With another glance at Arisanna, Cerian shakes his head.
“Perhaps the magic thought you were bonding fine without help. Did you really sleep under the stars together?”
Cerian’s mind takes an unintended turn at her use of the word “bonding,” but he shoves the thought aside. “Yes. There’s an observation deck in the astronomy tower. It was...nice.”
“I’m glad.” Elowyn wraps her arms around him. “Don’t fight it, Cer. Let yourself have a love story like Lorial and Nestraya.”
A love story?
Before he can ponder her words, the train whistles.
“It’s time,” Father says. He offers Elowyn one more hug, and Cerian nods to his new brother where Prince Rominy stands behind Elowyn now. He’d better be good to her.
From the look in Prince Rominy’s eyes, he’s thinking the same thing about Cerian and Arisanna.
Arisannabreathesoutslowlyas she approaches the train. She’s never been one for crying, and she won’t start now. This is her part to play, and she goes willingly.
She just didn’t think it would be this hard to say goodbye.
Tharios and his wife are already on the train, and after giving Elowyn one last hug, King Lorial follows.
Queen Nestraya holds Elowyn’s face in her hands as their foreheads touch, and she whispers something in Elvish. Arisanna tries not to eavesdrop.
Cerian waits near the door of the train for her. At least, he’s probably waiting for her. Unless he’s just putting off boarding for as long as possible. He seems to dislike trains.
How ironic that their heartlanding started as a train.
“Are you ready?” Queen Nestraya asks softly when she lets Elowyn go, and Arisanna nods.
It’s time.
Cerian doesn’t offer his hand or anything remotely romantic as he waits for her to climb into the train car. But he follows her, and when she takes a seat by herself, he sits with her.
Hopefully, this is a sign he means to befriend her rather than ignore her and leave her to fend for herself in a new kingdom while playacting at being married.
Of course, they’re not just married. They’re heartbound, too.
The train whistles again, and the wheels churn as they lurch forward. Arisanna waves at Rominy and Elowyn out the window as the train platform grows smaller and smaller. Soon, even the castle is difficult to see. The streets of Levina speed by, and before long, the city of her childhood fades from view as well. Rolling plains of farmland surround them as they chug toward Feressa, and Arisanna leans her head against the seat back and closes her eyes.
“Are you all right?” Cerian asks.
Arisanna glances his way. He actually looks concerned.
Not that she thought he was an unfeeling monster. He’s been hard to pin down, though. Maybe they will grow to care for each other with time.
“I’m fine. I’ve known this day was coming all my life.”
He opens his mouth to speak but apparently thinks better of it and closes it again.
“What were you going to say?” she asks softly. “You can talk to me, you know.”
His brows wrinkle as he meets her eyes. Emeralds. Beautiful emeralds. Will their children have green eyes like his?
Where did that come from? They might not even have children. He’s not the crown prince—he doesn’t need an heir.
“I’m not good at meeting new people,” he says quietly, interrupting her thoughts. “Or talking to people I don’t know.”
There’s a vulnerability in his eyes that catches her off guard. How hard was it for him to reveal that to her?
