“And I love you. Sleep now, El. Stay strong. You have to show me these moss beds soon, remember?”
“Always, my love.” With a contented sigh, she relaxes at his side and lets sleep carry her away.
What About My Apples?
Episode 77
QueenYalisatalksalot.
But that means Cerian doesn’t have to, so he tries not to grow too irritated by his mother-in-law’s incessant chatter as Arisanna responds for both of them as well as she can.
“And your mother looked well when I saw her briefly earlier,” the queen says to Cerian. “I would like to speak with her again. To better express...”
The queen lets out a slow breath and looks at the ceiling, her words trailing off, and Cerian frowns. Is she crying?
“It’s all right, Mother,” Arisanna says softly.
“I worry she may have thought us ungrateful after our last encounter. It was all just such a shock, and I want her to know what her sacrifice means to us. To your father and me and all of Nunia. I feared losing you to this alliance, but you’re here, and I see now that I haven’t lost anything.”
“Of course you haven’t lost me, Mother. And Cerian and I will be living in Darlei after we return from our trip to Celesta. We’ll be able to visit whenever we want, right, Cerian?”
The thought fills him with dread, but he merely nods.
“Darlei? You plan to live in Darlei? Oh, Arisanna, that makes me so happy. And I will have to come visit when,heaven willing, your own babies start coming. I wasn’t sure about those pointed ears at first, but now I believe they will be just darling on little...what do you call them, Cerian? Elflings? Will they inherit your magic, do you think? I confess I don’t understand elven magic well at all, and...”
Her voice fades in Cerian’s head as the room grows suddenly warm.
Elflings?
Whistling wind.
Now would be a good time to run.
“Mother, you may be getting a little ahead of yourself,” Arisanna says with a slight laugh that sounds forced to his ears.
And she’s not looking at him. What does that mean?
Have they ever even talked about this?
“I’m sure it will happen for you.” The queen pats her arm. “Don’t you worry.”
Arisanna still isn’t looking at him.
He shoots to his feet. “Food.” It’s the first thing that popped into his head. “I should...we haven’t...I haven’t—”
“Stars above,” Arisanna says. “I was going to get you something after...” She glances at her mother and clears her throat. “And your plant magic...”
She doesn’t finish that thought either.
His magic stores are doing well enough despite how restless his magic has been today.
The rest of him could use food, though.
He strides to the door before stopping.
What is he doing? The thought of seeking food on his own leaves him feeling sick inside. All the people he would have to talk to. And if someone hands him one of those menus? In Nunian?
Slowly, he turns back to Arisanna, and the faintest of smiles ghosts her face.
