{White Lily's POV}
Thinking about Pure Vanilla Cookie made me warm. I wished his own journey well to the Spire of Deceit. As for me, I stayed by the tree in the Faerie Kingdom before setting off on my own. The Silver Tree.
Clutching my staff was like a lifeline, wielding my powers and all, I still wanted answers about cookiekind, where everyone came from.. even if it meant the truth was unbearable, I could prevail it. I hoped, at least in my heart, someone had the answer. If anything, I had the Guardian's Power from Elder Faerie entrusted to me.
All these thoughts are making me anxious, what awaits me on my journey I wondered. Nothing is ever simple or easy at all. Hollyberry Cookie being in the Garden of Sweet Delights was surprising to most cookies, at least that's what Sugarfly told me after it flooded with jam.
But this was all months ago, I feel like a different cookie now.
Silverbell's eyes lit up when he saw my return, my Soul Jam glowed brightly as Silent Salt Cookie and my newest friend, Pastry Cookie, were back in the heart of the Faerie Kingdom, the Silver Tree. His noble steed trotted ever so silently through the woods.
"Oh my gosh! Welcome back, Miss White Lily! I hope your trip wasn't arduous or anything similar." Silverbell chimed as he flew to my side and helped me off the horse. Silent Salt and Pastry Cookie soon followed. I gulped hesitantly at the word 'arduous'. Glancing vaguely at Silent Salt before shaking my head.
"No, the trip was not anything of the kind, it went smoothly." I spoke with a slight edge, catching Silent Salt's attention after tending to his companion. Silverbell took my answer and beamed. "Wonderful!" He cheered, the flowers on his bow chimed within his rythym.
I sensed Silent Salt analyzing me, his gaze at my back. It sent some chills down me. And I assumed he wanted to talk so I parted ways with Pastry Cookie before following him to the tree for a private conversation, I assured myself that the Faeries would take care of her.
Silent Salt cleared his throat before speaking. I almost forgot how smooth his voice was in the moment, it was attractive, I can't lie.
"Why must you lie to the Faeries?" He said, looking down at me, I could sense the gears in his mind figuring out something. "Are they not worthy of the truth?" As I heard that, my chest tightened once more. Everything was flooding back slowly.
"No.. I.. I cannot tell them the truth, not when I'm entrusted with Elder Faerie's powers. Not when.. I was almost crumbled, walking ablaze to prove my worth. It's too risky, I just can't." I said, my hands trembled, palms were getting sweaty, making my dough moist. "You understand.. right? You saw everything too. The truth, it's fragile, and not simple."
Silence filled between us before he nods in understanding and I exhale. "Very well, If that's what you wish, I shall keep it to myself." He says and I held my hand with my pinky out. "Promise?" I asked. Silent Salt stood still and not moving a single inch, then scoffed.
"Promise? Words, they're cheap. Cookies are deceitful in terms of promising, using the word for personal gain. But I, am not a Cookie of words, actions are better of conveying what you really mean, White Lily." He said, my eyes widened as I looked down at my hands. His armoured hands around mine, cupping them almost protectively. I didn't pull away and I didn't want to but he did anyways.
Just as we were about to return to the Faeries, the bushes behind us rustled and I flinched. Did someone eavesdrop on us? Hear this private conversation? Oh my, what if they ruin every-
"Deceitful scum, playing eye-spy on Faeries and now disrupting privacy? Do you learn anything useful from Shadow Milk Cookie at all." Silent Salt grumbled, tone dripped in slight rage and disdain. I knocked myself out of my thoughts and saw him holding a cookie wearing black and purple, his microphone in hand as his jacket was in a fistful by Silent Salt.
"Please, if anything, I didn't hear half the things you said. Silence works best on you anyways." The cookie said, antagonizing Silent Salt. "But if you must know, I'm personally looking for Silverbell, fetch quests aren't my priority at the moment. And oh, right, introductions, my name is Black Sapphire Cookie." He said, as Silent Salt set him down with a grumble before returning to my side. In all, mixed expressions were etched in my expression. Black Sapphire looked at me with some smug grin.
"You're a friend of that Pure Vanilla guy huh? I remember you. White Lily, was it?" Black Sapphire spoke, his tone now taking a more curious tone that seemed natural. I nod at his question. "Yes, that is me." I said and watched Black Sapphire Cookie dust himself off from the grass.
Silent Salt was observing the interaction, but why? He knows I'm okay. Maybe he didn't trust or like whoever Shadow Milk Cookie was. Deceit is always very unpleasant.
"Um, must I ask, why are you looking for Silverbell?" I say, gauging body language and expressions. Black Sapphire Cookie shrugged. "I told him a week ago that I take him out somewhere, you know.. a date, rendez-vous..?" He said as I stared at him blankly. Silent Salt cleared his throat.
"I apologize, White Lily has never had such experience in an activity like that. Neither have I." He explained and I just nod. A date huh? I wonder what that's like. "Oh, you know dates are like a romantic thing right? Cookies who are in love tend to spend time together." Black Sapphire explained. I flushed slightly red at the explanation. Dates were romantic? Looking at Silent Salt, he was stunned as well, were we just very old fashioned? Or just old?
