Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Same Yet Different

“Oh! Sorry dearie! Got lost in me thoughts,” Maevis replied as she quickly begun creating a semi-large, in-ground bath.

Light-grey stones pushed up through the dirt as if alive. As they came up; a large hole opened in the ground just in front of Skye. The stones stacked themselves along the bottom and up the sides; creating walls with built-in seats. Giant, craggy rocks shot out of the ground around it; allowing for privacy.

Technically, it was big enough for three people to fit in. Skye loved her bath at home, but this was incredible! She squeaked her happiness before releasing a gentle flow up, into hundreds of tiny fissures that stopped just shy of the stone floor. The water bubbled up quickly, seeping through the tiny cracks in between the stones on the ground.

Skye practically tore her clothes off. Maevis giggled at the lass’ enthusiasm as she collected her clothes and shoes. As Skye slipped down into the steamy water, she felt every muscle of hers relaxing. It was similar to swimming in a pool heated by the hot sun.. But way better.

Maevis flew over to a nearby tree, set the clothes down, and grabbed something far bigger than herself. When she’d come around to the opening of the spring, Skye could see it was a towel! Maevis must’ve made it while she’d been talking with Nicolas. Maevis fluttered near the ground and used her magic to call up a small, but strong sapling to place the clean towel on.

“There! Now you only need one thing,” Maevis stated as she handed Skye a sliver of soap.

“Ye truly are too good to me, Maevis! Thank you so very much!” Skye replied as she gratefully took the soap from the sweet old Fae.

.....

Maevis smiled and nodded to Skye before flying off, saying: “I’ll leave you to tend to yourself. I’ll come back with your clothes after I’ve cleaned and mended them. Enjoy the bath!”

Tidas and Petrie had been gone just under an hour. When they returned; not only did they have firewood, but two rabbits as well. Petrie volunteered to start a fire and clean them, while Tidas walked over to Nicolas and Maevis. They had been in a serious discussion, but hushed up when he approached. When he looked around and didn’t see Skye, alarm begun to overtake him.

Seeing the panic in his eyes, Maevis chuckled and said; “Skye is fine, dear lad; she’s off having a soak.”

Tidas exhaled a breath he hadn’t been aware of holding. He and Petrie had munched on some wild berries and flowers to stop themselves from keeling over in hunger. But it had been no where near enough to help his current shortage of power. Seeing the Fae folk looking so distressed made Tidas think something bad had happened to Skye. Especially since she was no where to be seen. The lass had a knack for finding trouble.

“How? She’s not well enough to bathe in cold water,” Tidas questioned.

“We used Unison magic to create a.. small hot spring about twenty, twenty-five yards or so out over there,” Maevis replied as she pointed.

Tidas was completely surprised. Skye was progressing far too quickly. It worried him that her body might be strained too much. The thought of something bad happening to Skye made him feel apprehensive. He fought with himself to stay put, and not go check on her. Seeing her naked again and not touching her... Tidas wasn’t sure he was capable of it.

“Don’t worry about Skye. That lass can take care of herself, should anyone happen upon her. But I know there’s no one else in these woods but us now. Well, alive, anyway,” Nicolas assured Tidas while looking in the direction of the dead nomads.

Tidas nodded his agreement, then headed towards Petrie to help with dinner. Before he could take more than three steps, Maevis called out to him.

“Hold it, lad! I have a task for you that will give you an excuse to speak with Skye,” Maevis wore a wicked smile as she beckoned him back.

Tidas didn’t know if it was a trick or not, but it seemed like it to him. Skye wouldn’t hold back now that he knew about her powers. From what Petrie told him, and based on what he saw before they ran away; Skye could kill him without much effort. He chortled before looking at Maevis and saying, “I’d rather not risk her ire, thank you.”

“You won’t see anything, I promise. There’s privacy; I made sure of it. I need to give her clothes back, now that I’ve cleaned and mended them. Be a dearie and take them to her... It’s a wee bit too far for me to fly to, after the day we’ve all had,” Maevis finished, feigning exhaustion.

Tidas sighed in defeat. He knew Maevis wouldn’t let it go. He reached out and took the blue dress Skye had been wearing. Shock plastered his face as he looked over the dress. It really did look brand new. He looked back to Maevis who wore a confident smile. She was quite pleased with herself for her work.

Tidas smiled and shook his head slightly before saying; “If you can clean me up first, then I will do as you’ve asked.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t move. Humans are essentially the same as everything else in Nature. So just keep still,” Maevis said as she began to focus her power.

