Page 124 of Once Upon a Crown
She reached into the pocket of her breeches and pulled out something small before holding it out to me.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Before you get too excited, it doesn’t possess any magical powers, and it never will. It’s a pretty little gemstone and that’s it.”
I turned the small Myrgonite stone in my hand, inspecting it. It appeared very delicate, with a rosy hue, though not quite conforming to one colour. But like Elara said, it didn’t feel special or magical in any way.
“It’s not what you were hoping for, I know. But I kept my promise in a way.”
“I can’t believe you actually destroyed the Myrgonite objects.”
“I didn’t actually.” A look of sadness crossed her face. “Rhen did.”
“Rhen?”
She nodded, her expression saying enough about what the price of destroying those objects was.
I cleared my throat. “Rhen was a good soldier.” Despite the fact that he’d betrayed me. He’d always been loyal to Elara. I had to respect that.
I clutched the stone in my fist. “Thank you.” I knew that, to her, it meant something. An extension of her trust and the hope that perhaps we could move forward. She gave me a small smile in return.
* * *
Gwen looked pleased when she entered my room a few days later. I was still on bedrest, but this didn’t stop her from visiting me every day, bringing me updates and gossip on everything that was going on in the palace. About the Argonians who were still alive being captured and locked up in the Mistwood prison. About Cai and Elara’s plans for Argon and the international relations of their two kingdoms with the kingdoms on the continent. I didn’t really care to hear any of it, but for her I would sit and listen patiently.
We hadn’t talked about what happened on the battlefield, mostly because Gwen kept the conversation light. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was trying to distract herself after all the loss and horror she’d experienced or if she was trying to avoid the topic altogether.
She pulled open one of the curtains allowing the morning sun to illuminate the room.
“I never thanked you.”
She turned to face me. “Thank me for what?”
“For trying to keep me from bleeding to death out there.” Silence fell over the room and Gwen froze, curtains still in hand.
She pressed her mouth into a line, choosing her next words. “You know there’s a time I would’ve probably let you bleed out.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
“You shouldn’t have come after me.” She strode over and took a seat on the bed.
“You shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” I reminded her. She’d broken her promise that she would stay behind. But after everything that had happened, it didn’t feel worth it to bring it up anymore.
Without looking at me, Gwen placed her hand on top of mine. Her skin was soft, and I suddenly craved holding so much more than just her hand. “Thanks for coming after me.”
“Thanks for saving my life.”
She looked up then, wilful eyes gazing into mine. “Technically you saved mine.”
I gave her a wink, settling back against my pillow. “We’ll call it even, then.”
Gwen shook her head, but she was wearing a smile. I realised that I longed to see that smile when it wasn’t there.
“I have a gift for you.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
“It’s not a birthday present,” I countered, pointing to the drawer next to my bed. “But I need you to help me get it out.” I was still too weak to reach that far.
