Blood Ties

A Bond That Cannot Be Broken

Alessandro waited for his brother all day, but he never arrived. He wondered if something had happened to him or if he hadn't received his letter. When he entered his room, he saw Abril on the balcony. He approached her, hugged her from behind, and asked, “What are you doing awake at this hour?"

"I was waiting for you. I didn't want to go to sleep without seeing you."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't have dinner with you in the end. Gabriel gave me a lot of work and didn't let me go until now."

Abril turned around. She wanted to see his face, she needed it.

"You don't need to apologize for that. You're the king, you have a kingdom to rule. I know it's not easy."

"Thank you for understanding."

"You don't have to thank me."

Alessandro gently stroked her cheek and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"I wish I had more time to be with you. Don't you feel the same?"

"Yes, I feel exactly the same. I wish I could be with you every minute and every moment of my life, but we have obligations and duties to fulfill, so I'll be reasonable and not ask for what you can't give me."

"I hate that."

"What thing?"

"I hate not being able to give you everything you ask for."

"Every day you give me more than I ever dreamed of, more than I could have imagined."

"Even so, sometimes I feel it's not enough."

"Get those ideas out of your mind, because it is enough."

Alessandro hugged her, buried his head in her collarbone, and breathed in the scent of her body.

"I will miss you so much."

"I will miss you too."

"Do you know how long you'll be gone?"

"Maybe two or three days, I don't know."

"Come back soon, otherwise I will come looking for you."

"You won't have to do that. I will be anxious to return, and besides, you have to take care of our daughter in my absence, protect her."

"That you don't have to ask for, I will take good care of her."

"Has Cassian still not arrived?"

"No, and that has me worried."

"I hope he is well and arrives soon."

The clock's chimes announced that it was past midnight. Alessandro said:

"It is late now, today has been a long day, we better rest."

"Yes, that would be best."

They both went to bed. Alessandro wrapped his arms around Abril, and she could hear the beats of his heart, his breathing. That made her feel calmer because even though she didn't show it, having to leave her family made her very nervous and anxious. She was afraid that something would happen to them in her absence.

"Lessan."

"What's the matter?"

"Take care of Lissana."

"Aby, I will take good care of our daughter. Besides, you will be gone for a short time. We will be here waiting for you."

"Yes, you're right."

Abril buried her face in his chest and said:

"I hate being apart from you."

"I feel the same way, and if it wasn't for Lissana, I would go with you."

"Even though it's late, don't come looking for me. You can't leave Lissana alone, and keep her close while I'm not here."

"Aby, is something wrong?"

"No, it's just that my sister is still out there, and we don't know when she will come to attack us."

Alessandro sighed deeply and said:

"That's true, but if she hasn't made any moves all this time, I doubt she will now, so don't worry."

"I hope so."

***

Cassian had to stop and rest at an inn because Maya had started feeling nauseous from the jolting of the carriage.

He put a cold cloth on her forehead to try to alleviate her discomfort.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry, I'm just slowing you down."

"Don't worry about that, the important thing is that you're okay."

"That's why I prefer teleportation scrolls."

"I know, but I thought the scrolls would be too taxing on you in your condition. It seems I was also wrong about the carriage. Now you've gotten even sicker because of me."

Maya took Cassian's hand and said to him:

"This is not your fault."

"You'll be better soon, Abril will make sure of it."

"Yes, I hope so."

Cassian gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead and said:

"That's how it will be. Hold on a little longer, you'll be fine soon."

That night, Cassian stayed up taking care of Maya. The next day, she was a little better, so they resumed their journey. When they arrived at the palace, Cassian asked where Abril was. He wanted her to help Maya since she didn't look well.

One of the maids led them to the greenhouse where she was. Cassian arrived with a collapsed Maya in his arms. Abril was very surprised to see them, especially because Maya did not seem to be doing well. She handed the baby to one of the maids and hurried over to them.

"What's wrong with Maya?"

"I don't know. She hasn't been well for a while, and the journey here only worsened her health. Can you help her?"

"Of course."

Abril took Maya's hand and infused her magic into her. Maya regained consciousness, and upon seeing Abril, she said to her:

"Hi, Aby."

"How are you?"

"Much better."

"I think it would be best to take her to a room for her to rest."

"Maya, are you really okay?"

Cassian asked, very worried and with a certain anxiety in his voice. Maya touched his cheek with her still-cold hand and said to him:

"Yes, Cassian, I'm fine now. Don't worry."

Cassian held her tightly against his chest and said to her:

"Thank God."

Cassian stayed hugging Maya for a while as if he feared losing her. Abril put her hand on his shoulder and said to him:

"Cassian, Maya needs to rest."

"Yes."

Cassian took Maya to her room. Although he no longer lived there, everything remained the same, and the servants always gave him that room. He gently placed her on the bed and said to her:

"Do you want something?"

"A little water, I'm thirsty."

Cassian poured a glass of water, helped her sit up, and gave her the water to drink. When Maya finished, she laughed.

"Sometimes you exaggerate a little. I can get a glass of water on my own."

"I know, but when I see you like this, I just want to take care of you."

"Cassian, I'm fine."

"Then why do you still look weak?"

"I'm just a little dizzy from the carriage. If I rest a bit, I'll be good as new, so why don't you go see your brother while I sleep? He must be waiting for you."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

"Maybe I'll sleep all morning. It doesn't matter if you stay, so don't worry about me and go see why your brother sent for you."

"Alright, I won't be long."

Maya yawned and replied:

"Take your time, I'll sleep for a while."

Cassian kissed her forehead and said:

"I won't be long. If you feel unwell, don't hesitate to call a servant."

"Alright, now go."

When Cassian left the room, the little fairy that had been following her suddenly appeared, flew around her, and said to her:

"You look very bad, and it's not because of the carriage ride. If you don't return to the fairyland, you will die."

"Could you stop reminding me that I'll die?"

"I do it so that you don't forget."

"Well, I don't need you to remind me."

"I will continue to remind you until you decide to return or die."

"So I will have a little death fairy whispering in my ear every day."

"My mission is not to announce your death, but to make you understand that you must return to your home."

"That is not my home, it never has been."

"It is since the moment you swore loyalty to the fairy queen. You are bound to the fairyland just like the queen, and you know it. The bond that unites you cannot be broken. Your whole being is telling you, shouting at you, and it will continue to be like that until you decide to return."