What if (47)

Coruscare entered Caeli's dreams much like the last time.

He found himself standing in the familiar wild flower field.

He stood hesitantly, unsure of what to do next.

"Hello?", came a female voice. It was sultry in an unintended way, it's depth giving it an almost rasping quality.

Coruscare felt as though his body were rock itself, frozen in place, inflexible, disobedient.

The woman came around to the front of him, and to his surprise, she seemed simply confused. Some would argue even just curious. No fear at all considering their difference in size. And, well the fact that he was a dragon with large sharp teeth, and even sharper claws.

*She has been so far under for so long, she likely doesn't remember that there is anything to be frightened of.*, he thought to himself. He wondered if it would not be better for her to sleep, to silently slip away, to never remember what dangers the world held around every corner.

Before he could finish the thought, he knew it was wrong. Ventus and Faron would want their daughter to have her best chance at life. To make memories and friends, perhaps even have a family of her own to love and nurture.

He bowed deeply, and she did the same, like a stringed puppet in a show, mimicking the audience for laughter.

They raised their torsos simultaneously, gazing into each other's eyes. Caeli, a few years younger and attempting to understand who stood before her, Coruscare savoring the sight of her awake and responsive. Her hair was still auburn inside of her mind. She likely was unaware of the change since she had not woken to see it herself. Her eyes were dark pools, the color of rich wood, wet with rain. Her lashes long and dark, just as they were in life. All her beauty only made more beautiful for her attentiveness.

She was likely somewhere between 18 and 19 years old. She looked much the same, the differences only recognizable by a creature that had watched her morning after morning, observing her every feature. The small smile lines on either side of her mouth gone, non-existent in her rounder cheeks. The way she held her body, as if their was a bubbling cauldron of energy, attempting to boil over inside of her. Her cheeks a dusky rose color beneath her tanned skin. He had been unwilling to admit his feelings in their own world, he could not deny them here.

It made him want to stay.

"Hello.", he squeaked out. *Embarassing.*, he thought to himself, he cleared his throat softly. He felt as though any sudden movements or noises would swallow the image before him away into nothingness, as if seeing her in the reflection of a still pool.

She smiled.

*And so the sun was made, shall it's brightness never fade*, he recalled the little rhyme that he occasionally heard the children sing. It was part of a song that spoke of the worlds creation, almost as old as himself, passed from generation to generation.

His mother had never sang it to him, he was unsure where the connection had come from.

"Are you alright? Is there someone you're looking for?", she asked turning in all directions, looking for another person that would make everything make sense.

"No child, only resting on a long journey. Simply, passing through, with your leave of course.", he said.

Caeli stood, staring at the creature in front of her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but she thought he reminded her of someone. He seemed oddly familiar to her.

At the very least she could offer shelter for a night and food. He didn't seem to be carrying anything so he would likely be hungry. He was large and seemed powerful, there would be a good chance he was of some importance to the Folk, in which case he was important to her as well.

Her mother always said, "be the kindness you hope for in your own hours of need". The Folk were her friends, she hadn't met one yet she did not love. Surely she should treat their associates with respect. And a long journey? Had she been traveling far surely she'd hope for some comfort from a good intentioned stranger.

"Well, should you have time, or desire, you could come with me? At the very least get something in your stomach before you continue? My lord?", she added, the Folk taught her that those that were filled with great amounts of magic often were leaders. She was going out on a limb, but something inside her told her she was right.

Coruscare blinked rapidly. She acted as though she did not know him, but knew him to be a king?

He was trying frantically to piece together how that could be when she started to walk away.

He halted his mind long enough to start following. Stepping lightly and keeping a respectable distance, things were going better than he had expected, the last thing he wanted to do was accidentally jolt her into awareness and be thrown out.

This time the world did not melt into new surroundings as it had last time.

They walked through woods for what seemed like only seconds when they made it to the clearing with the cottage and pond.

Caeli turned back occasionally to make sure he was still behind her. She thought to herself he was very quiet, even in his movements, for such a large size.

"Mama! I'm home!", she said loudly when they stepped into the small structure.

Coruscare ducked and stepped in behind the small woman, just as small but a few years younger than the one he knew in his time and place.

