Alexia
When I opened my eyes, I was in a white bed, still sleepy, staring at a familiar face.
"Thomas, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"I promised myself that I wouldn't leave your side until you woke up," he said and then he cracked a strange smile that seemed to fail, but soon broke into tears. "You freed me from the curse Alexia, you freed me from what tormented me so much," he said with a lopsided smile on his lips.
"I'd do it again" I said with a smile and started to sit up in bed, then I touched my belly "My baby"
"He's fine, it was just bleeding. The doctor said you've been working too hard and you need to rest."
I relaxed on the stretcher, seeing Thomar talking like that was strange, I felt like I was finally getting to know the real Thomas.
"I'm so happy to see you well Thomas, I was afraid of making things worse"
"I was constantly wishing for death while I was in that condition, so thank you for trying. You don't even know me properly, Estevan is lucky to have you by his side"
I smiled weakly.
"I don't even know if he's alive, all I have is the hope of finding him"
"As much as I want to find my brother Alexia, you need to stay here for a few days, rest just in case"
I nodded and he kissed my hand tenderly.
"You must feel alone, but know that you've gained a new brother and that I'll help you, I'll be by your side for whatever you need. My nephew will be born strong and healthy"
"Her"
"She? How do you know?"
"I don't know, but I feel it"
He nodded.
"He or she will be much loved, I'm sure of it"
I smiled gratefully and Thomas stood up.
"Anything you need, just talk to me" I nodded and he closed the door, leaving.
I turned onto my side, smoothed my belly and thought it would take me a while to get to sleep, as I felt tired. The ritual we'd done to break the spell had taken a lot out of my body and now it was crying out for rest.
I dreamt of Estevan, meeting him on the hill where we had ridden and made love, I could touch his face and the feeling on my fingers was real, as if he were really here, I closed my eyes smelling him, knowing it was a dream but still enjoying it.
And then he started to move away. I held up my hand as if he were unreachable.
"Don't leave me alone again Estevan, it's so hard without you!"
I opened my eyes, my heartbeat accelerating, and then I got out of bed and walked over to the window, opened the window and looked out at the hills that brought back so many memories and at Silver who was standing at the edge of the window, always close by like a faithful dog.
I recited a protection spell, even though I knew I should rest, I felt drawn to the hills and the trees, to the place I had seen in my dream just a few seconds ago and I called Silver who appeared at the window, after climbing on him I began to realize that I was crazy, but I still needed to go to the hills.
"Slow down, Silver," I asked and just a few minutes later I was on the hills, I took off my shoes, letting my feet enjoy the feel of the grass and feeling the cool breeze on my face, soon the sun would set and the sea would bring back memories of Estevan, I sighed tiredly.
I would stay until dark and then I would go back, being alone after everything was important to me, now that I couldn't keep looking for Estevan every day I wouldn't ride Silver until the bee was born and that brought me a bad feeling, as if someone had punched me, the lump that formed in my throat was horrible, the search for Estevan seemed useless, I kept looking for him and that gave me some hope, now I felt hypotensive, but I needed to stop for the sake of our son, I still believed in the depths of my soul that he would come back to me.
-----------\\\\\\----------
Estevan
"Estevan" said Lorenzo, his countenance in shock as he approached with a broad smile on his lips. He opened his arms wide and I squeezed him tightly "I thought you were dead".
"I feel like I've been born again" I turned away from him and saw that everyone in the throne room was kneeling down greeting me saying the king has returned, I frowned and looked into Lorenzo's eyes.
"Lorenzo, what does that mean?"
Lorenzo kept quiet, there was no need for him to speak. I felt my chest tighten and tears fell involuntarily from my mind along with hundreds of memories, this war had taken the lives of my parents at too high a price and I hadn't even been here to say goodbye to them.
"Where is Alexia?"
"Estevan..." Thomas said, taking me by surprise.
"Thomas, what are you doing here?"
"Alexia brought me to the castle."
Camila's face appeared as she entered the hall, stopping next to Thomas.
