Episode 10
Cerianismoresolidthan his slender frame would suggest.
As he holds Arisanna steady, she tries not to focus on the way he was looking at her earlier. Combined with the way his arms feel around her now.
Mother did say to follow his lead. Arisanna didn’t think there would be a train involved, though.
“Are you all right?” Cerian asks. The train lurches again, and he tightens his hold on her.
“I think so? Will you tell me what’s going on?”
“It’s...it’s part of the heartbinding. Our heartlanding. Apparently, it’s a train.”
He doesn’t sound happy about it. Is it the fact that it’s a train? Or is it being here with her? Or is it because she’s underdressed? At least his trousers cover both his legs.
“What is this...heartlanding?” she asks.
“It’s...a place for us to bond, I suppose.”
Bond? Is that why she’s wearing...whatever this is? Are they going to...bond? Perhaps that word has other connotations in Elvish.
The train stops, and Cerian releases her.
“So...what now?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. Perhaps we’re supposed to get off.”
She follows him to the exit, and as she steps out of the train car, she almost tips over. The woods? How did they get here? Is any of this real?
When she turns around, there’s no train. Just yellow light pouring from the open doorway, silhouetted by the murky forest. So they can get back on the imaginary train if they want?
She definitely wants to get back on the train.
A screech startles her, and she clutches at Cerian.
“It’s just an owl,” he mutters.
Right. She knew that.
As demurely as possible, she releases her hold on his arm. She’s supposed to follow his lead. Not throw herself at him.
“I’m not familiar with these woods,” he says.
“Perhaps we should return to the train.”
Another screech makes her jump.
“You’d rather be on a train than in the woods?” The space between his brows wrinkles.
“Yes?” She swallows. “Perhaps there’s a sleeping car. That would be a better place for...bonding.”
He stills before swinging his head toward her. “I think I used the wrong word.” He translates into Elvish, and she relaxes a little, though her ensuing mortification threatens to swallow her whole.
“No, you used it right. I just misunderstood.”
“I see.” He eyes her for a moment before looking away. “I doubt there would be time before the illusion ended. Father said the initial experience of the heartlanding is usually short unless one member of the binding is unconscious.”
Well. Thank the heavens for small mercies.
