Talia was quiet, weighing what to tell me before sighing. She finished her water before she took my hand, squeezing, grounding. "From what I've heard from our parents' talk when we were young, they said that you're a gift from the highest heaven and the moon..." I nodded, but what she said next froze me. "...for giving you another life. Bernila, when you were born, they said you're weak, and within a week you'll die, but with their deep prayers, here you are, alive and changing." I was speechless. I can't cope with a part of me I haven't heard before. "That's another reason why we're overly protective of you."
"And let me guess, none of you told me because I was not ready?" I guessed sarcastically, trying to handle a revelation. But my chest was tight, heavy from the news I've heard, and I didn't realize I was already crying. I wiped them before asking, "Did everyone know?"
Talia shook her head before saying, "Only the elders and the family know about."
"So, everything else was because I'm too weak in their eyes to be alive instead of my parents, right?" I scoffed, making fun of my situation, but my tears were falling.
"Bern, enough." Talia cupped my face, forcing me to meet her assuring eyes, and said. "The past is a part of you, but you don't have to dwell on it. It's okay to learn about them, but only for accepting a part of you that you didn't know." I leaned on her temple, crying as I let her words sink in. Then she added. "The past is something to look back on, a reminder, but it doesn't define a person. You're changing Bernila. If in the past you survived death, you held your ground when you got bullied and wronged, now, you're a fighter."
"You think so?" I asked for confirmation as Talia wiped my tears from my face.
Almira placed her hand on my shoulder gently before she assuringly said, "Talia is right, Bernila. We're witnesses to your progress."
"We're here now, Lady Bernila," Allison added gently, making me sigh and nod.
I have to keep myself together because they were right. I was changing, I could feel it, and yes, the news might be heavy, but learning a part of me from the past doesn't change the fact that I was in the process of improving myself. I might be skeptical of the news, but being in this nice environment, I started to look at the positive side. My parents' love, their faith in me, and the never-ending hope of my family and friends have given me the strength to go through it all. And I could do it again.
I closed my eyes, letting the news settle at the back of my head, calming - freeing myself from doubt. And to focus on my progress instead.
I stretched my body before slapping my face, regaining my composure, and smiling. "Thank you, Talia, for telling me about it, and for being here." I sincerely thanked them, and they gave me an encouraging hug. But when I pulled from it, I noticed a distant look in Talia's eyes; she was worried over something she could not tell me about. "Tal, is there something else you wanted to tell me, but can't?"
She jolted from my question before shaking her head. "It's not that I can't, it's just I don't know fully about it." Talia corrected, but she noticed my confused reaction made her pinch my cheek. Then she continued, "You mentioned earlier about a dream, and maybe at school you might learned something about wolves with subjective clairvoyance. It's a rare gift for wolves to have, but it could have a possible connection with a deeper call from the moon or the spirit wolves."
"Fenrir..." I mumbled softly, thinking about what Mikyle told the Fenrir in my dreams. I sighed because she had a point, and silence was deafening, not until Almira clapped her hands.
"Okay, enough with the heavy topic, shall we eat? She winked as she dusted herself and walked before us. "Bernila baked cookies and brownies."
"She did?!" Talia looked surprised, grinning, and Allison confirmed. She quickly jumped and skipped beside Almira excitedly, but chanting, "Berns, cooking, Berns, baking. Lovely and sweet."
I watched Talia behave like a child beside Almira as we walked through the hall. It was an amusing sight, but I sensed something else between the two. I leaned closer to Allison and asked softly, "Alli, does Almira have a mate? I haven't met them before, have I?"
"Well, Lady Almira doesn't commit to anyone who can't handle her." She replied softly, but the air around Allison had shifted and whispered to me something grave about Almira's mate. "Her mate died before they could mark each other. He got entangled in a conspiracy to bring down Lady Mirxalyn before she became a queen. He used their mate bond to get inside the family, but Almira saw it coming and killed him in front of everyone." I was taken aback. Then I watched Almira hold herself like she didn't go through any heartbreak. Then she continued, "That's why her siblings were being protective of her and put her into a knight position, which she's very remarkable, better when her ex-mate was around. She needed to act like a lady when she was born as a fighter."
"Wow." I was astonished.
"She might act like chaos, but she's more to it." She chuckled as we tailed the two before she added with a wink, "And around Lady Talia, I think they could work just fine."
I chuckled, saying, "I'm glad I was not the only one sensing a bond forming between them." I was grateful that Talia had finally found a mate within Almira. Then I whispered as we entered the kitchen to grab what I had prepared earlier before everything had happened. "I'll pray for the better."
