"So you want me to initiate a conversation with him since we are both walking the paths of becoming leaders to our respective nations and to keep the alliance intact for the future" if only it was so straightforward like how Elise had described it.
"A simpler way to look at it is just to be yourself and get to know Yura's son" Elise's attention shifted from her mother to her father. They smiled at each other.
"Okay, I understand...can I have a snack before lunch as well?" She looked between them with her feet swinging back and forth unsure if their answer was going to be positive.
"Yes, sweetheart but nothing that will ruin your appetite for dinner," they both kissed her on the side of her head and she ran towards the kitchen.
"Well, I think that went well" Elijah moved across the bench to sit closer to Rena, he wrapped his arm around her as she entangled her fingers with his watching as Elise left.
"I hope so, I'm supposed to meet Jessica in the gardens. I will you at lunch" she turned to Elijah, he nodded and she kissed him.
Rena saw that Jessica was already there and began rehearsing her apology in her head.
"I know, I'm sorry, the first thing I should have done was run into your arms and give you the biggest hug I could but instead I bombarded you with a horse and a meeting in the forest. I didn't even get a chance to ask you how was your honeymoon" Rena finally caught her breath and waited for Jessica to start speaking.
Jessica stood there with tears in her eyes "I'm pregnant." They continued to stare at each other Rena covering her screams, they embraced then pulled away. This continued three more times before they finally sat down.
"I cannot believe it, you're gonna be a mother" they held each other's hand.
"I'm gonna be a mother, that's why we had to extend our stay, I was throwing up everything. We barely made it this time, we are gonna announce it at lunch, though I figure Meera and Anastasia already know"
"I didn't want to say anything but you do look a bit bigger since the last time I saw you." Jessica then slapped Rena's arm playfully and they laughed. Jessica had a small body so the slight weight gain was very noticeable.
"Jasper must be so happy, another baby in the family, you are going to be such a great mother" Jessica saw a pained look on her best friend's face.
"Don't worry, I want you to know that I can complete any task you give me. I'm still quite capable" Jessica reassured Rena of her duties as head of the medic team of Elensia
"I know and even though we have that to deal with, we still have the happy moments to look forward to like this new arrival," Rena said while placing her hand on Jessica's stomach.
"Come on Ariah, I just want to talk to you," Ash's pace quickened as Ariah created more space between them.
As soon as everyone had returned from their meeting in the forest, Ariah hopped off the horse she was sharing with Ash. Without hesitation, she walked through the hallways and stairs completely ignoring his attempts at gaining her attention. He kept his distance trying not to overwhelm her but still hoping she would stop moving at some point, allowing the long-overdue conversation to happen.
She abruptly spun around to face him as he almost collided with her, both out of breath the legendary staring contest began.
"You have five minutes to tell me whatever it is you have to tell me and after that, we do not speak to each other unless it is absolutely important. Understood?" Her eyes were cold, it was as if the only emotion she felt towards him was anger.
"Okay, five minutes" he raised his hands in surrender to her request. They walked a little bit further, she opened the door to the library before closing it she searched both ends of the hallway to make sure no one had seen them.
"Are you sure no one will come in here?" he asked wondering why she picked here specifically.
"I'm sure, I reserve the room for about two hours, no one uses it around this time and beginning with that question started your five minutes" he knew that she stood near the door so that as soon as his five minutes were up she could quickly see him out. Her hands remained folded over her chest, she was guarded and rightfully so.
"I've missed you so much" Ash's approach was to tread lightly.
"And I hate you so much!" before he could continue Ariah had realized she said those words so loudly she covered her mouth and took a deep breath.
"I know, I didn't leave things on the best of terms but I wrote you letters" his voice remained calm and quiet. He knew that he was in the wrong and that if he wanted things between them to be resolved he had to take all the blame.
"Letters.....you think letters would solve anything? You could have told me what you wanted to say to my face, not on paper which would take two days to get here," tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. Ash saw this and thought carefully about what he was going to say next.
"You're right, I was a coward I never should've left things how I did. But I'm here now and I want us to be together for everyone to know." There was silence for a few seconds, believing he finally had a breakthrough.
"Well, I'm not ready. I need time to think about it" she turned her head to the side with her eyes closed as if she was a child refusing to obey her parents.
"Now, you are just being stubborn"
"I'm being stubborn, why is it when you use the exact words it is acceptable but the second I use them I'm stubborn?"
"I love you, I'm standing there trying to say that I love you if you would just shut up!" Ash instantly regretted what just came out of his mouth. This was not the way he wanted the conversation to go. But he knew they would fight and make up because they were realistic about their relationship. The timing was never right, whenever they reconnected believing that it was a perfect time, something was always getting in the way.