Chapter 8: Unbidden Memories

Dido closed the door to the small room where she would sleep that night. Cassandra had volunteered to take the first watch and would wake her in a few hours. With a sigh, the Guardian of Compassion took a quick survey of the room.

Fortunately, there were none of the personal touches that reminded the visitors of the house’s previous occupants, leading Dido to conclude that this was quite possibly a guest room. Yet, even with the lack of personal things, Dido was still plagued with a sense of trespassing. The scene earlier in the main room showed that Leda was susceptible as well.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Dido wondered to what extent was Cassandra and Paul were experiencing this sensation. Clearly everyone was on edge, but that could be due to the large number of uncertainties they were facing, Dido thought. Only the princess had seemed to be emotionally affected by the surroundings.

‘Did we make a mistake in bring the prince and princess?’ she asked herself. Then she realized that the princess would have come anyway, regardless of the Guardian’s opinion. ‘She is so much like her father.’

The wayward thought brought tears to Dido’s eyes as she stretched out of the bed. She usually didn’t allow herself to think about that last night and the precious hours that she had spent with Adonis. However, tonight, back on Cignus, the memories surrounded her.

She was glad that Adonis had escaped safely from the nightmare and hadn’t witnessed the final showdown between Hecate and his parents. She was grateful that he had found love and was able to have a family. Princess Leda was tribute to both of her parents.

The tears fell silently down her cheeks to darken the blanket underneath her. Since she was still emotionally open to Scylla, she tried to keep the emotions dampened. Yet, she was unable to stop the tears.

She remembered the last time she had ventured out of the palace. She and Scylla had received word that their parents were ill with a fever that was spreading through the outer provinces of the kingdom. The sisters had gone to Cassandra and the king for permission to check on their parents.

Despite her sympathy, Cassandra could only let the two of them for a maximum of ten days. One of the sisters would have to return to the palace within that time to resume the duties of guarding the prince and the princess. No amount of pleading would budge the Guardian’s decision, and the sisters reluctantly agreed.

Scylla and Dido had made the journey in a day of hard riding instead of the customary three days. Both were driven with reports of the fever’s death rate. It had been years since they had last seen their parents, and guilt was clawing at each heart.

Nearing the village gate around midnight, they had only encountered one guard, instead of the usual force of four. The guard, recognizing their Guardian uniforms, quickly opened the gate for them and ushered them through. The village was too dark and quiet to the sisters, even in that late hour.

With a sense of urgency, they rode through the deserted streets to their former home. Dido took the reins of both horses and gestured for her sister to immediately enter the small house. With a practiced efficiency, Dido cared for the faithful animals and then entered the house herself.

Only one lamp illuminated the main room and seemed to create more shadows than light. Her heart constricted as she beheld the thin form of her father, who was sweating profusely and fighting for each breath. Scylla, sitting on the edge of the cot and holding his hand, turned to Dido.

“The healer is in their bedroom with Mother, Dido,” she stated quietly, her eyes rich with moisture. “She said that is good that we are home. A few days later and it would have been too late.”

Dido fought the tears that were now pooling in her eyes. She nodded numbly. “Stay here with Father. I will go see Mother and talk with the healer.”

Dido gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek and then proceeded to the door of their bedchamber. She gave a brief knock on the door and entered without waiting for a reply. The aged healer glanced briefly at Dido as she entered.

“Welcome home, Guardian,” she said with a nod. Then she returned to her work.

“Thank you, Fayea,” she replied, coming the edge of the bed. With a heavy heart, she realized that her mother was in the same shape as her father. “How are they?”

The older woman sighed. Although her name meant hope in the royal language of Cignus, she was always truthful. She looked at the young woman beside her with sorrowful eyes.

“I’m sorry, Dido. I have used everything in my knowledge to help them. All I can do is to lessen their suffering.”

Dido took her mother’s hand, noting how thin she had become. Her skin was almost translucent and seemed to barely cover her bones. “That would be a great kindness, Fayea.”

“I wish it was more.”

Dido nodded. “How many has the village lost?”

“More than I care to count. The old, the young, and the weak seem the most susceptible. However, very few of the strongest have survived.”

Dido gently returned her mother’s hand to her side. “You must be exhausted, Fayea. If you will give me and Scylla the necessary herbs, we will tend to them now.”

The woman nodded and led the Guardian back into the barn where her mule was tethered. She reached into one of the saddlebags and pulled several small leather pouches. After checking each one, she handed them all to Dido.

