• Chapter 3



    Many Years Later


    "Mama...It's me, Celeste."
    A young woman of roughly 19 years stood at the bedside of her sick mother, with tears rushing down her face.Two emerald eyes looked on, fighting back tears, while the rain outside seemed like the heavan's above crying for the soon death of the beautiful woman in her deathbed.
    Hillary opened her eyes and smiled at her beautiful daughter.So many years that had passed since her birth.Celeste was as beautiful as Hillary, and everyone could see that she was truly as good as her own mother, taking over with much of Hillary's duties as Queen since she had fallen ill 2 months prior.
    Celest had her father's eyes, two bright, gorgeous emeralds, set within a face of high cheekbones, full lush lips, and a flawless, slightly tan complexion.Truly the face of a beauty.With hair that looked as though the heavans had kissed it with the purest brown, with hues of red and orange in it.
    So many years...
    "Mama, the doctor says that...." Celeste couldn't continue, as the tears rushed forth, and letting her head rest on the side of her mother's bed, feeling her mother's fragile hand run her fingers through her hair.Her tears stained the beautiful satin of her gold and sky blue gown.Why did her mother have to die?First her father before she was born, and now her mother.It just didn't seem right!And she felt guilt, for she didnt want to cry in front of her mother, who needed her to be strong, just like she had been for Celeste her entire life.
    "Ssshhh, my baby.Do not cry.Soon, I will be free of my earthly body and one day you will join me.But until then, you must be strong.Remember what I have always told you: There is no day without clouds.So look towards the skies Celeste, and remember that one day you will be able to fly over them.After all, all this has passed I still will remain in your heart."
    Celeste nodded, and hugged her once more."I love you Mama."
    "I love you Celeste, my baby love" Hillary said.She quietly sighed, and then decided that she needed to give something to Celeste.No, tell her something.
    About the running through the vineyards holding a young man's hand.About the sweet kisses through the night.
    "Celeste, look through that drawer over there, and hand me a book bound in red, white, and gold trimmed satin," she said.
    Celeste got up, with a confused expression, and walked to the drawer, wiping away tears.She carefully moved a few trinkets from the top of the drawer and finally came upon the book.She walked back to her mother's bedside and handed her the book, not knowing anything at all about it, or why her mother would want a book to read in such sad times.Hillary didn't take it, but just motioned for Celeste to open it.
    She gasped.
    There on the first page was an inscription:

    I, Hillary Cortez, write my most cherished secrets.I print these words, in this book given to me by my late father, as I reach my Quinceanera.I hope that someday, someone will read this and see me not just as a young girl, almost woman, who is privileged and will soon become Queen, but as any normal young woman, who dreams her dreams, and cries her tears, fears what others fear, and cherish her most loved possessions.I know that one day, the truth of these next few years, will be out for someone to see.And I can only hope that, that person is not ashamed of me.
    Hillary Serenity Adelaide Morin-Cortez,
    Princess and heir to the Spanish throne.


    Celeste glanced at her mother, and could see that she was staring up.
    "Mama?" she wispered.Hillary smiled softly, and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
    "I always knew that this day would come.I was so foolish though, thinking that I could keep it from you.How could I had been so stupid, to think that you wouldn't find out?You deserve to find out.Through everything, I wonder why God lets me keep walking through this place.And soon I will have to leave you Celeste.But not before you know the truth," she paused as a coughing fit racked her fragile body.
    "Mama please, whatever it is it doesn't matter.You need to save your energy," Celeste worriedly said, throwing the book onto her chair.
    Hillary mearly shook her head, cleared her throat, and continued, "No Celeste, you have a right to know.I've kept it from you, thinking that it would do you good if I did.But look at us now, that is not what my intentions have done for me.And oh, everyone told me to tell you, told me that I would regret not telling you.But I must.I have to.Now, before it's too late."
    "What are you saying?" Celeste asked with a worried expression on her face.
    Hillary looked at her, then sighed, "Celeste do you remember Lady Paula, and Lord De'LaCor?" she asked.Celeste nodded, and she continued, "Celeste, Lord De'LaCor is your father.Soon after I turned 15 my friendship with him seemed differant to me, and when I was finally 17, after two years of wondering whether or not we had strong feelings for one antoher; we finally realized it," She stopped there though, as coughs racked her body.
    Celeste stood frozen in her spot.
    Her governess, who was now Celeste's governess, rushed forward and calmed Hillary down with a glass of water, and gently pushed her back down on the covers so that she would rest.
    Celeste and her governess left the chamber, but not before Celeste took the book with her, hiding it from her governess, who was wiping a fw tears from her eyes.
    "Your mother has always been a wonderful person Celeste.Why must the Lord take those who are so pure at heart?" her governess, Lady Presd'eaux, said sadly.
    Celeste only nodded.


