“The Fairy Labyrinth pt 2.”

Well, here we are, alone, surrounded by the melody of the fae that surrounds us.

The tunnels suddenly feel so bright with how many gather together, their song growing louder.

A gentle, lilting melody, a waltz-like tune that lingers and sways through the air, as they dance around us, harmonizing.

“Jorvain..last night, all the things I said..I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it, like any of it, it was just all the cruel things I’d constantly tell myself out of my own self-hate, and I used it to hurt you. I don’t know why I couldn’t just be honest with you, I wanted to say what I thought you wanted to hear and what was easiest to say because if I really stopped to listen to my heart, then I’d realize my reason for being here, for being a hero? Wasn’t what I said it was.”

The words come flowing out on their own, and soon I’m shaking, and shutting my eyes tight.

“But I want you to be honest with me Roba, I really do, I want you to be yourself, because that’s how I am around you, that’s who I can be around you, if not fully, then a little bit.”

He says gently, reaching his hand out, he holds me by my shoulders.

“I know I put a lot of pressure on you, I know you were anxious but I need you to look at me and tell me the truth.”

He says gently. I open my eyes and he’s looking into them, sternly but softly. I have to try to help him understand me; if anyone can, it’s him.

“I’m not here for you, but I am because of you, because you’re what made me want to be a hero, not cause your perfect, I think I’m only just realizing, or rather accepting that..that you’re not perfect Jorvain. But you're human and you have a heart that can so easily understand others, a heart that harbors so much love it’s contagious! And even with that love, you can be prideful, you can be stubborn, you can be clueless, and you’re hard on yourself for all of those things.”

I shout passionately, my shoulders tense, my eyes welling with tears that blur my sight. Despite them, for once, I can see clearly.

“I beg people around me to give me the chances I won’t even give myself, and then I ask for pity with every word I say and still expect praise. I’m not perfect either, but you don’t need to be to be a hero and I realized that now. “

My head drops, and my fist tightens.

“The things you said were true, from the very start, all you’ve done was believe in me, support me, and guide me. You saw in me what I stopped seeing in myself and what no one else ever has. And yet I just saw in you, what I wanted to.”

I look back up and his eyes are glossy with tears.

I take a deep breath and muster up the rest of my words.

“I was greedy and selfish, and I’m sorry, Jorvain, I’m so sorry. It seems like it’s all I can really say to the people around me, sorry for this mistake, sorry for not being good enough, sorry for getting it wrong, sorry, sorry, but it’s not enough and I know that—

I burst into tears, shaking my head and sobbing—he pulls me forward into his chest, wrapping his arm around me.

“Roba. I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have been so harsh when you tried to share a part of your heart, I should've tried to understand not only the things you were saying but the things you couldn’t say. You're not the only one who said something you didn’t mean.”

He says softly, stroking my back and the nape of my neck.

“You’re not the only one who should be sorry, Dain, Emrys, me, especially me. I’m drowning in sorries Roba, I have been for so long, but does it matter if everyone forgives you, if you can’t forgive yourself? Your mistakes don’t make you less of a hero, not slaying that slime didn’t make you less of a hero, and your flaws don’t make you less of a human. Look at me,”

He whispers, and I lift my head once more. He wipes my tears and snot.

“Because no ones ever seen me the way you do. I don't want you to look at me like I’m perfect like the others do, I don’t want you to be here for me, just with me. And I just couldn’t stand the idea of that not being the case, Roba.”

He exclaims, tears rushing down his face, he smiles. Even now he’s smiling.

“So please don’t stop thinking I’m special Jorvain! I need you to believe in me while I’m still trying to come to believe in myself again. I know I proved you wrong but it broke my heart when I heard you say that!”

I sob, wrapping my arms around him, unable to stop the tears.

“Roba, you didn’t prove me wrong, the only one who was wrong was me. But you don’t need to prove anything, you are special, and I saw that, I see it. But all I want is for you to see it too. The way you see me.”

He says softly

“I want you to see the spark in your soul I see, to hear the harmony of your heart, It’s beautiful Roba, it really is.”

I step back, wiping my eyes roughly, and sniffling.

“I’ll tell you a secret but, before me and the others stumbled through your village, I began to doubt who I was, everyone could tell, my heart hurt and I didn’t feel like a hero. “

He says with a bittersweet sigh, looking down at his boots.

“But, then I saved you, and I was reminded of why I do what I do. To right my wrongs and make this world a better place. And when you told me why you did what you did, I couldn’t help but think, he’s just like me.”

He says looking back up, smiling even wider than before.

I can’t believe Jorvain felt all those feelings, that I was the pivotal moment, that meeting me mattered just as much to him as it did to me. And here I was wondering if last night mattered to him, of course it did.

“Wow..”

I mutter

“Hm?”

He asks with a gentle smile.

“No it’s just..”

I begin to laugh

“I feel so much lighter..it feels like all those things I couldn’t say and all that hurt and hate I harbored, were weighing me down.”

I say softly, looking down at my hands—

“Wait why are my hands empty?”

I say with furrowed brows.

“Real smooth way of asking to hold mine, hero”.

He says with a smirk, placing his hand in mine.

“No really where is the rope?!”

I shout, my eyes shooting around the labyrinth.

I squint

“Jeez, was it always this bright I can hardly see!”

“Oh dear, looks like we dropped it.”

He says through laughter and a smile.

“What’s so funny?”

I whine.

“Nothing, nothing. We’re totally gonna get scolded by Emrys “.

