Page 70 of Quest

“I hope you’re not done with quests,” I said. “Else my wedding gift to you will start gathering dust.”

He looked at me, eyes sparkling, clearly as delighted as any child at the thought of a gift. Standing, I took his hand and led him inside to the newly renovated chambers that were now ours to share.

“I bribed a servant to hide it in here,” I confessed, reaching for the ornate door handle. But before I could open it, I was whisked off my feet.

“Not so fast,” Darcel said in a mock scolding voice. “You’re officially royalty now, so every ceremony must be observed.” He opened the door and carried me in, gently depositing me on a settee. He smirked at me. “Now, where is this gift hidden?”

I gestured at the long box that lay on a table nearby and he eagerly opened it, drawing out two ornate swords, one a little larger and heavier than the other. Each had the outline of an ancient tree engraved on its hilt, a reminder of our successful quest…as well as what the quest meant for us personally.

“They’re beautiful,” Darcel marveled. “But why two?”

“Well, the training you gave me on our journey was very helpful,” I said. “But I don’t think I’m quite proficient yet. So I thought maybe we could continue?”

Darcel was silent for a moment before clearing his throat to steady his voice. “I suppose I could make some time in my busy schedule to take on an apprentice. But if we’re to make use of these, there’s something else we need.” Ducking into the adjoining room, he returned and handed me a beautifully bound book. “I may have convinced a servant to bring something here as well. I thought we might start a new chapter.”

Opening it, I found the pages empty except for the first, which bore a single line in Darcel’s strong handwriting: “Our Quests: The Adventures of Darcel and Mei.”

Laughing, I looked up at him. “Are you planning more adventures already?”

“Only the best ones,” he assured me. “This time, every step we take will be as partners, in both the light and in whatever shadows we might encounter.”

Darcel seemed to already have our first adventure as husband and wife planned to fill in the first page of our new chapter together. The morning after our wedding, he insisted on leading me through the palace grounds under the guise of showing me some minor renovations he had overseen. Hands entwined, I humored him, curious but distracted by the whirlwind of our celebrations. When he opened the doors to reveal my surprise, I froze, captured by wonder.

As the doors swung open to reveal my surprise, I stood rooted to the spot, utterly captivated by wonder. Before me stood the most exquisite apothecary lab I could have ever imagined, complete with sprawling benches lined with every conceivable tool and ingredient an herbalist might dream of. But it was the attached greenhouse that truly took my breath away. Its glass panels sparkled in the morning light, housing an array of plants that shimmered like a living emerald tapestry.

“I thought you might like to start our new life together by planting something special.” His eyes sparkled with the thrill of a shared secret as he led me further inside, where a small ceremonial plot had been meticulously prepared. “I was hoping you could teach me how to plant this, so that it grows strong and healthy, just like us.” He motioned to the starlight herb he had procured, its leaves shimmering subtly as if dusted with flecks of silver.

I quickly caught on to his ploy of spending more time together under the guise of needing ’gardening lessons.’ His pretend ignorance was too endearing to challenge, but as it had already been woven deeply into the playful fabric of our relationship, I couldn't resist rising to his charming bait by playing along.

I smiled. “I’ll indulge you, but you must promise to pay attention—I’m a strict teacher.”

He winked. “I’ll be your most attentive pupil.”

Together we knelt side by side on the fertile earth, the air rich with the scent of moist soil and blooming flowers. Darcel handed me a small, ornate spade and our fingers brushed; his warm smile crinkled the corners of his eyes in response.

“First, we need to loosen the soil,” I instructed, gently guiding his hands as we dug around the designated spot. He carefully followed my movements, exaggerating each motion with deliberate precision, which drew laughter from me. His eyes sparkled with mischief every time he feigned difficulty in turning the soil, reminiscent of the playful incompetence I had once pretended during our last sword training session.

“Like this?” Mock uncertainty laced his voice as he made a theatric show of aerating the soil, picking up clods and letting them crumble between his fingers.

“Exactly like that, though perhaps with a bit less dramatic flair.” I shook my head in mock disapproval, but was unable to hide the warmth filling my voice; even the simplest interaction became an adventure with him.

We reached for the starlight herb that had been chosen not only for the memories associated with it, but for its resilience and beauty, much like what we hoped to cultivate in our life together. Handling the delicate plant with care, together we guided it into the ground. A surge of emotion filled me as I patted the soil around its base, Darcel’s hands covering mine.

I looked up to see Darcel watching me intently, his face a picture of concentration tinged with an unwavering tenderness that only deepened my affection for him. My breath caught at the intensity of his gaze as he reached out a gentle finger to brush a crumb of dirt off my cheek. He then leaned forward to examine the small plant, encircling me with his arm as he shifted even closer to me.

“How often do we need to water it?” he inquired in a low, husky voice, still playing along with our lesson.

A delightful shiver rippled up my spine. “Just enough to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. It’s all about balance.” I smoothed the dirt and planted a small marker next to the herb. The simple act felt deeply symbolic, a tangible representation of the life we were building together—filled with challenges but always overcome with mutual support and laughter.

As we stood back to admire our handiwork, Darcel wrapped an arm around my waist to nestle me close, his breath warm against my ear. “Thank you for teaching me, dear Mei…though I suspect this was all just an elaborate ruse to keep me close.”

I leaned back into his embrace, feeling the truth of his words resonate within me as I looked up into his eyes. “Maybe,” I admitted with a playful shrug. “But rememberyou’rethe one who suggested these lessons. I expect you to return for another not only tomorrow, but every day henceforth.”

He chuckled, the sound resonant and joyful. “I look forward to many more lessons with you, my love.” His lips met mine in a tender kiss that spoke of promises and countless days spent side by side, nurturing not only the garden we had started but the love and life we shared.

In that kiss within the serene greenhouse surrounded by the promise of growth, I knew that every challenge we had faced throughout our journey together had led to this moment. From here every step forward would lead us to a future as lush and vibrant as the garden and light surrounding us. No matter what quests lay ahead, our greatest adventure had already begun.

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