Chapter 24

“Ellis?” Aine asked in surprise, her voice shooting up an octave from her normal tone. She didn’t usually see Ellis in her dreams unless Ellis herself made it so. Compared to Lyran’s face, Ellis’ face seemed an open book as she smiled down at her. “Hello, Aine.”

“Don’t tell me,” Aine began, half annoyed. “You know what happened?” Her voice trailed off in a faint mumble. She half expected Ellis’ smile to falter, but it didn’t; the corners of her lips moved further upward. Aine’s jaw dropped. She had taken the woman standing opposite her as one to show compassion, but something as sadistic as a smile at another’s agony, was not something she had anticipated.

“Aine,” Ellis replied as if guessing her thoughts, “I’m not here to mock you.” Her face was ever friendly as she prompted Aine to sit down on one of the familiar couches in the tiny cottage that was known to the princess as her place of residence. A fire crackled peacefully in the hearth. Aine reluctantly sat down and waited for the woman to give some kind of explanation as to why she had been summoned to the small cottage in the woods. She wasn’t looking forward to another pitying speech about Noah.

Ellis sat down in the armchair closer to the fire, but turned it around so she could face the princess. “I’m afraid there has been a minor misunderstanding,” she spoke in controlled tones, uttering each word separately and smiled again when Aine’s expression became puzzled. “About Noah, I mean,” she continued, ignoring the wariness that now flickered in Aine’s eyes. “Will you let me explain?”

“Explain what?” Aine asked, her voice cold. “There is nothing to explain is there? He died, and it’s my fault. Or are you going to tell me that you have personal connections with the Goddess and you can bring him back?” she snapped, completely out of character.

“Now now, Aine,” Ellis cut in, her voice slightly less sweet, “There is no need to be bitter. I’m trying to t-”

“No reason to be bitter? Ha!” Aine huffed. Tears were burning in her eyes again. She had thought it impossible to cry more tears, but it was a dream, after all, everything was possible there.

“First of all, the Goddess doesn’t believe in favors, and since you no longer believe in her, I know you’re not expecting any,” Ellis replied harshly, “What I’m trying to tell you,” she eyed the princess but foresaw no more interruptions, “Is that Noah is not dead.”

Aine stared at Ellis, her jaw dropping in disbelief. She then shook her head. “No, no, no, I saw him… I saw him, he was dying!”

“What exactly did you see, Aine. Did you see him, dead?” Ellis asked knowingly, almost smiling as Aine continued looking confused. “Do me a favor, close your eyes. Just breathe.”

Aine scowled at Ellis, perceiving her tone as somewhat scrutinizing. Another encouraging look from Ellis however, made her give in, much like Lyran’s look had, when he told her to go to sleep. Aine closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, regulating her breathing and inhaling the fresh scent of pine trees and the faint smell of mint. It calmed her immediately. She waited for Ellis’ voice to call her back again, but it didn’t come.

She opened her eyes slowly, finding herself no longer in the woman’s house. Pine trees surrounded her, cloaked in mist. She squinted against the cold and wet drizzle, her breathing still calm as she moved slowly through the fog. As limited as the world was by the white damp cloak, as limited were Aine’s feelings and thoughts. She could only feel calm.

“Hello, Princess,” a warm, husky voice sounded from behind her and she trembled as a soft hand rested on her shoulder. The sense of tranquility stopped her from whirring around. Instead, she slowly turned, stopping when she faced him.

“You didn’t seriously believe I died, did you?” Noah asked, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he reached out to brush away a tear that stained her cheek.

She looked up at him, not finding the words she wanted to say. Her bottom lip trembled, and she flung herself forward, burying her face in his chest. He smiled again, embracing her, softly stroking her hair as he felt her gentle sobs. “I wouldn’t leave you like that, darling…”

“I’ll explain it to you, when you’re less shaky, ok?” he cooed, murmuring into her hair. She half nodded, but still didn’t look up or speak, afraid that he would just disappear again. “I’m not going anywhere…” Noah answered her thoughts quietly. “Not unless you want me to…”

Aine shook her head in quick, panicked motions. “No, not like that, not like that ever again.” She rested her chin on his shoulder, staring into the distance but not really seeing. The white distance shimmered, and Aine’s eyes widened. For only a second, there was a shape, a man. It was him, the slit eyed man, his tongue forked. He was watching them. She gasped, blinking involuntarily, and then the figure was gone.

“What’s wrong?” Noah asked, pushing her back slightly to look at her as he grasped her shoulders.
Aine quickly wiped the horrified expression from her face, but still looked confused. “Nothing, I… I thought I saw something…it’s nothing…”