Chapter 20

I flew around for a while, getting more and more relieved when Ianite's presence became closer and closer. It means she's safe. I also hardly felt Wot's presence. He's around, but his presence is very faint. I finally came across Ianite. I held out my arms. She was surprised, but I said nothing as I grabbed hold of her and we dove down into the water. Now she's highly confused. She was gonna say something, but I made the 'shh' gesture. Sinking to the ocean floor, I mined into a dirt wall, pulling her into the space with me and sealing the wall behind us. Wot shouldn't find us. I kept mining when I caught my breath. Ianite was silent, but put torches down so we could see. As soon as I felt we were safe enough, I turned to Ianite.

"Tell me Mianite told you not to come looking for me." She was surprised by my tone.

"He, he did."

"Why did you come looking for me then? You should have listened to him." I felt Ianite's slight annoyance.

"Like you should have?"

"Listen, I did it to keep you safe. Wot would have gotten to you just to get back at me if I stayed. I'm guessing Mianite told you everything?"

"He did. I understood why you thought you needed to do this, but you didn't. Mianite is right, we need to stick together."

"I see that now. I saw you looking for me in a vision I just had. I saw Wot following from a distance. This is why I kind of tackled you midair and brought you here. He shouldn't find us here. Ugh, I wish I could see through the ground... I'd love to see if he's gone... My presence sensing can't reach that far. I have a safe place for us to stay for the night."

"There's a way to see... Composter and piston." Yikes, Ianite's really peeved. She does what's needed for the composter piston trick, then instructs me to get in the composter. I do as she says. "Trust me Lucky, the piston won't hurt you."

"I trust you." She inclined her head slightly, then pulled the lever. Whoa, this is new. I looked around for Wot. I saw him looking around. He has no idea where we went. I could feel his frustration from here as he turned and went back in the direction he and Ianite came from. Only after I was certain that he was completely gone did I signal to Ianite. She pulled the lever again and broke down the contraption. Ianite filled the hole after I'd hopped out of it. "Ok, he's gone. I know a place we can go, the village I just came from." I dug our way out and filled the hole. When we broke through the water's surface, Ianite placed a boat. I got in first, then she got in behind me.

"So, where's this village?"

"Not too far." Man, I hate that she's mad at me. This doesn't feel good. The whole ride was in uncomfortable silence. When we docked, I offered a hand for her, but she only brushed me off. I felt awful. I led her to my new friends' house, head hanging low. When we came up to it, I knocked on the door. It opened to reveal Debbie. She smiled.

"Welcome back Lucky. Who is this young lady behind you?"

"My name is Ianite, ma'am." At least she gave a gentler tone to Debbie.

"Oh, Ianite! You're Lucky's loved one. Oh, you two are soaked, what happened? Come in, come in." She looked over her shoulder. "Ernest dear, go get two towels for our guests." She turned back to us.

"What happened was when I found Ianite, I sort of tackled her in midair and we dove into the ocean. I dug us both into a dirt wall to hide, to keep us safe. The Darkness finally went away and now we're here."

"My goodness. Well, smart and quick thinking Lucky. You got yourself a real keeper here Ianite, if she thought of that right quick." Ianite looked down and shuffled her foot.

"I dunno. Sometimes she doesn't make the greatest choices." Ianite looked at me pointedly. Ernest came back with the towels and handed them to Debbie.

"But I thought I was doing it to keep you safe! Ianite, I thought you understood?" I felt helpless.

"I did, but the more I kept thinking about it as I looked for you, the more frustrated I got. You weren't thinking like a High Priestess. You were thinking like a-a-a child! There was nothing good about you not telling me your fears, nothing good about you just up and leaving me. Then to tell Mianite, not me, what was going through your head? I don't even know what to say to that, other than, why not me? We're supposed to be lovers, act like we are. Tell me what's on your mind, tell me what insecurities you have, your fears, everything..." Her speech left me speechless and ashamed. Debbie put the towels over both of us, then directed us to the kitchen. Ianite and I sat at the table, across from each other. I looked down, thinking about what Ianite just said. I took a deep breath.

"You're right... Ianite, you're right. I was being a child... I wasn't thinking clearly, or like a High Priestess. Ianite, please, will you... can you, ever forgive me... can you ever trust me again?"

"I can forgive you. Trust you? I suppose I still could. I mean, you did prove yourself before, during your trials and during the fight with the Darkness. But Lucky, one more stunt like this and I don't think I'd be as trusting anymore." Hearing that made my heart sink. I nodded. Debbie came over to us with a nice cup of tea. Ianite and I smiled and thanked her, taking our cups. Ernest came in and sat, then Debbie, after getting herself a cup and handing Ernest his.

"May I ask something?", Debbie asked.

"Go ahead.", Ianite and I answered together.

"Now, when you say 'trials', what are you talking about?" Ianite explained everything.

"Well, it seems to me Lucky loves you deeply. She went through all that just to prove her love? To prove that her love will never waver? Well, that just says to me right there that she does really love you. I do agree, her running was not the best of choices, but Lucky, are you new to love?" I nodded.

"I'm also new at socializing. Since I was 13, I was on my own, never wanting to talk to anyone or make relationships. Just recently I only ever started making friends and talking to others. Then even more recently, Ianite and I became lovers. This was something totally new, for both of us."

