Chapter 7: Out of Bounds

The group took an enchanted coach back to the Ever Realm since Limboris was in a private magical sector within the realm, with intentions of leaving from Enchancia as a starting point. They then switched over to a carriage, which was attached with horses and to be driven by Elias and Isolde. After loading up the carriage, Isolde met the others outside to remind them of the impending journey.

"Limboris is approximately a three-day journey," she informed them. "And that's if the weather is good. Elias and I will decide where the best first stop will be, and we will camp there for the night before heading out early in the morning. Elias, get the luggage. You three, get into the back. I'll make sure the horses are properly set up." She turned and headed to the front of the carriage.

"Miss Personality, huh?" James joked as he leaned toward Ember, who rolled her eyes. Seeing the shackles still on her wrists, his jovial nature faltered a bit. "Uh… Do you need some help getting up the steps?"

Ember couldn't help smiling a bit. "They shackled my wrists, James, not my ankles. I can manage." She stepped onto the bottom ledge of the carriage and made it up to the next one before tripping over the long-hanging chain connecting her shackles, and before she knew it, she was falling backwards. "Ahh!"

James, thinking quickly, hurriedly moved forward and caught Ember before she could collide with the hard ground. He smirked at her as she stared up at him in shock. "You can manage, huh?"

She blushed in embarrassment and scrambled out of his hold. "Sh-Shut up. I'm fine." She carefully maneuvered up the steps again, this time successfully making it into the carriage.

The prince chuckled before taking hold of Jaime's arm, pulling him forward from his standing spot near the back of the carriage. "Come on, buddy. Let's get you in next." He carefully moved Jaime up the steps before looking over at Elias. "Need any help?"

Elias shook his head as he finished strapping the last of the luggage into place. "Nah, I'm good. Go ahead and get in so we can head out." He pulled a tarp down over the luggage before hurrying up to the front of the carriage, stepping up to his seat next to Isolde. He grinned as she handed him one of the reins. "You gonna let me drive this time?"

"Until you hit the first bump," she declared. "Then I'm taking control."

He nudged her playfully, drawling, "You know I love it when you take control…"

Isolde glared at him, shoving him to the other side of the seat. "If you want to remain intact by the time we return to the Conjuror's Board, stay on your side and keep your lascivious comments to yourself."

"Tsk, you're so mean, Isolde," Elias laughed.

James blinked at the exchange between the two sentries before stepping up and into the carriage, sitting opposite the twins, and closing the door behind him. As soon as the carriage began moving, he relaxed a bit into the plush cushioning of the carriage. At least they'd gotten one of the nicer ones from the castle so they could travel more comfortably. He watched as Jaime stared aimlessly out the window while Ember absently played with the shackles around her wrists. Frowning, he told her, "When we make our first stop, I'm going to ask Isolde or Elias to remove those from you to make you more comfortable."

She sighed, "It's useless to ask, James."

"I can use my prince title if they're going to be difficult. I don't ever do it, but I know both of my sisters have pulled the 'princess' card before when people were being evil or rude, so… I know it works."

The blonde woman looked up at him, settling her hands in her lap. "I find it strange that you even care about my shackles, James… I deserve to wear them, don't I? After everything I've done…?"

He shrugged, feeling conflicted. "I mean, you do, but… You also deserve to be treated like a human being. They already put a spell on you to keep you within so many feet of them, so I kind of think those things are overkill. I don't see why they're necessary."

She smiled and dryly responded, "Extra precaution. Isn't that what Miss High and Mighty claimed?"

"I guess… But also, with that spell they put on you, I don't like the fact that if you get too far out of bounds, you'll have that magical shock. It seems so…brutal."

