Freyja's Fire - Chapter 45 - A'mara Books

45

(Majanday, cont.)

The mountains above Castel Velantia

.
Gemina was pleased to see that their camp was already set up when they reached the high mountain lake.

Jerem landed in front of one tent. Around the other side of the lake was another tent where Obsidian landed with Aurelia and Garrick.

There were guards stationed down the hill a ways, supposedly out of hearing of anything the newlyweds wished to get up to.

Kolt laughed. “I can hear your thoughts more and more,” he told her.

Gemina blushed.

“There’s nothing to blush about, my darling. We are married now. We’re expected to get up to all kinds of mischief together!”

There were fires already going in front of both of the tents as well as another one which roasted a small slab of meat, probably ovind, if she had to guess.

Her stomach growled. “I think we’d better go get some food!” Gemina suggested.

“I wanted some time in the tent first,” Kolt complained.

“I don’t want to spoil our first married tumble with a growling stomach!”

“Okay, just don’t blame me if I cause a disturbance.”

“You could always wear a loincloth.”

“I sort of threw that away when we took off,” he reminded her.

Gemina laughed. “Come on, Kolt! The twins are really making me hungry!”

He smiled and gave her his arm.

♥

Aurelia sat within Garrick’s arm as he fished.

“You don’t need to fish, you know. We are provided for.”

“I know, Aurelia. I just like to fish. Besides, nothing can beat fish directly from the water! I can cook it too. My father made sure both Kolt and I had the skills we needed to camp well – though no one can beat Kolt’s survival skills!”

“You were so lucky to grow up the way you did, so free!” Aurelia admired.

“And here, I thought you were the lucky one!”

She shrugged. “I was sheltered too much. Partly because Adrick and I lost siblings from a disease when we were little. Breyind and Gemina did as well. The four of us were sent away when the others got sick. They suffered and died. My uncle died in the same epidemic. Our mothers and my father were spared, but unable to have further children. We were part of a very large family, but we ended up being a small family. And fiercely guarded, lest I fall to some roving illness or bandit.”

“Is that why you like to play Wolff so much? To regain risk in your life?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I also loved listening to the sailors talk about all the places they’d been – all the places I would never be allowed to travel myself.”

“Would you like to travel?” Garrick asked, looking at her.

“I would love to!” she replied excitedly. “But my father would never allow it.”

“Maybe we could get him to let us take a little trip – before the baby comes, anyway. We’d be back before solstice most likely.”

Aurelia felt her hopes rising. “I want to! So much!”

“I will work on formulating the best argument I can for getting him to allow us to go. But Aurelia...”

“What?”

“At the end of the day, you are a grown-up now. You can do what you want. You didn’t need to feel embarrassed about becoming pregnant before the ceremony. You don’t need to have your father’s permission to live your life the way you want. Just because you’re a royal doesn’t mean you must be imprisoned on this wonderful island,” Garrick said looking into her eyes. “Part of getting married is finding that new life – on your own – with the one you love.”

Aurelia could feel he was right.

Although her mother would be more understanding – she always had been, it was time to stand up to her father. It was time to stand up to her brother as well. She and Garrick would travel. Maybe they would find a place they wanted to live even more than Velantia. Then what would everyone else say? After all, if Katja could have a portal connecting her to her Other World home, why couldn’t Aurelia?!

“Thank you, Garrick. I can see why the Guardians gave you to me. You’re exactly the man I needed in my life – and I love you so much! We will travel no matter what anyone else says!”

He kissed her. “I just want you to be happy. I know you need a bit more risk in your life – and I am happy to help you grow in that way – just like I’m very happy to help you grow in other ways as well,” he said, placing his hand on her abdomen. “Thank you for marrying me!”

♥

The four newlyweds sat watching the sun descend over the ocean to the west.

“We’re going to follow the sun for awhile,” Aurelia said.

Gemina felt the shock at first, but then realized she had been prepared for it already. “What is your father going to say?”

“He doesn’t have a say in it – either as my father or as my King. I’m a grown woman, and can do as I please. My husband and I are taking a honeymoon overseas. He’s going to show me the world.”