    She read the diary through the night, without sleeping.Page after page absorbed her into the earth that she had never known of her mother.She couldn't believe that at one point, her mother had done things that she had never seemed capable to do.But now...
    One entrance in particular, held her intrance;

    Dear Diary,
    I made such an idiot of myself diary!He was there today, and all I could do was look away and turn my back to him.After last night's happenings, and when he kissed me, it was too much.His stare burned the back of head like a thousand flames.I wish I could tell him that I never meant what I said to him last night.Oh diary, what have I done.....

    Lovingly Yours,
    Hillary


    Celeste closed the diary, and wiped tears away.Her mother was dying and all she was doing was reading a diary that had belonged to her own mother!It just didn't seem right.She turned to another page further through the book.This one in particular, seemed to had been written soon after she had been born.She read it, and tears broke the surface.Tear marks were on the page, where the words were already smeared and tear drops from years before had soaked it.

    Flashback

    "NO!"
    Hillary screamed and sobbed as she tore through her chambers.She ripped at whatever her hands could reach.She spit and screamed, cursing the heavan's above for taking her only love in this world away.
    It was a good thing that she had left Celeste with her mother and governess, because no one should had to see her in such a state.
    She tore through her drawers, sobbing hysterically, for once knowing the pain of losing your soul mate, the one person you needed in this life.
    A book in gold ermine trim, with a lilac ribbon on it caused her to stop in her frenzy.She grabbed it, knowing full well what was held in the book.
    She dropped to the floor, crying and holding the book to her chest.How could life do this to her?Why her?Had she done something wrong and God wanted to punish her for it?
    She grabbed her pen and ink, flipped to the next blank page after the last entry.
    And wrote:

    Diary,
    Why must life be so cruel?Why to me?WHY!!!?
    I write this in a state of shock, knowing that my tears spoil the pages of you, but I could care less.He's left me.After everything, that b*****d has finally left me.They killed him in combat.During a battle with the British.I will get my revenge.If it's anything, I will.
    Someone's crying from afar.It sounds like me but I can't be certain.I almost hope it's not.Everything going dark.Someone's hand is on my shoulder.
    Where's Celeste and Kaname?
    Hila


    The entry stopped there as one of Hillary's own governess, put a cloth drenched in Chloroformyl over her mouth.Her body went limp and feel back into the arms of her governess and mother who were able to carry her to her bed.Her mother grabbed the diary and put it back into its drawer.A maid cleaned up the spill from the pen and inkwell.
    Tears kept streaming down Hillary's eyes even as she slept in a restless sleep.

    End of Flashback


    "....After that Celeste, your mother was never the same ever again.You never noticed, for she's always seemed the same.But, to those of us that knew her, saw the change in her as fast as your father died.The glow that always radiated from her dimmed ten times it had once been.She talked of when she died, a blue rose would bloom on the vines growing up the wall of her balcony when she found him again.Now, may the good Lord let them be together in His kingdom...." Celeste's governess said as she finished telling Celeste what had happened on the day her father had died.
    The entire time Celeste had been sitting on her chaise, holding back tears.It had a few days since she had finished reading her mother's diary, and so much had drastically changed.Hillary had gotten worse, and was barely holding on.Celeste knew that it was only a matter of time before....
    A movement from outside caught her attention.It was barely sunset and someone was riding a horse.Celeste immiedetly knew who it was and even in sadness, smiled through it.A small, familiar signal was flashed and she knew what it meant.With a nod and quiet goodbye to her governess, she left.
    She hurriedly went outside and into the familiar arms of the same person.Her Rauol.How she loved him!She kissed him, and felt tears break the surface.
    "What's wrong?" Rauol signed, as he was deaf and used sign language to communicate with everyone.
    "Everything,"     she signed back.She quickly explained what she had just been told by her governess, since Rauol already knew the rest.

