Rowan's mind moves back and forth unable to grasp the concept of this link with the forest girl. How could this even happen? he asked himself.
The menace looks at him calmly as though she was no longer upset.
The sprite jumps into her arms as soon as it's released from Rowan's magic.
" It didn't fully pass on the curse." She says to herself, while petting the sprite.
" What?"
She glances down at him, as she floats higher. " You feel pain when the magic of the forest is tampered with. Like these sprites you people steal. They make this forest colorful and alive and you hurt them."
She frowns.
Rowan's forehead creases. " What does this have to do with me?"
" You're not very smart, are you?" She smiles. " When the magic of the forest is hurt, I'm hurt. If we're linked that means you also get hurt."
F*ck. Rowan runs his hand through his hair nervously. He couldn't wrap his mind around why this was happening to him. What did this really mean? He couldn't answer that.
" Maybe you only took part of the curse. You look very normal to me. You're not even floating." She props herself up to pet the sprite and looks at him thoughtfully. " There has to be something else you and I share..."
Rowan glares at her. " This is all your fault..."
"How can you possibly still be mad about that?" She eyes him as though he is madman. " It's another day."
He runs his hand over his face. This woman is clearly mad from running around in the forest.
She floats closer to him, her look almost solemn. " I'm sorry."
He looks at her then. Startled by how close she was to him and he blinks nervously. Unable to even focus on her eyes.
Why did he feel that way?
She props her chin up with her palms. "What do people call you?"
" Rowan." he blurted without a thought. He was looking down now. He regrets that immediately.
She smiles as she watches his reactions. "You're quite adorable up close."
A blush creeps to his face. " What's your name?" He asks as he slowly backs away. " Asides from what people normally call you."
She floats upside down. " I don't have a name. None that I remember..."
He gives her a serious stare. " How do you not have a name? Or even remember ?"
" Other than than 'the menace'? No." She looks at him suggestively. " How about you give me one?"
" Give you a name? Are you sure about that? You just met me."
" I trust you. I was asleep for a long time, so I've never talked to anyone asides from you, and I've been awake for what, five to seven years."
That was around when the attacks started. She had awakened from sleep. The question was, who put her there? And why?
Rowan was curious now. He wanted to further question her, but the others were probably already looking for him.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighs. He looks at her thoughtfully. " How about I call you Auro?" Somehow her features reminded him of the sleeping beauty.
" Auro? What does that mean?"
He shrugs, and starts to walk away. " I have to go back, before people assume I'm dead."
" You're leaving?" She follows him.
" Yes."
" You can't leave."
He turns around, his brow furrows. " What do you mean by that?"
Lowers herself to eye level. " Do you think I'm here in this forest because I want to be. I can't leave because I'm tied to that stupid tree." She points to them both. " If we're feeling pain together, we're probably stuck together, don't you think?"
His frown deepens. " I think I'm just gonna go now." He continues on his walk.
Auro doesn't go after him. He walks for about thirty minutes until he reaches the edge of the forest. The line at where the forest ends is a shadow. Slowly, he tiptoes over it and stills himself waiting for some kind of bodily reaction.
He sighs of relief when a few seconds passes and nothing occurs.
He walks some more until he reaches the tower. He wasn't at all tired despite the distance.
" Row!" Bria runs towards him with immense speed. Her two braids trash around in air. She wraps her hands around him and starts to sob. Loudly. " I thought you were dead. Where the fu*k were you?"
Soon after, they're both surrounded by a group of concerned people. They check him in the tower's infirmary to make sure he's not injured. They dismiss him when they realize nothing is wrong.
Bria tells him that there was a search team that went looking for him when they realize he's missing.That evening the search team returns, sad and disappointed. Bria runs up to them with Rowan on her arm.
Greyhound pulls him in for the biggest bearhug. For several seconds without a word— he just holds him, and then walks towards his room.
" He cares, you know." Bria says, while sat on his bed.
" Who cares?" Row asks.
She rolls her eyes. " My dad. He cares about you. He just doesn't like acting like it." She falls beside him on the bed.
" I know."
She smiles shyly. " Dad wants us to get married. Even the king said it'd be a good Idea."
Rowan always knew that Bria had a crush on him. Since they were children the mention of marriage had come up once or twice. He didn't mind it all that much.
Bria was kind, smart and pretty. Not to mention skilled. She was almost perfect. Almost...
He didn't look at her the same way his father did his mother. Although, that was not what he thought it was important. What mattered to him most was stability.
She faces him, her expression serious. "What happened out there?"
He looks up at the ceiling debating whether to tell her about Auro.
He decided he rather just keep it to himself for now. Bria didn't keep secrets from her father, and the greyhound never kept secrets from the king.
Rowan's eyelids relax. "I fell asleep."