The Arcana - Muriel Fanfics!

6. Calm

*Hey guys. Just a reminder: ik everything seems crazy right now. some of you might be sick of home, or missing friends or worried about loved ones, but it will get better. Take care, stay safe, and enjoy <3

She's probably fine, I think to myself, heart pounding and throat constricting. 

She's a clever girl, I remind myself, desperately clinging to Muriel's hand as we hurtle down the gravel path, towards the city. 

When we left, I was determined to find Asra. Morga and the baby were staying with him, and the most likely situation was he was probably just teaching her some magic. It hit me as soon as I left that I probably could've just contacted Asra through water. A small crease had appeared between Muriel's brows, and his lips formed a hard, thin line. We were nearly there, and it'd be ridiculous to turn around now. I let out a long, frustrated sigh, wishing more than anything the heavy weight in my gut was nothing to worry about. 

Muriel's thumb runs soothingly over my knuckles, over my wedding ring. I glance sidelong at him as we go. The worry-lines are still there, but he offers me a small smile anyway. 

"...The magical realms should be more afraid of her than she is of it," he murmurs, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Despite the anxiety clutching my heart, I can't help a low chuckle. "I'm sure she's having the time of her life." But the notion sounds empty and flat. My heart is galloping in a panic, my mind is flying through every worst possible situation. What if she gets hurt? What if she doesn't figure out how to get back? Time moves so differently in the magic realms. How long has she been there? What if she - 

My thoughts are cut short as strong, warm hands slow me to a stop. "...Val."

I can see the city walls. We're on the outskirts, we're nearly there - 

"Valeera," Muriel says softly. I tear my eyes from the city gates, meeting Muriel's level gaze. 

"Why're we stopped?" I say, frowning. Muriel takes a step closer, hands remaining firmly on my shoulders. The dismal grey clouds have vanished, replaced with sunburned blue skies. Golden sunlight spills through the treetops, dappling across Muriel's face and illuminating each and every shade of green in his eyes. When he speaks, his voice is gentle.

"...I know you're worried about...about Mor," he says. "But...I can hear your heart from here." Muriel's hand comes up to brush again my cheek, the other falling to take my hand. I snort mirthlessly. "Because I'm worried half to death, Muri. Mor brought her physical being into her realm," I say hoarsely. Sudden, violent memories flare to life: memories of oily, dark magic, memories of fleeing from depthless evil and cruelly curved horns. Cold, heavy fear slides into my stomach like a snake. My hands go near-numb, my breath shaky. "D-do you know how...how dangerous that can be?" I whisper, trembling all over. The thought of Mor, alone or scared, tumbling through realms with no certainty she'll come back out...

Muriel looks as though he just wants to hold me in his arms and never let me go. Both hands, calloused and gentle, lace through my fingers. 

 "...The Devil is gone, Val," he says, squeezing my hands. "He's gone, and he'll never go after Mor. He'll never come near us again." Muriel's voice becomes steady, certain. "...She's safe. Mor will be alright...I know it." 

I peer blearily up at him. "How c-could you know that?" Muriel smiles to himself. Slowly, he guides me backwards until we're both standing at the base of an immense tree. Muriel lowers himself to the ground, pulling me into his lap. Encircling his arms around my waist, he lets his head fall to my shoulder. I sniffle, letting his earthy scent envelop me. 

"...Because I've been in one when...when I was younger." I crane around to gape at him incredulously. His eyebrows shoot up, and he shrugs sheepishly. "...Well, not as young as Mor, but...Asra was only a littler older, and it was his gate. It was...it was how we first met." 

Muriel keeps me tucked in close to him, nuzzling my hair as he continues. "...It was under the dock. And...and it was his safe place," Muriel says, drawing idle circles over my hips. I don't even think he realises he's doing it. "He was alone...on the street, like...like me. And it was the only safe place, Val." 

I can feel the frantic, anxious vice on my heart loosen, as his words swirl around my mind. Safe. A safe place. She's just playing, but  she's completely... "Safe," I whisper. 

Slowly, I shift onto my side, curling my arms around Muriel's waist and resting my head on his chest. Muriel wraps his arms protectively around me, brushing hair from my face. The breeze billows around us, carrying the scent of grass and myrrh and faint hints of the city. The leaves above us sigh and hush, each sway dissipating my worries away. I close my eyes, breathing deeply. 

Against his chest, I can hear Muriel's heart beat. Steady and strong. I rise and fall with the tide of his breathing, fairly certain I'm overdue for my mid-afternoon nap in the forest. Just as I feel myself drifting off, content to trust that Mor is safe, Muriel mumbles a single word under his breath, barely audible in the breeze. 

"Beautiful." 

I sneak a glance up at him through my lashes. Muriel's eyes are soft, gazing down at me. Tentatively, he touches my cheek. My lips. The curve of my ear. With a final sigh, Muriel closes his eyes and curls tighter around me. My cheeks flush. I push away the lingering, anxiety-riddled thoughts of Mor, before drifting into sleep on scented clouds of cedar and myrrh.