Sarah and Orion walked around the carriage. Before them lay the most beautiful set of ruins she had ever saw. “What was this?”
“This was the original Morian castle. Simon was the oldest son of Phillip and Judith. He had a brother Phillip. After the death of his parents, Phillip flew into a rage and burnt this castle down. The story says the fire killed thirty-six servants.”
“This is the spark that started the civil war?”
“No, the spark that started the civil war was Phillip the younger.”
“This is so beautiful.”
“The families of the servants have turned it into a memorial. James lets them keep it up; they are allowed to plant flowers. On the inner wall, they have inscribed the names of the victims.”
“May we go look?”
“Sure.”
Orion took her inside the ruins. Sure enough on the inner wall, names were carved into the hard stone. She ran her hand along the blocks, closing her eyes. She could smell the smoke. “There is so much pain here.”
Out of curiosity he touched the wall. “All I feel is cold rock.”
Sarah placed her hand over his. He began to smell smoke. Before him he saw people screaming, running to and fro, lost in the thick smoke. They were calling the names of loved ones they couldn’t find. With a jolt, Orion opened his eyes. Sarah was standing beside of him watching him. Her hand was no longer on top of his.
“Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. The ability to do it comes and goes.”
They walked back to the carriage. The driver and one porter were sitting outside.
She looked up at them, then back at Orion. “Can you drive one of these?”
“Yes.” He motioned to the driver and porter to get down. “You guys can have the comfortable seats.”
The driver gave Orion his gloves before he climbed in the back.
Orion helped her up onto the porter’s seat. He then joined her.
“May I tell you something?” She asked.
“Please.” He held the reins in his hands.
“I am not saying this to offend your masculinity in anyway but you are very elegant. The way you move, the way you talk. Everything you do is very calculated. Even the way you are sitting there. You are trying to be,” she thought about the right word to describe what she saw. “Macho, (for lack of a better word) but it isn’t you.”
He thought for a moment. Know one had ever told him he was elegant. Wow! “That was quite an adjective.” He finally spoke. “At least you didn’t say I was graceful.”
“I’ve never watched you dance.” She giggled.
He started the carriage into motion. “It has been years since I have done this.”
The estate was overwhelming. The road was an old cobblestone road, lined with trees. All of a sudden the trees stopped. The road became lined with flowering shrubbery. “What are those? I have never seen them before.” She asked loudly.
He began to stop the coach. “What’s wrong sire?” The driver leaned his head out of the carriage.
“Nothing.” Orion helped her down. They walked over to the bushes. “They are called Coreopsis’. They are commonly called Tickweed, belonging to the Daisy family”
“I have never even heard of them.”
These were the most delicate flowers she had ever seen.
“When James married Roa, he had all the trees from this point to the palace cut down and these planted in their place. These are said to symbolize love at first sight.”
“You are right.” He raised his left eyebrow questioning her. She giggled, “Someone is a tad bit romantic.”
They climbed back on the carriage.
Poetry & More 