Chasing Starlight 💫

19. Ash. Part 3.

Ash:
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Ash ran out into the cool evening air, not stopping until she'd passed a long succession of rose bushes that twisted along a path. She arrived at the back fence, breathless. A stone bench awaited her, its legs and back covered in roses and vines. She sat down, running her hands over the scrolled patterns in the seat. Strange, but she loved and hated the bench all at once. The dream flashed in her head, but this time it had a new beginning:

Seven-year-old Ash was flying in the rose garden, chasing after a golden orb which Alründ had booted at full force. The orb wedged itself into the boughs of a blossom tree, and Ash sped after it, aware that Alründ was in pursuit. As they landed in the branches and climbed towards the trunk, pinkish-white blossoms flew in all directions. Ash climbed faster, the orb almost within touching distance when her dress snared on a branch. She slipped and yelped. Alründ might have steadied her as she transitioned to a hover, but he also grabbed the orb, shooting her a competitive grin before leaving her there.

"Careful up there, Ashala," a young woman called. Ash peered down through the branches, seeing the woman's red silk dress sweeping the ground as she walked.

"I'm okay!" Ash yelled. Then she screamed in frustration, thumping the nearest branch. Blossoms tumbled over her face and she caught two in her hand. Making her way out the branches, Ash flew down to the snow-covered lawn and collected a dozen red roses and a yellow rose, making a bouquet. She walked past the snowy steps that led to the rotunda. Ash dashed across to the couple on the bench—it was stone, entwined with vines and roses. Present-day Ash was shocked to see Lücan in his early twenties, his arm draped around the lady with the red dress. Amelia was whispering into his ear, her face hidden by her hair of brown ringlets and red blossoms. Lücan laughed loudly, his eyes lit with happiness. Dream Ash cleared her throat. Amelia turned, feigning surprise when she saw the roses in Ash's hands. Finally, Present-day Ash could see Amelia's face. It was heart-shaped, sweet but sophisticated, her smile gentle. Present-day Ash took note of Amelia's neck and hands; they shone with silver gildé, thousands of them alive and happy. It was hard to believe that soon there would only be a few remaining.

Dream Ash stopped and passed the bouquet to Amelia. "For you." Ash sidestepped and opened Lücan's hand, dropping the blossoms into his palm. "And two for you."

Lücan laughed and smelled the blossoms. "I get a gift? Is it my birthday, too?"

"No. Just mine." Ash screwed up her nose. "And Alründ and Sasha's. And that other boy from Astaria. Starts with the letter 'K'."

"Yes, well..." Lücan nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "It is a good day for all."

"Yes, it is." Ash climbed up onto the bench, throwing her arms around Lücan and Amelia. The couple pulled her tightly into their arms, while Amelia tried to save her roses from being crushed.

Amelia pulled back, smiling. "Out of curiosity, why roses for me?"

"They're your favorite."

"They are," she agreed. "I should go put them in water."

Amelia kissed Ash on the cheek, then walked up the steps of the rotunda, stopping to speak with Amaryllis. Snow had blown in to the rotunda from the front and back. Connected to the right of the rotunda was a walkway that led off to Syreese's astral sanctuary. Snow had blanketed that, too, crystalizing the flowers along its walls. The left side of the rotunda led into the palace, and that was where Lücan now entered, passing Amelia as he did so.

Will, Theo, and Alründ called Ash back to the game, but just before she ran into the middle of the garden, she saw the two women laughing in the rotunda, watching proudly as Amelia breathed in her new bouquet.