Chapter 97

I rolled over and saw that he was already asleep. My heart wouldn't calm down and therefore I couldn't sleep.

I thought back to when he'd removed his shirt and blood rushed to my cheeks once again. He would just love to see me right now, wouldn't he? He would be proud too, I just know it.

When he'd asked me if I enjoyed seeing him without his shirt I'd almost replied, 'yes'. But I'd luckily avoided it completely. I couldn't help but look up at his sleeping face, not smirking, glaring or laughing. I liked this version of him better than-

I blinked and found myself in a jungle. No, not just a jungle; the jungle that belonged to Ratri-kar. His shrine with a boat and hourglass was in his stone hands, the moon shaped crown still sitting atop his stone head.

I sighed and hugged myself. What could he possibly want? It had been days since I'd refused to forgive the Sovereign and nothing else had happened recently. I was protecting him as best as I could. I'd cleaned his wound, was Ratri-kar gonna get mad at me cause he was in pain?

I looked at my feet when I realized I was pacing. I flexed my bare toes in the damp ground, almost muddy. I was wearing my woollen shawl that my siblings had made for me, I'd left it at home, I didn't want to risk losing it.

I looked up when I saw the dim moonlight brighten. I turned around and saw the moon Primal himself.

"Why am I here this time?" I asked, my arms crossed over my chest.

He tilted his head at me, "Are you not happy to see me?"

I couldn't help but scoff at his words, "Can you give me a reason to be joyous to see you? What possible reason could there be?"

He narrowed his black eyes, "There are many reasons, but I will not list them. When you leave this village you will come to a crossroads, be sure to choose the right one."

"A crossroads? Can you tell me which one we should take?" I asked not hiding my annoyance.

He smiled and I glared at him, "Mm, no."

I growled in frustration, "Then how in this green land am I to know which crossroads to take?"

As if in answer my view changed to me sitting behind the Sovereign on his horse, voices were yelling but I couldn't distinguish words. I saw Ariston's hand pointing to his map, faint words drawn but before I could even attempt to analyze them my vision changed to see white, no… snow. There was snow everywhere, and I could feel the frigidity creeping into my bones. A voice screamed in the distance and yet I couldn't see the speaker.

Next I saw too many things at once, yet I could not close my eyes.

A red gloved hand holding a man's hand, a crackling fire, books, tents and laughter, darkness, a jungle. A loud, thunderous roar that shook the trees and vines.

I then opened my eyes to find myself in a deep pit filled with warm water. I gasped for breath and started splashing frantically to swim away. Something twisted itself around my waist and pulled me into the depths. I gasped for oxygen only for my lungs to fill with the dark, warm water. A desperate whine left my mouth as I reached for the surface.

Soon the darkness overtook me and I sat up in the night gasping for breath. My hands went to my throat and I inhaled slowly. I blinked in confusion when I realized that I wasn't the only one dying for oxygen.

I looked down and saw the Sovereign sweating and gasping. I was about to wake him, when he said my name. A pained expression washed over his face and I stayed my hand.

I could tell that he was having a dream from the Primals, but why had he said my name. Did he know that the Primals had destined or us to be together? What did he know about Ratri-kar or me? Did he get dreams often?

I didn't have more time to think because just then the Sovereign woke up, his eyes shooting wide open. I flinched when he sat up abruptly, resting his elbows on his knees. He ignored me and I laid down to try and sleep.

"Hydrangea…" He whispered and I waited for him to finish, my heart pounding in nervousness, "What did you dream about?" He asked in such a quiet voice I nearly missed it.

I rolled over and saw him looking down with a grim expression.

"I'm not sure." I answered, because I truly wasn't.

He chuckled dryly, his teeth peeking out from behind his lips, "I've seen too many things, but…" He didn't finish and I watched him expectantly.

"But…?" I asked when he still hadn't continued.

"I fear that they'll all come true." He answered. My memory flashed back to my vision of myself dying. My heart stopped and then started beating again in a pace uneven from fear.

"Have any of them come true yet?" I asked, in a whisper.

He looked thoughtfully at where his hands clasped together, "None of the visions, but their words have brought events around."

"Like what?"

He smiled and seemed to push it away, "It's nothing. We should sleep."

I nodded and rolled over so as not to see him. After a few seconds of an overwhelming silence I asked, "Sovereign?"

I heard him sigh then say, "Yes."

"Did you know Hadok would die?" It was something that I had puzzled over multiple times. Why had he died? We'd be safer if he was still alive.

He was silent for a long while and I started to believe that he had known, "No." He answered quietly.

I relaxed. In that period of silence I had started to become angry. But the Sovereign hadn't known. I eventually drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

We awoke to a still, silver morning. The mist reaching over the thin grass beneath the trees.

The Sovereign had been the first to wake up, and he'd even started the fire and was eating some breakfast. I sat down on the log next to him and pulled my cloak tightly around my shoulders. It was getting very cold each night. My arms had gone nearly numb as had my nose.

I shivered as I warmed my hands by the fire, my back and face were still frigid.

"Here, have some food." The Sovereign said next to me and he then handed me a muffin. I accepted the offer and ate my muffin blandly.

After Ariston woke up and ate we packed up camp and continued on our way.