Hiraeth

Chapter Thirty Eight

Sage stirred awake, her eyelids fluttering as she tried to orient herself in the soft light that filled the room. The familiar scent of herbs and faintly burning candles enveloped her, soothing in a way that felt both strange and comforting. She blinked a few times, struggling to remember where she was and why her body felt heavy and sore.

"Beckett?" she croaked, her voice hoarse. The name slipped from her lips like a prayer, and she turned her head slowly. Her heart raced when she met Beckett's gaze. He was seated at her bedside, his face pale and drawn, eyes wide with disbelief.

Sage watched as his expression shifted from shock to overwhelming relief. "You're awake," he breathed, leaning closer, his voice cracking with emotion. "I thought-I thought I was going to lose you."

The raw vulnerability in his voice pierced through her, and she reached out, brushing her fingers against his cheek. "I'm here," she reassured him, her heart aching at the fear etched in his features. "I'm okay."

Beckett's breath hitched, and he grasped her hand, his grip fierce as if he was afraid she might slip away again. "You scared me, Sage. You were so close to..." His voice trailed off, and he swallowed hard, struggling against the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Tears brimmed in his eyes, and he shook his head, the weight of everything they had endured crashing over him. "You have no idea how much you mean to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"I love you, Beckett." she murmured, the words flowing from her heart like a melody.

As she gazed into his eyes, she saw a flicker of hope-a promise that they would find a way through this, together. The room around them faded, and for a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

"Just a few days," Beckett finally said, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. "You've been unconscious for days. The healers thought..." He hesitated, his voice breaking as he struggled to finish the thought. "They thought you wouldn't wake up."

Sage's heart ached at the thought of the anguish he must have felt. "But I did. I came back," she insisted, squeezing his hand gently.

A small smile broke through his sorrow, and he laughed softly, the sound filled with both joy and relief. "I can't believe you're really here."

As the moment stretched between them, Beckett stood and walked toward the fireplace. Sage could see the tension in his movements, the way he seemed to brace himself for something. When he turned back to her, he held a small, intricately designed box made of dark wood, its surface adorned with silver inlays that sparkled in the firelight.

"What's that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Beckett took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "Sage, I've thought about this a lot. I knew I wanted to wait until the time was right. But I can't wait any longer."

Her heart thundered in her chest as she processed his words. "Beckett..."

He knelt beside her bed, placing the box between them. "You are my everything. You are the light in my life, the one who makes everything worthwhile. I've never been more certain of anything than I am of this."

With trembling hands, he opened the box, revealing a delicate silver ring, its design as intricate as the bond they shared. "Will you marry me, Sage? Will you be by my side through whatever comes next?"

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared at the ring, the weight of his words sinking in. She had fought against darkness and despair, and here he was, offering her a future filled with love and hope.