Gemina nodded. Kolt held her to him. “What will you do when your baby comes?” Gemina asked.

“We plan to be back before the solstice. But if we’re not, I’m sure there will be midwives to help us anywhere we go. We’re not the only country on Terrenden to produce children, after all!”

“When will you leave?” Gemina asked.

“Tomorrow morning. You could even ask Stella about setting up a portal in the castle for me… just in case we find a place we can’t bear to leave.”

“Okay, my cousin. I will be sorry to see you go – Adrick will be very hard to please! But I understand,” Gemina replied, giving Aurelia a firm hug. “Please do come back to see us at the very least – and send letters every day!”

“From every port, anyway,” Aurelia promised. “Now, we must get some sleep so we can catch whatever is sailing tomorrow!” With that, Aurelia and Garrick retired to their tent.

“Wow,” Gemina said.

“Yeah. Did you see that happening?”

“No… and yes. Aurelia has always needed more excitement in her life. Maybe helping nurse the sick made her realize she has a choice about her life. It’s a good thing. It also may explain something Rachel was talking about… her dream.”

“What dream was that?”

“She dreamt of the day when Velantia is destroyed – when Mt. Vendar vents his final breath over the island. She was sad, but she realized her descendants would survive in a land far to the north. And while Aurelia’s children are not Rachel’s descendants, maybe this is the first step in that direction – to ensure the future survival of Velantians – getting them off this doomed island.”

“Did she mention us?”

“No. Why?” Gemina asked.

“Stella said that the spells she is teaching us will prolong our lives indefinitely. Not quite immortality, but as close as mortals can come.”

“Maybe we don’t survive Mt. Vendar.”

“Or we leave as well – before… maybe taking some of Rachel’s children with us.”

“I don’t anticipate leaving. I want to raise our children in Velantia. But Rachel did say that Bridget answered her – said she would survive. Maybe that’s what that’s about.”

Kolt nodded. “It’s something to think about. And maybe something will happen that makes Velantia unpleasant – and will drive us to leave. Too many possibilities in the future.”

“For now, we let Aurelia go. We can’t stop her anyway. We prepare for the day when we might have to go and rescue her.”

“Garrick is more than capable of taking care of her… but maybe one day you’ll want to travel too – show the children the world we live in.”

“I want them to see where you grew up,” Gemina replied, realizing it was true – although she loved Velantia, and would always see it as her home, traveling would expand her horizons. “For the moment, though, I think it will be enough of a shock on my family to watch Aurelia go. They will have to get used to that before I’m ready to travel.”

Behind them, Gemina heard a noise, a nickering. She knew that Jerem and Obsidian were grazing below. Gemina turned to see a chestnut nuwa standing there.

“Who are you?” Gemina asked, marveling at seeing another one of the creatures.

< Coral. I bore you from Erion to Thulia.>

“Thank you for your service to us, and congratulations on your wings!”

< Thank you. I desire you for my partner and would bond with you if you wish.> the nuwa replied.

Gemina’s eyes grew wide. “Did you hear that, Kolt?” she asked excitedly.

“No. What did she say.”

“She’s to be my nuwa!!!” Gemina exclaimed, hardly believing it herself.

“Go to her,” Kolt encouraged. “You watched me bond with Jerem.”

She nodded. Gemina walked up to Coral and pressed her head against the head of the nuwa. “I accept your partnership with me. I will love you and serve you – even as you serve me,” she said to the animal.

< Thank you,> Coral replied.

Gemina hugged the nuwa, who replied by wrapping its wings around her.

< Tell your mate to join us,> Coral instructed.

“Kolt, Coral wants to meet you too,” Gemina told him.

He came over and was also enveloped in the chestnut wings.

“You realize that there will be more nuwa needed, Coral,” Kolt said to her.

< I will accept Jerem as my mate as well. We remain herd animals, you realize,> Coral replied to Gemina.

“She accepts her duty as part of Jerem’s harem, as is normal for horses – and now for nuwa,” Gemina informed.

Kolt held her in his arms. “Our fate seems to be tied with that of the nuwa. I can think of worse fates, to be sure.”

“Me too.”