Brightest Stars | Love of Royals: Book I

XVII: The Walk

Gelya still doesn't know.  I didn't tell her about the power, not last night, and not this morning.  I lied to her about why Avalor left.  Well, I told some truth, mainly about the words I said.  I doubt he would have left without being unexpectedly hurled across the room, but Gelya doesn't know that.

I'm mainly keeping it to myself because I'm afraid.  Afraid of what Avalor might tell people; afraid of how the power might be connected to the dream; afraid of the chance I could accidentally hurt someone I don't want to.

Thranduil and Legolas had talked about the danger I was in.  I knew it was all true, but now I'm beginning to feel like the dream might also be to do with that.  'He would return to power'... I'll need to tell someone about all of this at some point.  I just don't want to worry Gelya—she has enough problems of her own without having to deal with mine.

And then there's my task.  Is everything trying to prevent me from finding it?  I don't know... I couldn't bear to burden my friend with this.  There was someone who I could always tell about things like this; someone who assured me that I would find my task; someone who, although I have tried to shut him out, is still finding ways to creep into my mind.

I want to tell him everything.  I want to tell him that I cannot lie to myself anymore.  I miss Thranduil.  Oh Valar, I shouldn't—but I do.  He wanted to help me.  He would make me feel better, but thinking of him now just makes me feel empty. 

How did it come to this...

Since both Gelya and I are concerned that Avalor may return (though for different reasons), we locked the door to my room and propped a chair up against it.  Just to be safe.  Even though, this way, I feel like all possibility of seeing Thranduil again has been shut out too.

We must not have any intruders while I take these very important steps: the first ones I will ever take without holding onto Gelya—or Thranduil.

'Ready?' Gelya says, squeezing her hands together in excitement.

I simply nod.  Somehow, I cannot find any words to say.  This is what I've been working towards since the day I arrived.

Gelya hovers close to me, her arms outstretched in the hope I don't fall, as I stand up from my bed with as much confidence as I can muster.  Just like when I stood for the first time, my arms are in a position not too dissimilar to a scarecrow, but I have no other option if I am to balance.  I take a deep breath... and step.

My right foot places itself down onto the floor, and I hear Gelya attempting to stifle her squeak of happiness, so not to distract me.  That same feeling of exhilaration at my triumph comes rushing through me.  As I take a few more careful steps across the room, I realise that I no longer need my arms held out to my sides.  Astonishingly, I actually find myself walking like a normal elf, even if I'm still a bit slow.  However, the most surprising thing is that it's completely painless.

'I—I... I'm doing it!' I splutter, turning around and walking back towards Gelya, who is bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, clapping frantically.

'Yes!  Congratulations!' she squeals, immediately clasping my hands and squeezing them when I arrive in front of her.  I've never stood and faced her dead on before; she's a little shorter than me, yet I wouldn't consider her very short.  I'm just rather tall—except, of course, in front of Thranduil.  He's the tallest elf I've ever seen, and he makes me look awfully small.

'Thank you so much!'

In an outburst of joy, Gelya throws her arms around me and we embrace, again for the first time.  'You should be proud of yourself,' she whispers in my ear.