Agartha

Chapter thirteen

Antioco´s POV

“This girl is a headache!” I made a bubble to call my brother and son to the library, but they entered that instant.

“Antinoo, you need to constraint your granddaughter! She is out of control; she almost gets herself killed today!”

“Are you sure she needs to be controlled?”

My brother looked exasperatedly calmed, I have enough worries, I don´t need a rebellious child in my family.

“Of course she needs restrains! Her future looks terrible if she insists on continuing with this behavior”

“I disagree”

“Me too” Den took my brother´s side

“Are you kidding me?!”

“Father, Galia is not what we expected, that’s true, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing”

My brother continued “She´s been with us for less than a year and she´s catching up with her training; also, defended our land by herself and gave us time to arrive avoiding a disaster. She even strengthened our relationships with the elves, all nobles loved her”

The entrance guard interrupted us, announcing General Ragnar, who wanted to speak to Antinoo.

“He may come” After a minute he entered.

“Good evening your highnesses”.

“General. It is always a pleasure to have you visiting us. How can we help you?” Den welcomed the General, he respects him very much. Ragnar trained my son years ago and kept him alive during hard times.

“I´m sorry to come without previous notice”

Den replied “Please, my dear teacher, you are always welcome”

“I was informed princess Galia had an accident. I want to know how she is”

“My granddaughter is recovering. She vanished to go to her room and as you know she is too young for such spells; the remaining energy threw her against the wall and a hook wounded her head”

He gasped and got pale, so I intervened “General, calm down, it´s not your fault, your duty is to take care of her at the center. You are not my reckless grand niece´s nanny”

“Was it bad? Can I see her?”

My brother answered “Well, the wound was bad. The necklace the queen gave her kept her alive. She fainted but after a while regained consciousness and called her grandmother. She´s recovering just fine, sleeping at her room. She already had a fight with my brother” Antinoo laughed like it was the most amusing thing in the world, he spoils her. “Maybe you´ll see her tomorrow at the center and take the opportunity to talk to her, I know she listens to you”

“Oh please, brother! Don´t waste the General´s time, she listens to no one…”

The General looked uncomfortable so he excused himself and left. We attended some affairs and I went to my room to my beautiful wife, she takes all worries away with the touch of her soft hands, I don´t feel a day ends if I don´t rest between her arms.

I entered our bedroom and there she was, sleeping peacefully, stunning. I changed quietly to comfortable clothes and laid next to her. She, as usual, rested an arm on me in her sleep, caressing my hair. Her touch sends shivers to my spine, I kissed her softly all over her face expecting to wake her up. She opened her sleepy eyes slowly, giving me the most amazing smile. The years have changed that smile a little, now I see little wrinkles around her lips and eyes, but the sparkle is the same that fills my heart with love. I wonder what she sees in me, hopefully she would see the sun shining as I see on her, she is my sun. No words needed, we know each other too well. She pulls me softly towards her kissing me and my heart skips a beat at the anticipation of what is to come. I want her as much as the first day… maybe more… I don´t know, it´s a different feeling. Now I want her but also feel that she is where I belong, she´s my home. Passion starts to build within my body, our kisses deepen, her touch, my hands searching under her nightgown for her bare skin, her eyes… I’m lost in her and that is the definition of happiness.

Ragnar´s POV

I didn´t get any sleep. How could she! She could have died! My instinct was to protect her but didn´t know how. That spell kept everyone non-related to the royal family away from the third floor, otherwise no one would keep me from going to see her. And all of this was my fault. Had I stayed away from her, none of this would´ve happened. I could feel sadness taking over me, the feeling was like a cold sensation spreading from my heart to my bones… Maybe if I let it take me completely this will all end, and she will be safe… But the children need me, I cast away the feeling and go to the stables to take a ride on my Pegasus.

Before sunrise I took a bath and headed to the center to check on the children with the expectation of seeing Galia today. She didn´t come… I hope she´s fine. At noon I saw her grandfather. “Antinoo, your highness, how are you?”

