When Ivar meets a girl with flaming red hair and eyes that cannot see, he begins to wonder how a sightless girl can see so much beauty in the world... And in him.
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For hours, Ivar lay beside her unable to move. His mind raced through a thousand possibilities. If he lost her, he wasn't even certain he could recover.
He wanted to make her better, to take away her pain, but there was nothing that he could do. And the possibility of her death still festered in his mind.
He didn't sleep. How could he. He just rested his head beside her, listening to her shallow breaths. He could've listened to her breathing all night, just to know that she was alive and with him still. But when he heard that gentle whisper of a voice, nothing could've filled him with more happiness.
"Ivar," She whispered, as though desperately searching for him.
Quickly, his head shot up and he smiled at her, holding onto her hand to reassure her. "I'm here."
A small tear slipped down her cheek as she realised she was finally home. Because her home wasn't the place she'd been born in. Her home was with him. "I thought-" She tried but her words were paused with small sobs. "I thought you'd left me."
"How could I leave you? Hm?" He answered, wiping away her tears. "You're the only one that makes any sense around here."
She chuckled gently, making a smile find its way onto Ivar's features. "I was so scared." She told him, fighting the urge to cry again. "And all I wanted was you. I wanted to just wake up and be here again."
"You're here now." He responded firmly. "And you're not leaving my side again."
The pair lay in silence for a while, Ailbe resting in Ivar's arms until she fell asleep. But Ivar still couldn't rest. He felt this overwhelming need to protect her, and he stayed awake all night to make sure that no one could take her from him again.
He wasn't sure what was happening, because he always thought that love made you weaker. But he'd never felt stronger than he did when she was with him.
I know the last few chapters have been REALLY short but a long one is coming soooooon. -Rhi
