Chapter 119 - The Saint Loved By All (I)

- - -

Growing up at the various Avington establishments, Nathaniel was no stranger to tall buildings and elaborate staircases. Nevertheless, the spiralling stairwell of the Tower seemed to close in on him, the guards they passed watching his every move sharply and preparing to pounce at the first wrong step. 

"We're here," the warden grunted. 

They had reached one of the top levels of the prison reserved for the most important prisoners, where security was impenetrable and the layers of magic ensuring so made Nathaniel nauseous. The only other place he had ever seen magic so concentrated was in the body of Lord Damian, and he doubted that even he would be able to break through these charms surrounding the chamber. 

"Now, I know it's standard for priests to visit felons, but someone of Your Eminence's standing is unusual. Are you sure you want to do this? Ain't too late to go back now."

The warden peered down at him. He did not know that Nathaniel was no stranger to the Tower, having visited and counselled countless prisoners back when he snuck out from the Avington mansion, and that he had taken special care to make sure that the warden, who was a good friend of Grand Duke Avington, never learned of it. 

"Yes," Nathaniel nodded, swallowing. "My position does not prevent me from performing the basic duties of a priest."

The warden shrugged and turned to the door. He took various devices from his coat and loosened the physical and magical barriers until a satisfying click sounded, and the door opened slightly. Yet Nathaniel was vividly aware that it was not free entry: anyone with malicious intent would be barred from entering, and he was only allowed through by the charm that had been placed on him by the prison mage earlier. On the other side of the door, he was crushed by even more intense magic, and it took him a moment to gather himself.

It was a modestly furnished room with several guards. Not too uncomfortable, by commoner standards, and far better than the conditions of other prisoners Nathaniel had seen. A small window high up let in a bit of natural light without permitting any possibility of escape. 

Lady Catherine sat on her bed and stood hurriedly to greet him. She was much changed from the last time he had spoken to her, when Lady Valentina had caught him in the slums and prevented him from going out again. Each time he saw her in passing at public events, she seemed more frail, and was now barely a shadow of the lively girl he had met on the streets months ago after years of separation. Smallpox scars marred her frighteningly pallid skin, and the way she moved made one fear that she would collapse at any second.

"H-hello, Your Eminence! Thank you for visiting me!" even her voice sounded hollow, and the wobble when she tried to curtsy made Nathaniel's heart ache. Not out of particular affection, but just to see a fellow human be in such a state. God, what had happened to her? He feared he knew the answer too well.

A stern man stood behind her, her attorney, who also seemed responsible for catching her should she fall, helped her to the chair at one side of the table. He gestured Nathaniel to sit at the other, which he obeyed, and he and the warden took their respective, overbearing positions behind their charges. 

"Of course, Lady Catherine," Nathaniel said. "I… I requested this meeting because I know you must be under a lot of pressure, and I want to affirm to you that God is always with his children. Have faith in him, even in the darkest of times, and what is right will come."

His voice cracked towards the end as years of sorrow welled up in his chest. The same lady had taken both of their lives by storm, but the state of his childhood friend could not be comparable to his. For one individual to be able to change lives so drastically… Nathaniel shuddered. 

"That's very kind of you, Your Eminence. Thank you very much!" Lady Catherine smiled, the kind that lit up her whole contenance. It reminded Nathaniel of the happy little girl he had played with, whose warm cheerfulness brought joy to everyone around her like bright sunshine. Now, it was as if the light struggled to peek out behind dark clouds, a weak and pale imitation of what had been.

Nathaniel closed his eyes and said a prayer. Since when had he stopped believing? Which of Lady Valentina's crimes was the last straw? He didn't know, yet this time, he prayed with everything he had, because this was his last straw. If they wanted to save Lady Catherine and the kingdom, they needed God on their side. 

Why was Lady Valentina so fixated on Lady Catherine? Nathaniel didn't know, just like he didn't know how she could do the things she did. Actually, that was a lie. He was one of the few who did understand. He saw her greed, her narcissism, her evil. He bore the weight of her sins as much as she did, perhaps more, as her vassal and bystander, who helped and watched as she claimed victim after victim. Lady Catherine never stood a chance against such a villainess. 

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Hm?" Lady Catherine tilted her head. 

"Ah, I am sorry for what you have been through, Lady Catherine, and what has led to here," Nathaniel forced a smile. "Remember that God loves all, and forgives all. Spring has come, did you know? It is the season of rejuvenation. Birds are chirping outside, and flowers are budding after a hard winter. All will be well, I promise."

"Yes! Don't be sorry for me, Your Eminence. I'm fine, see?" Lady Catherine's spirits seemed to be doing better than her physical condition, thankfully. "Father and everyone are doing all that they can, and I'm certain they'll figure out the misunderstanding."

"Indeed," Nathaniel said, telling himself it was not exactly a lie. "Perhaps we can revisit the orphanage together someday."

Catherine straightened. Her eyes gleamed with what almost seemed like tears, and her mouth opened. Before she could speak, the man behind her coughed. 

"I think that will be it for today, Your Eminence," he said, with a tone of finality. 

Promptly, the warden gestured to Nathaniel, who reluctantly stood. Lady Catherine smiled again, though she had to wipe her watery emerald eyes. 

"I'm really glad to see you, N-Your Eminence," she said. "Please, pray for me. And I will pray too, for God to forgive me for anything I've done to anger him so."

'O, poor child! You have done nothing wrong, it is the work of an evil beyond your reach!' he thought.

"Yes, Lady Catherine. May your spirit remain strong. God be with you," he said. 

Then he was escorted out of the room, and the confines of Lady Catherine's prison restored themselves, impenetrable and useless. 

The way down the spiralling stairs seemed longer than the way up. The heavy weight on his conscience that he had thought would be lifted by the visit had only increased. 

"Just a humble question, Your Eminence, but should you really be lying to her like that?" the warden suddenly asked. 

"What do you mean?" the priest tensed. 

"Well, she ain't going to be out this spring, and she sure ain't going to see next spring," the warden scratched his head. "Unless you meant in heaven, I s'pose."

Nathaniel's blood ran cold. He muttered something in response, and the warden fortunately dropped the subject. Alas, Nathaniel's troubles were not over yet. After leaving that horrible establishment and stepping out of the aura of magic it emitted, he had barely turned a corner when the looming presence of magic returned, nearly suffocating him, as per the intent of its owner. It froze him on the spot, a narrow street with no one around, and while Nathaniel could've forced his way out, he stood still so as to not provoke the mage. 

"I am a High Priest, Lord Damian," Nathaniel said. "Your magic cannot hurt me."

"Catherine is mine," the magic hissed. "Leave her alone."

"She does not belong to anybody but herself. But I understand your meaning, and I assure you I have no such interests as yours. Now, please release me, or I will have to inform Lady Valentina."

The magic faded away. Nathaniel collapsed into a pile on the ground, his heart pounding. 

God pity Lady Catherine for having to deal with these siblings!