Her statement made Tidas a little nervous, but he was sure Maevis was just messing with him. He stretched out his arms to his sides to allow her better access. As she pulled all the particulates from his clothes, the old fairy grinned at his nervousness. Whether it be due to herself or Skye; Timid Tidas was funny. He was acting exactly the way Nic used to describe him as a boy: a worrier with a strong heart and mind, who was dedicated to Skye.

“It’s cute...”

“Pardon?” Tidas asked; it was an odd statement to randomly say at the moment.

“Your love for each other: it’s cute. And rare...Use it as a strength. Don’t shut her away to protect her.. You know it won’t work, anyways. Build your strength together. Or you’ll both suffer for it later,” Maevis said as she finished her cleaning.

“She makes it tempting to try.. But I could never do that to her. Skye is free to do as she wishes.. Even if that means letting her go,” Tidas looked crestfallen a moment, but perked back up almost instantly.

“What do you mean?! The girl loves you, you idiot Prince. Has she not said as much? Oh, that lass.. A bloody blind Fae could tell!” Maevis yelled.

“She will tell me so in her own time; she’s been through a lot due to me,” Tidas tried to sooth the fiery fairy.

“You’re a patient man, Prince Tidas.. A good man,” Maevis patted his shoulder before going off to grab him a pair of fresh, thick stockings that matched Skye’s dress and shoes for her.

“Thank you, Maevis. I’ll go make the delivery right now,” Tidas beamed at the fairy.

“Just don’t go sneaking a peak as a tip...” Maevis said in a joking tone as Tidas strode off, laughing and shaking his head.

Skye soaked in the steamy water of the small hot spring peacefully. She went over all the details of the day in her head, periodically shaking it in disbelief. Nomads weren’t all bad, she’d gotten to meet real fairies, found out she was a Shepherd, and now she was soaking in a hot spring she’d help to make! It was a crazy, but amazing day.

‘Is me life always gonna be this complicated?’ Skye thought to herself with a smile.

When she was a child, Skye and Tidas had spent their days searching for adventures. They imagined themselves as explorers; visiting the three continents in search of treasures and lost history. The Star continent has been studied extensively. But the Fire and Tropitic(Trope-E-tick) continents were still widely unknown.

The Fire continent was getting attention lately due to the sudden advancement in their technology. Scholars traveled there from Alcon over the past few years to learn, but few could handle it. The topography and environmental factors were nothing like what they were used to. Skye’d overheard it from her father, who was discussing it with one of his business partners.

She tried to imagine what a vast sea of sand and sun would look like. Skye’d only seen the ocean a handful of times, and that was through a small porthole on a ship. Although she thought it would look pretty, she would never want to stay. Skye loved trees, cold air, and the green of the grass of the rolling hills. Plus, she wouldn’t be able to use her power as easily. “But it would still be a wonder to see,” she thought out loud.

“A wonder, indeed,” a familiar voice came from behind the rock wall Maevis had added for privacy.

Skye immediately covered her breasts, and crouched down into the murky water. She had made it a point to pull water with natural minerals through the cave system; to help moisturize her skin. Tidas stayed on the other side of the large, jagged rocks that almost completely encircled the tiny hot spring. They looked like blooming flower petals to Tidas.

“I knew it! Ye were in me room on purpose this morning, weren’t ye?! Bloody Pervert!” Skye yelled at Tidas through the rocks.

“No! No, no, no! Maevis sent me with yer clothes and to check on you.. Why would I announce myself if I was here to spy on you? Ye make no sense, woman!” Tidas yelled back; flustered.

The prince swore he could hear Maevis laughing from the campsite, but brushed off the thought. Skye was getting the wrong impression, and this was exactly why he didn’t want to come in the first place. Feeling dispirited, he yelled; “If you turn around, I’ll put your clothes under your towel, and leave. I understand you don’t want me around..”

Skye cursed inwardly at herself. She didn’t understand why she acted this way with Tidas. He was to be her husband! He was eventually going to do a lot more to her than just look at her. The thought didn’t bother her like it had with Jacob, so Why? Why was she being so childish?!

An idea popped into Skye’s head that made her blush. Before she could change her mind, she yelled to Tidas; “Ima sorry.. You can set me clothes down.”

As he came to the opening of the hot spring, Tidas saw where her towel sat. He lifted it, set Skye’s clothes down, put the towel back, and turned to leave. Before he could take a step, movement in his peripheral vision and a splashing sound caused him to look in Skye’s direction. She stood in the hip-deep water; completely naked, and facing him. When their eyes locked, Skye spoke in a soft voice, “I..I don’t want ye to go..”