ROTU: Chapter Sixty

The light of Elsaria's day stars peaked over the horizon. The warriors, having fallen asleep next to each other in their favorite spots at the Tran Ceiabré the night before, lay comfortable in the forest surroundings as they continued to doze.

Jalena watched over the warriors from where she stood at the top of the waterfalls, smiling as she saw Aderes sleeping soundly next to Jarek and Lorcan. She took a deep breath, basking in the surrounding stillness and the peace that had settled within her heart. Everything she wanted had been returned to her as Malik promised with so much more than even her team gifted before the end of their mission on Earth. Whether this team had planned it all at some other dimensional level or not was irrelevant to her. She just wanted to appreciate her current perspective for as long as possible with those who now shared her expanded world. She knew that what they endured during their mission together on Earth sealed an unbreakable bond between the energy of her team and that they would only be called to missions collectively in the future to work as one unit without experiencing separation. She turned her stare to where Gyan dozed lightly near the base of the Tear Drop tree behind her and returned to her spot in the grass near him. She closed her eyes, appreciating the sound of the falls and the feel of the morning breeze.

Gyan stirred sleepily and sat up slowly. He grabbed her hand from behind and pulled her back so that she lay against his thigh. He pulled a single blue monarosia from his cloak that lay nearby and held it above her as he stared down at her. "I can feel your heart when you watch the team," he said softly. "It's almost surreal—feeling what you feel without wonder or a need for explanation."

"Living a long time without your people and things you once took for granted changes how you see everything," she replied as she held the flower up to her nose. "I make sure I appreciate every moment of it now."

He smiled. "With access to your thoughts, I even know how you felt about me when you tried to deny it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

His gaze gleamed mischievously. "Yes, and it gives me a different perspective on a little story that I must tell."

She smiled. "What is your story?"

"A long time ago, I was about to kiss this warrior at a place known as the Grove of Amasu—a place where lovers meet to consummate their love."

Jalena rolled her eyes.

"She refused me, saying the time was not right, so I tried to win her love with the gift of a blue flower. Alas, it worked when she crossed deserts, oceans, and dimensions for me when I unexpectedly vanished. In return for her long journey and sacrifice, I now give her another blue magical flower.

Jalena raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"And cosmic unyielding love and devotion."

She smiled. "That's better."

"At the end of her journey, I was also gifted the answer to my own question. The one I asked her long ago at the Grove of Amasu."

"What was the question?"

"I asked, 'How will I know when that time is?'"

"And what is the answer?"

"Now. The answer is now. In fact, after merging with you, I have learned that it was always now." He squinted his eyes. "Big liar," he said softly.

Jalena smiled. "Yeah, yeah."

He put a hand under her head and moved his legs so that her head lay gently in the grass. He stretched out next to her. "So, I asked another question later to confirm her love, and she gave me an answer that made my heart sing, but then life got in the way. My question now is that I wonder if her answer is the same as it was in the Cave of Three Songs…even though, based on the look she gives me and her emotions I now have access to, I believe I already know the answer."

"Oh, I don't know…" she smiled, "…Why do we have to have a ceremony for something we already are?"

"So, all the other girls in the kingdom will leave me alone."

Jalena chuckled. "Selfish."

"Indeed. Please help a light brother out." Gyan clapped his hands together and gave her a pleading look. "Besides, my nán and sister will be crazy like they were at Mili's wedding. It will be hilarious."

He stretched to reach into a pocket on the side of his pants and pulled out a ring with a blue, glowing stone. "So, what do you think?" he asked as he held the stone above them as its light expanded. "Will you marry me finally, cosmic soul twin who crossed galaxies to find me?"

She smiled as she took the ring to examine it.

"I can tell you are pleased. It's a piece from Malik's Stone of Echoes. Sir Kesól helped make it."

"Does this engagement come with a vacation?"

Gyan raised his eyebrows. "It comes with whatever thou dost want, milady."

"What I want is you and me together, away from the task of restoring balance within civilizations for a while."

Gyan's eyes widened. "Never thought I'd hear the Light Queen…"

Jalena cringed and tilted her head to the side.

"Eh...Warrior…" Gyan corrected.

She gave a short nod.

"…say that she wants a break from saving the universe."

She propped herself onto her elbow and ran a finger along his jawline with her other hand. "Well, I'm sure we will get restless after some time, and I spent a longer break than desired during my time on Earth, but someone was missing during that time that I would like to give a little attention to."

"Bet it's a guy you fell for because of his incredible charm and wit."

Jalena laughed. "Something like that."

"Is it the same guy whose kiss was so good that it made your power rise to the surface even while under the influence of suppression magic?"

"Hmm, hold on, I have to think about which lover it was..."

She laughed as he scowled.

"Big liar." He pushed himself up on his elbow and moved his face so that it was inches from hers. "Tell me."

She gave him a quick kiss. "Yes…that's the guy."

"He must have really powerful moves."

She shoved him lightly in the shoulder. "Anyway, I wouldn't say no to a vacation with that type of guy. So, what if in exchange for a cosmic twin lover ceremony, I asked you to come with me to explore new places and spend the day and night beneath the stars, making love, sharing thoughts, and sleeping like cats with no mission on the agenda—maybe visit a couple of old friends from another galaxy and possibly make even more along the way?"

He chuckled "I'd say you've been planning this awhile."

"The time for a response is now," she demanded. "What say ye?"

"I say," he yanked her back down to him, "when do we leave?"

She laughed as he brought her closer and buried his head against her neck.

"I love you," they said at the same time.

The mirrored words drew their shared laughter.

Jalena drew Gyan tightly to her and kissed him again before they finished their favorite part together, "…with all that I am."