Cursed by Bandits (Once Upon A Curse)

37. Chapter Thirty-Seven

I leapt from the platform and ran to the man I had been grieving. As soon as I was close enough, I threw my arms around him. Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t control them, not that I wanted to. I was so happy to see my father standing in Lockersley, alive.

“How?” I took a step back. “Everyone thought you were dead. I was told you were dead.”

He took my hands in his. “I know, and I’m so sorry. At first I couldn’t remember who I was, and when I did, I fell in to a deep melancholy. I believed I had failed you, failed everyone.” Tears welled up in his eyes, but only one escaped. “If it wasn’t for Eleanor, I wouldn’t have made my way back here. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have survived.”

“Eleanor?” I was both bewildered and grateful by this turn of events. “The nurse who wrote to me and Lady Jane?”

Before my father could respond, a woman stepped from behind him. Everything about her, from her warm brown eyes to her soft curves, radiated kindness and compassion. “I am Eleanor.” Her gaze met mine. “I was hired by your uncle to ‘care’ for your father, but he really intended for me to continue to administer the poison that was killing him. It took months for his body to heal, even longer for his memory to return.”

My father squeezed my hands. “Eleanor risked everything to save my life, Rowan. She got me out of your uncle’s clutches, nursed me back to health both mentally and physically. Once I recovered, I knew I had to come back. It was the only way to set things right.”

I looked at Eleanor. I wanted to throw my arms around her, let my embrace show just how grateful I was. Instead, I used words, even though words would never be enough. “Thank you,” I said, my voice trembling. “Thank you for keeping my father safe and bringing him back to me. ”

She nodded, a gentle smile on her lips. “It was the right thing to do. Your father spoke of you often, even when his memories were fragmented. His love for you was always clear.”

The murmur of the crowd got louder as the news of my father’s return spread from everyone near the platform towards those that couldn’t see or hear what was happening. I climbed back on to the platform. “My father, Laird Richard of Lockersley, has returned! Together, we will bring Lockersley back to the place it used to be. And we will punish those that plotted to do us harm.”

The crowd erupted, cheering for the return of my father. Their love for my father filled my heart. Prince Connor stepped forward, his arms extended in an attempt to quiet the crowd. Once there was silence, he spoke. “With Laird Richard’s return, Jonathan’s treachery has been confirmed. He will be punished for his acts.”

I watched as my uncle turned as white as a ghost, his confidence gone as his deceit was exposed. Montfort looked equally scared, his sneer replaced by the slack jaw of disbelief.

“My uncle will pay for his crimes. Not just those against my father, but those against the people of this town,” I declared, my voice strong. “Lockersley will be rebuilt. It will be the town I left behind, but better, stronger.” I nodded to the guards.

The guards apprehended my uncle. He struggled and shouted his lies, but there was no way for him to escape the truth. Not with the victim of his foul deeds here as living proof of his guilt. Montfort was taken into custody for his complicity in my uncle's crimes, as well as his role in my false imprisonment—an end to his time as sheriff.

I turned towards my father as the crowd dispersed, embracing him again, unable to believe he was really here in front of me.

“I’m so proud of you, Rowan,” he whispered. “What you’ve done has taken courage, strength, and so much more.”

“I wasn’t alone. If it wasn’t for my friends, I could’ve never seen this through to the end,” I replied, glancing at Milo, Jane, and the others who had stood by me. “We did this together.”

Eleanor wrapped her arms around both of us, smiling. “Now is the time to focus on healing, both as a family and as a town. You’re lucky to have the support of the royal family.”

As if he knew we were talking about him, Prince Connor approached. His respect for me shone in his eyes. He took my hands as I extricated myself from my father’s and Eleanor’s embrace. “You proved to my father and myself that you are a true leader, Lady Rowan. Your determination and capacity to care for your people have earned you the admiration of many, including myself.”

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. “Thank you, Prince Connor. I can’t put into words how much your support has meant to me.”

He nodded. “Let’s work together to rebuild Lockersley.” He held up his hand to stop me from interrupting. “Not as partners in marriage—I know your heart has been given to another—but as friends. With your father’s return, I have no doubt that there are brighter days ahead.”

My father stepped forward. “About that: I had always planned on you taking my place, Rowan. After my time away, I think now is as good a time as any. I’ll be around to support you, but you would be the one everyone turns to, the Lady of Lockersley.”

Milo stepped beside me, his arm around my waist. “You’re ready. And you have all of us supporting you.”

“You were meant for this, Rowan.” Jane squeezed my shoulder. “All the time in the nunnery, the training you’ve done since getting here. This is what it’s all been for. You’ve been preparing your entire life, whether or not you knew it. ”

I looked at everyone around me—my father, Milo, Jane, and Prince Connor—and suddenly everything felt right in this moment. Their belief in me was the last push I needed to believe in myself. I was ready for this role because it wasn’t just a part I was playing, it was my true self.

I looked down at the ground and took a deep breath. I nodded. “Thank you, all of you. Because of you standing by my side, I can take the mantle of responsibility my father is passing on to me. Your support has allowed me to succeed, and it will help me lead Lockersley into the future. And the first thing we will do is build the school Milo has diligently designed.”

Milo stood there, frozen. The words sank in, and he swept me off my feet and spun around.

My father cleared his throat, smiling, his expression filled with pride. “That’s exactly what I was planning before . . . everything—I know you can do this, Rowan. You’ve proven your strength and wisdom in secret. Now it’s time for everyone to see exactly who you are.”

Prince Connor clasped his hands behind his back. “I’ve already said you have our support. Lockersley will become a symbol of resilience and unity. Your clan’s recovery will strengthen the kingdom.”

I took Milo’s hand in mine. Everything that I’d done, I succeeded at because of the people on my side. Jane, Tuck, Will, and Erin, my merry band of friends—they had all been so important in helping me finish my mission. I knew they would be integral to the future.

I turned towards my father. “Let’s plan our next steps.”

He nodded. “There is much to be done, but with you leading the way, things can only get better.”

As we discussed our plans, Jane leaned over and whispered, “So, are you ready to play a lady for the rest of your life?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No one here expects me to be a lady. I think the entire town would rather I continue to be a bandit, or some form of it.”

Her laughter shook her entire body. “You’re probably right, Rowan, although I would guess everyone here wants you to just be yourself. That’s who we all love best.”

Milo leaned in and whispered, “I’m so proud of you, Rowan.”

Looking up at him, I smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” I stood on my toes and pressed my lips to his before wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his chest.

We looked at the castle. With my friends and family around us, it would become a symbol of our strength and determination. This was the start of a new chapter for Lockersley, and I was ready to lead my people into a bright and hopeful future, surrounded by the people I loved and that loved me.

Content with the knowledge I was the Lady and the Bandit of Lockersley.