Zaffera's Pov
"Morning, slept well? " inquires Father who I see sat at the dining table with rather large elaborate meals before him, "I made breakfast."
I seat at the table, opposite him and reach for a tost and handful of berries to eat. When I was a kid he also used to make breakfast. He would always say that those who stated together, stuck together. I wish that was true as it hasn't played out they way I expected it to in my life thus far. But then again, I'm still young in some respects, anything could change.
"I would say, yes" I bite into my toast as he smiles back content.
"Hope you don't mind me bringing back an old tradition. I've missed this even though it's not perfect yet." He hints at Mother's absence. Suddenly I'm realising how quickly Mother changed after he left. I remember vividly coming down here waiting to eat with my family and seeing an empty table. My first thought wasn't that he went missing, but I could tell something was off because Mother seemed colder and more distant than usual. Then I went a full week without his presence and I realised just why her behaviour had changed. Things stayed that way for years on. I've never even bothered keeping track of how long it has been since he left. I shake my head no.
"I have something planned for us today. We should go hunting together like when you were younger. I've cleared your schedule for today, if you don't mind, I just really want to spend some time with you and get to know the woman you have become..." he says with a geniune beam on his face which I mirror. Anything to get away from paperwork.
"This is a good spot." he says stationing behind a tall rock situatiated at a good angle view looking down. We drop our heavy backpacks and get observing.
"So... Any novelty?" he asks looking over his weapon with an eye shut to single on his prey.
"Nothing much lately." I reply dryly not wanting to talk about the past events.
"Really? I'm gone for years and nothing happened? What about Mother?"
"She... She is currently at Arrow. I asked her to stay there so I could settle as Queen of Zyron without her controlling me. I guess one thing did happen... As of now Arrow and Zyron aren't enemies." I speak lowering my weapon. He does the same, interestingly there's isn't a surprised expression on his face.
"Oh... and how is that? "
"Complicated."
"A male?" I chuckle a little at his expression but then turn to look at him rapidly as he's casually back with his weapon up and fires I couple bullets catching 2 deers.
"How... How do you know?" That is not casual guess. No guardian psyche crap. He must know something, I just don't know how much enough to have guessed correctly.
"I guess one could say I have my sources."
Later on we get back to Castle dirty and tired with quite a catch on out backs.
"Do you remember what we usually used to do after we went hunting?" He asks leaning side to side to stretch out his back.
I nod happily. "We cook it and use it to feed the helpers as a thank you note for their hard work."
He messes the top of my head as though I'm still a kid and we both laugh at it. I really needed this.
"What made you come back now?" I voice impulsively.
"Something told me it was the right time."
"But there's still war happening..."
"Nowhere near as much as there used to be... Trust me."
After the heavy cooking we take a sit on the sofas in the living room, completely worn out. My father takes a leave to go and aswer the door and he comes back shortly after with slight confusion.
"There's a guy, ehm Ginn...? He wants to speak to you."
"Again?! He was here yesterday and usually he spaces out his visits." I groan and plead Father to send him away. With reluctantcy he does as I said and heave a deep sigh.
"Who is that guy?" he asks.
"It's a long story." he leans back and sits comfortably which signals me to keep on going, "I was matched to be married to him, it would have brought Zyron his people together. But I fel out of love with him due to things... and in love with somoene else-"
"The male?" he asks overlapping me. I chuckle again nodding.
"Yes. He really wasn't happy about it... and though for complicated reasons me and that person are no longer together he still torments me because he believes we should be together and rule over all kingdom because we would make the perfect partnership and all of those lies. I've rejected him so many times but he is still quite ademat."
He keeps quite for a minute, and then he responds.
"I don't say this just because you are my daughter and I don't want to see you hurt but he truly isn't deserving of you or you love. Anyone who coherses you into doing something you don't want to doesn't. Remember this in the future to."
I can't help but think of Fenyang as he says those words. He never once forced me to do something I wasn't okay with. He never even came back to try to change my mind. Sometimes I wish he did but I've probably hurt him enough to have completely lost all of my chances at being with him again.
"Father, can we lie by the fireplace together like we used to in the cold winter nights?" He looks out of the window confused and then looks back at me with understanding.
Right now I just need to stop thinking. I need to keep avoiding this like I have been the last months and I shall use reliving past memories with Father as distraction. Deep down I know it won't change anything in reality, but it will surely postpone the pain for a moment or two.