"What is that witch doing here?" I sneered angrily, about to attack her when Lorenzo grabbed my shoulder.
"That witch is Alexia's cousin," said Lorenzo, and I looked at his face without understanding.
I was getting more confused by the second.
"She's not evil Estevan, she was being controlled by King Octavian, but Alexia freed her"
I nodded and focused my eyes on Thomas, walked the distance between us and hugged him.
"It's so good to know you're alive," he said. "Everyone was worried that you'd died, where were you?"
"I was lost" I said "You look..."
"Lucid? I am, Alexia cured me Estevan. She worked hard to find a way to end the curse, I owe her my life!"
"She broke your curse?" I looked at him in shock and smiled excitedly, then I laughed out loud and hugged him again without believing that my brother was back, there were so many feelings inside me, I missed him, I mourned him, I felt the emotion, the joy, the sadness in hundreds of feelings all at once, there were things that hadn't yet fallen into place that would be painful in the long run, but now I had my brother by my side.
"I can't believe you're really all right, Thomas," I said, "We have to prepare a feast, not a three-day party... A week to celebrate! Where's Alexia?" I looked around "I really want to see my wife!"
"We have to focus on taking care of the people now Estevan, one victory a day, besides I don't think excitement will be good right now... Your wife is not well!"
My smile crumbled.
"What do you mean she's not well? Where is she?"
"I don't know, she disappeared from the medical ward."
"How come nobody knows where Alexia is?"
"Estevan, you know that Alexia isn't one for sitting still" Mariah said, appearing in the hall "I'm glad to see you again, my friend"
"Mariah... Tell me what's going on?"
"Alexia looked for you every day and kept this kingdom, it was too tiring and stressful, after the ritual to break Thomas' curse she bled a lot, her pregnancy is risky, but she didn't lose the baby"
I imagined a million things that Alexia could go through without me, without my parents or me in the castle. I knew that the nobles wouldn't leave her alone, I feared that they would throw her out of the castle.
"What did the nobles do?"
"Alexia handled them well, she acted like a lioness and took over the throne while I was away, she changed a lot of things and helped hundreds of people in just a month, now, she needs you more than anything..."
My heart seemed to break at Mariah's words.
"Mariah, where is she?"
"Nobody knows, Estevan."
I nodded and got back on Prince, determined to find her.
I flew over Olimper looking for Alexia, I felt lost until I looked at the hills, the great sight of them and approached the hills seeing Silver is a person, a small ant in that open field that I knew was Alexia.
I landed and looked at the woman whose eyes were fixed on the horizon, the sun was almost down, I approached her and a branch on the ground gave me away.
She turned around.
"Estevan" Her tear-streaked face was a sad picture that made my heart ache "Is it really you or am I dreaming?"
"I'm Alexia, I've come back for you!"
Alexia ran towards me and hugged me tightly, I could smell her, feel her touch, her heart beating so hard, I couldn't imagine how painful it had been, to think that I had died, to have to deal with the nobles alone, to have to support the kingdom, to take care of everyone.
"Where were you, why did you leave me alone?" She asked tearfully, "I almost lost our baby."
I smoothed her hair and tears began to fall quickly and without warning.
"I know, Alexia, I tried to get back to you every day and now I'll never leave your side again!" I said, taking a deep breath. "I love you more than anything and from now on I'll never leave you alone."
"I've remembered your promise every day and I haven't given up looking for you!" Alexia said, pulling away to look into my eyes. A desperate kiss and an oath of love from her lips was enough to warm my heart.
I hugged her tightly again.
"I promised you I wouldn't die, now I'm going to keep the rest of that promise, we'll grow old together, it'll be me, you and our son!"
"I always knew you'd come back to me, Estevan, I wasn't going to give up looking for you. Even on the worst days, part of me knew that from the day I met you and even when you weren't here, I would never be alone again, because I would always have a part of you with me." She took my hand and put it on her belly, the tears had dried up, there was no reason to cry anymore, only joy, now I was sure that no matter what happened, everything would be fine.