Chapter 14: Hymn of life
Elize didn't know how long she had been sleeping in the darkness but she was not afraid. It was not like the cold dark of Larbari. This reminded her of a soft patch of moss or a bed of woven ivy in a midsummer's night. It smelled of green and dew, and she felt that if she opened her eyes, she would find herself lying on a blanket of newly sprouted vegetation on a forest floor, soaking up what she could of the sun's rays through the gentle swaying canopy of tree branches above.
It was the feeling of rebirth.
She could not recall how long it had been since she last heard anyone's voice; not Milla, nor Ludger or Jude's. When was it that she fought to save a young man and his sister? She could not remember their names. How long ago did she fight in the coliseum or dine with friends? It seemed ages ago that she had last spoken to her family.
What had she been doing?
In that dreamlike state she saw a spectrum of visions, disjointed and out of order. They were images related to the dark side of human nature; the experiment chamber at Labari Hollow, a tribesman's spear pointing at her father, the unwelcoming faces of the children who threw stones at her, her house burning in the Mon Highlands, wagons of wounded and dead rolling down the streets of Hamil, the rat that died in the trap in the corner of her cell, Isla taking silver coins into her hands, the sight of Jiao disappearing in an explosion, the frost bitten feet of orphans, the fallen form of Nils and Wingul standing over him.
Other images glimmered like stars lighting the night. Of those she recognized were fully bloomed princessia in a bed of snow, piano keys, Wingul slicing a napple for her, Driselle's favorite teacup, her mother's smiling face, glistening ice pillars cast from Rowen's mystic arte, Milla's awkward bangs, Jude scribbling equations on a chalkboard, the light of the setting sun through porange trees, Alvin's poker face, Ludger's folded pink underwear, a pencil twirling through Leia's fingers, Jiao's outstretched hand, the sight of doves flying away as she opened her window in Kanbalar….
It was like watching the illustrated pages of a book she had read and knew by heart - the book of her life.
In her heavy slumber, bordering between the realms of unconscious and wakefulness, she felt something was missing. She recalled the sight of a beautiful long sword, gleaming as brightly as the sun goddess who granted light to the world, the large hand that gently touched her face and the faint smell of lavender.
Who had she forgotten?
She stayed there in the abyss, calmly waiting for something to happen. Teepo's voice was buzzing in the background singing a song about porange wine that made people dizzy. The spyrite seemed to be singing along with him.
But it was Milla's voice that finally shook her back to her senses.
"May the shadow be peeled away to give you new life; and should the darkness overtake you let us meet once more before you return to the light of Origin."
It resounded in her head like an incantation to bring her back to life; a hope and prayer from the Lord of Spirits.
"…Milla!" she said as her eyes opened. Her voice was barely audible from lack of use. She wanted to sit up but found herself unable to do so. None of her limbs were working properly. Her stomach muscles seemed nonexistent. She may as well have been transplanted into Teepo's squishy body because it didn't feel like she had a skeleton.
Elize waited for something to happen and eventually the feeling started to come back to her skin. It was cool in the room but her left hand felt distinctly warm, as if someone had been holding it for some time. There was a chair pulled up next to her bed that was now empty.
When she concentrated long enough she could move the tips of her toes and curl her fingers. As time went by she found she was able to shift her legs. Finally, after much trial and error and pulling up against the metal bed rail for leverage she was able to sit up in bed and dangle her feet over the edge. She gently peeled the heart monitor wire from her chest.
Unsteadily, Elize took small steps until she reached the door and triggered the sensor to open the door. Outside of the room was a lab, with four other adjoining doors. She wandered towards each of them and noticed the name plates. Her former Labari inmates were all here and an immediate wave of relief washed over her.
There was an open balcony door close by and she wandered towards it. The city lights illuminated against the dark purple, predawn sky and the sounds of the never sleeping city hummed. She could hear the train in the distance.
Elize rubbed her skin where the adhesive had been, and while looking down she noticed a faint vertical scar down the center of her chest, barely visible but definitely new, visible from the unbuttoned collar of her hospital gown. She reached up to feel the base of her neck and felt a thin welt from where the implant had been cut out. The hard metal object beneath her skin was no longer there.
Elize leaned against the railing and breathed in the offerings of Trigleph. The air was still heavy with mist, and from her position some thirty or so flights up she could see the sky begin to glow in the east. A slow smile spread across her lips when she realized that breathing deeply no longer sent sharp pains through her chest. Elize blinked away the tears.
She was finally free of Labari.
As Elize puzzled over what this meant for her future, a future she had not given much thought to during her quest, the sound of shouting and rushing footsteps approached behind her.