“I will write down the appropriate amount of each for a special tea. It will help with the pain and ease some of the fever.”

“Thank you.”

The woman nodded and they returned to the house. Fayea watched Dido prepare the tea. Finding no fault, she said goodbye to the twins and left the humble house.

“Scylla, why don’t you stay in here with Father? I will stay with Mother.”

Scylla nodded and accepted the steaming cup of tea Dido handed to her. The sisters coaxed their father into a sitting position and were able to get him to drink a large dose of the herbs. After getting him comfortable again, Dido returned to the bedchamber to give the same treatment to their mother, declining Scylla’s offer of help.

The herbs seemed to have a more immediate effect on their mother. Her breathing grew less labored and the dazed look receded from her eyes. After a few hours, she turned her head and studied Dido for a moment.

“So, you have returned home?” she rasped.

Dido stroked her hand affectionately. “Yes, Mother, Scylla and I are home.”

“Why did you even bother?” she demanded, the bitterness catching Dido off guard.

“I’m sorry that we haven’t been home more often, Mother,” she replied gently, “but we have tried the best we can. We have our duties at the palace now. We can’t take them lightly, Mother. Surely you realize that.”

“You have some nerve, Dido,” her mother cried angrily, “to return here after all these years in that uniform of all things! Are you trying to flaunt the fact that you and your sister are now too good for your family?”

“You were the ones who sent us with Cassandra,” Dido countered. “Scylla and I never asked to become Guardians. If you didn’t want us to go, why did you let us leave with Cassandra?”

“And defy the House of Light?! You are more stupid than I thought! Get out!” She turned her head away and jerked her hand from Dido’s. “I can’t stand to see you in that uniform. Now, get out!”

Dido sat motionless on the bed. “Mother, why are you doing this?” she whispered.

“You and your sister have betrayed your family, Dido. You two should have let us died in peace. Your presence only reminds us of how wronged we have been by the House of Light.”

There was a pause as her mother finally faced her again. “Now, for the last time, get out!”

Dido rose and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Scylla looked up from the side of their father’s cot with a questioning gaze. Shaking her head, Dido silently walked by and left the house. Only once she was alone in the neglected garden did she finally release her tears.

* * * * *

Scylla gently shook Dido awake the next morning. The sisters had traded charges after their mother’s outburst. For some reason, their mother had said nothing and just ignored Scylla during her vigil.

“What’s wrong?” Dido asked, her voice a whisper.

“Mother’s gone,” she said softly.

Dido closed her eyes briefly to stop the tears. Composed, she opened them again. “Did she say anything to you, Scylla?”

Her twin shook her head. “No, not even at the last.”

Dido nodded and stiffly rose to her feet. “Stay with Father. I’ll go to the priest and the magistrate.”

When Dido and the two men returned, Scylla was standing in the small yard in front of the house. The look on her face was sufficient for Dido to know that it would be a double funeral now. She wordlessly hugged her sister and they cried together for a moment.

When they separated, the priest and the magistrate both gave them sympathetic smiles. Scylla prepared the bodies for burial while Dido discussed various matters with the two men. She quickly paid the various fees and arranged for the sale of the cottage when the situation settled.

Everything seemed surreal as she and Scylla prepared for the funeral. Both had nothing suitable to wear other than their Guardian uniforms. Silently asking her mother for forgiveness, Dido prepared for the service.

“Father said that he loved us and were so proud of us,” Scylla told her as they followed the funeral wagon on their horses.

“I can’t believe they’re gone.”

Scylla touched her arm gently. “Dido, what did Mother say to you last night?”

Dido shook her head. “It was nothing of importance.”

“You’re lying.”

Dido glanced at her sister, noting her annoyed gaze. It was bad enough that she had had to endure those final words of their mother. She refused to let Scylla suffer as well.

“You don’t want to know, Scylla,” Dido stated flatly. “Let the dead have their peace.”

* * * * *

Dido rolled over unto her back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Mother,” she whispered, “why did the last thing you say to me have to be so hurtful? Why?”

She sat on the edge of the bed and then rose of the feet. She couldn’t shake a feeling of being cold and changed back into her battle gear, the tunic providing more warmth than her tank top. She was debating on whether to try to sleep or not when she heard Leda’s scream.

She ran out of the room and nearly collided with Cassandra as they ran to the stairs. Dido allowed the other woman to go first, noting the tears on Cassandra’s cheeks before she began her climb. ‘Cassandra, too?’

“What the hell is going on around here?” Dido muttered.

