Bake

Stronger // Kelly Clarkson

After winding down a grand, spiral staircase, Drue leads me across a cavernous foyer, complete with the high ceilings and decorative paint along the walls I've seen in the rest of the dwelling. The doors, crafted more like windows with small panes covering the length of both, lead to the garden. Drue opens one side, placing his hand on the small of my back to guide me through. Warmth from his touch seeps through my clothes to my skin, heating me to my very core.

Once we step further into the garden, I pause, taking in the scent of the roses, the sound of the fountain, the dark night made light by the moon. I'm taken back to the night I saw the only ounce of vulnerability Nicandros allowed to show by our surroundings. I turn toward him, only to see his vulnerability once again. I reach out and take his hand in my own, wrapping my thin fingers around his strong ones. When I look up to find his eyes cast on our clasped hands, I see the hope that first spoke to me from Drue.

"Will you tell me now? The whole truth?" I ask as my voice trembles with fear. I need to know, but I'm so afraid that his story will break the connection we have started to repair.

"Believe me, Lissa, that is all I've ever told you." He looks up from our hands, the intent in his eyes strong. "But now I am free to tell you everything." Keeping our hands firmly connected, he walks me to the fountain, offering me a seat on the little bench beside it. He sits next to me, pulling our hands into his lap, keeping his gaze downcast where our fingers connect.

My pulse races, both from being this close to Drue after so long, but also from worry about what he is about to say. I can feel the nerves rolling off him. I realize I am not prepared for what this truth might be.

"Ever since I can remember," he begins, "here in this dwelling, I have wanted to find you. I needed to know about the family of the woman who'd become my father's pet, because I couldn't imagine what it had been like to be left behind. Not knowing what had befallen your mother? Even knowing what had happened to mine, I was devastated."

Sitting this close to him, feeling the tremble of his hand as he speaks, his words wrap around me but still make little sense. "You knew of me?"

His eyes find mine, tenderness the only emotion I see. "No, not you, specifically. Not at first. My desire began as curiosity for the family of the woman. I was allowed to remember my family, not something the Master usually permits. His odd way of attempting to make up for taking me, I suppose."

"He took you?" I can't imagine the fear Drue must have endured as a child. "Have you tried to go back to your family?" I know what it means to have unanswered questions.

Sadness overtakes him. "No. There is nothing left. When he brought me here, Father had just finished hunting down his enemies, battling them in and around the village I where I lived. Everything in it was destroyed in the battle, everyone perished. I was found among the ruins, and he brought me here. Sparing my life may be the only thing he's ever done out of regret." Drue looks up, shaking his head before saying more.

"Sometime later, Father returned from yet another hunt, a bird in his possession. A wild bird, not the type one keeps in a cage. But that's where Father kept it. The bird didn't sing, didn't fly, hardly ate. I was so sad for it and begged father to release it, but he refused, saying, 'Choices have consequences.' I didn't understand at the time. I had no idea I would live out its meaning."

"The woman..." I begin, wondering if she has been the answer all along, "is she..." I cannot finish the question even as my heart burns to know.

Drue looks at me in understanding. "Yes. She is your mother." He confirms, "She spends most of her time in the large cage near the kitchen. But when father returns from his hunt, he gives her some freedom."

I turn my gaze to the fountain, shaking my head. "I don't understand. She's much older than my mother would be. It's only been ten years."

Drue looks at me tenderly, his voice gentle and empathetic. "Her time here has aged her, along with the enchantment my father placed over her." He pauses for a moment, causing me to turn and face him. "Your mother was given a choice when she came; be allowed to remain in her human form but give up her memories, or keep the memories she held of her family, the love in her heart, and remain a bird."

"She chose to remain human," I say with understanding. Who would choose to remain a bird?

"No." He squeezes my fingers still wrapped in his. "She made a bargain. She promised to bake for him whenever he returned from the hunt on the condition she be allowed to keep her memories. Father agreed, but without telling her that to keep her memories, she would return to her bird form whenever he left. As the bird, her memories of you and her home are complete. As the woman, she only remembers this dwelling, the people here." Drue scoffs, a sound I am becoming accustomed to from him. "It seems to me that they both were given the bad end of the bargain. Her bread has never been what it should be."

I nod in understanding, rising from my spot next to him and step closer to the fountain. And now that I know more of her plight, I realize what has been missing all along. "She has no memories of us, her family, her life. So, she has no love." My shoulders rise in a shrug. It's simple really.

"You spoke of that, with Mrs. Naimer." Drue stands and crosses the few steps to where I stand, looking down upon me. "You told her it takes passion, love, from the first sift of flour to the last brush of egg wash to create a warm, crusty loaf of bread that will make mouths water and seek out more."

I turn my head just enough to look up at him, his eyes meeting mine in awe and admiration. "And the look you gave me when I said that—wicked delight." I shake my head at the memory. It has taken on an entirely new meaning.

He smiles, lighting his face in a way I had only dreamed of. "I knew then that you would be able to find a way through all of this, that you had something special. That night, I went to find Grimhold and tell him to care for you if I was unable to make the journey with you."

My mouth falls open in shock. "You planned to join me?" It physically pains me to do so, but I take a step away from him. "I need to understand all of this, but I still feel left out in the dark. Finish." I cross my arms in demand. I've been waiting my entire life it seems, for understanding about the events surrounding me. Now I want answers.

Drue takes in a deep breath, preparing for what he must tell me, I assume. "My story started long before my father took your mother away. I suppose I should say that it was our story that started even before your birth."

I stand stock still, waiting for him to go on and vowing I won't interrupt no matter where his tale takes us.

His eyes find mine and I nearly lose the strength to stand when I see the empathy looking back at me. "Your father bargained with mine. A magnificent oven for the success of his bakery, if his eldest daughter would be promised to me."

This time my knees buckle when I do lose the strength to stand.

HE.WAS.PROMISED.TO.ELLETE

See you tomorrow.