Confessions at the Bath

Thalia was very hesitant to take Alara's outstretched hand. Though she longed for human connection and could feel her attraction for Alara bubbling to the surface each time they touched, Thalia was still worried that forming a strong and loving connection with a mortal would only lead to heartache for her. If she let Alara in, and was betrayed, she could deal with that, but if her vision was true and the two were destined to be true mates, the loss would destroy what was left of her heart. And worst of all, since she was cursed with true invincibility, she couldn't even kill herself due to the pain. She was sure that it would hurt much less to just suppress her desires and ignore her feelings for the dashing princess. 

Thalia hardened her heart then reached out her hand. As soon as Alara's fingers brushed against her skin, her apprehension began to melt away. The hand that grasped hers was so warm and the green eyes that looked at her so full of life, that resistance would be futile if she stayed close to Alara.

When she blinked her eyes, Thalia saw the vision again. Alara and she looked so happy, and in love. Thalia had craved someone who looked at her that way for centuries. In fact, it was this desire that led to her falling out with Elis. That fight, Thalia remembered like it was yesterday. 

After the loss of her adopted child, Elias, Thalia had traversed the dungeon once again in search of her mother. This time she was so heart broken that she was filled with rage towards her creator at being unable to join her son in death.

A gorgeous woman with white hair that flowed down to her ankles sat upon a throne of mana crystals looking down on her child emotionless.

This was the way of the goddess of creation, Elis typically appeared. All knowing and powerful, little caused emotion to stir in her.

“Freyja, what brings you to visit your mother?”

With acid in her voice, “You know damn well why I'm here!”

“Ah, perhaps I do. Is this about the peasant boy you took such a liking to?”

“That wasn't just some boy! That was my son! The son that I loved more than life itself! He's dead! Why have you forced me to live forever?! I wish to join him and be done with this heartache! You promised me that I would find love like the rest of my siblings, but I have yet to see that person ever! And whatever love I do find winds up ending in tragedy!”

“In time you will find a partner, and they will come from a place most unexpected.  You have a much greater purpose than your siblings Freyja. You must suffer to understand what it is you must do when the time comes.”

“Why must I suffer? Why must I wait? Why must I continue to live this unnaturally long  life?”

“My love, it is your special purpose. The one you were created to endure. I promise you, one day you shall get what I have promised.”

Thalia with tears and snot running down her face, “You do not love me. I renounce thee, Elis, goddess of creation. I shall not continue to suffer so much due to your divine plan for me. Since I won't be allowed to die, I shall no longer do as you want. You are no longer my mother!”

The last thing Thalia remembered was seeing her normally emotionless mother double-over and weep. It had been a few decades and now that she was worried about the dungeon, she hoped that Mother Elis was ok. Deep in her heart of hearts, Thalia hoped that Alara was her promised love. “I guess it wouldn't hurt to try,” Thalia thought to herself.

Alara pulled Thalia up and started walking  towards the area for undressing.

“First thing's, first. We need to get clean before our date and maybe find some new clothes.”

“Not a bad way to start off the night princess. I can help us find some new clothes to wear before we get stranded here, naked,” Thalia ran out of the bath into a house then came back with several sets of clean clothes and some soap. She placed them on one of the small benches and the two stood quietly looking at each other. The moment became awkward as the realization hit them. They were going to undress in front of each other. Get naked. Into the bath. While they were both AWAKE. 

Thalia let out a quick breath. She thought to herself, “If I act normal and don’t make this into a big deal everything should be ok right? Making a big deal will only make things more awkward. Here we go.”

She slipped off her top and tossed it to the ground, undid the knot in her makeshift bra, slipped off her trousers, and underwear then turned to Alara with closed eyes “I’m getting in the bath.”

Alara was red-faced and frozen in place as she stared at Thalia’s naked body. When she heard the splash, Alara hurriedly undressed herself and let down her long golden hair. She ran into the bathing area but it was much too fast and she slid across the wet floor into the water. It was as if everything slowed, Thalia’s eyes got wide as she saw Alara’s naked body falling right before her eyes. “Oh, fuck this is going to be so awkward,” Alara thought as she slowly came back up to the surface. 

When she surfaced, Thalia was red in the face, but burst out laughing. “You’re such a clutz for a warrior and a princess.” 

Alara’s face was redder than ever.  Rather than answering she shyly blew bubbles in the water and grabbed some soap. The tension died down as they washed their bodies. Thalia noticed Alara struggling to reach between her shoulder blades and hesitantly helped her wash her back. She was still afraid of getting too close but the struggling was super cute and she couldn't take it anymore, so she gave in. Alara had a face of bliss then turned around and gave Thalia a bright smile. 

“Thanks I needed that. Now turn around. It’s your turn.”

Thalia’s eyes lit up, she hadn’t had anyone wash her back in a long time. When the cloth touched her back, she accidentally let out a moan. Both women then turned red and Thalia flew out of the bathroom.  

By the time Alara followed Thalia, she was already fully clothed. She wore a loose fitting white blouse, with some brown leather trousers. They were simple, outdated clothes, but they looked great on Thalia. It was like she was a cute peasant girl from centuries ago.

Thalia was holding the blood soaked shirt that Alara had lent her, and with an incredibly honest gesture the priestess bowed her head. “I'm so sorry that I ruined your shirt. Please forgive me.”

Alara who was still naked, wrapped her body in a towel, leaned over and pulled Thalia in for a hug.  “I don't care about the shirt. I was worried you would die. You being ok is all that I needed.”

The warmth of Alara's embrace was too much. Thalia couldn't stop herself from hugging her back. The two stayed in each other's arms like that for a few minutes. The entire time, Thalia was struggling internally. She knew that if the pair was actually meant to be true mates that they would be drawn together this way, but feeling the walls she put up around her heart crumbling so easily was anxiety inducing. They were put up to avoid pain, but Thalia could already tell that she would get hurt again by the blonde beauty that now clung to her body so tightly. That made her truly terrified, yet she couldn't allow herself to totally reject Alara. Something more terrifying than loss and pain bubbled beneath the surface, hope. Hope meant opening her heart. Opening up meant the worst kind of pain.

Alara could tell that Thalia was feeling conflicted because though they just met, she somehow could tell what the lonely priestess was feeling. She didn't know why or how, but believed in trusting her gut. She had to soothe Thalia. 

“Thalia, what's wrong? It seems like something is weighing heavily on your mind.”

Thalia looked down at Alara's green eyes, “I'm scared. I feel like if I let myself get close to you, that I will be hurt beyond repair when you die.”

“So, that means you're not denying it then? I'm not the only one who feels the connection between us?”

“No, I felt it the moment I grabbed your arm during our battle. I actually had a vision of us in the future, looking happy together. We had the mark of true mates.”

“You mean we're supposed to be together?”

“I don't know. But I'm afraid. I'm not sure I can mentally survive another loss. I'm worried about what I may become if it happens again.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can't die, but as you can see I am very powerful. I think you got a glimpse of the darkness I hold inside me back at the other level when I burned that caster. There is a reason I rarely use fire magic and that now I avoid fighting and killing. When I was lost, I became one of the fiercest killers in all of Nexus. I killed entire floors just because I could. I'm so terrified of becoming that again, Alara. I want to love you, but I'm scared about what comes after.”

Tears welled up in the princess's eyes. She didn't say a word but instead grabbed Thalia's shirt and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. 

“I won't let that happen. All I have to do is not die right? I just need to become stronger. I can do it. I don't know what we can do about immortality, but I'm sure we can figure something out together. Now let's quit the moping and get ready for our date.”

Thalia let Alara go, and shot her a stunning smile. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”