"Flindra, let's take the lake path home," Dakra
said after the others had gone.
"There’s something I need to tell you and the long walk will make
it easier."
"What troubles your heart so?"
Dakra sighed.
"Eghero and I wanted to delay this time but we both knew we
couldn't keep our secret much longer."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess we were just being selfish for we hoped to keep you with
us for as long as we could."
"What do you mean, keep me? I'll never leave my home. Why would I ever go?" Flindra asked in a
puzzled voice.
"I want you to know this, Flindra, my child, I love you
and I always will." She looked away
to hide her tears. "You’ve brought
so much joy into my life, into our lives.
I’d always hoped for a daughter but I knew that I could never have
another child after I gave birth to Leudh." Her voice dropped in volume. "There were complications after he was
born, an infection that left me barren."
"Momma what are you saying?" Flindra asked with
obvious confusion.
"I love you, Flindra, but you are not the daughter of
my body, but the child of my heart."
Flindra reached for Dakra and touched her on the
sleeve. "Momma, are you saying that
I'm adopted?" she questioned in a whisper.
She was shocked to hear her mother's words. "Why have you never told me
before?"
"Flindra, if it were as simple as you being our adopted
child, my heart wouldn’t be crying out in pain.
Once you discover your true identity, your fate will take you from
here." Dakra sobbed audibly. "That's why we delayed telling you,
little one."
"Momma, I'll always be your daughter, adopted or
not. I love you." Flindra was crying again and it wasn't from
the memory of her father's death.
Dakra took a deep breath to help fortify herself. "If you were merely our adopted child,
things wouldn't be so hard now. It’s
perhaps more correct to say that we’re your foster family, my dear one. Now it’s time for you to return to your
proper place in the world.
"Years ago, an ancient woman crossed our threshold and
brought you to us. She told us that the
Blessed Spirit had chosen us to care for you.
She also told us that you’re the last of the line of King Meldh. You are a princess!"
Flindra looked
stunned. "Me a princess! That's ridiculous! I'm so ordinary it's absurd to think of me as
being of royal blood. I'm a peasant,
Momma."
"No, my little one, don't underestimate yourself. You’re far more than you realize. We’ve all recognized your greatness."
Flindra shook her head.
"I'm not all that special," she argued in a whisper.
"Just after Eghero fell ill, we both began to have
dreams telling us it was time to share our long hidden secret with you but we
delayed sharing the knowledge of your birth.
We knew that you would have to leave us as soon as you heard the truth
and Eghero didn’t want to part with you before he left life." Dakra sighed sadly. "Unfortunately, the dream comes to me
every night and the message is becoming more forceful, so I know I can't wait
any longer. I had to tell you today."
Flindra frowned.
"Does Leudh know?"
"He’s always known the truth. He was old enough to remember everything when
you were brought to us."
"Oh."
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