Silver Eyes Chronicles: The Journey Begins Trilogy: Book One: The Reunion

Chapter Fourteen: In the Tsarise Glade

Ronan

In the Tsarise Glade, Ronan sits by Naria's unconscious form. It has been touch and go, but the healers assure him with kind, but firm words that she is going to be fine.

The young man breathes a sigh of relief at the reassurances and after seeing Naria for himself.

All she has to do now is rest.

Naria breathes deeply, her snowy haired head turning to one side. Her full silver lips part slightly.

Ronan gently smooths her hair, tenderly tucking a stray lock behind her ear. He sighs softly, rubbing his cheek, freshly shaven. It feels like a relief to shave after two years of imprisonment. And the bath too felt like heaven.

He smiles, almost amused at the very thought. That smile fades as he regards Naria's sleeping form, her brow smoothed over, lips slightly parted, her head turned slightly to the side.

Truthfully, he believes that Naria never had a chance to grow up. Not in the traditional sense anyway. Not when there have been times when she acts so much like an adult, world weary and aged. He only had to look into her eyes to see it.

Naria's pale gray orbs doesn't have what anyone would expect of an average sixteen-year old. To the onlooker, they belong to someone perhaps a bit older, who has seen much of the world and what it has to offer. But in other ways, she's still very much a young girl.

He remembers her relaxing against his chest, her head against his heart, unconsciously unaware of her actions. He remembers his bare arms wrapped around her, her warm body nestled against his. Her face had been peaceful and relaxed, her long hair falling down his body, the ends touching his hip.

He looks at her, feeling a warm flush creeping up his neck at the memory alone. Naria has been dressed in fresh, clean clothes, her other clothes destroyed, no longer of any use. Her hair is still covered with ashes and dirt from the fire. Ronan shudders at how Naria told him of hers and her sister's escape from their burning house with only a spell suggested by Raeyeda and with barely a minute to escape before the flames consumed their house. Because of that spell, Naria and her sister had been able to escape the fire. The rest of Peyene had not been so fortunate.

It was the first time that Naria ever used magic, he thinks, his lips tightening, after hearing the story. Raeyeda took a huge, hefty risk in letting her do something like that. What would have happened if Naria didn't know what she was doing? Using magic has its uses, but it can come at a cost if one doesn't know what it is. Even in life and death situations, using magic can still be dangerous. Magic is not something to be treated lightly.

But if Naria hadn't cast that spell, then she and her sister would not have managed to escape, a voice of reason says, matter of factly. Using magic can be costly, but that depends on the one who wields it and how wisely. Magic is neither good nor evil. It just is.

Ronan concurs, though he is frowning at that. Whether it was risky or not, using magic had in fact, saved Naria's and Kirena's lives.

What of the others though? he wonders, his frown deepening until it becomes almost etched along his brow. Why were Naria and Kirena able to get out while the rest were not? Why were only they spared?

The same way as they did, the voice of reason says, this time in a cold and matter of fact tone.

Magic, Ronan thinks, this time unable to hide a shiver at the thought of those others who died that night, unable to escape the flames. All those people trapped in their own homes sends an involuntary chill down his spine.