    He was a German nobleman's son, born in Germany, knew his native German, but had been mainly raise in Spain his entire life..Born only a year before Celeste, and had been deaf since a medicine that had been given to him as a baby soon after his birth, when he contracted a mild form of measles.Since then his parent's had not trusted doctors, except for one, and supported Rauol.Though the only ones who knew of Celeste and Rauol's romance were their parents and close family.

    "I promise you that it'll be better soon meine Liebe," he signed to her.
    "You don't know that!My mother is going to die and there's nothing that I, or anyone else can do to stop it!" she signed in a hurry before bursting into tears.
    He only held her, knowing that it was hard.
    And she cried.Knowing that her mother was going to die very soon.

    Some days later

    Celeste stood at her mother's bedside, knowing that Hillary was dying by the minute.It was finally time for her to go, and yet; Celeste knew that Hillary didn't want to leave her alone.For as long as Celeste remembered, her mother had always been there to help and guide her through the pain and the hurt.
    But now it was time for Celeste to guide her.
    Tears ran down Celeste's face as she realized what she had to do.She bent down to her mother's ear and let a few tears drop as she spoke the next few words, slipping her diary into her mother's feeble hands.
    "It's alright mother.You can go to him now.You don't need to stay here anymore, especially not for me.I'll be fine.Goodbye."
    Her mother silently smiled, squeezed her hand gently one last time, and breathed her last breath.
    Celeste colapsed into tears, and let her grandmother, governess, few trusted maids, and Raoul comfort her.

    Hillary's POV

    "Ugh, where am I?" Hillary wispered as she woke up.
    Hillary looked around her in amazement.She had woken up in an enormous, and beautiful clearing.Filled with a running waterfall, and many people happily playing.It was perfect.Too perfect.A beautiful garden.
    "Hillary," a voice like a thousand angels, a voice she knew all to well, said from behind me.
    She turned around and saw Kaname, in an all white outfit, and looking the same as when they were still carefree.
    "Kaname," She choked as tears overwhelmed her and she rushed into his arms, crying tears of happiness and relief that she had him back again.
    Again.
    Wait, that could only mean that either she was dead, or Kaname was alive again.
    "Kaname?Am I dead?" Hillary asked, pulling away a bit.
    "Yes Hillary, you are," he wispered.
    Sheonly nodded.
    "Celeste..." she wispered....
    "...Will be fine.She can handle herself now Hillary.She only wanted you to be in peace.Not in pain like you were," he said softly, "And don't worry, Raoul is with her."
    "Yes, you're right.Oh Kaname, how I've missed you!I thought about you night and day," Hillary said as she relaxed, truly knowing that Celeste was going to be ok.
    "Sssshhh, miene Liebe.We have all of eternity for that.I was only waiting for you to join me," Kaname said as he kissed her with all the love he had ever felt.
    They smiled at each other, and held hands as they walked along, smiling and talking with only themselves, in the perfect garden, where no one ever cried, and love was the only emotion to be found.


    One year later

    Celeste smiled and laughed as she and Raoul signed to each other in her room.It had been almost a year to the day that Hillary had died, and while Celeste was sad, she knew that her mother was finally with the one person she truly loved.
    She walked out onto the balcony and smiled at the night sky.A small breeze wept through her hair, and made something behind her catch her eye.She turned around and tears automatically filled her eyes.
    "What's wrong Celeste?" Raoul signed to her as he too, walked out onto the balcony.
    "Look.A blue rose.They're finally together Raoul," she signed as tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks.
    He smiled and said to her the two words that he had been able to teach himself to say, "Miene Liebe."
    They held each other, and looked up into the beautiful night sky.Two bright stars, next to each, illuminated the sky and they knew.
    Hillary and Kaname were finally together.
    And that, my dear friend, is the way things are meant to be.

    Fin