“I believe she’s trying to wake,” Tharios says as he checks her vital signs once more. “It’s possible she’s using you to pull herself back to us.”
The thought makes Rominy’s heart race, but he takes a deep breath. “Can I help her?”
“Just stay beside her,” Tharios says. “Be her guiding star as she finds her way from the darkness.”
As if anyone could drag him away now.
Her father leans closer. “I spoke to Tharios. Elowyn needs to limit her fire magic in the real world and may for a while. Beyond that, love her freely, Rominy. In whatever way you both desire.”
Rominy stares up at him. “Are you saying she doesn’t need to hold back her fire magic in the heartlanding?”
“You’ll have to interpret my words as you are able. I, too, am bound by the magic of the heartlanding. But I believe Tharios would tell you to feel free to set her on fire when you meet her in her dreams.” King Lorial squeezes Rominy’s shoulder before stepping away, and Rominy gulps as heat fills him. That was an odd thing to discuss with Elowyn’s father, but he’s grateful. Something to tuck away for later.
Right now, he just wants Elowyn to wake. To see her smile. Hear her voice. He reaches for her hand and draws it to his lips. Presses it to his cheek. Whispers all sorts of random nonsense to her in Elvish and Nunian.
Occasionally, Tharios and his parents check on him. Someone brings him more food, which he eats without giving it much thought.
“Return to me, love,” he murmurs near her cheek as he brushes her hair back from her face. His thumb grazes the tip of her ear, and she moans. It’s quiet. Barely audible over the sudden pounding of his heart. Did he imagine it?
“Tharios!” he cries.
The elf prince is immediately there, checking Elowyn’s pulse again. “You need to breathe, Rominy.”
He forces one breath and another, and Queen Nestraya is there to coach him.
Then he hears it as he clings to Elowyn’s hand—her voice, weak and scratchy yet somehow the most beautiful sound in his world.
“Rominy.”
This Was a Trap
Episode 97
There’ssomuchfog.Darkness with only the faintest blurred light to guide her. But a heart not her own beats in Elowyn’s chest and her ears as she follows the glow.
“Rominy?” Her voice is gravelly. Weak. Difficult to push past her lips. And no other words come to her as she grasps at the tether drawing her toward the light.
A hand. She’s holding someone’s hand. Or he’s holding hers. It pulls her forward into the light, which grows stronger every moment.
“Elowyn. Come back to me. Please.”
Rominy. He’s here. He’s drawing her from the darkness. And she clings to his hand.
The light becomes brighter and brighter until it’s almost blinding, a glow dampened only by her closed eyes. She forces them open, though they feel like lead weights.
Everything is unfocused as the light makes her squint.
“Rominy?”
“I’m here, love.” He speaks in Elvish as he hovers over her.
“Where...?” Her lips can’t seem to form the rest of her question.
“Feressa. The real world.” His voice is full of emotion, and his accent is strong as he continues in imperfect Elvish,but translating Nunian feels beyond her capabilities at the moment.
“Not...heartlanding?”
“No,” Rominy whispers.
