Chapter 174 (Bonus Chapter)
Hydrangea opened her eyes to find herself in the dark.
She blinked and spun around in an attempt to get her bearings, but the darkness remained.
"Ratri-kar?" She whispered into the void.
The sound of leaves rustling came from behind her and she turned on her heel only to find more darkness. Narrowing her eyes she peered behind what looked like branches and saw the vague outline of a crescent moon.
"So, now you see how weak I am." A grim voice said from behind her.
She turned again and her jaw dropped while her brows creased in minute concern.
"Oh…" She breathed inaudibly.
The Primal's usually radiant, pale skin was a dead, ashen colour as though he hadn't seen the sun in ages.
"Hah… I haven't actually seen Timir-mask in ages." He scoffed as he walked forward a step. His robes were speckled with mud and a deep grey colour. "She must be enjoying her time, basking in her power, in Selva."
Hydrangea closed her mouth and straightened herself.
"Why are you here?"
She could still hardly see, his form was lit by the thin crescent moon.
"I am here… because you should be aware of some things that are about to occur."
She drew in a quiet breath, "What things?"
He sighed as though he was bored, "Abandonment, anger, forgiveness, grief…"
"Where will we find help for regaining Cadarama?" She asked, ignoring his cryptic answer.
He narrowed his black eyes, "When the time comes, the answer will come."
She was quiet.
"How are my siblings? And Brigitte and the brothers?" She hoped Ariston had made it back safely.
"They are well." He answered after a space of silence.
"In the end…" She sighed, "Do you know that we'll get it back?"
"You will.. in the end life will return to Cadarama and this disease will be gone."
She nodded and Ratri-kar began to blow away, his form disappearing from an unseen wind.
She sighed as the confusing images and voices began to assault her mind.
"Where is he?"
She saw herself asking someone, their back was turned to her.
The scene changed and she felt cold winds pushing at her body, hear the roar of waves.
"We'll never make it! The seas are too rough!"
"The seas are not our enemy!"
She could feel the rocking of a ship but couldn't see anything. The voices were distorted as meaningless phrases continued passing through her mind.
The sound suddenly rushed out and she was left in the dark void once again. The feel of air flying past her was so intense she felt as though air was being sucked from her lungs.
Then it all stopped.
Her feet landed on an unfamiliar object, the wooden planks swaying beneath her feet. She looked up and saw the sails blowing in the wind, the flags whipping.
"I can't believe it."
She turned and saw Bastian holding another version of herself in the air, his face split with a beaming smile. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him and she smiled in a daze.
The pleasant feeling was soon whisked away and she heard sobs of agony. Cold prickled her skin and she could feel the wind stinging her eyes.
The chilled, mourning feelings left her body and she found herself standing in a familiar room. It was Bastian's.
Her eyes landed on the tables and couches, it all felt very dreamlike and warm with the sun peeking through the windows.
The door opened and she watched as Bastian snuck in. He strode forward with a smooth, beardless face donned in a smooth red silk robe.
He snuck towards the bed where a person was sleeping. She watched as he sat on the mattress and stroked the person's face. They rolled over and revealed that it was her.
She smiled softly. One day… that would be her and Bastian. One day they would have that.
The dream faded and she woke up. Bastian was still asleep next to her, his eyes closed in restful sleep. She sat up and realized that her body was no longer sore and that her headache was gone.
Sitting up further she stretched her arms.
The jungle floor was wrapped in a cool mist and she could catch the chitters of birds.
She began searching for breakfast and restarting the fire. Gravel was tied to a nearby tree, still sleeping.
After a few minutes she had a fire started and was frying mushrooms on a rock. She frowned as she thought of all the equipment they'd lost over time.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"
She jumped upon hearing Bastian's voice. She thinned her lips and nodded. He must've gotten them as well.
He pulled himself up and rested his elbows on his knees. He was still disheveled from sleep; his hair was tufted in odd ways. His clothes were wrinkled and out of order. His stubble was getting darker and she knew he'd soon have his beard back.
"We're going to Bell Island."
She nodded and flipped the mushrooms.
"I still have no idea how we're going to find a way to get my island back." He rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand.
She nodded again, "Ratri-kar said that when the time comes, we'll know."
He nodded tiredly. Her heart was pained at seeing him so tired and seeming a little hopeless.
She picked up the mushrooms and placed them on a handkerchief. Walking over to him she sat down and snuggled up next to him, "I made breakfast."
His lips twitched up into a smile and he met her eyes, "Thank you." Placing a chaste kiss on her forehead he began to eat the seared fungi.
When they'd finished eating they packed up their camp expertly and headed down to the docks near Kuratuma Pass.
"Do we have cloaks?" He asked as he walked beside Gravel, the reins in his hand.
"I don't believe so."
She'd noticed then that Bastian had changed her from her Selvan dress and into her very old Cadaraman one. She flushed bright pink. How could he do that? That was… she couldn't find the word but just the thought of it gave her butterflies. Maybe she should be embarrassed and mortified, but she found that she felt touched.
How had he looked when he'd changed her?
"Then we'll have to use what we have." Bastian interrupted her forbidden thoughts and met her eyes. A smirk slowly carved his lips, "Why are you blushing?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, her cheeks still warm, "No reason."
His smirk widened but he only said, "Alright. Now, what do we have that we could hide our faces with?"
"Hm…" She began looking through the saddle bags. "Oh! Would this work?" She handed him a scarf and he smiled and nodded.
"Yes, it should go the trick. May I get one last kiss before you put it on though?"
She gasped and stared down at him from the horse. How could he be so bold?
He smiled and she smiled back. Nodding shyly she slid down from the horse, his hand on her waist. "You may kiss me."
Her eyes closed the moment his lips touched hers and she braced herself against him, surprised at the passion of the kiss. He teased her bottom lip with his tongue and her knees melted away. He kept his hands on her waist, his fingers gently pressing into her skin through the fabric.
Her hands grasped at his shirt as his tongue began teasing every part of her mouth, her skin came alive and her head lost itself. She moaned into his mouth, the sound lost to her ears but she felt the vibration.
His lips left hers and they panted for breath, he gently held her head as he rested his forehead on hers.
She was still lost in the daze of the kiss when he whispered, "If anything were to happen to you..."
She breathed in another couple gasps before her hands landed on his neck, "Nothing will happen to me. I'm not going anywhere." She leaned up on her tip-toes and gave him a kiss of her own.
Standing back on the ground she stared up at him. His hand was still holding her cheek. His eyes were saying so many things, but the emotion that spread from her heart to her toes was that he loved her.
And she loved him back.