again.
Lafiel's face said it all her eyes were wide as tears came down her lips contorted into a grimace her face filled with fear. The Marquis started rocking her gently he brushed her hair with one hand letting her dig her face into his chest he leant to her ear and whispered, "Lafie calm down, I am so sorry for this all to have happened and what I did there has not been a day gone by when I have seen your face and it hurt me keeping this from you, being forced to live a lie for so long. An the change that occured to you it heightened all the beautiful innocent qualities about you I am so sorry that you may never grow to be the young lady you might have been even with all your memories restored" with those last words tears began to roll down his face once more to land upon her face. She reached up to wipe at them with her hand as her beautiful voices drifted to his ears her soft melody conveyed that which she truely had feared, "Its not that, I don't care for all of this it doesn't matter I love you papa nothing could ever change this but I don't want the needle I don't like needles they hurt and what if i remember and forget all the time I have had with you."
The marquis whispered back, "I know your scared and don't like needles but please be brave for me. Do you trust me and that I your father love you that I would never do anything in the world to harm you?" Lafiel began to cry, "I love you father and I hate needles but only if you promise me this will be the last one." The marquis responded with love an care in his voice, "I promise."
The Marquis cradled her gently as her face vanished he felt her body tense he administered the injection as gently as he could. "Thats it my brave little girl." The marquis spoke with pride after a moment Lafiel felt different it was like a curtin had been pulled back and she could remember everything. Growing up with her twin sister and their older brother both visits to the Queen when they had turned five and ten. Most of all she could remember her mother, and father as well as their uncle soft tears fell down her face as she got up and hugged her dad sitting on his lap in the study like when she was little. The Marquis gestured to his oldest daughter Sophia beckoned for her to come over for she also had tears in her eyes she came over and he hugged them both in the silence of the room as a family was once again truely whole.
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