She turned to see Jude, nearly out of breath, leaning against the door frame with a desperate look on his face. A group of nurses and doctors were hovering behind him trying to see Elize for themselves. She cocked her head in question as Jude immediately went to her and held her firmly by the shoulders with a half relieved, half admonishing expression.
"There you are," he breathed. "When the nurse paged an emergency message that your monitor stopped registering heart beats I was beside myself with worry. Your vital signs were stable before I left so I thought something must have gone horribly wrong. I never thought you'd pull the wires off yourself. I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon."
"Sorry, Jude…" she said in a hoarse whisper with a small smile. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"Don't you know she has a terrible tendency to wander off when she's expected to stay still?" asked a deeper voice from behind. Elize looked over Jude's shoulder to see Gaius standing there with arms folded. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
He merely shook his head in resignation and walked over to drape his coat over her shoulders. "She also tends to adventure most inappropriately in her night clothes," he said and gently touched her cheek with the back of his hand, which she covered with her own.
When they had somehow forgotten they were not alone, Jude cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Let us go back," said Gaius escorting her inside, "the air is damp."
Elize was told that she had been in stasis for three weeks after her surgery to allow Jude's spyrite device time to heal her body. When she asked about the scar on her chest, other doctors explained that her heart had stopped working properly before the surgery and they had to open her chest to massage it back into a regular beat. Thankfully her notes guided Dr. Mathis during the operation, and afterwards, he devised ways to make it even safer for the the others.
"Rowen and Lady Driselle will be expected tomorrow. Alvin and Leia have been visiting you pretty regularly, and the Chancellor also stopped by. They were a little shocked that your illness had become so severe, but they were all pulling for you," said Jude, patting her on the head in that familiar way.
"I couldn't ask for better friends," smiled Elize, grateful for her good fortune.
"His Highness arrived just as your surgery was wrapping up," added Jude, looking at Gaius as if in a new light. "I knew he was your sponsor, but I had no idea that…you two…," he coughed nervously. "I should have guessed by the way he was acting. Whenever he became restless Ludger just sent him down to the Spririus basement to test the new training drones and keep him occupied."
"It was a worthy exercise," said the king offhandedly. "The data used in my fight simulations has increased the efficiency of the machines by 200%."
"I don't think any new recruits will ever pass the Spirius Corporation agent exam now if they keep your settings," chuckled Jude.
"You stayed with me the whole time? For three weeks?" Elize asked Gaius incredulously. She half expected the Rieze Maxian government to presently be in an uproar. Yet even now as she was back in bed propped up by a small pile of pillows he was calmly holding her hand. It was the same warmth that had lingered with her even when she first woke. A look of worry crossed her face.
"I came only after I had finished what I needed to do with the new parliament in Fenmont," he added, sensing her concern and guilt. "Rowen helped me take care of the rest, though I am in his debt since he also wished to be here. I must leave again shortly to exchange places with him but I wanted to make certain you were well."
She stared at him thoughtfully, wondering if he was the same King Gaius she had met when she was younger. Perhaps this was who he had always been underneath; a profound and feeling man with just convictions who held fast to his vows. But even more so, he was a man who cared deeply about everything important to him. Gaius had simply added her to that list.
The Four had been right and wrong about love. It burned bright with passion; but it was also solid like the earth and whimsical as the wind. In a moment such as this, it was calm like the surface of water, reflecting one's own heart. Love was all of these things and she would live long enough to experience all of its elements.
"They really are love experts," Elize mused quietly. When Jude asked, Elize explained her dream of meeting Milla. A wistful smile crossed her friend's lips, certain that Milla was watching over them, and he said no more.
-000-
It would be a few more hours before her doctors and nurses released her. Dressed in her traveling clothes again, she tapped her mage's staff lightly on the lobby floor as she used it for support. Erston and Ludger were chatting quietly nearby as she approached the main entrance.
"There you are," said Ludger with a wide grin. "I thought maybe you had skipped the bill."
"You can give my sponsor the bill," she teased.
"I'm just grateful you didn't charge an exorbitant amount as your cousin Rideaux did to you," sighed the king. Ludger chuckled, though a while back recalling that debt had made him shudder.
"Having been asleep for three weeks, I bet you're hungry," said Ludger. Just thinking about food made her salivate.
"Perhaps I should feed you before I leave," sighed Erston, handing her a handkerchief.
"Have a good time then, you two," said Ludger, waving them away.
"You're not coming?" asked Elize.
