Agartha

Chapter nine

Galia’s POV

Waking up was harsh, my head and my hands hurt so much. Tears were coming out of my eyes because of the pain but his warm hand was patting my forehead and his soft voice was calling my name.

“Galia”

“Ragnar… It hurts”

“I’ll make you sleep”

“No, tell me, what happened? Is everyone safe?”

“Yes, it’s all over”

“How long did I sleep?”

“Many hours. It´s passed midnight”

A little hand was pushing and pulling my shoulder, it was the prince trying to get my attention to talk to me.

“Are you OK? Are you OK? Please wake up, come to the palace with us!”

“She needs to recover first, your highness”

The princess was sleeping next to me and woke up, smiled, placed one hand on my head and the other on my hands. Green healing light flowed, and the pain went away.

They helped me sit and Ragnar called for aid.

“Soldiers!” Two beautiful elves came running. “Help princess Galia”

“General… let’s just go...” I tried to stand but he didn’t let me.

“Remember the rules, your highness”

I kissed the princess and thanked her (she probably worked hard healing her soldiers) then I endured the process of cleaning, dressing and getting my hair done.

After that, we all left to the palace. Almost everyone was at the healing rooms, but chaos was over. Everybody tried their best to repair, clean, help the injured, cook, organize, protect… My grandma and the queen were still unconscious, Kiryat was awake but too weak to talk. My cousin Erik was guiding the villagers back (like a million people). My uncle was badly hurt, he was stable, and the expert wizards were putting some odd plant mixtures on his wounds. He had broken ribs, beast’s blood burns, scratches all over and a big wound on his head. Aunt Marilin was next to him helping. My twin cousins were at the library, the king and my grandpa were there too, busy with papers and maps. They had an army of wizards investigating all over the place.

“Your highnesses” I bowed

“Oh Galia! Cut that off… Everybody knows you are one of us now, you were able to make and hold the freaking wall by yourself...” My cousin Hari said rolling her eyes.

“What the hell are you wearing?” Asked Tera.

“The elves healed me” I said blushing and heard Ragnar clearing his throat behind me saying “Your highnesses” He bowed. “Children, I’ll take you to the nannies and guards, time to go to bed and I need to come back to work” As he was getting out of the library, grandpa said “Thank you, my old friend”.

Grandpa and the king gave me the biggest group hug. “Thank you, we are so proud of you” said grandpa whispering.

“Are you Ok, child?” Asked the king “our bloodline runs strong in you! Although, it revealed who you truly are. Taking the command on the land when no one was there was the best decision. You look good, let us update you and please join us, we need as much help as possible”.

“She needs to rest!” Grandpa and my cousins looked concerned.

The king and I replied at the same time “No she doesn´t!”/ “No I don´t!”.

The next two weeks were hard, but everything went back to normal, including the center. Even had a chance, once in a while, to spend some time with Ragnar at the library, sharing poems and talking about work. My grandpa seemed happy I was getting along with my guard. All my relatives were asking about how I was able to hold the wall and for me the only logical answer was I am used to perform magic freely, without that annoying wand. They disagreed and demanded I used it continuously.

On Sunday, after dinner, I finally had a chance to relax at my gazebo. On my way there I was thinking about how much my life has changed, how I missed my family…

“Hello, Galia”

“General! What are you doing here?”

“It’s Ragnar… I had someone keeping an eye on you and informing me if you headed this way”

“Stalker” I said with a smirk. “Who told you?”

“A cricket, friend of mine”

“Lier!” After I said that a real cricket jumped to his shoulder… Seriously..?

I sat next to him. “I forgot to thank you for helping me, couldn’t have done it without you”

“Not true… And it was a pleasant surprise to realize you are one tough lady”

“You know having your protection allowed me to concentrate. Your presence is important to me, gives me strength”

“Your presence is one of my reasons to live, as simple and as complicated as that”

I didn´t know what to say… He truly cares about me? “How can I be a reason to live if you keep me apart as much as you can?”

“Told you it is complicated”

“Try…”

“Because I´m developing feelings for you I cannot permit” He looked tired, defeated.

“Why can´t you allow those feelings? I want you to” Never in my life had I been this bold, but I needed him.

“Because you are a witch and I am an elf and this could cause a war, you have no id…”

I interrupted “I´m a human, actually! I´ll deal with my family. Not an excu…”

He interrupted “YOU ARE TOO YOUNG!”

“Am I too young? Who is the one denying his feelings? Coward!” I accused him. My eyes were bright blue out of anger.

“Galia, I´m trying to protect you!”

“By keeping from me what is already mine?”

“And what is that?” He said it with a sarcastic tone.

“Your heart. I own it. I see love in your eyes, the same that is consuming me. I can feel passion drowning you, I feel it too”

“Stop! You are too young to either understand or talk about this things”

“Am I? Am I too young to have noticed the bulge in your trousers last time I whispered a poem at your ear?”

“GALIA!”

“The very thought of it is like fire burning from within. Ragnar, I´m not young. I´m a woman, either you acknowledge it or not”

“I know you have experienced things before but there´s a reason that relationship didn´t work. You are too young, try to understand!” He looked desperate, grabbing his head.

I closed the distance between us and placed my hands softly on his chest. Strands of hair framed wildly his stunning, sad face. His heart was beating so fast… I tiptoed to reach and rub the tip of his nose with mine and then stopped to switch my gaze between his wide opened eyes and his lips. “Your eyes!”

“What?”

“I didn´t know elves could do that too!”

“Do what!?”

“Your eyes are shinning in green!” He looked puzzled, almost scare, like I´d just revealed his darkest secret and his eyes went back to normal.

“What is it? Tell me!”

He said in a low voice, like talking to himself in amazement and his eyes lost. “I love her? I love her…”

“I don´t understand” My heart was beating fast.

“It´s nothing” He looked ashamed.

“If you don´t explain I´ll ask anyone!”

“Don´t! I will explain... Elves´ eyes glow green only when they fall in love, because love is the strongest and most healing feeling in the world but it doesn´t always happen…”

My heart felt like it would explode! HE LOVES ME????

“I think I´m falling for you…” My words were shy.

“This has gotten too far! I can´t do this to you. I´m not coming back here”

“Want to run away from me? I won´t stop you. I´m tired of your rejection”

“Is not rejection!”

“Don´t care! Go away and never come back. I know every single day you stay away will tear your soul apart as much as mine but I’m stronger and will get through. Good luck to you”. I left before he could say anything. He tried to follow me but a rush of energy coming from me made him step back, although I meant to throw him on his butt.