Reden's heart skips a beat as he hears from the man that he saw his wife somewhere nearby recently. He stares at the paper with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Could it be possible? Could his wife really be in Castledale after all this time?
His hands trembling slightly, Reden takes the paper from the man and examines it closely. It's the same paper he wrote weeks ago, describing his wife's appearance and his longing to find her. But the addition of the note from the man gives him a glimmer of hope.
After he confirms that this it the missing person poster that he wrote he starts breathing very heavily from hope. If this man did actually see her and he is sure that it's her he smiles.
"Where did you see her? Tell me or lead me there! I will give you whatever I can!" Reden can't hide his emotions. He looks like he is about to tear up.
Reden seriously hopes he isn't just joking. If this stranger is actually joking Reden might literally tear him apart for that.
"I saw her passing Castledale. She looked exactly like described here." The man continues, his expression earnest.
"I was doubtful for a while until I saw snowflakes coming out of her body. This way I was sure she is that person as she is described as ice mage. It was like 15 minutes ago." Stranger says.
"Come with me!" Reden says and right away rushes to the gates of Castledale.
Reden is hoping that this is actually his wife... his heart... his Mary. He runs as fast as possible to catch up on her before she gets too far away.
He runs to the gate not looking behind him. Not looking around. He just rushes straight to the gate. His adrenaline is increased from determination he has.
After running for few minutes he finally reached the gate. He look left and right trying to see if there is anyone on the road there. He doesn't see anyone except of merchants entering and leaving the town.
He looks behind to see if the stranger is behind him. He doesn't see him so he waits a little to see if he actually follows him. He keeps breathing heavily hoping she isn't yet too far. He looks around him while waiting.
After 4 minutes the stranger arrives near gates.
"Which way did she go?" Reden asks.
"To the left." Man says.
Reden without wasting anymore time started running to the road on the left. He decided to run until he sees her. He runs for 5 minutes and goes past the hill. He looks around from the hill looking for someone walking.
He looks under him and sees that there are small shards of ice on the road.
He takes a deep breath and exhales again. Then he follows the traces of ice.
As Reden follows the trail of ice shards on the road, his heart races with a mixture of excitement and hope. Every step he takes feels like a leap toward a potential reunion with Mary. The air is chilly, and his breath mists in front of him as he moves forward with determination.
The trail of ice shards leads him further down the road, winding through the countryside. Reden's mind is a whirlwind of emotions as he envisions seeing Mary again, holding her in his arms, and finally being reunited with the love he thought he had lost.
After what feels like an eternity of running, the shards look more fresh and bigger with more steps. Then Reden's eyes catch a glimpse of a figure up ahead. His heart skips a beat, and he pushes himself to run faster. As he gets closer, he can make out the familiar silhouette of a woman, her hair glinting in the sunlight.
Before he gets close enough the person he sees stops and turns around with shocked face.
Reden now stops and they both see eachother. Wind blowing their hair and clothes.
Reden takes a closer look and...
"It's actually you..." Reden stands there and tears up.
It's actually her. The long missing Mary.
"Reden..." Mary says still with shock on her face.
With a burst of energy, Reden runs to Mary again. She does the same. Then they finally reach eachother and they get into a big tight hug.
In that moment, the world around them fades away, and all that matters is the embrace they share. Reden holds Mary as if he never wants to let go, his heart pounding with joy and relief. Mary clings to him just as tightly, her tears soaking into his shoulder as if trying to convey all the emotions she's held inside for so long.
"I can't believe you're really here. After so long-" Reden whispers, his voice choked with emotion.
Mary pulls back slightly to look into his eyes, her own gaze filled with a mixture of happiness and tears.
"I promised to you that I will come back to you. Back there-" She says, her voice trembling.
Reden wipes away her tears gently, his fingers brushing against her cheeks.
"I won't let you go anymore. Im not going through this again. I was... I was..." He replies, his voice trembling.
They stand there, forehead to forehead, their breaths mingling in the chilly air. It's a moment of pure connection, a reunion that transcends words. The weight of all the time they've been apart, the pain, the uncertainty it all melts away in the warmth of their shared love.