"Three's a crowd, right?" he smirked. Elize flushed. "Remember what I told you," Ludger nodded to the king. At that Gaius blushed deeply and looked away to clear his throat. He tugged at her hand and headed towards the exit while giving a backwards glance towards Ludger, who only chuckled behind them.
-000-
The pair found a café by following the scent of its freshly baked bread and pastries down the street. Initially they sipped their coffee and tea in silence while gazing at the passers by outside but it was Gaius who spoke first.
"What are you going to do now that your quest is finished?" he asked.
Direct as usual, thought Elize, hiding her amusement behind her cup.
"I really haven't had much time to consider," she said honestly. After all, she had just come back to life.
"Of course," he said, brow furrowed.
More silence followed but this time it was Elize who picked up the conversation. "Driselle once said that no matter where I go I would always have a home at Sharil Manor."
"You wish to go back to your position there?" he asked quietly.
Elize paused and thought about it, then shook her head. "It's not what I want for myself, though I've had the honor of serving House Sharil until recently. Now that my journey is coming to an end, I'm wondering what I should do. Perhaps I should pay my respects to my parents and Jiao."
"How long will you stay then in Auj Oule?" he asked carefully.
"I…haven't really thought that far ahead," she let out a small laugh.
"The Minister of Healing in Kanbalar has retired," he said suddenly. "I am in need of someone to replace him who has had the proper training. The position oversees the entire Ministry. I am thinking of giving the position an additional duty of overseeing the princessia flower cultivation project you have petitioned for."
She listened to him speak while eating her delicious plate of strawberry crepes but as he finished, her fork came to a halt.
"The position is yours if you wish," he concluded. "You are more than qualified." Looking at her directly without dropping his gaze, she knew this was her queue to respond. Elize was certain that whatever answer she gave would decide if their fate would continue to intertwine.
Once you've made your decision to walk with him or not, other paths will open for you.
She was speechless. The thought did cross her mind that she should give herself more time to consider it, but his expression told her he needed an answer before he left and she was certain no matter how much time passed, she would always come to the same conclusion.
"It would be my honor to assist the king," she responded dutifully. A slow smile spread across her face and she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. She quietly added, "Kanbalar is a beautiful city. Your library is also very extensive and I haven't had a chance to fully explore it. But most importantly, the thought of being able to see you makes me happy."
Gaius looked uncomfortable as he added, "I am not always available to see my ministers when they seek an audience with me. My duties require that I attend meetings with my staff at all hours, otherwise I am in the throne hall listening to petitions. If not in Auj Oule, I am constantly traveling."
"Oh," said Elize, trying not to let her disappointment show. "Of course."
Gaius cleared his throat and took something out of his jacket pocket.
"Someone suggested, however, that this will give you 'free access' to my attention and my…person…without anyone questioning it," he said haltingly as he slid a shiny object across the table.
Elize's eyes were entranced by the platinum ring encircled with pale pink colored diamonds - the color of princessia in the snow. She felt herself take a small gasp of air as she realized she was forgetting to breathe. Without even realizing it her fingers were reaching out to touch it and confirm that it was real, but she stopped herself.
"I would be honored if you accepted it," said Gaius, discreetly placing a hand over hers. Elize fixated on the ring, sparkling in the morning light. In her mind Teepo's voice kept repeating, Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh.
"Elize?" he cocked his head in question. She looked at him blankly.
"Will you permit me?" he asked stiffly as he positioned the ring to slip it onto her finger. There was a hint of apprehension in his face and that rare moment made him seem extremely vulnerable.
Milla was right. He always did things his way, with a direct frankness wrapped in a sense of propriety. In that pivotal moment, as if she could see all the years to come, he would always give her his sincerity, if not his time, enveloped in the warmth of his affection for as long as they could be together.
"Are…are you sure?" she finally managed to say after finding her voice again. Her eyes searched his for any signs of doubt but she found none.
"I would ask you the same," he said with a self-deprecating smile. Elize slid her finger through in response. She was amazed it fit perfectly.
As if reading her thoughts he added, "I had been holding it for three weeks. One would think I would know the size of your hand by now."
He looked thoroughly embarrassed and his attempt to maintain his composure made her laugh. Any further awkwardness between them was dispelled. She had come full circle with the cursed life that was tied in so many ways to Gaius, but Elize decided that she would continue to walk with him still, forging a new path for fates that were meant to intertwine.
Author's note: Yes, Elize/Gaius get their happily ever after. This is one of my stories, after all. All my heroines get their HEA even if it doesn't always work out like that in RL. Or with poor Jude, as Kuroiikawa aptly mentioned to me. -Kero