We bid farewell to Black Sapphire Cookie moments later after Silverbell found him talking with us. Getting all flustered and being in denial of liking such a Cookie like Black Sapphire, who obviously liked him more than friends, kept saying pretty much every romantic compliment until Silverbell gave up. Throughout all this, Silent Salt stayed quiet. Seeing their relationship so wholesome and loving made my chest tighten, my heart yearned secretly for something like what they had, envy was not good looking on me.
"Envious of them, White Lily?" Silent Salt asked me. I took a long pause and sighed.
"Maybe I am. I'm not sure but their relationship seems so pleasant to have.." I said, a hint of longing filled my tone. Before I knew it, Silent Salt took my hand and walked me back to the main square. His grip was firm yet gentle, he was careful. I was unaware.
Somehow, this felt right, His hand in mine like it was always meant to be there. We walked in comfortable silence too. His steed resting up in the stables, entrusted to Mercruial Knight Cookie by Silverbell, is where we ended up next apparently.
"I trust you took care of Nox Black Salt well? He seems well rested." Silent Salt spoke as Mercurial Knight nodded. "Yes, he is quite the silent companion you have here." He spoke and noticed me, setting his glaive aside temporarily, Silent Salt let go as Mercruial Knight shook my hand.
"I'm glad to see you alright, White Lily. Welcome back. The new look goes well." He spoke firmly but a hint of a good emotion showed. I gave a soft smile. "Thank you, my own journey hasn't ended yet, but the answers resonate within me."
Mercruial Knight looked caught off guard for a moment, releasing my hand. He looked surprised, relieved, and something else when he glanced at Silent Salt. I wasn't sure what though, no cookie could read minds of others for the most part. With some more conversational exchanges, Mercruial Knight left the stables as Silent Salt tugged gently on Nox Black Salt's reins to lead him out, petting him ever so tenderly.
I wanted to say something, literally anything in the moment. But I didn't know what.
"So.. what happens now?" I blurted out. Silent Salt stood still in motion, before finally speaking. "Honestly, I am unsure myself in this moment. My path, too, seems unclear and hazy. Eventually, I may need to return to the Land of Silence, but please, if you need anything, don't hesitate to visit. For now, let us enjoy my visit here until my departure." He said, his gaze felt slightly warm on me and I smiled with a nod.
"Of course. Why would I hesitate? You're surprisingly great company when we're not at each others throats like when we first met." I laughed a bit. He chuckled as well.
"Haha, yes, although the circumstances were different then. Would you hope anything could change between us?" Silent Salt said casually. Looking at him, letting my gaze really sink into his distinct features, a thought crossed my mind.
What would Silent Salt look like without his helmet?
Change was always scary, but sometimes the outcome was good. And right now, all I felt was uncertainty and confusion, but I sensed comfort and warmth from Silent Salt. It felt nice as if it was a thin blanket around me.
"Change.. it scares me. I have hope in it, but I fear the outcome the most. What if something bad happens to the cookies I care about the most-" I rambled, putting a hand in my icing. I could feel him frown at hearing my words. Silent Salt grabbed my chin and forced my gaze to him, relaxing me almost instantly.
"White Lily, self loathing about theoretical situations don't suit you. Calm down." He said, his voice was smooth yet sharp, making my face flush red. "I assure you that it'll be unlikely to happen again." I opened my mouth to speak but only to close again speechless. What am I supposed to say after Silent Salt told me to calm down?
"I.. Um, yeah, you're right. I shouldn't be worrying about such things." I say, exhaling and cleared my throat. The silence that followed was pretty much deafening between us, speaking almost volumes of unspoken things. We headed towards the banquet hall for the surprise feast that the Faeries hosted for us. Silent Salt sat across from me at the table, both of us absent mindedly eating in comfort amongst the Faeries.
Everything was lively indeed. Until a thought subconsciously rang through our minds; Silent Salt and I both froze completely.
"I wonder what it's like to be loved by her."
"I wonder what it's like to be loved by him."
My fork clattered on my plate, the sound ringing in my ears.
What. Did I really just think that?! Oh my, oh my..! I swore upon the lilies that I could never fall for someone romantically, nobody would want imperfection.
Silent Salt hummed quietly, sitting peacefully and chatted with the others while I ate. He seemed unaffected by his earlier pause. Looking down at my plate, the silver detailings relfected my eyes and expression. I started calculating everything subconsciously.
His mannerisms, his touch when he held my hand, his voice.. literally everything. I don't think I like someone like him romantically, right? I mean, how could I? It feels wrong almost, he's a beast. The Beast of Silence. He watched me walk ablaze with my own dough cracking and crumbling apart, he was ruthless and I am naive.
He knows the darkness in me. That I am Dark Enchantress, the very secret I swore to stay buried for as long as I lived. I started wars upon my friends, and I'm not forgivable for that. He knows. And always has known, he just.. wanted me to expose myself in the stronghold of Kala Namak. I could feel the agony radiating in waves slowly, just thinking about what happened to me in the Land of Silence.
Ugh.. My heart and mind hurts just thinking about this. I'm not that cookie anymore, even if she's still resonating. I am White Lily Cookie, Dawnbringer of True Freedom.
"But you can't escape what you really are. What you're made for. Created with purpose."
The voice in my head spoke, and it was right. I can't escape myself, and could I ever wholeheartedly believe in Silent Salt? The Beast of Silence seems way different now than what's written in history from eons ago, or even weeks ago.
Walking ablaze.. hah.
I'm no saint, aren't I?