-48-

I rasped my knuckled on the wood of the door gently.

"Come in." Said gruff voice followed with heavy wet coughing.

I opened the door and stepped in.

The room only had one bed and a bedside table with a small dresser and that's it, I closed it behind me.

"Am I seeing things?" He whispered, his hair grey from age and beard too.

"No I am as real as you father." I said, walking over and sitting on the small stool by the bed, taking his reaching out hand into both of mine.

"No I must be dreaming, such old coot as myself can't have such a princess as a daughter." I chuckled softly.

"You aren't dreaming, I am here, flesh and blood." I set his hand on my cheek, not on the scarred side as it was still a bit sore. "I am here, I came to see you, like you wanted remember?"

"Ah yes, you did come." He gently lifted his other hand which I grabbed and guided to my other cheek despite what pain I just mentioned, letting him hold me face with my help, callous thumbs rubbing over my skin. "Yeah, you did come." He repeated.

"Of course father, this is much better than Betelwan carrying letters between us isn't it? Face to face." I said, my voice soft as I pulled his hands away and kept one on my knee with mine over it. "And I am no princess father."

"Ah yes yes that court thingy whatchamacallit?"

"Court mage father, court mage."

"Oh so you must be that silver dragon lady."

"I sure am, my hair and eye never changed."

"They better not or with my fucked eyes I won't be able to recognize your beautiful face, don't you work? your hands are so smooth."

"I am like a noble with magic father, I do not work to soils nor in the kitchens, I learn to fight and magic."

"Oooh you a dangerous lady." I laughed softly.

"If you put it that way yes."

"So what good came of this?"

"Well I am one of the strongest, don't tell them but I think I am stronger than all of them, they are also like my family so I don't feel alone even if I will forever miss this place as this is my first home."

"Good good, keep those you love close to you at all times because one day the gods will want you ill and you'll lose all, don't take them for granted."

"I wish mother was here too father, I do and don't worry I won't take it for granted."

"You better not or I will haunt you young lady."

"Someone else already promised me to haunt me so you are a bit late father."

"Oh? Well spill the tea young lady."

"Oh it's nothing just the princess in some deadly situation I needed to fix a few times."

"By my beard the princess!"

"Yes her."

"And are you close?"

"I could say that.... Really close even."

"Then hold on to her."

"You are talking as if I married her already."

"You might not see it young lady but that glimmer in your eyes-." He weakly set his other hand over the one cover his. "Is the same glimmer I saw in your mother's eyes and knew we were meant to be together."

"She did say she had eyes for me and we did agree to start courting."

"You see? You are my little princess after all."

"Sure father, sure."

"Ah young love.... I miss your mother, every day day sweetheart."

"I know, I do too."

"Do you still remember her favorite song?"

"The witch's daughter?"

"That fucking one."

"I do remember it father, I sang it to myself when I first left, crying the loss of my peaceful life with this as a connection to this place, to my family."

"I'd give all to hear it once more."

I took a deep breath.

Hush, my rose

Still, and look at the moon tonight

Do you see the shadows there?

This world is full of twisty frights

And spooks who love to scare

I sang softly, quietly, not wanting to go to loud.

Feel how the wind blows through your bones

See the treetops shake and shiver

Just like the wind, we take to flight

And make the grown men quiver

I smiled gently at his own smile, gazes locked for a bit.

Luuluu...

There is magic inside of you

He looked out the window with happiness he hadn't felt in a long while I could tell.

Hush, my rose

Still, and watch as they fly away

With the moonlight on their wings

You'll join their merry haunt someday

Hear how they howl and sing

His fingers softly drummed on my hands as I brought my second hand to cover them all.

Awooo...

There is magic inside of you

I was happy to do this too him, the share this with him.

Light on your feet

Past windows you creep

Follow the cat as black as ink

One step ahead

While they're tucked in bed

You'll find secrets dark and secrets deep

A small tear dripped from his eyes that got lost in the full beard as he thought about mother I am sure.

Luuluu...

There is magic inside of you

"Ah I missed this." He said happily.

"I did too father."

"Show me a bit of your magic sweetheart, I want to see something pretty."

"Well I created these flowers."

I brought out a seed and cupped my hands while I stared at them, making a dragon's blossom grown out, more dazzling than any of the same flowers I made grow before.

"That's truly pretty sweetheart."

"It is isn't it?" I said, eyes fixed on the flower with a smile. "You think mother would have liked it?" I asked softly.

But I got no answer.

"Father?" I looked up at him, he laid with a smile on his old face, eyes closed.

I turned the flower back into a seed and put it away while laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Father." I said, shaking him slightly as a chill started to set over my body.

"Father." I said a bit louder, using both hands to shake him, eyebrows up in worry.

"Father!" My hands trembled as I gripped his shoulder tightly.

"Father you can't just-- Father!!" I yelled, my throat like closing up as none fallen tears blurred my vision.

"Father please.... No!! No no no!!" I pleaded with him, feeling the tears escape my eyes as I bit my lip.

I lowered my head, grabbing the clothes on him tightly enough to turn my knuckles white as I laid my forehead on his chest.

Hearing nothing from his heart.

When the first sob escaped me I just lost my self control, loudly weeping, tears staining his clothes as I yelled for him to awaken, to talk to me, to move.

But nothing happened.

After a while I sat up, hand pressed over my mouth and nose to muffle the loud shaky and sniffle-y breathing as my eyes were tightly shut.

I took a few deep breaths and forcibly gathered myself, wiping my face and standing up with my shoulder straight, pulling the blanket over his head.

I walked out of the room, arms tightly clasped behind my back to try to stop the trembling.

I exited the house making all around look at me which made it harder to keep myself together but I managed with another deep breath.

"He waited for me to come home." I said in the most equal of a tone possible to the chief, a slight crack of my voice getting through and I almost lost all hold I had on my emotions again.

He lowered his head in respect, even an idiot would understand what I meant.... My father.... Held on to life until I came home and he finally had peace of mind after seeing me one last time.