~~~~~~~~~~
After making sure that Sidney was taken care for, Wendy went to check on Gorham who had insisted that he had some duties to attend to before he had a rest. Therefore he was in his office looking over some documents. The former walked in and waited until she had an audience with the king.
`Wendy, please have a seat.'
`Thank you, your Majesty.' She pulled up a chair and sat before him.
`I didn't have a chance to thank you personally for saving Sidney's life.'
`I don't deserve that given that I caused her more complications than before.'
`You gave her a chance and that is something that Madison wouldn't have thought of.'
`We all have our faults.'
`Which also brings me to question why you are still here?'
`I thought it was clear that under my supervision Sidney was going to be cared for.'
`What I think that you are saying is that you are still here because Sidney is Victor's sister!' Wendy barely nodded her head. `But that still makes me wonder if by any chance you have thought of claiming your throne.'
`I have thought of it but I'm not ready.'
Gorham chuckled at that. `Stop being modest.'
`I'm not. I just haven't finished my training and therefore am not ready to take over that much power as my crown would provide.'
`Wendy,' Gorham stood up and walked round the table. He leaned comfortably on the table and looked at her intensely. `Nobody can tell you when you are ready to take up a throne or when your training is complete. When your father allowed you to come back, whose idea was it?'
`Mine.' She sat straight. `I wanted to come and try to help...'
`Did he try to stop you?'
`Yes.'
`As naturally as a father wanting to protect his daughter but, did he really try to stop you?'
`No.' Wendy waited but Gorham didn't say anything. `What are you trying to say?'
`Nothing, I just want to understand your father.' He walked back around the table. `I want to know how he thinks and I probably will figure it out with how you answer questions about him.'
`Well, my father is a sensible man, much like you.'
Gorham laugh softly, `That was the same way that Diane described him.' He watched her again. `You really look like her.' `Your Majesty...'
`No Wendy, don't take it badly that I say that. I am with Sidney and as true as the sun I do love her.'
`Is there a but coming along?'
`But, as I have been forced to admit it to myself, you are like my daughter and with that knowledge, I hope that you will accept my advice as I'm about to give it.'
`If this is about Victor...'
`Goodness no, I never advice anyone on their love life and to be frank, it's none of my business.'
`So, what would be your business?'
`Your interests in the crown.' Wendy shifted in her seat. `Though you do not want it yet, it is best that you protect your interests and that involves forming alliances.' `Get to the point, please.'
`The council is going to meet tomorrow. There's no doubt about that. I would advise you to attend.'
`Why?'
`Because they will be talking about you. Yes, you hid your hair when you exited the hall but there are a number of people who saw you as you rode into the city. That was after all why Jared went to the council hall. And they know that you are back which is cause for a lot of questions.' `But I'm in the confines of your castle. My presence here is to remain a secret.'
`You of all people should know that things don't always work out as we plan them. Furthermore, you hiding in my castle would cause a lot of suspicions on your part because I'm not in the favor of the council.'
`Then I'll find somewhere else to live for the moment.'
`Please don't, it's an honor to be your host.'
`Then what do you suggest?'
`First, stay in my castle for as long as you please. You and all of your companions. Secondly, take care of Sidney though you may not care about that, I'll be indebted to you. Thirdly, I want you to go to the council hall and present yourself. Explain what you are doing back and your intentions but I beg you to leave the part where Sidney is a wizard and has got her powers back.' `All your intentions are of selfish reasons.' She eyed him suspiciously.
`Yes.' He turned to look at the fire that was burning at the side of the room. `There is a lot that is going on that you have no idea of yet but in due time you will find out. On the other hand, what I ask as true as it is for selfish reasons but it is also for your benefit. I do owe Diane that.'
`I hope you will always remember that I'm not Diane.'
Gorham looked sharply at her. `No, I will never confuse you for her. What I think is that you will be better than her.'
`Why would you think that?'
`Because unlike you, Diane's life was tainted with conventions and traditions. You should do what you think is right,' Gorham was quiet for a long time that Wendy stood up and headed to the door but before she opened it, Gorham finished his sentence, `For yourself and for your people.' Wendy waited for something else but it never came.
She went out and walked through the corridors that were so familiar to her. She had time given that Ken was the one who was watching Sidney. Should she need it, she would be taken on the trance. She could do it herself but she might get lost in her mind. She needed someone to do it in order to be able to bring her back.
She could feel the stares on her as she passed the guards. She walked out of the castle and into the grounds where she could get a little privacy. She wondered though where Victor was at that very moment. It would take him about a week to get back but there was no definite time line anybody could refer to. She wondered a lot about what Gorham had said and knew that he was right.
His intentions may not have been as noble as he once was but he had her best interest at heart too. She knew of the relationship that had been between Gorham and Diane but she hoped that he knew they were not the same person. On the other hand, his advice was illuminating in the fact that she now knew that to get what she may once need; she had to understand how things worked. She opted to start with how Alice was fairing on with her task.
She looked around and saw that she was alone. She sat down on the ground and closed her eyes. At least she could still see her mother who still had a lot to tell her. She didn't know it but she was the center of attention as when she entered her mind her hair seemed to glow just as the ground did before they came back into this world.
Someone told Gorham what was going on and when he went to see for himself he smiled.
`Should we stop her?' one of the guards asked.
`No, you shouldn't disturb her when she is in that state. She obviously needed the privacy and that is why she chose to go to the field.'
`But everyone can see what is going on! It's not normal and people will talk.'
Gorham laughed. The guards stared at him like he had lost it which probably he had given that he had hit his head very hard. He shook his mind. `She is special. I should have seen that long ago Diane.' he turned to the guard. `I want you to deliver a message for me.'
`To whom, your Majesty?'
`To King Nathan.' he turned back to the field. `Tell him this and quote me. If you dare lay a hand on her, you won't know what falling from grace is delicately defined as.'
The guard stared at him. The king turned questioningly at him. `Of course your Majesty.'