"Tomorrow?" Hannah asked. She sat in her bed and looked up at Rose who had just told her that she and her cousin when leaving for their Journey the next morning. It was came as surprise to her. But then again, it was going to happen sooner or later. Sooner more than later if she was being honest.
Rose nodded, "I have to understand the source of all these demon attacks on my people. I need to find out how it can all come to end." Rose finished, fighting the urge to give in to despair. It hurt at times to talk about it, especially because talking about it made it more true.
Hannah looked at me with compassion. Placing her hand gently under her growing belly, she wobbled as she tried to get up. Rose was at her side in an instant,
"Why are you getting up?" Rose asked her hands around her friend.
"Became too restless, I guess. Plus, I really want to give you a hug." She wrapped an arm around her friend who still held on to her.
"What for?" Rose asked, suddenly feeling Very emotional,
"You seemed like you needed it," Hannah replied. There was also the fact that Hannah was beginning to feel sorrow about her coming absence. Hers and Cephas's. And she had never truly been good at saying goodbyes.
Because her eyes stung with tears, Rose held on for a bit longer, and when she pulled away, she placed a hand on her friend's cheek.
"Your baby might be here before I get back."
"I'm not due for another one month," Hannah said, and Rose shrugged.
"She might feel the need to grace you with her presence earlier than that."
"She!" Hannah asked
"Or he. It just seemed more right to say she."
Hannah nodded, "my Grandmother is a seer but she's told me she can tell what gender my baby is. But she too sometimes says she."
"Well, we'll just wait and see. And I will see, making this will all pass. And I'll come back here, make sure I bring your Cousin Cephas back here."
"Or you can take him to Fae," Hannah said simply and wobbled back to sit on her bed, Rose as her steady support.
Rose smiled when Hannah patted the space beside her, and then sat.
"Why would I take Cephas to Fae?" She asked resting her head on Hannah's shoulders
"Because the connection I see between you both is too tangible to ignore or let go of."
Rose thought about her words a few moments before replying,
"That connection perished several years ago, Hannah."
"So why do I see it several years after?"
She rose her head and shrugged,
"Too strong, too real." She said, unable to deny what was.
That was one thing she never allowed herself to do. I'm spite of how much he hurt her and broke her heart, she never allowed herself to live in denial of her love for him.
"Then don't let it go," Hannah said, and this time, she was the one who placed a hand on Rose's cheek.
"It takes two to make a relationship work, Hannah. And Cephas doesn't want to be half of a whole. Not with me anyway."
"And still he makes this journey with you," Hannah said, and tilted her head with a smile when The confusion on Rose's face cleared and understanding came,
"I know he cares for me. That's really all there is really. Great care and a love that once was."
Hannah shook her head. Two people who loved each other and yet something so simple could end up becoming so complicated and complex.
She saw that pushing more on what she perceived wasn't going to help. And so reaching for her hand, she simply said,
"I hope the both of you find the answers you're seeking. I hope you find the light, the spark, the love."
It felt like a blessing so her simple reply was, "Amen."
They stayed together even after Jasper came, but didn't stay so long after that.
"We'll be gone before the first light, so I better go try to get some rest." Rose said, "Although I doubt I'll be able to get any true rest tonight."
Hannah stood when she stood, and pulled her in for another hug,
"You don't have to come out tomorrow morning, it's too early."
Hannah didn't say anything to that, just held on. She still needed to speak to her cousin.
"You have a care now, My friend."
"I will," Rose said when they pulled apart, then turned to Jasper, who sat away from them at the chair by the window. But he had risen when the two women stood.
"It's been a joy meeting you. Knowing my friend has a man like you at her side warms my heart.
"Thank you," Jasper replied, smiling. "And maybe when this is all over, I can come say hello to Fae."
"I'd like that." She said honestly, and with nothing else to say, so much more to say, she made her way out of the room.