Chapter 273: Reunion Of Hearts (The End)
[Music Recommendation: Dandelion by Ruth B]
The winter months had already gone by, making way for a balmy summer night as the couple took a leisurely stroll through the captivating royal garden, hand-in-hand. The aroma of blooming rose and Jasmine surrounded the vicinity, leaving a unique feeling of romance and intimacy lingering in the atmosphere. The moon shone brightly, casting a soft glow over the flowers and trees, while the gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
The silence that was shared as they quietly enjoyed the view of the royal garden, it felt like a dream. Madeline could hardly believe everything that was happening right now was not her hallucination tricking her mind. Her heart was racing, and in order to calm her nerves, she rested her hand on her baby bump, feeling her child move within her, whilst Cassian placed his hand on top of hers, surprising the woman who looked up to meet his Amber-brown eyes.
"Am I dreaming again?" The tone of her voice was pleasingly soft as she inquired from Cassian who averted his gaze from her brilliant eyes, and then they continued on their stroll as he gently swung their interlaced hand.
"You’re the one who’s like a dream, Maddie. The most beautiful dream I never wish to wake up from. Dream or not, I don’t care as long as I get to be with you in it." He replied before looking at her right on time to catch the young woman blushing to herself. With his other hand shoved in his pocket, he proceeded to explain what had happened after he fell off the cliff with Abbot.
"I never entertained the idea that I would survive the barrier spell with my condition. A lot of things happened in a flash while falling off the cliff and holding on to hope was meaningless at that time." He clicked his tongue, "I felt tested, it was a test with visible consequences and I didn’t mind giving everything up as long as you were safe Maddie." The tone of his voice drifted with the wind, and Cassian could still remember vaguely the whole scenario that took place after his fatal fall.
He could feel Madeline’s grip on his hand tighten, as if trying to seek comfort and offering him one as well. With her concerns evident, she asked. "But what really happened to you? Abbot told us you gave your body to that vile thing and–"
"I was about to, but I didn’t." He corrected, and Madeline’s eyes snapped wide. Aware of the question in her obsidian eyes, he nodded. "Elijah had taken my spot, how he fell or if he jumped himself, that I do not know, but one thing I’m sure of was that he saved my life, but in doing so, he lost his process."
"I only have a clear recollection of what happened after opening my eyes. I was hoping to see you but the environment I stayed in seemed local and different. The families who helped me said they had stepped out to do some fishing when they saw my body lying at the shore. They treated me for six months, and they said my condition had feared them since my chances of surviving were rather miniscule, but hey, I’m here now." He gestured by opening his arms out, showing his healthy self to Madeline who appeared more worried than happy.
All this time her husband was busy fighting for his life and she.. "you had to go through so much Cassian, all because of me and I’m..."
"No more with the self blames Maddie." He hushed her up before continuing with his story. "The villages were being terrorized during those Months, and it was crucial. I couldn’t abandon the families and villagers that helped me, nor could I stand those illiterate terrorists, so I decided to stay one more month to assist them. I was healing pretty fast as the days went by, and in the end, I and the villagers were able to chase them away, but not without a proper beating. You need to see the havoc they caused. But, the elders of the community sent for me, and when I made a proper introduction of who I was, Alaric showed up the next day."