"Until recently each generation found it more expedient to plead guilty to the charge of being young and ignorant, easier to take the punishment meted out by the older generation (which had itself confessed to the same crime short years before). The command to grow up at once was more bearable than the faceless horror of wavering purpose, which was youth."
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
The halls of the Longwood manor were filled with crying and wails upon the awaking of Canary. Some of pain from the still healing wounds and others of a terror that Canary could still see from the side effects of the prolonged usage of milk of the poppy. Seeing the same scene of the fire over and over. "We're going to have to strap her down". Thomas said looking at Canary who seemed to be clawing away at something the others couldn't see. "We might irritate her wounds". Wynn said "We can't do that". "What other choice do we have then"? Thomas said, almost yelling.
"I shall try another way". Thaddeus said. Thaddeus walked over to the crying Canary and sat in the chair beside her. Removing the maids from her side that were holding her down. "Everleigh". Thaddeus said, bending down to meet her eye to eye. Their light brown eyes met and for a minute a calmness came over Canary. A calmness she never had since being in pain and in a poppy dream. "Who are you?" She said full of tears. "I am Thaddeus-". He said smiling. "I am your uncle". "Thaddeus my uncle". She said in a whisper-like voice.
"Other than the pain, what is causing you to cry like this"? Thaddeus said. "I'm having a nightmare"! She cried. "I'm still in the nightmare"! "What nightmare is tormenting you"? Thaddeus asked calmly, holding her hand. "I'm trapped in that house and everything is burning around me". She said her eyes darting around the room. "I'm afraid but I can't be afraid if I am afraid who will be strong for Amara I am the oldest I can't be afraid if she is already afraid". Canary cried.
"Everleigh". Thaddeus said, rubbing her head. "You aren't there anymore" "Safe at Hallowswood is where you are now". He spoke softly and calmly. Slowly easing Canary out of her poppy dream. Her eyes lit up and she realized she was in her room at Longwood manor. "I am". She whispered. Thaddeus nodded and moved to sit in the chair but Canary held his hand tighter. "Don't leave me please". Canary cried. "I won't, I'm just sitting in the chair". Thaddeus said equally panicking with her.
"I heard you speak Lyikarian". Thaddeus said, sitting down in the chair. "Yes". Canary answered, calming down. "I also speak lyikarian". Thaddeus said. "I know an old song in Lyikarian, would you like me to sing it"? He asked. Canary nodded and Thaddeus cleared his throat with a smile. He began to sing lulling Canary to sleep.
"Deep in the night my baby sleeps".
"Under the moonlight that's where she sleeps".
"Deep in her bed wrapped in sheets".
"Soon I will come to my baby sheep".
"My baby sheep soon I will come my baby sheep".
"My brother used to sing that song a lot when we were younger". Thomas said to Wynn."My mother and father weren't ones to comfort their children when they hurt or tuck them in and lull them to bed, my brother did that instead". "Not even our nannies did this so I do not understand where my brother got this gentle trait from whereas I took after my mother and father".
"Did he also travel to Lyikar a lot like the young lady"? Wynn asked. "No Thaddeus just loved studying and learning other languages and cultures, it's why he's over the trading business". Thomas said. "Lyikar is not a place one would vacation at because of Lyikar's tendency to isolate itself from other kingdoms". Thomas said. "He used to sing it in Granian but it looks like he was able to learn it in Lyikarian". "A curious thing how Canary took after Thaddeus so much". Thomas said, looking at the two.
Thaddeus sat there all night even until the next day when Canary had awoken again. This time she was much lucid but she barely spoke. She had lost so much weight that it was painful to look upon her. She looked like a total different person. Her cheeks were somewhat sunken in and her arms and legs were small. This weight loss was due to her not eating. She was asleep most of the time, only waking up to eat small bite of porridge. The room was mostly silent with only whispers coming from the cleaning maids and Thaddeus who was reading Canary a book in Lyikarian.
It seemed to comfort Canary..hearing the Lyikarian language. So did Thaddeus's voice which was deep but gentle. The next day wasn't much different, only Thaddeus wasn't reading this day but telling Canary stories of his childhood. His childhood seemed only centered around Thomas. His vibrant and happy memories only of Thomas and when Thaddeus recalled a memory of him and Thomas his eyes lit up like the sun had flashed in them.
Even in his younger adult years of the birth of Eddison. How he helped named Eddison and helped named Canary before her name was Canary. "To continue on with the E names". Thaddeus said. "Only me and your father call you Everleigh". "Canary Everleigh Whitewood". "Or if you were named Everleigh your name would have been Everleigh Analise Whitewood named after our mother".
The next day Canary began to speak. Though her voice was raspy and low she held a long conversation with Thaddeus speaking in Lyikarian. Telling him stories of Lyikar and finally Lumis had come into the room to see Canary though she didn't look like herself which was painful to see he still sat and talked with her. His bed being finally removed from next to the bedroom door and finally into the room itself. They talked for a long time into the night. Even still talking when Lumis fell asleep. A curious question for how long could one talk? For Thaddeus and Canary they seemed to be people who hadn't seen each other in a long time and had much to tell each other. Much did they talk about. About what no one other than Wynn and Lumis could understand because it was in Lyikarian. Strange and mysterious did the lyikarian language sound to the ears of those who didn't understand it.
A gentle and beautiful sight was it to the servants and others who beheld Thaddeus and Canary speaking it. Soon she was up and walking with Thaddeus,Lumis,and Wynn by her side. She didn't walk far only to the front of the garden and back to her room but it was nice to get some fresh air. Many were whispering about how it seemed that Thaddeus was more her father than Thomas because of the fact that Thaddeus was by Canary's side more than he was.
Especially considering that Canary had only just met Thaddeus but she somehow found herself comforted and close to Canary. "My wife's name is Letitia. Would you like to meet her someday". Thaddeus asked. "Letitia"? "What a pretty name". She smiled. "I would very much enjoy that". Canary said. "Our sons too". Thaddeus said. "We only have one girl but she is not with us". Thaddeus said. "Oh I'm sorry for your loss". Canary said. "Oh don't be". Thaddeus smiled. "I still remember her first moments and moments afterward faintly our boys look just like Letitia but she looks just like me a mirror image of me". Thaddeus said.
"Really". Canary said excitedly. "Yes". "I don't look that much like either of my parents although I do have the hair and eye color of my father". Canary said. "I think you look exactly like your parents". Thaddeus said. "Really you think so"? Canary said. "Yes, exactly like your father". He said proudly. "You only say that because he's your younger brother". Canary laughed. Thaddeus went silent for a while like he was lost in deep thought and then did this sort of chuckle that Canary couldn't quite read. "Yes my younger brother". Thaddeus said patting Canary's head.
"I shall write a letter to Letitia informing her to come meet you". Thaddeus said. "Great". Canary said excited to meet them. Although what would seem to be a great meeting would soon turn sour from the events that happened afterwards.
The truth of some matters should have been buried and a dark secret that eventually that one who thought would stay in the dark forever would find its way to the light from a simple locket around the neck.