"I'd deserve it," she whispered, absently playing with her fingers. "After everything I've done… Maybe it'll be strong enough to knock me out till we get to Limboris, and I won't have to deal with this long journey or that Isolde and her comments…"

James frowned heavily. He understood why the safety protocol was put in place, but he still didn't quite agree with the methods. Even if Ember had been dangerous, and even if she still had those traits, treating her with dignity didn't take much of an effort. Still, he wouldn't go against the sentries and their choices, especially since they were put into effect by the Conjuror's Board, unless it was absolutely necessary. "I'm, uh… I'm going to take a nap for a while, if you're cool with that."

Ember couldn't help it. She laughed quietly as she nodded. "Do you always check with Amber to see if she's 'cool with' you napping too?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Not really. I just didn't want to be rude by falling asleep on you if you wanted to talk or something."

"Don't worry, James. I'll probably try to get some rest soon too…" She glanced at her brother, frowning softly at his vacant gaze. "It's not like I'll have anyone to talk to anyway…"

"R-Right…" He pulled out a drawer from beneath the seat and withdrew a blanket, closing the drawer and unfolding the heavy fabric. "There are a few more of these under your seat if you guys get cold, by the way. They're really comfortable too." He wrapped up in the blanket, leaning against the plush paneling of the carriage. "Wake me up if you need anything, okay?" Seeing her nod, he closed his eyes and settled down, yawning once as he began to drift off.

Several minutes passed. While the prince slept, Ember soon noticed her brother's vacant gaze growing heavier, and she realized he must also be tired. Unsure exactly how to handle him when he was in his current state, she gently coaxed him into a reclining position, whereby he leaned against a majority of the middle section of the seat, while his head rested in her lap. The weight of him there stirred something faintly comforting, almost as though their connection ran deeper in moments like this—when words didn't have to fill the spaces between them. Not that they could… She gently traced her fingers over his forehead and down his nose, thinking of a few nights when he had done that to her to get her to sleep—usually as children, and even a few times in their early adulthood. She'd never really thought about it, but he'd always tried to keep her comfortable and safe, even in sleep. It was the least she could do to return the favor now…

Jaime was sleeping not long after, and Ember pushed her shackles and chains out of the way as she lowered her hands to his hair, her fingers gently brushing through it and caressing his scalp. A faint sigh escaped her lips—one that wasn't entirely conscious, but more instinctive, as though her body remembered what it was like to be this close to him without all the burdens weighing them down… Something mildly nostalgic filled her as her twin slept in her lap. Again, she was usually the one on the receiving end of this treatment—not him. However, he deserved to have some rest for a change, and she smiled as his soft breathing grew heavier while he fell into a deeper sleep, especially as Ember continued playing with his hair. She removed the hair tie Angel usually tied for him and set it on the seat, allowing her fingers to sift through the wavy blonde locks. She gently tugged at a few sections, appreciating how they unfurled to just past his shoulder blades, before returning to their position when she released them.

A strange emotion filled her as she played with his hair, and she realized it was a mix of guilt, shame, and even wistfulness. Jaime should be cognizant of his twin's affectionate actions right now, but instead he was lost somewhere in his own mind. All because he'd tried to save someone she'd originally destroyed… Her fingers stilled for a moment, resting in his hair, feeling the warmth of his scalp beneath them. There was a fragility in the way he lay against her now, so vulnerable, so far away from her in his silence. But even here, in this quiet, something between them felt unbreakable and even eternal. However, she was tugged back to reality when she looked over at the slumbering prince. James could forgive her all he wanted, but that didn't take away the fact that she'd killed her own brother's counterpart in the first place. And he'd been so kind to her… Just like Jaime… She had to stay strong on this trip, despite her emotions ripping her apart deep inside. She was with Jaime again, and this trip was happening to give them a new start. She had to keep that in mind and not ruin it—not this time.

Several more minutes passed with Ember thinking deeply about the current trip and the potential future. Her hand, still absently tracing small patterns through Jaime's hair, lingered perhaps a moment too long over the curve of his neck. She continued caressing his hair as she felt drowsiness overtake her. Soon after, she leaned back into the seat, closing her eyes, allowing sleep to overcome her at last.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Sentries Ago