The Rise of a Hero & The Garnet Nightshade: A Violet Rose (Book 2)

Chapter VII: Tears & A Reunion

Faus'Latia Castle

Sidora's room

POV: Sidora Deltestri

When I woke up it wasn't the place I remember being at, but the castle I had been to. Looking around the room made my anxiety die down a bit. At first, I hadn't realized someone was lying over the bed next to me. The sudden movement made the cute fox ears I recognized all too well twitch. With groggy, tired eyes, Alyssa yawns as she stretches her arms over her head. Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand she looks at me and smiles.

"You scared me for a bit, you know? I had to keep giving you some of my mana to keep yours stable." States Alyssa, as she sits on the bed next to me.

"I take it I might not want to know what happened?" I ask in a weak voice.

"It would be better for you to know, but for now you need to finish healing. The spell you cast used more of your mana than you had, if it wasn't for the fact you took in raw mana from the environment, you would be dead. For the most part, you were dead for over a week."

"How am I here then?" I ask bewildered.

"The short end of it is that I poured my mana into you."

Glaring at Alyssa, I ask "How?"

"Before you get mad, remember, I did this to save your life."

I ask again "How?"

Without so much as a word, Alyssa inches closer to m holds my chin up with one hand and places the other gently on my cheek, just as I'm about to protest, her lips meet mine. I had missed how soft they felt against mine, and the anger disappeared. Before I could stop myself, tears began to spill from my eyes.

Even though I was crying, Alyssa nor myself stopped. I found my hand and the tip of my finger running along her spine, causing her to gently nibble on my lower lip.

I asked the one question I wanted to wait for, but now it was better than any other, so I asked "Alyssa, do you plan on loving me from now until we die?"

Alyssa looks me in the eyes as she answers "I would love you even in death. I feared I had lost you once, I don't want to feel that ever again."

Holding my left hand out, I ask "Will you?"

Tears spill from Alyssa's eyes and the moon's light shows through them as she says "Sidora Deltestri, will you marry me?"

I look at Alyssa with fresh tears forming in my eyes as I say "Yes, I will."

Unlike before, I hold my left hand out and Alyssa takes the same ring and places it on my finger.

"Sidora, I promise you now, and forever that I will stand by you."

I hold Alyssa's hand as I say "So will I, for now, and forever."

Outside Sidora's Room

POV: Mira Lis'ra

As I stood outside Sidora's room I heard the entire conversation between her and my daughter. I wasn't sure at first if they were like Elise and me, but I guess some things just can't be helped. Alyssa has always put others ahead of herself, and never really felt any such way towards someone. It's hard to believe that an elf is in love with a demi-human. This will make an interesting mix if and when they have children of their own.

"Is there a reason you have a smirk on your face?" Asks Elise.

"Oh, It's nothing. I'm sure Alyssa and Sidora will get mad at us if they find us lurking around her room."

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Asks Elise, with a questioning look.

"It's not for me to say. We'll have to wait until later to find out."