However, both were too occupied in reaching the princess to give the question much thought.


Unbidden Memories Dido closed the door to the small room where she would sleep that night. Cassandra had volunteered to take the first watch and would wake her in a few hours. With a sigh, the Guardian of Compassion took a quick survey of the room. Fortunately, there were none of the personal touches that reminded the visitors of the house’s previous occupants, leading Dido to conclude that this was quite possibly a guest room. Yet, even with the lack of personal things, Dido was still plagued with a sense of trespassing. The scene earlier in the main room showed that Leda was susceptible as well. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Dido wondered to what extent was Cassandra and Paul were experiencing this sensation. Clearly everyone was on edge, but that could be due to the large number of uncertainties they were facing, Dido thought. Only the princess had seemed to be emotionally affected by the surroundings. ‘Did we make a mistake in bring the prince and princess?’ she asked herself. Then she realized that the princess would have come anyway, regardless of the Guardian’s opinion. ‘She is so much like her father.’ The wayward thought brought tears to Dido’s eyes as she stretched out of the bed. She usually didn’t allow herself to think about that last night and the precious hours that she had spent with Adonis. However, tonight, back on Cignus, the memories surrounded her. She was glad that Adonis had escaped safely from the nightmare and hadn’t witnessed the final showdown between Hecate and his parents. She was grateful that he had found love and was able to have a family. Princess Leda was tribute to both of her parents. The tears fell silently down her cheeks to darken the blanket underneath her. Since she was still emotionally open to Scylla, she tried to keep the emotions dampened. Yet, she was unable to stop the tears. She remembered the last time she had ventured out of the palace. She and Scylla had received word that their parents were ill with a fever that was spreading through the outer provinces of the kingdom. The sisters had gone to Cassandra and the king for permission to check on their parents. Despite her sympathy, Cassandra could only let the two of them for a maximum of ten days. One of the sisters would have to return to the palace within that time to resume the duties of guarding the prince and the princess. No amount of pleading would budge the Guardian’s decision, and the sisters reluctantly agreed. Scylla and Dido had made the journey in a day of hard riding instead of the customary three days. Both were driven with reports of the fever’s death rate. It had been years since they had last seen their parents, and guilt was clawing at each heart. Nearing the village gate around midnight, they had only encountered one guard, instead of the usual force of four. The guard, recognizing their Guardian uniforms, quickly opened the gate for them and ushered them through. The village was too dark and quiet to the sisters, even in that late hour. With a sense of urgency, they rode through the deserted streets to their former home. Dido took the reins of both horses and gestured for her sister to immediately enter the small house. With a practiced efficiency, Dido cared for the faithful animals and then entered the house herself. Only one lamp illuminated the main room and seemed to create more shadows than light. Her heart constricted as she beheld the thin form of her father, who was sweating profusely and fighting for each breath. Scylla, sitting on the edge of the cot and holding his hand, turned to Dido. “The healer is in their bedroom with Mother, Dido,” she stated quietly, her eyes rich with moisture. “She said that is good that we are home. A few days later and it would have been too late.” Dido fought the tears that were now pooling in her eyes. She nodded numbly. “Stay here with Father. I will go see Mother and talk with the healer.” Dido gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek and then proceeded to the door of their bedchamber. She gave a brief knock on the door and entered without waiting for a reply. The aged healer glanced briefly at Dido as she entered. “Welcome home, Guardian,” she said with a nod. Then she returned to her work. “Thank you, Fayea,” she replied, coming the edge of the bed. With a heavy heart, she realized that her mother was in the same shape as her father. “How are they?” The older woman sighed. Although her name meant hope in the royal language of Cignus, she was always truthful. She looked at the young woman beside her with sorrowful eyes. “I’m sorry, Dido. I have used everything in my knowledge to help them. All I can do is to lessen their suffering.” Dido took her mother’s hand, noting how thin she had become. Her skin was almost translucent and seemed to barely cover her bones. “That would be a great kindness, Fayea.” “I wish it was more.” Dido nodded. “How many has the village lost?” “More than I care to count. The old, the young, and the weak seem the most susceptible. However, very few of the strongest have survived.” Dido gently returned her mother’s hand to her side. “You must be exhausted, Fayea. If you will give me and Scylla the necessary herbs, we will tend to them now.” The woman nodded and led the Guardian back into the barn where her mule was tethered. She