The war raged on for another year, by the end of it there was much uncertainty in regards as to who had truly won. The Forquesse had lost all the territories they had attempted to take hold of, but Midrosen and Resvya had both lost countless soldiers, as well as riches and resources. It seemed a pointless battle in the end, and Trixie cursed it every day for what it had done to her wife. Katya had been plagued not only by the awful illness, but also by horrid nightmares of the battlefield.
Still, the mountain air had indeed proved helpful as the Princess was slowly regaining her strength, little by little becoming herself again. Trixie had been requested to return to the palace time and time again, especially after it had been made clear by her lack of contamination that she was indeed immune to the disease, but she had refused the requests every time. She knew where she belonged and she would not leave her place. She would stay until Katya was well enough to leave the mountains too, when they could finally return to their rightful places together.
"How are you feeling, my love? What did the doctor say?" Trixie asked as she walked onto the terrace where Katya was sitting. She had been evaluated again today, and it was the one time Trixie was not allowed to be present as per the facility rules, something which always caused Trixie's anxieties to rise as she waited impatiently for Katya to return to their room and tell her the results.
"Well enough for a stroll, will you walk with me? I hear there are lavender fields on the other side of the mountain." Katya said with a bright smile, showing off her perfectly white teeth.
"Are you certain you can walk such a distance?" Trixie questioned in a concerned tone.
"I am sure. Now, will you join me? I so long for the lavender fields of home." Katya said, standing up from her chair and holding out an arm for Trixie to take.
"Of course I will join you." Trixie replied, linking her arm with her wife's.
It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly over the mountain tops, the sky clear and blue. They walked graciously over the green pastures and rocky mountain sides, careful not to rush things for Katya's sake. Trixie's smile fell for a moment as Katya struggled slightly to climb over an especially rocky area. She tried not to let her mind stay focused on the differences between Katya now and before much, but sometimes it just seemed so cruel that the restless child who had used to jump off rooftops had turned into a woman who could barely walk quickly for more than mere minutes without having to stop to catch her breath.
"Here, let me help you." Trixie said, taking hold of her wife's waist and lifting her over the rocks.
"My knight in shining armor." Katya joked as her feet touched solid ground once more.
"Guess I am your prince now, huh?" The other girl replied teasingly.
"Oh, I think we both know that you are very much a princess, in every sense of the word." Katya said as she pulled her wife close, capturing her lips in a kiss.
And suddenly all seemed as it once was, Katya again becoming the girl Trixie had fallen for all those years before. It was a hard scale to balance, making sure she was safe and was not overdoing it, and still enabling her return to her old self by letting her take on greater tasks.
But with each day it grew easier. Each day they got a little closer to who they once were, whilst still growing from all the challenges they had faced.
They continued walking until they reached the lavender fields Katya had spoken of, and as soon as they stepped foot into the seemingly never-ending sea of purple flowers, Trixie felt transported back to their wedding day.
"It is beautiful." Trixie stated as she gazed out at the violet waves.
"It is. You must know why I wanted to come here." Katya said.
"Because of our wedding?"
"Yes, because that day was the happiest day of my life, and this too shall be a happy day." Katya explained, taking her wife's hands in her own.
"What do you mean?" Trixie asked.
"Trixie, in my vows I spoke of how patient and loving you have stayed despite how my actions have tested your love. You stayed by my side back then which I was endlessly grateful for, but my sickness has surely caused even greater heartache. The fact that you have insisted on staying by my side now, even at the risk of your own health, it has meant the world to me."
"Of course I stayed. Katya, there is no place in the world I would rather be than by your side."
"And there is no place I would rather be than by your side. It is just as you said that day I returned; my heart and soul is bound to you, so where you go I shall follow. I can only hope that you still mean that and that you will follow me now, back to our castle." Katya said with a growing smile.
"Wait... what do you mean?" Trixie asked.
"The doctor told me I am well enough to return, Trixie. We can finally go home."
"Do you... do you really mean it?" Trixie said in complete disbelief.
"Yes. We can go home, Trixie." Katya repeated.
Moments later Trixie flung herself around Katya's neck in pure happiness, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss soon after. Trixie could hardly believe it, the concept of returning seeming too foreign now after all the time that had passed.
Home.
They were finally going home.
YOU ARE READING
When The Gold Is Gone ✔ ~ trixya
FanfictionA Prince. A Princess. Two Kingdoms. And a marriage arranged from birth. But what happens when the Prince's sister Katya is suddenly forced to take his place?
