Dearly Departing

Glad you could join us for the next deliberate episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Elliot smiled. “Of course I’ll be back, my love. There is no force of nature or unnatural conscious design powerful enough to keep me from you.”

He had pushed the end of the day as far away as possible, filling each minute with a smorgasbord of stories and plans and preparations only to find sunset had swallowed the overstuffed hours as easily as ever, dragging the blanket of night behind it. Those who were going to the Freelands had agreed to travel under the cover of darkness.

Caressing his beloved at every chance, he had saturated his memory with her scent and softness, her lyric voice and graceful curves, the heady intoxication of her honeyed kiss. And now, at the moment of their first deliberate parting, it didn’t seem enough.

“I love you, Elliot, my brave hero, my handsome Prince,” she whispered, her warmth pressed against his chest in one last, longing embrace. Leaning back, she looked into his eyes. “The peace of the neighboring lands depends on your success, especially now that we know the enemy is already moving. My heart believes you will succeed, but I can’t dispel the fear that the cost will be great.”

Laughing at her own solemnity, she added, “But no pressure, my sweet.”

“Princess Cassandra, I love you more than breathing and more than breath can say.” He wished he could absorb her. Stroking her cheek, he kissed her, not knowing when he would touch those lips again. “Whatever it costs, we will still have each other. I promise.”

~~~

Having reached the border, the travelers turned westward, and Elliot paused to search the golden edge of Fen for his partner’s distant silhouette. Strength rushed through him when found her watching from a lonely hilltop.

He couldn’t see her tears.

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .