Adremedian Prince - Chapter 25

The two weeks passed slowly for James and Sapientiis, as each waited for Lilly to wake up. Briar, James, and Patientiam returned to the healing tree where Lilly slept. Patientiam gave her brother a hug and he cried in her arms.

‘How is she, Sapientiis?’ Briar asked.

‘She’s woken up a few times, but then fell asleep again. I don’t know if she’ll ever wake up. It’s all my fault!’

Briar wrapped his arms around Sapientiis. ‘No, Sapientiis. You have done a great service for Lilly. I’m sure she’ll be up soon.’

James seated himself next to Lilly and picked her up. Tears ran down his face as he held her. When night came, Sapientiis and Patientiam fell asleep. Briar moved next to James who still held her. Then one of her hands reached up and touched James’ cheek.

‘Good morning, James.’

‘You’re awake!’ James pulled her closer and kissed her.

She pulled away with a quiet, ‘Ow.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Still getting used to the energy lines being attached. How are you doing?’

‘Much better now that you’re awake.’

Her brow furrowed. ‘Sapientiis?’

‘He’s sleeping,’ Briar said.

‘Who’s sleeping?’ Sapientiis asked.

Patientiam didn’t stir.

‘Guess not,’ Lilly said to Briar.

‘Rosae Lilly? Are you awake?’

‘Yes, Sapientiis.’

He moved to her side and gave her a hug.

‘Not too tight. I still hurt a little.’

‘Sorry. Are you okay?’
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‘I am. How are you doing?’

‘Okay, I guess. I’m sorry,’ he said, crying into her shoulder. ‘I I shouldn’t.’

‘Sapientiis. You did what you were meant to do. I feel better now than I have for several hundred years and all because you were willing to help James.’

‘But you’ve been asleep for two weeks.’

‘Which is a lot shorter than it would have been. Thank you, Sapientiis.’

‘You’re welcome, Rosae Lilly.’ He gave her one more hug then laid back down to go to sleep.

Lilly started to sit up and James helped her. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest. ‘How were your two weeks with Briar?’

‘They were lonely, but I learned a lot from what he taught Patientiam and from what Patientiam taught me on the walks that she took me on.’

‘I’m glad.’

‘Lilly?’ Briar asked. ‘What are the energy lines for and why are they important?’

‘They are for a healing technique that allows me to channel the earth’s energy through myself to heal someone else. It is important to me, because it was the last healing gift my mother gave me.’

‘I see. What caused it to break?’

‘I was healing a family, using this technique, when word came that the last of my Human family had passed on. As my heart broke, so did all the energy lines. They broke and knotted so quickly that I could do little more then hyperventilate. The Adremedians nearby found me unconscious and the family I was working with still in need of help. I was put in a healing tree with a guardian. They finished healing the family, but continued to worry over me.’ Lilly turned her face more into James chest.

‘How long where you out?’ James asked.

‘If I recall correctly…nearly a year.’

‘A year!?’ Briar asked, surprised that she had, been in death recovery for another long period of time.

‘Please don’t wake the young ones,’ she said. ‘Tomorrow they should be ready to be on their own.’

‘Isn’t that a bit soon?’ James asked, sensing how young they were.

‘No. It’s right where it should be.’ She took a deep breath and half closed her eyes.

They all decided to get some sleep.

James woke with Lilly still in his arms. He set his hand against her cheek and felt her smiling.

‘What’s the smile for?’ James asked, his hand resting on her cheek.

‘For good health and the love of a wonderful husband.’ She kissed him and he returned it. ‘What do you want to do today?’

‘I think I’d be okay to just lie here and hold you.’

‘Hmm. Tempting, but I’ve been still for too long.’

‘Rosae Lilly?’ Patientiam asked.

Lilly turned to look at her. ‘Yes, Patientiam?’

‘We start our duties today, but does that mean goodbye?’

‘No. It’s just a see you later. We’ll work together someday.’

‘Okay.’

Sapientiis got up and Briar bid them farewell before he and the young Adremedians left. They would fill the vacant areas and Briar would return to the hills.

‘How do you feel about a walk?’ Lilly asked James after the others were gone.

‘Sounds good. Where to?’

‘It’ll be a surprise.’

‘May not be much of a surprise where I can’t see.’

‘Trust me, you’ll be surprised.’

On their walk, James kept her close and didn’t mind the few stops they made or the sounds of cloth being torn. He figured she was doing some healing, but in reality she was collecting food stuffs while they walked. Lilly stopped about midday and gave James something to eat. He ate and felt Lilly place hers hands over his eyes.

‘There’s nothing more you can…’ He felt pinpricks of pain in his eyes for only a moment then it was gone. ‘What did you do?’ he asked.

‘The energy lines in your eyes aren’t completely attached yet.’

‘Are they now?’

‘No. I don’t want to do too much and make you sleepy before we get to our destination.’

They continued their walk and Lilly only stopped a few more times to work on his eyes. After the last time, she tied a strip of cloth around his eyes before he could open them.

‘Lilly, I don’t need to be blindfolded if I can’t see.’ He reached to remove it, but she stopped him.

‘Leave it.’

James sighed. ‘All right.’

When they finished their walk, Lilly let him take the blindfold off. He blinked and stared. ‘What…? I can. I can.’ He turned to look at Lilly. ‘I can see!’

Lilly smiled and the grooves on her face cast shadows across her cheeks. Tears ran down her cheeks as he kissed her. ‘Told you it was a surprise.’

‘Yes you did.’

James kissed her once more before he threw her over his shoulder and ran into the water with her. It was cold and calm. A sense of gaiety was in the air as he chased her down the beach and caught her long enough to drag her into the water again. Soon they sat together on the sand and watched the sunset.

‘It’s strange, the things you miss when you can’t see,’ James said.

‘Not as strange as the things you miss after being alone,’ Lilly replied.

‘What do you mean?’

‘For years I had strong connections with my Human family. When they were all gone I became a different person. My work became my life, relationships meant nothing to me. Until I met you. In a matter of weeks you reminded me of what I was missing. The way you interacted with servants even the banquet when you first brought me to the castle. Each held something that I let disintegrate as I lay in torment for ten months.’

James wrapped his arm around her and she leaned against him.

‘If it’s any consolation, I knew very little of the world outside the castle walls before I met you, and I’m still learning.’

‘Then it’s worked out well for us.’

Silently they watched the last of the sun slip into the sea. In the still growing darkness, Lilly stood and led James to a small alcove before lighting a fire. Their clothes were still damp and it would be getting cold. From a shred of cloth she pulled out some roots and berries so they could eat.