A few days later, I woke up to the feeling of something cool and soft on my cheek. Eyes still drooping in sleep, I looked up to find a pair of vivid red eyes watching me tenderly in the dark.
"Myrnah!" I exclaimed, sitting up and throwing my arms around her neck. "Oh, you're home! I've missed you so much!"
"Oh, I've missed you too, child." Her cool hand smoothed over my hair. "The last few weeks have been absolutely harrowing for Jannosh and I."
"I never should have left." I told her seriously, pulling back so I could see her face. "You were right, Myrnah. The magical world is so much more dangerous than anything I've ever known before."
Myrnah smiled gently at me. "But if you hadn't gone, that horrible war would still be going on. You're a hero, my dear."
I flushed. "Oh, not really. It was a weird twist of events. When did you and Jannosh get home?"
"About ten minutes ago." Myrnah patted my hand lightly before standing up. "We brought company as well."
"Company? Who?"
"The new solstae king." Myrnah pulled me up with surprising strength and tossed a robe at me so I could cover my bare legs. "He was very keen on seeing you."
I was still, staring blankly at the soft robe in my hands. "Helios?" Myrnah nodded. "I'm not sure if I want to see him."
"Why not?" Myrnah asked me curiously.
"You don't understand, Myrnah." I told her patiently. "I accused him of being the murderer like two seconds before the battle started. I wasn't far off either, since it turned out to be his dad. I feel terrible now."
"Well then this is a perfect opportunity to clear things up with him." Myrnah said lightly, pulling me from the cool darkness of the room into the hall. "You can't just turn him away; he came specifically to see you."
I followed the shifter down the stairs, nervously pulling at the neck of the robe. Why did he want to see me of all people? I'd been absolutely horrible to him. The fact that I was wrong about him meant nothing; it was the accusation that would stick.
Myrnah lead me out onto the lawn, which was filled as usual with sunlight and warm, fragrant air. In the middle of the lawn, three figures lounged casually. The contrast between all of them was startling, although they were all strikingly attractive.
Apollo stood straight and tall, his deep green cloak draping over him like water. His pale face was beautiful and polite in the shadow of his hood, and his green eyes were focussed on the glowing figure opposite him. Beside him, Jannosh was huge and pale haired and relaxed. His violet eyes were striking against his pale skin and ashy hair, and I felt my heart twinge at the sight of him. I really had missed him and Myrnah. Finally, Helios floated like a dream, his champagne clothes glittering and his glowing skin almost transparent in the sunlight. A delicate and simple gold band now sat on his golden locks. The moment I stepped out onto the grass, his dark indigo eyes immediately met mine.
Apollo followed his gaze. "Ah, so the sleeping beauty awakes." He smiled happily at me, and I willed myself not to flush in his adoring gaze. "We'll leave you two to talk."
He and Jannosh left Helios standing there and walked by me back to the house. Jannosh paused to take both of my hands in his huge and rough ones. His violet eyes peered into mine. "Greetings, little one."
"Hello Jannosh." I reached up on my tip-toes to place a kiss on his rough cheek.
Jannosh smiled down at me, squeezing my hands lightly before continuing inside. I knew we'd talk more later; ever polite, he was allowing me more time with the solstae king. I watched the door close behind him before turning around to face Helios.
There was at least ten feet between us, but I could see his huge eyes sweep my profile swiftly.
"Elvish looks suit you, Lilah Winters." He said quietly, his musical voice easily heard with my new ears. I wondered in the back of my mind if all the magical people I'd met had spoken louder for my benefit when I was a human.
"Being king suits you." I replied. I meant it politely, but I saw him wince.
"Yes." He said vaguely. He began moving forward, his steps like the ripples in rivers. "Do you know why I am here?"
"No." I said carefully, making no move to meet him halfway. He stopped when he was in front of me. Up close, I realized he looked tired.
Helios clasped his delicate hands and looked at his feet. "I came... in hopes of repairing any rifts there are between us."
I blinked at him. "Pardon me?"
His indigo eyes flicked up anxiously. "There were words traded between us that I heartily regret."
I could remember clearly.
Now who better to pardon than the beloved prince of the solstae, a man who told me himself that he would give anything to have the earth as his home?
What are you accusing me of, Lilah Winters?
Nothing yet. I'm simply stating that something about you just doesn't sit right in my stomach. I'll be watching you.
Watch me carefully, dearest Lilah. You'll regret your bold statements soon enough.
"The fault is all mine." I told him softly. I was careful not to meet his eyes as I picked up his warm, glowing hand. "I've been overrun with guilt ever since it was revealed that - well - the killer wasn't you."
He didn't miss the stumble in my words. His smile was wan and bitter when I looked up at him.
"It's alright to say it." His voice was so quiet it was barely a whisper. "My father was a murder and a traitor. He was insane. I might as well face the truth."