“Ragnar! General, I’m fine. How are you?”

“Good, thank you. I have a question, is your granddaughter better? Is she coming today?”

“She´s just fine. Prince Etan asked for my permission to take her to the villages, today she´s not coming to the center”

“Is that safe?”

“Well, this is Galia you are talking about, she could turn breathing into a dangerous situation” He laughed soundly, I tried to imitate him but only a slight smile came out. “Don´t worry, prince Etan is perfectly able to keep her safe -I hope-. So, you are free from my child today”

“Good, I´ll spend some time with the children and then I have many legion-related issues to attend”

“See you soon then!”

“See you soon, my friend”

I attended all my affairs, had to deal with some random and small beasts attacks, supervised the works on the tunnel used for the attack that almost destroyed us and then, even spent some time with the children. The sun was setting, I couldn’t take it anymore and headed on the palace’s direction.

Galia hadn’t returned, so I waited for her close to the main entrance, hidden between the trees. After a while she came walking with prince Etan, holding his arm. How dear he! I need to calm down. She moved towards the palace, but he motioned to the gardens… he spent the whole day with her, what else does he want?

They sat on a bench in one of the gardens, they could be there without being interrupted or seen. I tried to come closer to hear what they were talking about. I shouldn’t but I needed to know. She was paying attention to his talking, suddenly he moved closer to her, grabbed one of her hands between his and said something. She looked down like ashamed. I came as close as I could between the trees and heard him.

“… we make sense together, don’t you think?”

“I...”

“Please, just think about it. It’s not a formal engagement what I ask, I just want you to think about how happy I could make you”

He touched the palm of her hand with the tip of his glowing wand and sparkles became a rose.

“You are amazing, but my family thinks I’m too young to talk about relationships”

Now she is too young? She didn’t care about her age and her family’s opinion a few weeks ago… she has no feelings for him, I’m sure.

“And what do YOU think? I know you are young, but you are different, I feel you different, YOU are amazing. Is your opinion I care about”

“I truly appreciate your consideration over my opinion and my feelings, Etan. I know you are leaving tonight, and you expect an answer before your departure, but I truly don’t know what to say. You are an amazing man, and this could get beyond a simple friendship, but it’s too soon and sudden”

“Which is why I only ask you to accept my promise of waiting for you. You have captivated me”

Is he serious???

He cupped her face with his hand to make her look into his eyes. She was still unresponsive, and he motioned to kiss her. He was getting closer and she was not avoiding him. NO!

I came out of the bushes clearing my throat. “Good evening. Princess Galia. Prince Etan”

He didn’t seem the least disturbed by my presence, only a little annoyed but kept holding on Galia’s hand. She had wide opened eyes, frozen and didn’t say a word.

“General. The princess and I are having an important conversation, what can we do for you?”

“I have an important conversation pending with her”

“Can it wait?”

“No. Is an important issue”

“Regarding her responsibilities, I guess? Is it urgent?”

“It always is”

He seemed to be trying to control his temper.

“Etan, I’ll try to go to say good bye to you before you leave” Galia intervened wisely, she knows I wouldn’t desist.

Etan kissed her hand which made my muscles tense and left. Galia walked towards the gazebo through the trees and I followed her.

At the gazebo she seemed furious, like struggling to keep her eyes from glowing.

“What is so important you had to interrupt Etan and I?”

“Etan! Not prince?”

“I owe you no explanations. Talk!”

“I’ve been worried about you! And you were just having fun with your little friend. So much for the feelings you claim to have for me!”

“You have no right for claiming! You casted me away! The way I choose to get over my broken heart is not of your business!”

Rage was building inside of me, I walked straight to her and grabbed her by her arms “Broken heart! He was about to kiss you!”

“At least he was brave enough to try!”

