A soft hand slides against his, and he turns to Arisanna where she stands at his side. Her parents now converse with Tharios.
“I...” She struggles to find words, and he doesn’t rush her. Then she lets go of his hand and wraps her arms around his neck instead, burying her face against him. “I’m sorry.”
He just holds her. Breathes in the scent of the berry soap clinging to her hair from this morning. Cocoons her in warmth.
“I’m a Westaria now,” she whispers. “I’m pretty sure that means I get to hug you in public.”
His lips twitch into a grin. “I believe it does.”
Mother’sandFather’svoicesdrift toward Rominy from outside the door, and he sighs. He should get up. Assure them he’s all right.
Be strong. Capable.
Functioning.
But he doesn’t want to leave Elowyn’s side.
“I’ll be back, love,” he whispers. “I promise. And I won’t go far.”
Elowyn doesn’t move or respond, but he didn’t expect her to. Not really. Though part of him hoped she might.
He sits up and swings his legs to the floor. At least the room stopped spinning. He probably looks like a mess with his hair unkempt and a prickle of a beard. He’s always clean-shaven in the heartlanding. Does that mean Elowyn prefers him that way?
He should ask her sometime.
He plods toward the door and, as quietly as possible, slips into the corridor, bracing himself for Mother’s response. Not that he begrudges her anything. She’s always been so fearful of something happening to him, as if twenty-two years after his birth, she still can’t believe he’s hers to keep.
Hopefully, he can put her at ease.
“Rominy!” She chokes back a sob, and he draws her to his chest.
“I’m all right, Mother. The danger has passed.”
Father’s face is full of emotion, too, as he wraps his arms around both of them.
The pull to return to Elowyn is strong, but he lets his parents hold him. Reassures them he’s well.
That he’s not dying inside without Elowyn.
When he lifts his eyes to Elowyn’s father, King Lorial’s gaze pierces his facade of strength.
He understands. The thought is comforting.
It makes Rominy feel less alone.
Eventually, Mother collects herself, and Father lets them go. The world around Rominy fades into a blur of people discussing what comes next and encouraging Rominy to eat and putting food in front of him at the little table in Elowyn’s room. He goes through the motions, though whether he ate chicken or steak is a question he can’t answer once the half-empty plate is carted away.
Few people attempt to draw him into conversation, which is for the best. He just wants to sit with Elowyn again.
Never leave her side.
When King Lorial leads him to a chair beside Elowyn’s bed, relief fills him. Even being across the room was a struggle, as if the magic of the heartbinding wants him to stay close to her.
He didn’t feel this pull so strongly before. It’s overwhelming in its intensity.
“Am I supposed to feel like I can’t think straight unless I’m beside her?” he asks quietly.
“At times,” King Lorial says. “Though I wonder if perhaps her essence is using yours as a tether right now.”