reached into one of the saddlebags and pulled several small leather pouches. After checking each one, she handed them all to Dido. “I will write down the appropriate amount of each for a special tea. It will help with the pain and ease some of the fever.” “Thank you.” The woman nodded and they returned to the house. Fayea watched Dido prepare the tea. Finding no fault, she said goodbye to the twins and left the humble house. “Scylla, why don’t you stay in here with Father? I will stay with Mother.” Scylla nodded and accepted the steaming cup of tea Dido handed to her. The sisters coaxed their father into a sitting position and were able to get him to drink a large dose of the herbs. After getting him comfortable again, Dido returned to the bedchamber to give the same treatment to their mother, declining Scylla’s offer of help. The herbs seemed to have a more immediate effect on their mother. Her breathing grew less labored and the dazed look receded from her eyes. After a few hours, she turned her head and studied Dido for a moment. “So, you have returned home?” she rasped. Dido stroked her hand affectionately. “Yes, Mother, Scylla and I are home.” “Why did you even bother?” she demanded, the bitterness catching Dido off guard. “I’m sorry that we haven’t been home more often, Mother,” she replied gently, “but we have tried the best we can. We have our duties at the palace now. We can’t take them lightly, Mother. Surely you realize that.” “You have some nerve, Dido,” her mother cried angrily, “to return here after all these years in that uniform of all things! Are you trying to flaunt the fact that you and your sister are now too good for your family?” “You were the ones who sent us with Cassandra,” Dido countered. “Scylla and I never asked to become Guardians. If you didn’t want us to go, why did you let us leave with Cassandra?” “And defy the House of Light?! You are more stupid than I thought! Get out!” She turned her head away and jerked her hand from Dido’s. “I can’t stand to see you in that uniform. Now, get out!” Dido sat motionless on the bed. “Mother, why are you doing this?” she whispered. “You and your sister have betrayed your family, Dido. You two should have let us died in peace. Your presence only reminds us of how wronged we have been by the House of Light.” There was a pause as her mother finally faced her again. “Now, for the last time, get out!” Dido rose and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Scylla looked up from the side of their father’s cot with a questioning gaze. Shaking her head, Dido silently walked by and left the house. Only once she was alone in the neglected garden did she finally release her tears. * * * * * Scylla gently shook Dido awake the next morning. The sisters had traded charges after their mother’s outburst. For some reason, their mother had said nothing and just ignored Scylla during her vigil. “What’s wrong?” Dido asked, her voice a whisper. “Mother’s gone,” she said softly. Dido closed her eyes briefly to stop the tears. Composed, she opened them again. “Did she say anything to you, Scylla?” Her twin shook her head. “No, not even at the last.” Dido nodded and stiffly rose to her feet. “Stay with Father. I’ll go to the priest and the magistrate.” When Dido and the two men returned, Scylla was standing in the small yard in front of the house. The look on her face was sufficient for Dido to know that it would be a double funeral now. She wordlessly hugged her sister and they cried together for a moment. When they separated, the priest and the magistrate both gave them sympathetic smiles. Scylla prepared the bodies for burial while Dido discussed various matters with the two men. She quickly paid the various fees and arranged for the sale of the cottage when the situation settled. Everything seemed surreal as she and Scylla prepared for the funeral. Both had nothing suitable to wear other than their Guardian uniforms. Silently asking her mother for forgiveness, Dido prepared for the service. “Father said that he loved us and were so proud of us,” Scylla told her as they followed the funeral wagon on their horses. “I can’t believe they’re gone.” Scylla touched her arm gently. “Dido, what did Mother say to you last night?” Dido shook her head. “It was nothing of importance.” “You’re lying.” Dido glanced at her sister, noting her annoyed gaze. It was bad enough that she had had to endure those final words of their mother. She refused to let Scylla suffer as well. “You don’t want to know, Scylla,” Dido stated flatly. “Let the dead have their peace.” * * * * * Dido rolled over unto her back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Mother,” she whispered, “why did the last thing you say to me have to be so hurtful? Why?” She sat on the edge of the bed and then rose of the feet. She couldn’t shake a feeling of being cold and changed back into her battle gear, the tunic providing more warmth than her tank top. She was debating on whether to try to sleep or not when she heard Leda’s scream. She ran out of the room and nearly collided with Cassandra as they ran to the stairs. Dido allowed the other woman to go first, noting the tears on Cassandra’s cheeks before she began her climb. ‘Cassandra, too?’ “What the hell is going on around here?” Dido muttered. However, both were too occupied in reaching the princess to give the question much thought.


Chapter 9: A Night of Visions Jupiter's Gone