Ventus and Coruscares' gazes met immediately. She smiled weakly in response.

"I brought someone, I hope that's alright.", Caeli said with the nonchalance of a child not often told no, not out of spoiling, but from the trust and respect she had earned from her parents.

"Of course dear, who do we have here?", Ventus said, sounding expertly curious.

Coruscare realized that Ventus was bound by the same rules as he with the Catcher. They would have to be careful about what they spoke of in front of her from now on. Before Caeli had projected herself as a child, her ability to understand their conversation was likely minimal at the time.

Caeli spun on her heel to turn and look at Coruscare. She cocked her head to the side comically.

"Well, now that you ask, I'm not sure. I suppose I never asked your name. I apologize.", she politely and flawlessly executed a curtsy in her linen dress, that happened to look as though it had grass and dirt stains painted upon it. "Your name my lord?", she smiled sweetly and encouragingly.

It made his heart ache.

In the stories her companions told, Caeli was kind and caring but often very conservative, choosing to reign her emotions as much as possible when circumstances arose.

The snake and horse had mentioned an instance here or there where she had been upset, feeling lost and confused, but the vast majority of the time it sounded as though she was cool and collected.

The companions had told humorous stories in which Caeli laughed boisterously, but never had they talked of her being as animated and cheerful as this.

It made Coruscare wonder if Caeli had been spending time with her mother and father ever since she began time traveling. Perhaps this would have been the Caeli of his time if not for his actions.

To see her so happy and carefree…

He was shocked to hear the words not only Greedy whispered but he himself felt.

*I would give it all up.*, Greedy and Coruscare thought in unison.

He pushed the thought away. He was happier than he'd like to admit to set that aside and worry about it later.

"Coruscare. My name is Coruscare.", he said hesitantly, unsure of how much Caeli's subconscious mind remembered of her life in her physical body. From the looks of it she had aged years since he had last been there, despite it having only been days in their time. If she remembered him, and her journey to Ausia mountains, she could sense that something was wrong and he'd be out on his back end in no time flat.

Caeli looked thoughtful for a moment, studying his figure.

"Hmm, I think I do know you…", she said quietly to herself.

Coruscares skin felt hot and cold all it once.

Ventus watched all of this silently.

"I think-well I recall maybe you visited. When I was very young. I remember your…. largeness.", she said smiling on the last bit, very satisfied with the word she chose.

Coruscare thought he heard the creak of his lungs as he tried to slowly release the air he had held inside while waiting for her response.

He nodded slowly.

"And I think I was too young to speak, I don't recall us talking. I do recall you tickling my cheek.", she giggled, as if reliving the moment.

He chuckled and smiled, nodding again.

"So you do recall him. I didn't want to give it away. He is a very good friend of your father and I. He came to meet you when you were very small.", she said laughing as she wrapped an arm around her daughter.

Seeing the two side by side was uncanny. He could see the resemblance and it was striking. If not for Caeli's auburn hair that she retained when conjuring herself in this part of time, they could have been sisters.

He struggled to find much of Faron in her features.

"Oh it is there, I promise you. Mostly in her stubbornness.", Ventus said, having seen the look on Coruscares face.

His cheeks felt as though they were radiating heat.

"I apologize, my lady. The resemblance is clear as a cloudless day, in the best ways possible of course.", he leaned into a small bow.

"I will take it as a compliment then my lord.", Ventus laughed. "But do not fear, in times of peril or danger you will see the spitting image of her father. She has the fierce courage and strength of Faron, that is certain.", she said bumping her hip into her daughters.

While most young women would have been thoroughly embarrassed at this point, Caeli was quite the opposite. She bumped hips with her mother in return and laughed wholeheartedly.

The sun had suddenly begun shinning directly into the small cottage. The love and happiness between the women was physically palpable to Coruscare.

He should leave her here, he thought suddenly to himself. Care for her in his time and allow her to spend what time she can with her mother while she still could.

He could give her her family back, if only for a short time.

He could give her more opportunities to make memories with them, to cherish them.

His heart stopped beating for just a moment. What would happened if he stayed? Here with this loving and joyous family, with this blooming and glowing young woman.

What if?