"Im so... so glad this worry finally ended..." Reden says to Mary with shaking voice.
"Same here." Mary replies.
They are both still tearing a bit with a little sloshes.
After a very long moment, they break the hug, though their hands remain tightly clasped.
"I've missed you every single day." Mary says, her voice soft but resolute.
"I was worried much more than you. The thought you didn't make it out... Im glad it was just me being wrong as always." Reden replies.
"Our son, Gah-Hal, he's safe and waiting for us. We can finally be a family again." Reden says to her with big smile and wet eyes.
Mary's eyes light up at the mention of their son, a mixture of surprise and happiness evident on her face.
"Oh my!!! You dont even know how much I wanted to hear that aswell!" Mary smiles while grasping Reden's hands.
"I've dreamt so long about seeing both you and him together. I've dreamt so long until we all can be together again as happy family." Mary lays her head on Reden's shoulder.
Reden brings her closer to him allowing her to lie on his shoulder. He smiles, his heart overflowing with happiness.
"Let's go back to him, sweetheart. Let's go back and finally be the family we were meant to be. Starting a new life." Reden says with voice shaking.
Mary nods, her grip on Reden's hand tightening.
"Yes, let's go. Show me where you live, sweetheart." Mary says with her head still lying on Reden's shoulder.
Hand in hand, Reden and Mary turn and start walking back toward Castledale, the trail of ice shards now melting behind them, a symbol of the path they've traveled to find each other once again. As they walk, their hearts are filled with hope, love, and a renewed sense of purpose. A family reunited and ready to face whatever challenges the future may hold and this time for sure and together.
As Reden and Mary walk hand in hand towards Castledale, the town seems to shine with a newfound brightness. The streets that were once filled with worry and uncertainty now pave the way for a future filled with hope and love. The world around them seems to come alive with the promise of a fresh start and every step they take is a testament to their enduring bond.
With each passing moment, Reden and Mary share stories of their experiences during the time they were apart. They talk about the challenges they faced, the memories they held onto, and the dreams they never let go of. The conversation flows effortlessly, as if the years of separation had never happened.
Reden finds out that Mary managed to survive the siege by creating a walls of ice everytime there was some arrow or projectile from catapults or trebuchets. She evacuated safetly along with other doctors through the hole in the bastion while every dwarf and knight were busy fighting for the main gate to fortress. Then she was just wandering and trying to find him in the places she visited on the way. She slept in the inns or houses she saw. She had her own money which were a big help for her. She didn't check Castledale because she felt it would be too expensive for Reden to live there, but she didn't expect him to actually manage to do it.
As they approach the town gates, Reden's heart swells with a sense of homecoming. The familiar sights and sounds of Castledale surround them, but everything feels different now. He doesn't feel overwhelmed by anything anymore. There is finally nothing for him to worry about.
"I can't wait for you to see Gah-Hal once again." Reden says with excitement, his grip on Mary's hand tightening.
"He's grown so much." Reden says a bit quieter.
Their steps quicken as they head towards Lily's Boarding House. As they enter, Lily looks up from her counter and her eyes widen in surprise. She takes in the sight of Reden and Mary standing hand in hand before her and her expression quickly turns to one of curiosity.
"Is anything wrong? Is she injured?" Lily thinks that Mary is injured because of her lying on Reden's shoulder.
"No. Everything is alright. Lily, this is my wife." Reden explains with smile.
Lily's eyes widen even further in realization and a wide smile spreads across her face.
"Your wife! Oh, my! This is incredible news!" Lily exclaims, her joy evident in her voice.
Mary smiles warmly at Lily, her eyes reflecting the happiness she feels in this moment.
"Yes, it's wonderful to finally meet you, Lily." Mary says.
"My my. Congratulations, dear. I always hoped you would reunite your happiness." Lily smiles with excitement on her face.
"Thank you for everything, Lily. You've been a blessing to us." Mary says.
With Lily's blessings and well-wishes, Reden and Mary head up the stairs to their room. As they step inside, Reden's heart feels lighter than it has in years. He opens the door to his room, revealing their son sleeping soundly in his crib.