That´s it! Her shining, raging eyes were the most provocative thing in the world. I couldn´t control myself anymore and without any warning I kissed her. My lips pressed strongly against hers but then I softened and she didn´t push me away. The tension in our bodies relaxed and I felt like healing energy going through my body, coming from her lips. Our kiss was soft, slow, sweet. Her hand cupped my face, our lips separated, and we stared at each other. As soon as our eyes met, my heart jumped violently and she must´ve felt the same because she grabbed her chest. The pain was short and transformed into peace and joy. It must have been magic. She looked scared so I pulled her and held her tight against my chest whispering at her ear “Don´t be scared, nothing will ever hurt you on my watch, you mean everything to me”

Galia´s POV

Suddenly, the queen´s words came to my mind causing a storm in my head and I pushed him away. My body was trembling, and Ragnar looked very concerned, his voice loving and sweet.

“Galia, talk to me. You can tell me anything. What is going on?”

I needed to think, my mind was storming dozens of ideas at the same time. Can´t lose control or I might hurt him. No! I don´t want to cause him any harm! I tried to run away but he blocked my path. What could I do!?

Vanishing!

This time I’ll protect my head with my arms, and it will be fine. I started to cast the haze desperately and before I vanished a hand grabbed my arm and the haze vanished alone, without me, and I landed softly looking at Ragnar not believing what he just did.

The moon light (there´s always full moon in Agartha), made his skin look unreal. We both stared at each other with disbelieve.

“How did you stop me?!” That is not possible, technically speaking. Only the person who casts a spell is able to dissipate it, others can only avoid a spell thrown at them.

“I don’t know… Galia, your hair!”

I took the tips of my hair and realized it wasn’t curly anymore. My eyes went back to Ragnar trying to understand… “Your eyes?”

He didn’t understand my question. “Your eyes are darker” If there’s something in this world I have observed endlessly is his eyes, and I know they look different.

I casted a spell Tera taught me to make a mirror. My hand circled the air in front of me while I repeated the word reflection.

The mirror formed trembling and its surface smoothed. It was true, my hair got straighter and his eyes darker.

“Ragnar, what is happening to us?”

“I don’t know but don’t worry, I’ll find out”

“I felt something when we kissed… something I don’t understand”

“I felt it too. I think it was magic. Having feelings for another person connects their magic, we have different natures so I have no idea how that connection might work”

“What do we do now?”

“I need you to do an astral projection spell and take us to talk to the queen. I trust no one else”

“I have no idea how to do that!”

“Don’t worry we have time, no one will notice, just keep your hair braided. Take your time and ask one of your cousins to teach you. You can already vanish; astral projection is simpler”

“Are you sure?”

“I had the chance to kiss you, I don’t care about anything else. We’ll figure it out later, right now, let me just savor this moment”

“No one can know. This will stay in our gazebo as well. You have my heart here, I am your Galia, here”.

“Then let me have your lips one more time before we go back to reality”

He approached, surrounded me with his arms and I placed my hands softly on his chest never braking eye contact. He leaned his head to one side switching his gaze from my eyes to my lips, staying like that for a few seconds like fighting his desire, almost touching. His face was so beautiful, his lips so full and red, his breath paralyzed me. I wanted that kiss like I’d never wanted anything in my life, but just couldn’t move. I’m such a coward!

Softly, he whispered “I won’t do it. If you want this kiss, come to me, I’m already yours, is your choice” His seductive voice was all I needed to snap out of my slumber. My hesitation made him frown and that melted my heart. The words of the queen vanished away, and my hands went from his chest to the sides of his face. I pulled him to me feeling the warm touch of his lips against mine. The kiss went from soft and innocent to deep and passioned, we were devouring each other. He started walking, pushing me backwards until he pressed me against a column. All his body was pressing against mine. We finally separated gasping for air. Without saying a word, with messy hair and the most loving eyes, he took my hand and walked me outside our haven. On our way I braided my hair and at the end of the trees line he stopped, guided me with his hand on the palace’s direction and let go of me. I walked on and at the back entrance of the palace I turned, and he wasn’t there anymore, although I could feel him staring at me from somewhere.