The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 37

Nahara spent the afternoon in the garden, alone. She needed to think about what Caoilha had told her the week before. As she approached a young rosebush, not yet ready to bloom, she felt the ground shake under her feet. She staggered, unsteady, and threw out her hand to try and catch herself. Unknowingly, she gripped the rosebush, and thorns sank into her hand, blood dripping onto the ground. She hissed in pain, and then stiffened when strong hands grabbed her waist. Even though they steadied her, she remained wary, unsure who it was. Finally, the ground stilled, and she let go of the rosebush, carefully drawing her hand away. Blood welled, and she fumbled for a handkerchief to stop the flow. Before she could, though, a dark hand gripped her.

“Let me.”

She froze. She knew that voice. Hardening her heart, she pulled away, pressing the piece of cloth she’d found against her hand.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, forcing her voice to be cold. “I told you to leave.”

He met her furious eyes calmly. “You forget that I’m no longer a slave,” he said softly. “I can go where I wish.”

“Then you can just wish yourself away from here,” she snapped, furious with him for returning.

He didn’t answer straight away, and studied her, his dark eyes taking in all the changes.

“You look well,” he finally said. She snorted, half turning away from him.

“No thanks to you,” she said cruelly, wanting to drive him away again.

“I know.” His simple, accepting answer took her breath away, and she looked at him.

“What do you want?” she asked coldly.

“To see you.”

“You have. Now you can go.”

He sighed, and stepped closer. She took an answering step back, keeping the distance between them, and he stopped. “Flodyn.”

“Go,” she ordered, only just managing to keep her voice level. “I don’t need you anymore.”

Hurt and pain crossed his face, settling deep into his eyes, and he nodded. “As you wish,” he murmured.

She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. When she looked up again, he was gone. She couldn’t stop the sigh escaping her, but she didn’t know if it was from relief, or from regret.

Carefully, she lifted the handkerchief off her hand, and gasped in shock. The bleeding had stopped, and as she watched, the cuts closed, leaving only faint, thin scars in their wake. Her baby moved a little, and she pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling tears prick her eyes.

“Your father’s confusing, little one,” she murmured. Tucking the handkerchief back in her pocket, she glanced once more at the rosebush. What she saw made her hold her breath for a moment.

Where there had been a young, flowerless rosebush, too young to bloom the happy yellow roses that she had been assured it would, was now covered in deep red blooms, almost the colour of her blood. A tear escaped to slide down her cheek, and she turned away, cursing the earth elemental for still being able to touch her. She wanted nothing more to do with him.

The stained handkerchief didn’t escape Aiden’s notice, but he didn’t say anything. Not until they were getting ready for bed.

“Nahara?”

She looked at him, worried by his tone of voice, and sighed when she saw what he was holding.

“What happened?”

“I cut myself on the rosebush,” she answered, putting her hair into the plait that she always had at night. “I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded, dropping her hands and looking at him. “I’m fine,” she repeated. “It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry about it.”

He dropped the bloodstained cloth, and came to stand behind her. “But I do, Nary,” he murmured. “You’re not happy, and I don’t know what I can do to change that. I’ve tried.”

Tears came to her eyes, and she turned in her seat as his arms came around her. “I know, Aiden,” she whispered. “And I thank you for it. But I don’t know the answer to that either.”

He kissed her cheek gently. “He’ll come for you, Nary. Don’t worry about him.”

Pain shot through her; pain of her lies to him. She knew that he would never return. She’d made sure of that.

“Thank you, Aiden,” she whispered. “For everything.” She smiled at the blush that rose to his cheeks. Slipping out of his grasp, she slid into the bed, lying down with a sigh. He wasn’t long in following her, and she curled into his arms, safe.