Journey of a Girl

Ajo: Chapter Ten

Next morning's breakfast was an oddly muted affair.

The celebration, which had carried long into the night, must have dulled the morning energy, for the trio—Ajo, Galeia, and the Queen—were all in a bit of a daze.

It was improper not to take their meal with their guests, who remained in the castle to attend the upcoming wedding, but the Queen allowed the newly engaged couple a meal in peace after the roar of the previous night, away from staring eyes and whispering mouths.

Ajo kept a close eye on Galeia. Her bizarre response to their wedding announcement unsettled him. He could not push away the image of the tear on her cheek, and he tried to persuade himself that Galeia had simply been overwhelmed by the crowd.

She had composed herself quickly, but gave the excuse of an unsettled stomach to leave the dancing, and planted herself next to the throne where she remained for the rest of the evening.

Everyone who approached to congratulate her was met with a polite smile and nod. Not wanting to risk growing her agitation, Ajo did not bother her, and when he kissed her hand to bid her goodnight he was given the same reply as everyone else.

Now Galeia looked lost, caught in a dream, and every word that passed her lips was devoid of emotion. She looked ready to leap from her chair the second breakfast was over, but the Queen asked the couple to join her in the study for a surprise.

They were seated and waiting while the Queen beamed at them, admiring the pleasant picture of the two future rulers.

"You both had barely mastered walking when I began this work," the Queen said, "but I knew that one day all these years of effort would prove worth the wait."

She moved to a shelf where an unassuming glass dome sat with a scroll hovering inside of it.

"The Soul Bind is ready for you, or rather, you're ready for the Soul Bind." 

She lifted the casing and placed it aside, then ran her fingers over the page. When it caught the light it shimmered with color.

"I had forgotten about it," Galeia said. "Your great secret, mother. You've kept it from us all this time."

"I forgot about it, too," Ajo added. He turned to Galeia and teased, "You thought it was a weapon."

"And I recall you threatening to use it on me."

"It is not a weapon," the Queen said, "nor is it meant to be used on someone. It's to be shared by two. It does exactly as its name suggests, and will bind the souls of a pair so they may share their love for eternity."

"So...it's like a promise?" Ajo asked, still unsure what the spell would do.

"It is a sacrifice," the Queen said. "You will give part of yourself—part of your soul—to Galeia, and she will do the same."

"What does that mean?" Galeia asked, a little hesitant.

"It means you will never truly be apart. You will be connected by more than marriage, you will be connected in spirit, in true love, for all time. This is my wedding gift for you both."

"It's lovely," Ajo mused. "A most romantic gesture. Don't you think, Galeia?"

Galeia's expression was not comforting.

"How is it done?" she asked.

"A simple recitation, like saying your wedding vows. But you will feel it, instead of just exchanging words. And it requires a rare ingredient to work: Love. Honest, pure love."