>>Amber
Hael and I rushed inside the house as soon as we teleported to Duke Wellington’s estate.
The snow had covered everything, the white scenery was beautiful but both of us were worried about Einar. Delphi had called us to tell us about him.
We rushed through the hallways and opened the door to his room.
"Einar!" We said together as we entered the room. It was nicely lit, both Enya and Delphi were in the room.
"You’re here," Enya stood up and ca over, "He’s asleep, for now." She walked over to us and we looked at the bed. Einar had his eyes closed but he probably heard us. His eyes fluttered and he stirred.
"Einar," Enya stopped and changed her course, she ran to her brother, "Are you alright?"
His eyes opened and he looked at his sister, "Yea..." Then he looked at the rest of us. When his eyes landed on Hael, he passed him a soft painful smile, "You’re here..."
Hael walked over to him and I quietly followed, "Delphi told sothing," He asked softly but what Delphi had told us left us both horrified.
"..." Einar didn’t answer imdiately. He tried to sit up and Hael instantly went ahead to help him, placing his hands on his back and supporting him with his magic till he sat upright. But he looked uncomfortable so he leaned against the stack of pillows and then let out a sigh of relief.
"Einar," Hael called out to him, "Is it true?" I stood by the girls as they both talked. Hael kept his eyes on the smaller man.
Einar took a deep breath and then looked at his sister, "Bring it to ." Enya turned towards the small round table that was by the window and walked to it. There was a treasure box on it, made from so gems I have never seen before.
Their color astronomical.
She grabbed that and went to her brother, handing the box over to him. He took it weakly and then looked at Hael who was patiently waiting for an answer, "That’s right." He nodded softly, "What you heard is right."
Both of us glanced at each other, then looked back at Einar.
"But Einar..." I said, "Delphi told us..."
He smiled at , "Yes," He began to open the box,
"How?!?" I replied as I shook my head, "What even-!?" I couldn’t put it in words.
"There are a number of ancient spells done on it." He opened the box, "But these spells cannot work on just any heart." Our eyes went wide when we saw what was inside, "It has to be a fae heart." A live beating heart thumped there.
It was alive sohow, I don’t know how though. Could simply be the spells he ntioned.
"This is yours?" Hael asked as he stared inside the box.
"Yes," Einar answered and tried to give the box to Hael, "Take it," Hael looked skeptical, "You have to take it Hael." He noticed the hesitancy in Hael, "I can’t keep holding it for long." Hael finally but slowly extended his hands and took the heart.
"But..." He wasn’t sure how to say this, "This yours..."
"Fae hearts are smaller than human hearts," Enya said, then looked at the beating red organ in the box, "But we have two of them."
!!!
"Two?" I looked at the twins and they both nodded.
"There was a long ritual. A Lot of spells...." Einar spoke softly, like he lacked the energy to raise his voice. We don’t know what he went through but he looks extrely drained, "It took a lot of ti to create this, but this was the only way we found to lift the inevitable."
OH!? Lift it?! That ans Hael doesn’t have to die! I smiled, my heart filling with glee
"Lift it?" Hael raised his brow at him
"You will have to eat it," Einar said, "And the spells will activate." But looking at him, I couldn’t express my happiness outright. That would be too cruel of . While I am happy for Hael, it breaks my heart to see Einar.
He was already weak and now he had taken his heart out to help us, which in turn made his health further worse.
"We t a Thaumaturge. The land of fae is very vast." The Oracle said catching our attention, "Although getting past the guardian protectors is a dangerous task."
"Guardians?"
"You have to go up to reach Caelithar, and on your way up, you will always encounter one of the two guardians who protect the fae kind. If they deem you dangerous to the species, they will make every attempt to kill you."
"Oh..." I felt a chill, "No wonder people don’t know about a fae land."
"Yes," Einar nodded, "The good part was that since I have fae blood, we didn’t have much trouble with them. The two-legged guardian we t let us pass easily."
I noticed Hael, he was looking at the box and the beating heart in it, "..." Then he looked at the rest of us, "I want to talk to Einar alone."
Us girls looked at each other, Delphi was the first one to nod, "Alright," And she began to walk out of the room. Enya was hesitant but seeing the Oracle walk out made her move too and in the end I followed.
But sothing bothered .
Why did Hael want to talk to Einar alone? Well, it might be sothing personal, so I shouldn’t pry.
***
>>Hael
"Sorry," Einar said, "You will have to eat it raw," He tried to pull a smile, "I know that sounds disgusting," He avoided my gaze as he scratched the back of his head. I watched him quietly, with a grim expression, "But it’ll be over-"
"You don’t have to lie to ," I said and he froze,
"Hael," He brought his hand down, ’I’m not lying to you, if you eat that, it will lift the-" He tried to et my gaze
"You know I’m not talking about that." I said, "The punishnt for taboo is eternal. Of course I always thought there had to be a way to change sothing but then you offer your heart?"
It was as clear as day what he was doing
He looked away, "We’re out of ti," He said, "And this was the only way we found..."
"By taking my fate onto yourself?" I could see it right away. The punishnt will be lifted off of , but Einar will take it in my stead.
He let out a soft sigh, his hands resting on his thighs, "Hael... Don’t tell anyone else."
"..." The room was filled with silence except the crackling of fire.
"I don’t have much ti anyway." He said, "You and I agreed to this," He finally turned to look at , his eyes eting mine, "When I convinced you to act as Enya Perforr, I told you I’d find so solution for you, and I said at that ti that I will save you, even if it was at my own expense."
"...."
I stared back at him without a word. We did have that agreent. But I didn’t think that him taking my place would be the only way out.
"Don’t think too much," His gaze was firm, "I don’t have much ti anyway." He smiled, this ti it was genuine, "It doesn’t matter if I die a little earlier," His expressions turned softer as his smile got wider, "Nobody needs to know the cause for it. Everyone already knows I’m very sick. My health will cover this secret up nicely."
"Einar..." He looked defeated.
"And make sure Enya never finds out."
"She won’t be able to take it if you’re dead in two months." I said
"Death of soone close is never easy, no matter when it cos." He reached his hand out towards , his fingertips touching the small box, "Eat it, you’re a healthy person with a bright future. Live it with your beloved."
"..." I looked down at the beating heart, "Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked
He gave a soft smile, "Make sure Enya is happy," He nodded at , "Hm? You’ll do that for right?" His hand began to retreat and I grabbed it.
"I will," I promised
His smile looked rather sad, "I’ll trust you then,"
***
>>Amber
When we all entered Einar’s room again, Hael had finished eating.
!!
It was a bit chilling to see that. To eat a heart is not an easy thing, one that is raw and belongs to a living being similar to us. When we all walked in, he was wiping the blood from his mouth and then his hands.
"The Thaumaturge told us you’ll have a few nights of intense fever," Delphi said, "But it will settle soon."
Hael rely nodded at her words and then continued to wipe the blood with a wash bucket that was on the side table, next to the bed. We all then took our seats there and began to talk about other stuff.
Hael and I had dinner with them and then we turned. But Hael never told what he and Einar talked about and I never asked. I believe it’s not right to ask when he doesn’t want to tell .
I just hope it’s nothing serious.
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