Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 18

Xander entered the shower, and the cascade of hot water enveloped him, soothing his skin and easing the tension in his back as he leaned against the wall, gazing down. The house had provided him with a fragrant wash gel infused with cedar and sandalwood, which he eagerly applied to his hair and body. As he massaged the gel into his scalp and scrubbed away the day's stress, he felt the warmth wash over him, revitalizing his spirit. After rinsing off, he stepped out of the shower, wrapping a soft towel around his waist, feeling refreshed and renewed.

Once in his bedroom, Xander changed into the fresh clothes supplied by the house, feeling a sense of comfort in their embrace. He then emerged to find Elowen lying on her bed, her expression troubled. As he approached, he noticed Tauriel hovering nearby, her concern palpable. "She had a nightmare, so I prepared a calming bath and washed her hair," Tauriel explained softly. "Thorin helped her settle back in bed and went to fetch some wine and snacks. I know the house caters to her needs, but seeing her like this is hard for him, just as it is for me." Xander nodded, sharing in their worry.

Suddenly, Elowen gasped for air, caught in the throes of another nightmare, her voice rising in panic as she screamed, "NO! PLEASE! NO!!!" Xander rushed to her side without hesitation, gently attempting to rouse her from the nightmare. "Elowen," he called softly. She stirred, awake with fear as she gasped.

"It's me, kitten. You're safe; Tauriel is here too," he reassured her, sensing the rapid thump of her heart echoing in the stillness. Desperate for comfort, Elowen reached out, seeking a hand to hold. Both Xander and Tauriel offered their hands, allowing her to grasp them tightly as she swallowed hard, gradually finding solace in their presence. The cries that had escaped her lips reminded Xander of the haunting sounds he had heard upon entering Wraithkin's tent. He understood the nature of her nightmares without needing to ask, and his heart ached for her, wishing he could erase the painful memories that tormented her.

Elowen took a deep breath, her tension easing as Tauriel offered to prepare her a soothing cup of lavender tea. Xander observed her closely, his mind racing with thoughts of how he might alleviate her distress. "Elowen, is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

In a barely audible voice, Elowen replied, "If only you could erase memories, that would truly make a difference." Xander's heart sank at her words. "I wish I could, but unfortunately, that's beyond anyone's reach," he responded gently. Elowen sighed softly as she settled back into the bed and collected her thoughts. "I heard some shouting earlier. What was happening downstairs?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Xander reassured her, "It's nothing to worry about," speaking with a confidence he hoped would ease her mind. Elowen hummed thoughtfully, "I'm sorry you had to sleep in that chair; it must have been uncomfortable." Xander smiled, brushing off her concern. "It wasn't too bad. I wanted to be close in case you needed anything, and I guess I just dozed off," he confessed.

"Even though you annoy me most of the time," Elowen said, pausing as Xander chuckled at her candidness. She continued, "I find a strange comfort in your presence. You keep the nightmares at bay, and when you're not here, they overwhelm me." Her voice was barely a whisper as she admitted, "I don't quite understand why that is."

Xander found himself at a loss for words, his mouth moving without sound as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. Despite the awkwardness, he felt a sense of relief in being able to provide her with comfort.

"I’m really glad I can be here for you, but I promise I’m not annoying," Xander quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

"Whoever ends up being your mate is going to have a tough time," Elowen shot back with a laugh.

Xander gazed at her, a truthful thought forming in his mind: "It is you."

"Come on, I’m not that unbearable," he feigned offense, crossing his arms dramatically.

"Are you kidding? After spending the last few days with you, I can confidently say you’re quite the handful and a bit full of yourself," Elowen teased, her laughter ringing through the room.

"What?!" Xander chuckled, incredulous. "Just moments ago, you said I was comforting!"

"And now you’re just annoying. I really shouldn’t have inflated your ego," she replied, her tone playful.

"Psh, I don’t have an ego," Xander retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, you do, big brother," Tauriel chimed in with a grin as she entered the room. "I have to agree with her."

"Even you, Thorin?" Xander exclaimed as he stepped into Elowen's bedroom, feeling the weight of their collective teasing.

"Absolutely," Thorin confirmed, a smirk on his face.

"This is so unfair! I’m being ambushed here," Xander said with a playful sigh, fully aware that their banter was only serving to uplift Elowen’s spirits.

The lively chatter and laughter surrounding Elowen brought a warm smile to her face, a delightful sound that filled the air with joy. "I’ll take care of lunch. Thorin, would you lend me a hand?" Tauriel inquired, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

"Absolutely," Thorin responded, his eagerness evident.

With that, they exited Elowen's room, leaving her in the company of Xander, creating a moment of intimacy between them.

