Chapter 19: 'Gaprischo'

Chapter 19: 'Gaprischo'

Valen was not able to sleep well last night, she did not know what time she was able to finally fell asleep. She woke up not too early in the morning the next day and the first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to touch her lips. The thing that happened last night flashed and it was still fresh on her memories...the sweet kiss they shared, it was her first.

Edward swiftly grabbed her, putting his one arm around her and the other hand lifted her chin. She suddenly felt a soft, warm thing over her lips that felt so nice that made her eyes shut closed. She realized it was Edward’s lips touching hers. Their kiss lasted for only a few seconds but Valen knew it will be her most precious and wonderful memory of all.  Edward caressed her face and looked at her lovingly - the look on Edward’s face as he looked at her spoke a lot that it’s needless to say, though he spoke.

“I don’t know how to express what I am feeling right now, Valen. Happiness or bliss or any word with the same meaning to that seem not enough to describe how I feel.......I don’t want to leave your side tonight, but I must. Please take a rest and I’ll speak with you again tomorrow though I know it will be hard for me to wait.” Then Edward gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Sleep well. I love you.” Then Edward left closing her door behind and Valen seemed stunned as she was just standing where Edward left her, and after a few minutes, her hand reached her lips, softly touching it as she reminisce what happened just a few moments ago...

Valen was still in the middle of reminiscing what happened last night, it keeps replaying on her head when someone rapidly knocked on her door.

“Valen, are you already awake? Please let me in, please.” She heard Abby on the other side of the door sounded panicky and in a hurry as she continued to knocked on her door. Valen hurriedly went out of her bed and quickly let Abby inside. Abby seemed she run a thousand miles as she was panting and gasping for breath. Her face so pale, ashened and frightened.

“What’s the matter, Abby? Is there something wrong?” Valen was so worried for her.

Abby seemed that she cannot still utter a single word to explain what the problem is so Valen fetched a cup on her bedside table; she poured some water from the pitcher beside it and offered Abby to drink. Abby drank the liquid greedily and finally was able to speak.

“It was-it was...I-I....I was asked to bring and put th-the vase with flowers in Lady Meredith’s room. I knocked twice and e-entered her room. Just after few moments after I pl-placed the vase on her bedside table, h-h...her eyes suddenly turned crimson and black mist suddenly enveloped her. I-I wasn’t even able to ask if she’s fine, be-because it’s evident she’s not. I do not have any idea what’s happening a-and what happened after that because I-I...I just run out of her room as fast as I can...it’s frightening. Valen, what’s happening to her?” Abby explained stammeringly.

Valen does not have any idea what it is, but she started to worry for Lady Meredith, as well as Abby. She immediately changed to a simple white and royal blue dress and no longer washed her face, then she told Abby that she will be going to Lady Meredith’s room to check on her. Abby does not want Valen to go there alone so even though she was too afraid to go back, she accompanied Valen.

Upon reaching Meredith’s room, Valen knocked twice...but no one answered. She knocked twice again and opened the door. Valen scanned the room but Meredith is no longer inside, but instead, Valen noticed an unusual, attractive, fresh flowers in a vase on the bedside table. She went near it and felt a dark aura surrounding it – Valen carefully examined the flower.

Valen thought that it resembled a flower she knew, a rare flower called gaprischo. However, the flower in front of her have a few different features,  the gaprischo she knew and the current one she’s looking at have the same stem, same leaf and same size, they differ in two ways: color and number of petals – the one she knew have only three fuschia pink petals with rose pink pistils and red pollens. The flower in front of her have four petals and deep purple in color, the flower have around five to seven  red long pistils and on its tip were black pollens.

What worries Valen was the fact that it resembled the flower which can make someone hallucinate and its leaves are used to make tranquilizers, this is her first time seeing this kind of...what she think is a gaprischo, and add the fact that this flower in front of her have a reddish-color pistil which mostly are not quite good, in addition...an unusual black pollens! – so if this really is a gaprischo, she is worried that the effects might be tremendous.

She asked Abby to get her a pair of scissors, she wanted to take a sample and examine it closely and carefully in her room. Abby returned after a few minutes and Valen asked her to go out of the room as she was not quite sure if the flower have different effects. Abby obeyed and closed the door behind her.

Valen does not want to smell nor touch it yet, she must prepare herself first before doing so. Having thought about it, she thought about Abby, what if she accidentally inhaled a pollen and she was just hallucinating about Meredith, a normal gaprischo can do that and the effect should only last for a minute. She decided not to think about it yet as she needs to examine the flower further. She grabbed a small linen cloth from her pocket so she won’t touch the flower directly. She cut three stems, carefully holding it with the cloth. She went out of the room and Abby was no longer there waiting for her but instead, Edward stood in front of her.

“I was about to find you but I saw Abby standing here and asked her what was she doing here. She did not reply and went away. She seemed flustered  and pale and I was surprised that you came out of Meredith’s room.” Edward asked and noticed the three purple flowers that Valen was holding. “And what’s with those flowers Valen? Uhmm, well...I think you need not to answer that, we have more important matters to discuss about –you know, about the thing that happened last night and about you and I.”

“Now is not the right time Edward. I need to do something important.”

“For me, there is nothing more important than you, Valen?” Edward said, emphasizing the words ‘more important’. “I need to speak to you, I was not able to sleep last night as I was eager for morning to come.”

Valen’s face turned hot, but she should not think about Edward, about them, not now. Edward was about to come closer but Valen step away from him as Edward might come in contact with the flower. Edward’s face saddened on her reaction, so Valen thought that she should already tell Edward about what’s happening and what Abby had witnessed before he even thought that she is avoiding him.