"I'm so sorry." My eyes misted as I looked at him. "I'm sorry for everything, Helios."
"There's nothing to be sorry for." He told me gently, placing his other hand on top of mine.
"Yes, there is." I told him vehemently. "I was horrible to you, and it wasn't even you! I feel even worst that it was your father. I feel like I wounded you twice since it was him."
"Peace, Lilah." Helios' face was sombre. "I want to put this all in the past, and I can't do that if you're grappling with imagined guilt."
I nodded with some difficulty. It wasn't imagined - my guilt was real, almost tangible. I personally wouldn't be okay if someone accused me of being a tyrant, and then learning that the tyrant was actually my father. But his face was so serious I couldn't keep arguing.
"Peace, then." I agreed.
Helios beamed at me, and I saw a flicker of the dazzling prince I'd first met. "I want us to be good friends, Lilah. If we'd met under different circumstances, I believe we would be already."
"I believe so too." I smiled at him. I was genuine, too.
"I have a gift for you." His hand disappeared into the pocket of his champagne vest, and he pulled out a small, golden ring. Turning my hand over, he placed it gently in my palm. I brought my hand closer; the ring wasn't a normal gold; it had a liquid kind of shimmer to it. It was fashioned carefully into a detailed, intricate bumble bee.
"I had it fashioned by my best sunsmith." Helios explained, watching me closely.
"Sunsmith?"
"They make things out of sunrise rays." Helios smiled. "That's when the sunlight is least elusive."
"It's beautiful." I told him earnestly. "But I have nothing for you, though..."
"Don't feel pressed to give me anything." Helios smile turned wan again. "I'll never want anything again, now that I'm king."
I peered closely into his eyes." You'll be a great king, Helios. You are not your father."
He cleared his throat gruffly. "Thank goodness for that. I just hope I'm strong enough to make a difference after all the damage that has been done."
"I know you're strong enough." I squeezed his hand in emphasis. "We're all capable of making a difference, Helios. You're essential to the healing."
Helios nodded, his face suddenly anguished. He seemed unable to speak for a moment. "Thank you, dear Lilah."
I smiled gently at him.
"Well, I best be going." Helios was suddenly cheerful, his megawatt smile plastered on again. "I'm needed back in the sky."
"Thank you for coming." I told him. "When will I see you again?"
"Well, whenever you allow me to visit."
"You're always welcome here." My voice was sincere. Knowing Apollo, he probably wouldn't mind either.
"I would say the same to you, but the altitude might kill you." Helios smiled wryly. As I laughed, he brought my hand to his lips.
"Till we meet again, Lilah Winters." He was already drifting upwards.
I grinned up at him as our hands lost contact. "Until then, King Helios of the solstae."
He gave a little wave, and I kept my eyes on him until he shimmered and disappeared into the blue sky.
After he was gone, I brought my hand up again to look at the ring. The bee was small and perfect, and as I looked at it thoughtfully, I remembered a dream I had when I was unconscious after the battle. My eyes bored into the little body. There was no way Helios could have known about that dream; how could anyone?
It was more a memory than a dream. The sweltering heat, my little backpack, and those idyllic, buzzing bees - it had all happened a very long time ago. A time when I still suffered under my father's ever dreamy eyes, a time when I knew nothing about vampires or shifters or solstae. I could hear my father's absent voice as if it were yesterday.
"Those bees help the world go round, Lilah."
I hadn't understood it then. How could something so small and inconsequential help the world keep spinning? But now, after everything that happened, I knew what Greg Winters had meant, even if he hadn't meant it to be a lesson. Everything and everyone on this earth had a role to play, no matter how small and unnoticeable it was.
Just a few short weeks ago, I'd been overwhelmed by the magical world and all the fascinating people and creatures in it. I was just a silly little human, a red haired girl with no power and no skill. But somehow, I'd still been instrumental in the war. I still had a role to play, even if I wasn't aware of it.
I slid the ring onto the ring finger of my right hand; the golden band fit perfectly. Looking up at the bright, beautiful sky, I let out a contented sigh.
I was so much like bees, in a way. Unnoticeable, unremarkable - but I'd left a mark on the world. I'd left a mark in history! A single girl in the vast canvas of history, and I'd changed the course of things.
I am the girl in the woods, and I helped the world go round.
The End
Comment, vote fan! (:
Yup, so that's the end. I loved writing this story, and I hope you all enjoyed reading it! I'd like to remind you that I have another story in the works right now. "Immortal Star" is about how Astera met Tether, and I hope you guys will give it a read as well!
Also, after that I was thinking of writing another seperate story about Helios. The solstae kingdom is a wreck after Raea's death, so his story is bound to be crazy. Or should I expand on a different character introduced in "The Girl in the Woods"? I have no idea lol. I'd love to read what you guys think!
Anyways, thanks for sticking with Lilah till the end. You guys are da best! :'D
Love you lots!
-Leah