The entire moment with Talia has been chaotically fun, and I can't deny that it's the best day I have ever felt. Talia's mischievous presence eased my troubled mind, which I hadn't realized I had been missing. Although I wished she would stay, sadly, she didn't. Her stay wasn't permanent, and before she left, she handed me an old telegram addressed to her. She told me to open it in my room alone, and I did.
I was alone in our bedroom, fully changed, refreshed. Then I muttered softly. "Let's see who left me this letter."
By the time I opened the letter, I remembered something from my younger years, when I was laughing and playing with my parents. With unspoken words, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what had been written on fading paper.
To my dearest little one, Bernila,
First, your father and I wish you a happy birthday. Keep the hope and be blessed. Always be the grateful and smart child we're proud of. Second, by the time you'll read this, there's a possibility that either your father or I will not be alive due to the brewing tension that has been lurking in the entire land of the Rosethorn Empire. The Knightrose called every fighter at each pack, clan, and tribe that had been living in their land to defend each border. It's intense, but for your safety and destiny, we'll keep you safe even if we have to sacrifice our moment to stand with you.
Okay, that's enough. I don't want to make you cry reading this.
For the third message, don't be upset that we decided to arrange a marriage between you and Mirxalyn Knightrose. I'll be honest, I don't like it due to your gap. She's been alive for a while, but love transcends gaps, and we've witnessed it. Treasure it because from what we've seen with her, she loves deeply. That's why if she's hurt, she could make anyone disappear. Fourth, I've dreamed about you in your twenties; you're different from her. You became more like us, your father and me, a fighter. Accept it, and it will lead you to an adventure you have never been. Speaking of adventure, my fifth message, when you rank as her knight, travel across the land, the sky, and the sea. Among those who travel, head to Etherea Gaia with Mirxalyn. Look for Lauryn Garcia, the Witch CEO at Elyndor City. She'll give you something rightfully yours.
With love, MKD
PS
In every adventure, a missing piece will be found. Take it and awaken your inner spirit. We love you and are always with you.
I haven't realized that my tears had fallen if it didn't touch the old paper. I was sobbing quietly, tracing my biological mother's penmanship, before pressing the letter on my chest, savoring the message. I couldn't say anything and just fell off the edge of the bed, weak, crying.
But when a pair of securing arms draped around me, I sobbed harder. "They died in service. Protecting our land." I became small as I cried openly into my wife's arms, adding, "They said, they loved me...they loved me..." I sobbed, telling my wife about their love for me before admitting how much I miss them. "I miss them, Mirxa...my parents...I missed them..."
Mirxalyn didn't say anything. She kept her arms around me, securing me, cradling, protecting me until my sobbing quieted down. She pulled away to check on me, wiping my tears away before kissing my temple, and she said, "Of course, you'll miss them, and there's nothing wrong with admitting that you do. They were your parents. With them, I won't be able to get a chance to marry you."
"Mir, they mentioned you in the letter..." I managed to tell her as I wiped my tears and watched her read the letter. Then I continued. "They said, we're going to travel at the right time and meet the woman Mom mentioned." I noticed her silence as she read them, but what caught my attention was her jaw clenching and the sudden shift in her aura - she's unreadable again. Cold but less intimidating. It made me ask. "Did you know her? The woman Mom mentioned?"
She took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, she's an old acquaintance. And it seems to me, your mother saw a future for us meeting my old friend."
I frowned, worried about the letter's message. Then I asked. "Is it a bad omen?"
She sensed my wariness and kissed my tear before smiling with assurance. Then she answered me honestly. "It could be, since going on an adventure, you need to be ready for danger." I understood, but my eyes narrowed when she smugly grinned at me as if she was thinking something I might not like. Then she added. "It also means that if we go for it, you need to be in great form."
I gave her a scrutinizing look, and she grinned deeply, nodding knowingly. I already hate it, and I tried to guess, hoping I was wrong. "Are you saying..."
"Yes, you need to take combat classes." She answered before I could finish my question. I sighed heavily, defeated. But my heart melted when she added gently, "And besides, I want you to see my world through my eyes as a queen."
I was taken aback a little, but my lips betrayed me as I smiled softly at her words. I faked a cough, and I teased her. "You mean your conquering side?"
"Yeah, that too." She chuckled before pulling me again into her arms, easing my worry again. Then she wondered. "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah, I am. I got overwhelmed." I answered before I pulled away to peck her lips, blushing as I thanked her. "Thank you."
"If I'm going to get a kiss, I think I'll keep doing it." She tried to hide her blushing cheek. I didn't say anything, but I did hit her arm playfully. Then the next thing I did surprised me because I sat on her lap, snuggled to her neck without warning. "This is new. Clingy."
"Shut up and let me rest." I hit her chest lightly as I listened to her faint heartbeat, before I fell asleep, "You're comfy."