Valen does not want anyone to hear so she grabbed Edward’s arm and walked towards her room. Abby was waiting in front of her room still looking disturbed and upset so Valen decided to talk to her first.

“Abby, I understand how terrified you are, but don’t worry too much, we’ll find out what this is. If I will have the opportunity, I’ll be the one to tell Lord Thomas about it. I’ll just ask for you when I need you..Oh, actually I need you to do something for me.”

“Sure, what is it?” Abby seemed to be calmer.

“I just actually woke up, and well, I haven’t eaten anything, can you grabbed me a piece of bread?” Valen asked timidly.

“Oh yes! Sorry to have bothered you so early in the morning. I’ll bring you some pancakes too and some apple juice.”

“That is okay Abby. I quite understand you’re reaction. Just please be fine. I’ll tell Edward everything and find out what is this all about. Oh and one more thing, please also get me two clean cups as well. Thank you Abby.” Then Abby thanked her too and went to grabbed Valen’s breakfast.

“What is going on Valen? Is there’s something wrong?” Edward curiously asked her.

“Let’s go inside, I don’t know what’s happening either and I don’t know if there really is something wrong but I do feel there is.” Then Valen invited Edward inside and explained to him what Abby told her, about the flower and that she is about to examine it.

“Don’t touch it. Didn’t you notice that I was holding them a while ago with a cloth. I told you I will have to examine them first.” Valen said irritatedly because Edward was about to touch the flower that she placed on the table.

Valen asked Edward to leave but Edward declined to go out of her room and said that he will be there in case something goes wrong once she inspects it. Valen sighed  as she already knew that Edward won’t leave and she also thought that it’s a good idea to let someone look after her while she examines it.

Edward looked and followed her direction as Valen walked towards her cabinet and grabbed two small bottles. She grabbed a clean cup on her bedside table and poured some water. She opened the smaller bottle and poured some powder in her cup. She closed that bottle and opened the other one. Valen noticed Edward’s face turned sour as the smell of the content of the bottle is unpleasant. She hurriedly poured three drops of green liquid in her cup of water so she will be able to immediately close it again. Then Abby came holding a tray with her breakfast. Valen quickly devoured the food on her plate after both Abby and Edward claimed that they already ate. Valen felt full and felt that she’s now ready to inspect and examine the flower.

She grabbed the two clean cups that she asked Abby to get for her and she poured them water too. She repeat the same process like what she did on the previous cup.

“What a very funny smell!” Abby commented.

“Please forgive me for that.” Valen grabbed one cup and placed it on the table where she placed the three flowers. She grabbed the other two cups and asked Abby and Edward to drink the content. Edward’s eyebrow raised, silently asking what it is for.

“Do you trust me, Edward?” Valen simply asked.

“Of course, I do!” and without further questions or anything, Edward drank the entire content, then Abby did the same.

“Oh, it’s great! It taste like...water” Edward commented in disbelief, he thought that it will taste awful as the green liquid that Valen poured a while ago does not smell quite nice. Valen just  smiled on his comment.

Valen now asked Edward and Abby to stay a bit further away from her and asked them to do the most important mission that she hope that will no longer be necessary.

“If ever that you’ll see me a bit unusual than my usual self, can you please let me drink this.” Valen said gesturing at her cup of water. “Even if by force, you must!”

“Why don’t you drink it now Valen, you already let us drink it.” Edward asked

“The ingredients I added on this water have a negate effect. It can nullify effects, will it be positive or negative, though the effect of this one is not that great because there is another ingredient, particularly a fruit, that can negate everything - that fruit is very rare so I only have the simplest one. Since you already drank the solution, you two will be safe for around three hours from any effects this flower might have so I do not intend to drink it beforehand, because if I do, how will I truly know this flower’s effects if right at the start, this drink will already nullify it?” Valen explained.

The two nodded agreeing with what she said. Abby became uneasy as she felt that it might be something serious, Edward on the other hand, seemed a bit calmer but deep inside him, he’s too worried for Valen.

“You two, don’t give me that look...and Edward, you’re trying to look calmer but I can feel you’re more anxious than Abby. I don’t think this will make me die, and besides, if something goes wrong, you just have to let me drink this and everything will be fine, this flower’s effect will be nullifed immediately by this drink. Well, actually sometimes the effect of herbs, plants and things like that, are not quite great on me, so there is a big probability that you will no longer have to let me drink this.”

Edward’s right eyebrow raised once more. “If herbs and plants do not have great effects on you, what if there’s something really happened to you...but I hope there’s none...that water may not have a great  effect on you too! You told us that this water is the simplest one that can nullify effect, so how can I be too sure that this will help nullify the effects the flower might have?  I am not doubting you Valen. I trust you and love you with all my heart....” Edward suddenly paused as Abby suddenly fidget and her face turned like a tomato.

“Oh yes, you heard it right Abby. I have not informed others yet. I actually planned on talking it more with Valen today but this thing happened. By the way, where am I? Oh yes, I am not doubting you Valen, and will never be, I just wanted to know what it is that you are really thinking and planning.”

Valen sighed, she thought that it is already a waste of time to explain everything, but she thought that Edward will surely not feel at ease, she understood how he feels, perhaps a quick further explanation and tell them a bit something about herself will have to do.

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A/N:  On the next chapter, Valen will tell something about herself as a healer. Please don’t forget to vote and comment.

Surprise chapter dedication to:

NancyLittleDevilMg for voting some chapters and adding the story to her reading list. :)