213 Stellan’s Boring Life

MEANWHILE IN THE SNOW MOUNTAINS

HELENA POV

"The warmth of the sunset glow enveloped the land as the meadow sway in the soft gusts of the wind. I can hear a muffled voice talking at a distance. And as I look ahead, a figure in a blur was walking right towards me. I reached for it and when I did, my hands were instantly covered with blood. Its smell crinkled my nose as I feel my breath speed up. Then suddenly, a pair of large hands of a man grabbed me by my shoulders pulling me towards him…".

I jolted my way out from my nightmare as I open my eyes. "Bad dreams again?", Freya asked as I smell her lovely cooking. Our tent dance in the strong winds from the apparent snowstorm again.

Wiping the cold drops of sweat over my forehead as I sigh, I pulled myself up and sat on the lousy straw bed we made. "It's been always the same. Was I shouting again?", ever since the avalanche, I have been having the same night terrors over and over.

"You were only frowning and mumbling this time. Dreams are powerful omen, Helena. I'm worried", Freya said as she pass me a bowl of soup that she cooked. However, I didn't had the appetite grab a bite.

"Why can't I see them, Freya? I need to know if they're okay. Stellan might be worried sick of us too", I told Freya. When the massive cloud of snow hit us, I missed grabbing onto Stellan… We were separated with no will. He had that fearful look in his face, which never left my mind. And I wonder, if he's alright.

"Helena", Freya have always had that tone that starts with my name, and ends with a no.

"I don't want to lose what we have now. We are safe here. It's a no.".

"What are we even doing here?", I know we can't stay here forever and live by with what we can survive with. Having a shabby tent from the rebel camp, sleeping on the straw beds that we made, fitting ourselves in a small blanket in such a cold weather in the Snow Mountain… we won't last, surely.

"Surviving", she believed. "Please eat your food", she insisted.

"They need to know that we're alive", I told her with constant persistence ever since she pulled me out from the deep snow.

"And what?!", she yelled at me with so much anger. "I know how they all mean to you, but there are things that are far more important right now".

"And what's that?", from what I know, Stellan is what's important to me now.

"We're alive Helena. Isn't that what matters? We are the last of our kind…", her eyes became marred with tears, which she always does to prompt me to end the discussion.

But now, I won't.

"This is not surviving, Freya. This is hiding. And I don't want to hide anymore. I'm not like you who can turn to a black winged bird who can fly around and see them each time you want. I'm sure there are other ways to be out of Celeste's senses", I told her. Freya believes that Celeste won't track us if we stay in Caluso. The mountain magic will mask our existence, unable for the sorceress to sense our powers.

"I'm just looking after us. You almost died in the hands of Celeste, and you were sick for days after being buried in ice.", Freya pouted her lips, as she squint her eyes. That's the look of defeat. I completely understand Freya's fears for she has always been a worrier, and my personal carer ever since the avalanche. "Fine!", she rolled her eyes as she sat beside me. "I found a way to get you to places without traveling on foot", she said.

"Really?!", my heart almost jumped out of my chest hearing those words as hug her tightly

"Okay, calm down", Freya loosened up a little as she chuckle a little. "I'm still working on it, and I haven't completely perfected the spell".

"So how do we do it? Will you turn me to a bird too?", I asked, with so much eagerness.

"That's so much better, but no. I can make us a portal",

"What's a portal?", I had no idea what Freya is talking about, being the first time that I have heard of it.

"It's like a magical door, that opens in the thin air, taking you to other places", she explained fervently.

"Oh.. then let's do it!!", Freya flicked my forehead with her finger.

"Were you listening to every word that I just said? I'm still working on it", she strongly said. "Who knows I might open a portal to Galen's palace, or worse, in Celeste's lair".

"I trust you, Freya. I know you can take me to Stellan safely. Please?", I implored my good friend, Wiccan, with my squirrel eyes.

Freya deeply sighed as she let her head fall back. Again, the look of defeat. "Okay!!!", she glared as she shook her head. "But eat your food first".

MEANWHILE

"Goodby Stellan. May find the peace in your heart. Please receive my thanks to Hesam", Princess Eirah expressed her gratitude, as she receive a piece of paper from Stellan.

The Hesam household bid farewell to the princess, as she depart the castle in her royal carriage. The princess have always learned how to fight for what's hers, and yet, she also know when to give up. She waved goodbye to Stellan, along with her false hope that they can be together.

As Lord Nero, Duchess Lucio and Stellan stood upfront the castle, Stellan sighed sharply as he open his mouth. "Her name is Helena. Daughter of King Silvius and Beatrice of Caluso… when I find her, I shall bring her here", Stellan went in to attend to his routines.

Lord Nero clutched on the button of his royal blue coat until it fell off. He almost lost his footing when he heard the name of whose his son had his eyes on. When he was told by Stellan where Evandrus truly is, Lord Nero didn't know what to do with such information. Evandrus have been gone for too long, that Lord Nero doesn't know if he would still fit in his son's world.

He failed as a father, he thought.

Lord Nero is so good in governance and managing palace affairs and yet, he thought he is not befitting to be a father. When Stellan uttered the words of his desolation, he felt sorry for his son for carrying the heavy load of his longing for Evandrus. But then again, he could no longer turn back time, as much as to find the courage to apologize to his son.

Stellan returned to the training grounds and spent the entire day doing drills and strengthening his men's skills. Wielding swords, and brawling in fists, for hours, he forgot all that bothers him… except the memories of Helena.

Intentionally missing dinner, Stellan went straight to his bedchambers and lulled himself in the silence and loneliness that filled his room. After his usual bath, he sat in his study to have his dinner alone. Radovid made sure Stellan eats this time as he stay beside the paladin knight. He ended his meal with three glasses of wine, until he was left in his room by himself.

Later, Stellan pulled up a clean paper and a slate pencil. He started scribbling a few lines and some expressive strokes until he formed a face. He was careful as he add a bit more subtle shading for the eyes, and a few contrasts on the cheeks. With great effort, he tried to make it as beautiful as Helena. From his clear memory, he drew her long hair, cutesy nose, plump lips and slender neck… He finished his sketch of Helena's portrait, that only heightened his sense of emptiness eating him inside.

Everyday without Helena, he dies a little. What a boring life he'll endure, he thought.