He says with a small grimace.

“That’s only if we can find her and the others! C'mon!”

I shout, grabbing hold of his hand as I march forward.

“Oh my, how bold you are brave hero!”

He teases, stumbling along in my hold.

“Quit it, Jorv”.

I say with a chuckle

He gasps, his pace coming to a slow.

“What?”

I ask, glancing back at him to see his face has gone bright red.

“What’d I say?”

I ask, now flustered.

“You just called me Jorv, like a nickname! “

He exclaims, practically jumping with joy

I falter.

“I...I guess I did yeah, sorry is that—

“Don’t say sorry! This is a big deal! This means you and I are now inseparable! They’ll have to bury our bodies together now!”

He’s smiling from ear to ear, hopping on his feet as fae swarm him, smiling with him.

I sweat.

“Hey now isn’t that a little much? It’s just a nickname, I didn’t even notice I said it.”

I say sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Nuh-uh, even the faes agree! See?”

He exclaims, reaching his arm out for even more faes to land on him.

“I can hardly see anything with how many there are, it’s too bright!”

I complain.

He walks forward, the fae clinging to him with each step

“I’ve gotta plan to help us get to the others and the fae are gonna help us.”

“They are?”

I ask.

“Yep!”

He nods with a big smile.

“Here’s the plan—”

***

“Should I be surprised the plan involves me carrying you?”

I say dryly, holding Jorvain up in my arms.

“Definitely not! This is a part of the plan.”

He says with a proud smile.

“Are you sure you’re not just being lazy? I see why the others are always calling you a princess.”

I say with a light-hearted sigh.

Or “handsome prince” as Emrys would have it. But I don’t say that part out loud.

But now that I think of it, I should probably try working things out with her. But then again, why should I? I’ve done the work, I apologized to the team, I tried to do better and she’s been nothing but difficult. At the same time, wouldn’t I want another chance?

“What part does this play in the plan?”

I ask, not yet convinced.

“Well, the closer we are the closer the faes are together to swarm us, the louder they’ll glow and sing, the team will hear their music and come to us!”

He exclaims, fully confident in his plan.

“Hm, that could actually work, I mean assuming they stopped when they tugged the rope and realized we didn’t have it, that would mean they didn’t go too far.”

I say unsure, but hopeful.

He grimaces.

“What?”

I ask.

“Well, what would they be tugging if we dropped it?”

He says sheepishly.

“Oh..good point,”

I mutter.

“Well, that’s no good.”

“No worries! I’m sure they panicked once the rope came back to them untied and immediately ran back the way they came!”

He adds, full of wishful thinking, which is no surprise.

“That’s assuming they could find their way back, we are in a labyrinth,”

I argue.

“Good point! Ugh, this is my fault isn’t it?”

He whines.

“I’m the one who asked to talk, it’s my fault.”

I say with a sigh.

“Nuh-uh! That was necessary, i’m the one who told the others to walk ahead.”

He argues back.

“Yeah well it would’ve been awkward otherwise! Plus I was totally talking for too long, I should've just apologized and got on with it—

“I dropped the rope when I went to hug you! “

He shouts, as if he’s confessing a sin.

I gasp.

“Wow, it really was your fault.”

I agree.

“Hey!”

He shouts, offended by my agreement.

“JORVAIN!”

The sound echoes through the walls. Panicked and desperate. It’s Emrys’.

“Why are you yelling so loudly?”

Annoyed and equally loud, it’s Dain.

“Why won't these evil things stop invading my personal space! “

Even louder and more annoyed. Maelis.

Jorvain’s eyes light up.

“See? It worked! My perfect plan worked!”

He exclaims.

“Guys! It’s us, we’re over here!”

I shout with a smile, choosing not to boost his ego. Although I guess his plan really did work.

***

Me and Jorvain stand side by side now that he’s back on his feet. Flinching at the sound of Emrys' voice.

“I told you we shouldn’t walk ahead or separate and look what happened!”

Emrys shouts, scolding us, but mainly Jorvain, like he said she would.

“How’d you drop the rope you dolts?”

Maelis says with a raised brow.

“Long story?”

I say sheepishly.

“Quick disclaimer, it was Jorvain’s fault, not mine.”

I add.

“Roba!”

Jorvain whines.

“That makes sense.”

Dain says nodding his head, unsurprised by the fact.

“Ugh, let’s just get out of here.”

Emrys says with a sigh.

“Get out of here? We don’t even know how!”

Jorvain whines

“We’re gonna be stuck here forever—

“We found the exit while you were watching the fae dance.”

Maelis says with a proud smirk.

“No way! Really?”

I say in awe.

“Yes! “

Jorvain exclaims

“You guys are the best! Group hug!”

And just like that, they’re all embracing each other, full of laughter.

“Get in here, hero.”

Jorvain says, waving me over.

“Cmon.”

Dain adds with a smile.

Next thing I know, I’m joining in, arms wrapping around.

I feel warm inside, weightless, for the first time in what feels like years.

“Thank you, guys,”

I whisper.

“Don’t thank us silly, being a member of the Sol Viridis means group hugs, Jorvain’s rules, not mine.”

Maelis says with a laugh.

My eyes meet Emrys' for a small moment, and my gaze falters.

In her eyes, it’s not hate this time, just hurt. And I wanna understand it. But what reason does she give me to believe she deserves that.

“Let’s get out of here yeah?”

Jorvain says with a smile.

“Ugh, yes please! I can’t stand these fae!”

Maelis whines.

And we carry on.