"I see. Now, Ianite, sure, Lucky will make dumb mistakes, but that's because she needs to learn still. Be patient with her Ianite, teach her. Learn alongside her even. Keep loving her, keep trusting her, keep forgiving her. If you love her just as much as she loves you, then show it. Sure, you two will get at each other sometimes, like earlier, but that's normal in a relationship. As long as you keep apologizing for your mistakes, forgiving each other, and learning from your mistakes, you two could have a great long relationship like Ernest and I."

"Thank you Debbie. Your advice means a lot." Ianite nodded.

"I agree with Lucky. Your advice is really great, and it means a lot that you'd give a young couple in a very young relationship advice. And a couple who you barely even know."

"Of course. I'm very happy to help." We then talked, getting to know one another as we drank our tea. I quite like Debbie and Ernest. They're a great couple. When we finished our teas, Debbie took care of our cups. Ianite and I were not dripping anymore, but still were wet.

"Hey Ianite, how about we go outside and dry off in front of the campfire? I have an empty campfire in my inventory."

"Alright, I'd like that."

Ianite and I stood and put the towels over our arms.

"Where do these go?", we asked. Debbie took them.

"Don't worry about it. You two go take time for yourselves."

"You sure?", I asked.

"I'm sure, now go on."

"Thank you," Ianite and I said, heading to the shore. I set down the campfire and lit it after we arrived. We sat next to each other.

"You know, I really am sorry. I really will try and be better..."

"I know..." was all Ianite said. She leaned against me and rested her head on my shoulder.

"I didn't like you being mad at me. That felt really awful. I hope that never happens again.", I said, resting my cheek against her head and putting my arm around her waist.

"It'll happen again Lucky. Debbie was saying that it will happen more times as our lives go on. We just need to keep forgiving and learn from our mistakes. I'm really glad you met Debbie. She's so kind."

"I would agree. I'm really glad I met her too. I can feel her true intention, and she really wants to help us and be our friend. Same with Ernest. They're just like the nicest couple I have ever known... besides mom and dad. Y'know, she's kind of like a grandma for us and Ernest is like a grandpa. I loved hearing his stories as we drank our tea."

"Aww. That would be cool if they were like grandparental figures for us."

"Should we ask them? Could we visit them regularly if we had the time?" Ianite smiled gently.

"Of course." We stayed cuddled near the fire for a while. I then looked at Ianite.

"You're going to need a bed for tonight. I have a cave near here that I made last night." She looked back at me.

"Oh, I can get a bed. Remember, I can get anything I need from nothing."

"Right, 'cause you're a goddess." She grinned and I returned the grin.

"Exactly." We stared into each other's eyes for a bit. Slowly I leaned my head in closer. I laid a hand on her cheek and kissed her gently. She hadn't tried to stop me, so I figured she was ok with it. That lasted about a moment. After it ended, I laid my forehead against hers, hand still resting on her now blushing cheek. "You were so gentle," she said softly.

"I was. Remember back at your place, I said I would only show my soft side to just one person? You'd said that that person was you and I said you were right. I'm doing just that, showing my soft side. To just you." Ianite only smiled. I could feel Debbie's presence coming closer, so I looked over to where she was coming from and took my hand off Ianite's cheek. Ianite looked as well.

"It's getting close to dark you two. Do you have a place to stay?"

"I have a little cave I made last night we were going to stay in."

"Oh, don't stay in a cave dear. Ernest and I would love for you to stay at our house for the night."

"Are you sure? We wouldn't want to impose.", Ianite said.

"Oh, it's no imposition. You're more than welcome. Come, come. We have a spare bedroom. It's actually the bedroom I changed your bandages in Lucky." I nodded.

"And it's a good thing I have a spare bed I can place next to the existing bed. Give me a couple minutes to grab my things from the cave." Debbie nodded, then went back to her house. Ianite and I stood up and I grabbed my campfire after I extinguished the fire. I took Ianite's hand, lacing our fingers and led her to the cave. As we approached, I let go of her hand and picked up my Ender chest and bed. I had the dirt and stone in my inventory so as we went out, I replaced the dirt and stone. It was like I was never there. We walked back to Debbie and Ernest's place hand in hand, fingers laced. When we reached the door, I knocked. Ernest answered and stepped back.

"You didn't have to knock young one. We were expecting you." We went in.

"Oh, alright. Oh, Ianite, Debbie said that my leg and arm wounds don't need the patches changed three times a day. They can be changed when I wake up and before I go to bed. My shoulder however still needs to be changed three times a day."

"Ok. Debbie, where are the bandages and stuff?"

"I've set them on the bookcase next to the bed."

"Ok, thank you. We'll be off to bed now. Thank you for giving us a place to stay." Debbie and Ernest smiled at us, then we went into the guest room after wishing them a 'good night'. I placed my bed down next to the other bed. Debbie had changed the sheets on the other bed. I sat on my bed and Ianite got to changing the patches on my legs. "They're really healing well. I did notice that some of your wounds are healed now. I'm really happy about that."

"I am too. I can't wait until I'm completely done with this..." Ianite smiled.

"I can understand that." She finished my legs, then went on to my arms. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes. When she finished, "Lucky, you gotta sit up. I gotta do your shoulder. Especially because I don't think it was done at midday today." I sat up. She undid the bandages and started cleaning the wound. "It's almost completely closed on the back side here. Only because that's where the point of the solidified smoke came through. Your front will take more time of course." She finished the back then moved to the front. After she finished, she wrapped the bandages around me, then she went and disposed of the dirty ones and washed up. Then she took care of the supplies, setting them where they were before. I laid under the covers of my bed and she got in the other one.

"Good night my lady."

"Good night my champion."