WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue
Chapter 64: Chapter Sixty Four

‘Defiled! Defiled! Our temple had been defiled!’

The dead soldier lay still bleeding, and Farrell turned to her.

‘It cannot be’ he whispered.

He fell to his knees.

‘My prayers have been answered…’

‘What?’ she gasped uncertainly, her chest rising and falling as she breathed deeply, still in shock at what had just happened.

‘Please…’ Farrell breathed, reaching a shaking hand towards her. ‘Please let it be you…my daughter.’

The woman drew away from him, getting her feet beneath her ready to stand.

She rose slowly, as if standing before a frightened deer that was ready to bolt. The man on his knees stared back at her, his eyes never leaving her face.

Amaia straightened up, her palms sweating, staring down to the man before her. Closing her mouth and biting her lip. She recognised him. It was the man in the painting she had seen in the home she had grown up in. The man that in the painting that had stood next to Ramana.

He looked different, older, greyer, more worn. But there was no mistake. It was definitely him.

She opened her mouth again to speak.

‘Father?’

His face immediately lit up, and the tears he had been holding back spilled freely down his cheeks. He sobbed, biting his fist to control himself. Then he laughed. He laughed and laughed, tears still falling continuously.

‘Kill me now for I must be dreaming’ he said falling on all fours. ‘Surely the gods would not bless me so after all the wrong I’ve done?’

Her heart felt as if it had leapt high into her throat. She held her hands over her mouth, feeling nothing but astonishment, and then an overwhelming sadness. A wave of emotions crashed over her like she had never felt before. She ran to him, falling on her knees and holding him tightly.

‘Please tell me it’s really you, please.’ She let go of him, looking into his face; then embraced him again. ‘I knew you’d replace me….’

‘Amaia…’ Farrell sobbed into her shoulder. ‘My daughter…’ he pushed her back gently so that he may look at her, caressing her face with his crippled hand. ‘I cannot believe this moment is happening’ he said, both laughing and crying at the same time. ‘You’re so beautiful…you look just like your mother.’ And then he hesitated, as if caught suddenly by mournful thoughts. ‘Do you remember her Amaia? Do you remember your mother?’

‘No’ she shook her head, tears filling her eyes. ‘I…I’ve lost my memory.’

‘Come’ he whispered to her, rising. ‘Come with me.’

He led her across the hall to a fountain, walking with his arm around her shoulders as he did so.

‘Sit with me’ Farrell said to her.

Amaia sat beside her father, watching him with silent expectation.

‘Would you like to hear about your mother?’ Farrell asked her.

‘I would love that’ she whispered.

‘Good’ Farrell laughed, his smile almost reaching his ears. ‘Now…let’s see’ Farrell began, feeling almost uncomfortable sitting next to her, his own daughter that had become so foreign. He wondered what he should say. ‘Where do I begin?’ he laughed.

He thought for a moment.

‘Your mother’ Farrell began after a time, ‘…she was quite a character. She was so happy all the time….well…most of the time…when she was in a bad mood, it was like the devil itself living inside our home. I remember…shortly after you were born….she practically threw me out of my own home…’ he laughed nervously then. ‘She was…very emotional’ he spoke looking to the floor. ‘I remember…..um…..’ he shook his head trying to think. ‘She used to throw books at me when she was angry…she tried to throw a grandfather clock at me once.’ He glanced to Amaia, who gave him a curious expression. ‘But you don’t want to hear about that I’m sure’ Farrell said hastily. ’You want to hear the good side don’t you? Let me think….oh, she liked to paint, loved to paint. She was very good at it too, oh and she liked to climb trees. She built you a tree house one day. Do you remember? You and your cousin Gracie found a bird that had fallen out of its nest….you called it….oh gods what was its name? I don’t remember.’ He frowned furiously. ‘And that time you and your mother attacked me with paint in the house? Do you remember that?’ he glanced at Amaia nervously, clenching his jaws as he did so. She gazed back at him, uncertainly. Farrell clicked his fingers. ‘The two of you used to paint together? One day we all posed for a painting?’

‘Yes’ Amaia breathed; her heart jolting at the memory. ‘I remember that. I wouldn’t sit still.’

‘Yes!’ Farrell said triumphantly. ‘Your mother use to always pander to you, it made me so mad when she didn’t listen to me……but I could never stay mad at her for long, never.’ He thought for a moment, ‘she used to dance with me, used to sing sometimes ….the both of you made me so happy…..I…..’ Farrell took a deep breath. ‘She stuck by me….even through the most difficult of times. She was a good person your mother’ Farrell nodded to himself. ‘Her heart was pure. That’s what your mother was like, she was really sweet. She would chose to help others before helping herself, even if it was a big trouble for her to do so. Now what else…?’ he laughed uncertainly. Farrell looked around him, as if it would help him remember what he should say. ‘She uh……uh……your mother….she was……’

Farrell lifted a hand slowly to his face and made an action to run his fingers through his hair, but stopped.

‘She was……’ he began to tremble. Tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks. ‘Ramana…’ he whispered.

Farrell hunched forwards, burying his head in his hands. ‘Amaia….I’m sorry….I’m so sorry…….this is all my fault. I’ve caused you so much pain. If I hadn’t been caught up in my grief, then I would have………I would have….’

‘Father….?’

Farrell looked up at his daughter who had touched his shoulder lightly.

‘Amaia’ he laughed through his tears. ‘Not you too. Silly girl.’ He reached forwards, brushing the tears from her cheeks. ‘I shouldn’t be sad…I know. I just miss her so much.’ He drew back away from her. ‘I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you over the years….I’m sorry that I failed you…’

She rose from her seat; kneeling before him on the floor she embraced him, holding him around his middle. Farrell held her tightly back, awash with emotions that overflowed within him. A tear slid down his cheek as he squeezed his eyes tight shut, in his mind thanking the gods for this moment, this wonderful moment.

And then he thought of her.

Ramana. I’ve found her. I’ve finally found her

Our precious treasure