Mary's eyes fill with tenderness and adoration as she gazes at their sleeping child. She approaches the crib and takes a long close look at their child. She cant stop showing her adorement.
"He's even more beautiful than I remembered." Mary whispers, her voice filled with awe.
Reden places a gentle hand on Mary's back, his heart swelling with happiness as he watches her interact with their son.
"You can wake him up if you want to." Reden says softly, giving Mary the space to reunite with Gah-Hal.
Mary's fingers tremble slightly as she gently rubs Gah-Hal's forehead with her finger. She leans down and places a gentle kiss on his cheek, whispering his name with all the love in her heart.
Gah-Hal stays asleep and Mary stops leaning. She stands straight and looks at Reden.
"The biggest successes of my life happened so quickly. Marriage, birth and then reunion with both of you. I couldn't be more happy." She whispers to Reden with a big smile.
Reden smiles too.
"Same here." Reden whispers to her while getting closer to her.
Then they both share a big, beautiful kiss.
As their lips meet in a tender kiss, all the emotions they've held inside, all the longing and the pain, melt away even more in that moment of intimacy. It's a kiss that speaks of their love, their resilience and the unbreakable bond that has carried them through even the toughest of times.
Their hearts beat in sync and the world around them seems to fade into the background. It's just Reden and Mary, finally together again, their lips conveying all the words that they've been unable to say for so long.
When they finally pull back, their foreheads rest against each other's, their eyes closed as they savor the closeness they've yearned for.
"I love you." Reden whispers, his voice filled with sincerity and emotion.
Mary's smile is radiant, her eyes shining.
"And I love you, Sweetheart." She whispers back with joy.
Same Day, Midnight
The whole family spent whole day in room enjoying their great time together with lovely atmosphere.
The whole day passes in a blur of joy and togetherness for Reden, Mary, and Gah-Hal. They spend the hours catching up, sharing stories and simply reveling in the presence of each other. The room that once felt so empty and full of despair is now filled with the warmth of love and laughter.
As the day turns into night, they find themselves nestled together on the bed, Mary on left side of bed, Reden on right side of bed. Reden wraps his arm around Mary, pulling her closer, their bodies fitting together perfectly.
Mary rests her head on Reden's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The events of the day have left them both tired yet content, and the quiet of the room is a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.
Before Reden actually went to sleep, he stood up from the bed, picked Gah-Hal and placed him on the bed near Mary. Then Reden laid on the bed again. Now it's Mary on the left side of bed, Reden on right side of bed and Gah-Hal between them.
Mary gently placed her hand on Gah-Hal's cheek while infant is still asleep. Reden then placed his hand on Mary's hand which he then moved above Gah-Hal's head to not interrupt his sleeping. Reden closes his eyes. Then he takes his last breath and lies down comfy with smile on his face. Last breath of the day that is. Next breath is now another day.
As the room falls into a peaceful silence, Reden and Mary drift off to sleep, their hearts and souls finally at ease. The events of the day have brought them closer together, and they know that they have overcome so much to be where they are now.
Late Morning
Reden wakes up and opens his eyes. With his misty and half open eyes he look to his right and sees Mary who is already awake. She looks into his eyes while gently caressing Gah-Hal's chest. She looks at him with beautiful smile.
"Morning." Mary says quietly.
Gah-Hal is still asleep. Reden smiles too and caresses Mary's cheek with his hand.
"Morning." Reden whispers back.
He continues to caress Mary's cheek with his thumb, savoring the intimacy of the moment.
Their eyes lock and in that gaze, they look like they are talking telepathically. Gaze that can decribe the whole life. Reden leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to Mary's lips being careful to not wake their son up.
After few seconds of kissing eachother they pull back. Reden stands from the bed and goes to wear his pants, shirt and jacket.
"Wanna do some shopping with me?" Reden asks while slowly dressing up.
Mary smiles.
"Surely." Mary replies and also stands up from the bed. She also goes to wear her shirt and robe.
"Let's take Gah-Hal with us. Now that we are together again I dont have to leave him here alone." Reden suggests.
