The sacred rose

The following days for Miroïr were punctuated by the sound of birds singing in the gardens. He spent his time sitting on the bench in the main courtyard of the castle, admiring what was around him. Jäwell and Zarkhaïm were constantly arguing about how to get back the power without terrifying more the population after the dramatic entrance Zarkhaïm had made. The king also had to go back to the Ombrae pretty often as Archanium started the hostilities.

Zarkhaïm joined Miroïr as often as he could and the two of them would sit and contemplate the peace that reigned in their cocoon.

Miroïr closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the flowers, the insects, the birds, and the wind. All existence was so magnified that these sensations were almost overwhelming.

"Zarkhaïm, have you always seen the world this way?" 

Zarkhaïm nodded. Miroïr felt the sun on his skin as a slight burning sensation that warmed his heart. He took another deep breath and smiled, ironically, he had never felt so alive. Jäwell went to join them that day, he was not the kind of person that could enjoy such pleasures so Miroïr was surprised to see him. 

"Zarkhaïm called me, don't think too much, I didn't plan to stay smelling flowers with you guys, me, I am working," Jäwell grumbled, seeing his Miroïr's stupid smile.

Zarkhaïm laughed out loud. The two brothers were the complete opposite not only physically but also in their attitude and that could be impossible for anyone to tell they were of the same blood without knowing them. 

"I called you because I want to talk to you about our only rule." 

Miroïr had a severe expression, as for Jäwell, he seemed annoyed to learn something. 

Zarkhaïm continued, "It was a time when we were only two creatures in this world. The one that I call my brother."

"The golden soldier, right?" Miroïr was not surprised.

Zarkhaïm nodded, the memory of that past was still painful and centuries could do nothing to change it. 

"His name is Archanium," he paused, needing to take a deep breath before he could continue, "And I did something terrible to him. Something I'll never forgive myself for."

Miroïr grabbed his hand seeing Zarkhaïm start to tremble. Jäwell tightened his fist, loyal to himself in his rage and impulsiveness.

"So what? What's that got to do with us? That b****** killed both Miroïr and me."

Zarkhaïm looked up at him, his eyes wet, and tears threatening to fall.

"We made a pact. After we fought, the world was almost destroyed. To protect humanity, I built the Ombrae and in exchange for his exile there with the gods, I would never have more than one immortal companion with whom I shared my power. If I came to break the rule, or if one of my descendants broke the rule and created more than one, Archanium would return, and according to our promise, I will have to assist him while he enslaves humankind once again."

Miroïr and Jäwell's expressions were suddenly serious. Danger could be felt as Zarkhaïm continued.

"Archanium must have perceived us in Ombrae when I brought Miroïr into my castle there to show him the world. He must have realized that I had found my companion and he probably wanted to force me to make a mistake transforming Jäwell first… He pushed me to my fault."

"What's going to happen now?" asked Miroïr in the softest voice he could muster, while Jäwell's gaze never was darker as he listened in silence to Zarkhaïm. The shadows responded to his rage and began to intensify around them.

"Now, Miroïr must go into exile while I will return to rule in Ombrae and Jäwell will take the throne here." Zarkhaïm took Miroïr's hand on his own very carefully, "You have to hide between time and space, and never, absolutely never, transform anybody. Leïlana will go with you to the mage's tower since she is now a criminal and she built the orb, you will leave tomorrow together."

The air was hard to breathe. They all understood that this moment was a farewell. Jäwell being the first, was the legitimate heir to Zarkhaïm's shadows, as for Miroïr, he should be dead. They spent the rest of the day together in the garden, smelling the flowers as the last memory they would engrave in their mind. Jäwell took a rose in his hand and his blood pearled on the floor. 

He watched Miroïr and Zarkhaïm and threw them the rose as he said these words, "Our family will take a rose as an emblem."

As an acknowledgment, they took the rose one after the other and made a pearl with their blood. It was the symbol of their last day in this world together, a reminder of the moment they had still the time to smell flowers in the beautiful garden of roses Zarkhaïm and Miroïr cherished so dearly.

In the evening, they all went to their rooms to prepare themselves. When Miroïr finished packing his luggage, he went to join Zarkhaïm. He walked slowly down the corridor with pain in his heart, it was a terrible feeling to have to say goodbye to him. Once he reached the door, he placed a hand on the handle. He took a moment before finding the courage to continue as he could not face the fact that he would have to leave him. Suddenly the handle lowered on its own.

Zarkhaïm was going out at the same moment. He paused himself after seeing Miroïr for a second before taking him in his arms tightly and dropping a kiss on his neck before whispering, "I was about to join you."

Zarkhaïm tightened his embrace and pulled him inside the bedroom to pass this one last night together. Miroïr felt Zarkhaïm's lips running wild on his neck, cheek, and lips. They hugged together with force and passion as they went to lay on the bed. Miroïr wrapped his trembling arms all around his beloved, that was an incredibly painful moment for both of them.

Zarkhaïm whispered to his ear with incredible confidence.

"You will find me. You will find me when I need you the most. Trust me."

Miroïr smiled at him with tenderness, he caressed his face delicately and answered, "I believe in us."