It was nearing afternoon. Ariana had slept most of the remainder of the dark hours and well into the daylight. She awoke to find Jareth by her side. He was battle-worn, with a broken arm and what he'd said he assumed to be several wounded ribs.
"I seem to recall you saying once that Michael wouldn't allow you in here no matter what hour of the day it was."
"I wasn't going to rest until I saw for my own eyes that you were all right. I think he'll allow me this transgression."
She propped herself up against the headboard. "I'm fine Jareth. Please go and rest. We can talk about all of this later."
He looked hesitant to leave. "Please assure me that you aren't naive. Don't put your hopes on Garren. I say this not only out of my own interest, but also for your sake. I don't want to see your heart broken when it's decided that he'll be put to death. And he will be."
She reached out, taking his free hand in hers. "You risked much, riding into Eidolon. You've been a much-needed friend and confidant. Thank you for that." She could see the disappointment in his eyes as she said the words. She was still too unsure of how she felt about Garren to respond any other way. "I'll be prudent. I promise."
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it before leaving her.
She rose to change clothes and saw Koen sound asleep in Kaitlyn's doorway. She hadn't seen the girl since before she left. Peering in, she found the room empty. Ariana considered leaving Koen to his dreams, but the sight of him made her heart ache and so she bent down and pulled him like an oversized rag doll into her arms. He'd been sleeping harder than usual and it took him a moment to wake up fully and responded to her affection.
"I suppose I owe you an apology too." She scratched him under his chin, laughing as he tilted his head back so she could better reach him. "Sara was there Koen. I saw her. She's alive."
Koen nudged her neck with his nose. If she didn't know better she'd think he'd actually understood what she'd just said and was giving his approval.
"I'm not giving up on her, don't worry. For now though, I have some questions that I'd like answered." She stood up. "And I'm not giving Garren a choice in the matter."
She chose a cream-colored gown, with a midnight blue velvet cloak to change into. The dress had white crystals sewn into the bodice, around the hem at the bottom, and on the sleeves. It would serve just fine for how she intended to greet Garren.
Once she was outside of his cell, she gestured for the guard to open the door. He carefully pulled a single silver key from his pocket and slipped it into the lock.
As the heavy wooden door opened, Ariana could see Garren curled into a ball on top of the small bed that was in the far corner. He hadn't touched the food that had been brought to him, but she could see that he'd had his wounds tended to. There were several cuts on his face, and a bandage was wrapped around his lower right calf. His boots were heaped in a pile on the floor, along with his breastplate and the rest of his armor.
She closed the door behind her as she walked into the cell. The temperature was comfortable to her, but Garren shivered as he lay sleeping. She moved into the shadows, standing just beyond the light that shone from the window.
"Garren," she whispered. He stirred at the sound of her voice. "Uskori mathro lestre ave nouromai." Her voice carried in the cell like the haunting echo of a ghost. He opened his eyes.
She stepped out of the darkness, the crystals on her gown shimmering as she'd intended, and continued to speak to him in Adorian. "Istho exist aeloro ghant."
He struggled to sit up and face her. Once he did, he lowered his gaze to the floor. He stayed quiet, making no move to address her.
"My blood is on your hands."
He raised his head as she spoke, tears in his eyes. It surprised her. This was not the same countenance that she'd witnessed in observance. His eyes were red and swollen, his handsome features stricken with grief.
"Can you say nothing in your own defense?" she asked.
"I cannot…" the words caught in his throat. "I reached you too late. Had I known that you were right there beside me, in the sanctuary…"
"You made claims that you were responsible for the deaths of the humans. Do you deny this?"
"Aiden was in the sanctuary. I believe he was responsible." It made sense to her now. He must have had his hand on Sara's shoulder to make sure Aiden knew who he was accusing of treason.
"You are not surprised by my presence?" As she spoke, he brought his gaze back down to the floor. He now sat on the edge of the bed, his legs bearing his weight as he leaned on them.
"I have seen you in this manner before. I assume it's either my delirium that's conjured you, or your spirit has come to release me from this existence. Or I'm dreaming."
She walked close enough to feel the heat from his body. She knelt down in front of him, cupped his chin with her hand, then rising up enough to reach him, she brushed her lips against his.
"And what if it is not a dream?" she whispered.
He remained motionless at first, his eyes still closed from their kiss. She moved her hand to the side of his face and he turned into her touch, bringing his own hand to cover hers. He sweetly swept his fingers along her skin, moving to her wrist. He lingered there for a moment, rubbing it with his thumb before reaching out and pulling her into him.
His kiss was deep, but soft. She let herself fall into his embrace, letting the strength in his arms hold her up. When he finally drew back, she was surprised to find herself in tears as well.
Garren stroked her cheek, smiling through his sobs. "You're alive." He sat back so he could see her. "I don't understand. I saw you moments from death with my own eyes."
She lowered herself to the ground at his feet and looked up at him. "I don't have an answer for that – I was hoping you might. You were the only one in the room."
Garren shook his head. "Whatever strength brought you back is not my own." He took her hand, held it to his chest. He looked weak and exhausted. "The look in your eyes when I caught up with Aiden – I wanted to tell you so badly that you were safe."
She smiled at him. "I know. I don't remember much, but I felt your presence. I knew I wasn't alone. You stayed with me through the night." Suddenly, she remembered it.
"What is it?" he asked, reaching down to caress her face.
"I dreamed of my father. It was morning. He came to me, held me in his arms and told me that Michael was almost there. I'd forgotten about it until now."
Garren withdrew his touch and sat back farther on the bed, a coolness abruptly spreading over his face. His change in demeanor was so sudden that it startled her.
"You shouldn't be here, Ariana." He looked away from her.
"I have nothing to fear by being with you. The decision is mine to make."
The tone in Garren's voice was more like what she'd heard in Eidolon and it chilled her to hear it. "I'm sorry for misleading you."
Words formed in her mind, but she couldn't get them past her dry throat. She reached out and tried to take his hand again.
He grasped her wrist, stopping her before she could touch him. "Don't you hear what I'm saying? Don't mistake my joy over your resurrection as anything more than what it is – a weight removed from a heavy conscience. I feel nothing for you."
At first, she could do nothing but sit, stunned. Finally, she wrenched herself free from his hold and rose to her feet, rubbing her wrist where he'd gripped it.
She stood before him, trying to say something, anything – but closed her eyes, reeling with shock. She swallowed back tears. "There isn't an ounce of truth in your words, but I will not plead for your affections."
She turned to walk from the room, pausing once she reached the doorway. "The council will convene in three days."