Elowen let out a contented sigh, her heart swelling with happiness for Thorin. "I’m truly happy that Thorin has found your sister," she murmured softly.

Xander nodded, a knowing smile crossing his face. "I’m just as happy that she found Thorin again. Only the gods know how deeply she loved him when she first arrived at Warhaven camp," he shared, his tone reflective.

Curiosity sparked within Elowen as she asked, "Did you ever fall in love at the camp?"

"I had a few flings, but nothing serious. My father always advised us to wait for our mates, but we didn’t heed his words," Xander replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

Elowen furrowed her brow, confusion evident. "I still don’t grasp the concept of mates. No one has ever explained it to me. I only heard about it from my friend Alaric, who told me about his mate and how it is like a bridge. I think it’s one thing to feel it and another to articulate it," she confessed. "What does it feel like when you find your mate?" she inquired.

Her question momentarily took aback Xander. "Well," he began, choosing his words carefully. "For many, the mate bond is... unique. It’s like a mental connection, a pull towards the other person," he explained, striving to convey the essence of the bond without revealing his own feelings.

Elowen hesitated before asking, "Did you feel that pull towards the woman at the ball who was flaunting her assets?" Her question hung in the air, laden with unspoken tension.

"No," Xander replied, his honesty cutting through the moment.

Elowen bit her lip, her mind racing with thoughts.

"Are you worried?" Xander probed, his interest piqued.

"Yes and no," Elowen admitted,

Xander's curiosity was evident as he asked, "Why?"

Elowen's voice was barely above a whisper as she confessed, "It's because I don't want to lose you. It is like I don't want you to go anywhere, but I know it is selfish of me to expect that." She continued, her vulnerability laid bare, "When we were at the restaurant, I felt a surge of jealousy towards the waitress who was flirting with you, and even towards Tauriel, not realizing she was your sister. I don't even know why I felt that way, but I did." Xander's heart swelled with understanding, recognizing the powerful connection they shared through their mate bond. He steadied himself, masking his excitement as he asked, "Can I pose a question? I hope you won't be upset by it." Elowen's intrigue was piqued as she replied, "Sure." With a gentle tone, Xander inquired, "Did you love Rowan?" Elowen sighed deeply before answering, "Yes, I did. I was aware he wasn't my mate, yet I would have chosen him as my mate. He was always there for me, just as you are now since I’ve known you. He told me that he loved me at the end. And to be honest, I wished he would've told me sooner like I should've told him sooner. I fell for him the night I lost my grandmother, and I took him for granted, thinking he would always be around."

As she spoke, Elowen realized the significance of Rowan's words, "Stay with him," which she now understood referred to Xander. "Before I arrived at the training grounds to check on the new recruits, I dreamt of Rowan. He appeared that he was at peace and acknowledged how much I missed him, urging me to let him go and to 'stay with him.' At that moment, I thought he meant Thorin, but now I see he was talking about you," she admitted, her voice filled with emotion.

Elowen opened her heart to Xander, revealing all her secrets and fears. At that moment, Xander felt a wave of relief wash over him, especially knowing that Rowan had encouraged her to remain by his side. A warm smile spread across his face, filled with genuine affection. "Elowen, I truly want you to," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "You need not worry about me leaving; I will always be here for you, I promise." He gently traced soothing circles on her knuckles as he took her hand in his, creating a sense of comfort and safety between them. Suddenly, a striking tattoo began to weave its way across her right arm and shoulder, capturing both their attention.

"What is happening?" Elowen asked, her arm stinging a little and a hint of apprehension in her voice. Xander leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper as he replied, "I made a promise to you." Intrigued, Elowen pressed further, "What does it look like?"

A soft smile illuminated Xander's face as he described it, "It’s a silver vine; it’s truly beautiful." In that moment, the tattoo symbolized a promise and a deep connection that bound them together.

Elowen's mind drifted to thoughts of Riven and the girl who had come to her aid. "Xander, there's something I need to know," she said, shifting the conversation. "What has become of Riven and the girl who helped me?"

"They're currently with Liora," Xander replied, his voice tinged with gratitude.

"She forced a healing potion down my throat, yet I can't help but wonder why my recovery is so slow." She paused, contemplating the gravity of their situation.

"Iron shackles are a curse for Fae with abilities, rendering them powerless and leading to their demise. In your case, the shackles have burned into your flesh, allowing rust to seep into your bloodstream." He continued, "The healing potions you received from Raven provided some relief, but they were not enough."

Elowen listened intently, absorbing Xander's explanation.

"Two things are particularly lethal to our kind: iron and ash arrows," he added, his tone serious.

"I understand," Elowen whispered, the weight of their predicament settling heavily upon her.