After being locked up in her bedroom for months, Gyda suffers from nightmares, misses Orvar like crazy, and feels miserable from being cooped up in the same room. Until she gets unexpected support from her oldest sister, who helps her escape the pla...
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Standing in front of the biggest out of the four mountains, I looked up at the massive gray rock reaching up to the sky. The trip to get to Asclan had taken me hours, but I was nearly there now.
The longer I walked, the more my head got filled with questions and emotions. By now, it was so full that it hurt, my temples pounding underneath the beads of sweat that rolled down the sides of my face. I was feeling hot, exhausted, dehydrated, and starved. My body ached. Not only my feet and legs suffered, but my belly hurt too, its weight not making my shoulders and back feel any better.
I was so done with this long walk. I was so done with everything at the moment.
The little one was surprisingly quiet but still kicked me in the bladder once in a while, which was an annoying yet reassuring feeling. They probably slept, cradled in my womb with each step that took me closer to their father.
I cursed Fiona for not letting me out of my room earlier. Couldn't she have released me two months ago? Then I would have been spared from all this drama. I would have met Orvar at our spot, and he would have taken me with him. He would have carried me himself.
I sighed, grabbing my flask out of my shoulder bag.
Hours ago, when I'd left home, I felt nothing but gratitude towards my oldest sister, but that grateful feeling had mixed with anger and irritation. How could she just let me leave like this? I was alone, heavily pregnant, scared, and sad after that bomb she'd dropped on me. What did she expect me to do with all the information? She knew I was going to tell Orvar. Did she think I could guide him to the right decision? Make him spare the humans once he knew the truth?
I took a gulp of water, wondering if my anger was justified. She did help me in the end, and she could get into trouble for that.
And I knew why she told me too. Because she loved me—because she didn't want my baby to get killed when both of its parents wanted it. I could feel the pain when she told me she'd found her dead child. And she also knew that secrets were bound to come out sooner or later. Weren't those our own mother's words?
But she'd also put such a weight on my shoulders with all of this.
I downed the last bit of my water, stuffed the bottle back, and started the last bit of my journey, reminding myself that these large rugged mountains in front of me would soon be my new home.
"Oh, guide me, please," I whispered to Luna, wiping my forehead. "Help me, for I don't know what to do..."
Even as I spoke to her, I didn't know if I believed she existed. Because if she did, how could she have let such evil things happen in this world?
~
I opened my eyes, and the uneven, rocky ceiling above my head made me realize I had made it to the mountains.
"Ugh... what happened?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. My mouth was dry and my tongue tasted like dead animal.
I then remembered how I'd stumbled inside, my body weak, but my soul still very much excited to be reunited with my love. However, once I was inside Asclan, I had not found what I was looking for—there was no Orvar who welcomed me with open arms, or even with an angry frown.