Once Mary wears her shirt, she looks at Gah-Hal who is now awake. She picks him up in her arms and bounced him a little.
With Gah-Hal in her arms, Mary coos and smiles at their son, his little eyes blinking sleepily. The bond between the three of them feels stronger than ever, and the joy of being together as a family radiates in the room.
Reden finishes getting dressed and approaches Mary and Gah-Hal and looks at them from the side.
"He's growing up so fast. If only you could see how brave he was for the whole trip." Reden says with a mixture of amazement and pride.
"I still remember the moment of his birth like it was yesterday. Well... obviously these moments aren't easy to forget." Reden says.
Mary nods, gently rocking Gah-Hal back and forth.
"It's incredible how fast the time passes. I still remember the pain of giving a birth like it was yesterday." Mary says with care in her eyes.
Together, they leave their room and make their way downstairs to the hall of Lily's Boarding House. Lily, who is sitting near her counter greets them.
"Good morning. It's a beautiful sight to see you together." Lily says.
"Good morning, Lily. Thank you for everything." Reden replies with genuine gratitude.
Lily nods, her eyes holding a kind understanding.
"If you dont mind. Can you check the drawer? There seems to be something wrong in there. I thought you might want to know." Reden says to Lily while smiling.
"Okay. Thank you for saying." Lily replies, takes a sip of her drink then going to the room.
As she goes to the room, Reden, Mary and Gah-Hal leave the inn.
Lily enters their room and looks around. Everything is clean. She goes to the drawer, opens it and sees a pouch.
"Oh?" Lily says to herself.
She picks up the pouch and looks inside. What she sees there are 2 silver coins.
She gasps and goes back to the hall. Once she is in the hall she leaves her inn and looks around. Sadly for her Reden, Mary and Gah-Hal are out of sight now. She looks at the pouch again and smiles with sad eyes.
"Heh. You really did repay me for all of this did you? You are an angel, dear Reden. Good luck then, stay safe." Lily said to herself with sad thought that they have already moved out and it was probably last time she saw them. She goes back to Lily's Boarding House and closes the door behind her...
Reden and Mary were now on their way to do some shopping because of the new plan they both thought of before.
"So what do we need? Bread loafs? Sweet breads loafs? Dried meat, fish, vegetables?" Reden asks.
"Dried meat would be the best. We need to keep enough calories for where we are about to go. I also need to eat enough to feed this treasure." While Mary says last words she very lightly tosses Gah-Hal in her arms.
"There is still around half of the bottle of juice for him in my bag. You know. Just in case. You don't have idea about how space he has in his tummy. He can drink around half of bottle in one go." Reden says.
"Keep the juice for later. It might still be needed." Mary replies.
As Reden and Mary walk through the bustling streets of Castledale, their conversation is light and filled with a sense of companionship. The town seems to buzz with activity around them, merchants and locals going about their daily routines. Marketplace as always looks very prosperous with countless transactions being done at once.
As they approach the market, the scent of fresh produce and the sounds of haggling vendors fill the air. Reden and Mary navigate through the stalls, selecting items that would sustain them on their journey. They pick up dried meat, bread loaves, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Mary also grabs a small jar of honey, knowing its sweetness can bring comfort on the road.
This shopping costed them 1 silver coin and 30 copper coins. With wealth of Mary as upper-class commoner this seems like an average weekly shopping cost.
"This will suffice for both of us for like... 2 weeks? Dried meat wont go bad for around a month so we are good to leave it for later. So veggies and bread goes first." Reden says.
"I also got some honey. It never spoils from what I know. We will dip bread into it and the journey will be much sweeter. But you know what is the sweetest?" Mary asks.
"Um. Apple dipped in honey?" Reden replies.
"Hmhmh. You are..." She says as she gave him a quick kiss to the cheek.
"Your flirting never failed. I always loved it in you." Reden says.
After their shopping is done, they take a leisurely stroll through the town. They visit a quaint little shop where they find a soft blanket for Gah-Hal and a flask for Mary to carry water. The shopkeeper, a kind old man, wishes them well on their journey and offers a friendly smile.
"May your road be safe and your hearts be light." He says, his words carrying a sense of genuine warmth.
Reden and Mary thank him and continue their walk, feeling grateful for the support they've received from the people they've encountered in Castledale.
As the day progresses, they stop by a park where families gather and children play. Gah-Hal simply just looks into the sky as always unmoved with what is going on around him. Mary seats him on her lap and holding him so he can see the park while she and Reden take a seat on a bench.
"Remember when we were jealous of other families for having a happy life? I guess Im not jealous anymore." Mary says.
"It's because we didn't plan our first child back then. Now everything is different. The whole perspective on the world has changed." Reden replies with his arm wrapped around Mary's shoulder.
"Yes. But even after the birth, when we were separated, I again felt jealous whenever I saw some happy family. So jealous I was about to explode in fury. Fortunately I didn't gave up and it was worth now that we are together again." Mary says.
Reden nods in agreement.
"Yea I know what you mean. I felt the same thing. It's hard not to feel envious when we were struggling so much. But now, seeing that Gah-Hal can be between someone else except of me, I can't imagine our family being any different. The difference between us and other families are challenges we faced." Reden says, his gaze filled with tenderness.
Mary leans her head on Reden's shoulder, her heart filled with a mixture of gratitude and contentment.
"We've come so far, haven't we? From the chaos of war, the uncertainty of our future, to this peaceful moment. Feels like the world spins around us." Mary says, her voice soft.
"That's just the feeling. Some people think that world is spinning around them because of all recent successes, but then comes the time when that person loses all the pride after common failures." Reden says sincere but still showing care.
"Sadly." Mary replies.
As the sun begins to reach the high noon, Reden and Mary share a quiet moment of reflection.
"It's almost high noon. Shall we go look for carriage to take us to out destination?" Reden asks.
"Just a little more. I want to enjoy this moment. In big town, in park, with you and our treasure." Mary says relaxed on Reden's shoulder.
"Ahah. Well then. If you say so." Reden then pulls her closer and kisses her forehead.
Around 10 minutes have passed. Reden and Mary stand from the bench. Gah-Hal is once again held in arms of Mary. Then they both go to look for coachman willing to give a trip from point A to point B. In this case from Castledale to location choosen by couple.
Few minutes later they come across a small square where a few carriages are parked, their drivers calling out to passersby, advertising their services. One of the coachmen notices Reden and Mary approaching and gives them a friendly nod.
"Looking for a ride, folks?" He asks with a smile.
Reden returns the smile. "Yes, indeed. We're looking for a carriage to take us to a specific location. Can you accommodate that?"
"Of course, my friend. Where would you like to go?" The coachman inquires.
Reden and Mary exchange a glance before Reden responds.
"We want to go to Glazes. I know, this is hell of a journey, but we're willing to pay for a safe and comfortable ride." Reden says.
The coachman's eyes light up with interest.
"Glazes huh? That's a very big distance, but for a lovely couple like yourselves, I suppose you are couples, I'm more than happy to oblige. I'll make sure you have a smooth and enjoyable journey." He says with interest.
"We have our baby with us, so we'll need enough space for all three of us, as well as our belongings." Mary adds.
The coachman nods.
"No problem at all, ma'am. I have a spacious carriage that can easily accommodate your family and belongings and even more than that. We can leave whenever you're ready." Coachman says while approaching his horse and getting it ready.
Reden and Mary exchange another glance, both feeling reassured by the coachman's willingness to accommodate their needs.
"We appreciate your help." Reden says sincerely.
He then jumps into the carriage and gently helps Mary do the same as she holds their infant. Once Mary is inside she takes her pouch out and pays 5 silver coins to the coachman.
"Thank you. That is exactly how much the trip would cost. If everything is ready then just relax there and enjoy the ride. If you decide to take a stop on the way then just yell or punch the wall." Coachman explains.
Horses then start to move.
"So sweetheart. We are about to go back home." Mary says.
"Of course. Let's see if something was even left of it. Hehe." Reden replies with chuckle.
Then the trip continued but this time as happy family. Together again and hopefully ever.