Chapter 25

Easily, Ashta and Roman found the hidden trail behind the garden, and they began their hike to the falls. As Ashta looked around, she noticed that the trail was overgrown with old and new green and colorful vegetation. It was like they had stepped into a secret paradise that was hidden from the dead land that wept over Nemiph and Taitum. 

Comfortably, Ashta inhaled a deep breath of the fresh air and then she smiled as she blew it out. The further they had made their way down the trail, the trees and vegetation came ever more to life and more colorful. Ashta looked at Roman thoughtfully, and then she blew out a breath.

“How is it that the land of both kingdoms is dying or already dead, but the land and everything out here is so full of life?” Ashta asked, and she rubbed her fingers on the leaves of the overgrown bushes as they walked by.

“The legend says that when Halondelle was divided into two kingdoms, the magical creatures left the land. The magical beings kept our land alive, and when they left, the land began to die. This is where they must have all come,” explained Roman, as he held a tree branch back for her to pass. 

She nodded as they continued their hike in a comfortable silence. After a while, Roman chuckled to himself and Ashta looked up at him in question. 

“What is so funny?” she asked, and he looked down at her. 

“I guess we won't have to worry about your boyfriend following us,” he said, as he gave her a sideways glance, and Ashta scowled as she searched his eyes. 

Why did he have to ruin the moment? she thought, as she slightly shook her head. 

Suddenly, Ashta found herself lost, as she looked at Roman’s handsome face. At that moment, he seemed more attractive to her, and she never noticed how his eyes changed color. They were blue today. 

Wait, didn’t he have brown eyes? she wondered, as she continued to stare at him. 

“What?” he asked, as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

At that moment,  Ashta blinked a few times and then she shook her head. 

“Nothing,” she said, but it was barely a whisper. 

Ashta then straightened and looked at him with a determined look in her eyes. 

“And that guard, for your information, is not my boyfriend,” she added, clearly. 

Roman smiled at her. He liked teasing her to get a rise out of her, and to make her eyes sparkle. At that moment, Ashta was so busy focusing on Roman, that her foot slipped. Quickly, Roman snatched her arm and pulled before she could fall off the edge. Wide-eyed, Ashta swallowed hard as she glanced over her shoulder and she saw that they were on a cliff. She looked back at Roman, and his eyes were wide in fear too. 

“How did we get on a cliff?” she asked, as Roman pulled her toward him. 

Gratefully, Ashta looked into his eyes, and it seemed like, at that moment, there was a deep connection that was made down deep in their hearts, and they both felt it. Nervously, Roman cleared his throat, let go of her arm, and then he stepped away from her. 

“Be careful. From here until we get to the falls, we will be walking along the cliff’s edge,” he explained, and then abruptly he turned away from her and continued to walk down the trail. 

That was awkward! Ashta thought, as she silently followed him. 

Finally, Ashta saw the huge waterfall that poured down the side of the cliff, and dumped into a crystal-clear blue pool of water at the bottom. 

 “Beautiful,” breathed Ashta, as she looked around the gorgeous surroundings. 

Roman stopped walking, and then he looked back at her. 

“It really is,” he said in a soft voice. 

As they walked toward the waterfall, they noticed a trail that led behind the rushing water. Carefully, Roman and Ashta walked along the trail, and slipped behind the enormous curtain of water. Ashta grabbed the back of Roman’s shirt, so she didn’t fall off the small trail, and he chuckled. They found that there was a large rock cave that was tall and wide enough for them to both stand in comfortably. 

“Wow, the rocks look like glass,” stated Ashta, as she looked at the shimmering walls in awe. 

Suddenly, she saw what looked like a tiny naked person with wings fly past her. She watched as the shimmering, golden little person stopped in front of her to look at her. Slowly, she reached her hand out, and the little creature landed in her palm. Quietly, Ashta laughed, and she grinned at Roman. He chuckled as they both watched the little creature fly away. 

“Amazing!” she exclaimed, as she watched the little person zoom about. 

Curiously, Roman watched Ashta as she began to follow the little thing. 

She is kind of amazing, he thought as he began to follow her. 

Magical creatures weren’t that fond of their species or the Slayers, so this was odd to him. The amazement on Ashta’s face intrigued him as they followed the creature over another trail that led out from the other side of the waterfall. Curiously, they followed the fairy to an open field that was full of other buzzing fairies. Excitedly, Ashta looked at Roman, and then she looked back out onto the field. 

“Wow!” she exclaimed, as her eyes widened. 

Roman walked up, and he stood next to her as he gazed out onto the vibrant field.  

“It really is amazing. I can’t believe that Halondelle looked like this. I never was able to see it, but the legend says that the land was beautiful before it was divided,” he explained, as he sighed a heavy sigh, and Ashta looked up at him gently. 

“We can change it back! I mean it is up to us to change it back,” she suggested, and he looked at her thoughtfully, as he nodded. 

We have to change it back, Ashta thought, as she sighed as well. 

At that moment, Ashta softly placed her hand in his, and he looked at her shocked for a moment. Ashta gently smiled at him. 

“Come on, let’s go play with water today,” she said, as she pulled him toward the edge of the field. 

Evidently, they found a nice area that was flat near the waterfall that was perfect for them to practice with the elemental dance, and they took their place. Closely, Roman watched Ashta as she showed him the first couple of moves of the dance, and then she gave him a chance to practice them. After a while, Roman was able to mimic Ashta’s fluent moves, and she was impressed again by how quickly he caught on. 

“Okay, let’s do it together,” Ashta instructed, and Roman eagerly nodded. 

He liked it when they danced together. There was a sense of peace and a complete feeling when he danced with her. After a moment, Roman and Ashta began to dance fluently, to the same silent song, and a few minutes later, the water element danced around them. Roman chuckled softly as they began to lift up into the air. 

“This is amazing!” he exclaimed, as he continued to move with Ashta. 

Ashta smiled at him. She liked dancing with him. Seemingly, she felt the same way he did when they danced together. Ashta felt a sense of peace and a feeling like she belonged there. 

“Let your emotions flow with your body. Don’t hold back,” Ashta instructed calmly, and Roman nodded. 

Surprisingly, the magical creatures began to fly around them and dance on the flowing water element. They all chattered and squeaked with happy noises. Even Ashta couldn’t contain her laughter. Suddenly, she saw the tattoos on Roman’s back begin to glow, and she then felt heat across her shoulders, build. 

“What’s happening?” Roman cried, as they were both forced to their knees. 

“I don’t know,” she cried back, as she felt the burning sensation get stronger. 

It must have been the same for Roman, because as she was about to scream, he let out a cry of pain. 

********************

“Wake up.”

Slowly, Ashta opened her eyes and she looked around. She was kneeling in the middle of an ocean, and Roman was kneeling right beside her with his eyes tightly shut. Gently, she patted his shoulder as she got to her feet. 

“Come on, get up,” she said softly, and he looked up at her. 

“Where are we?” he asked, as he got to his feet, and looked around. 

“I am not sure.” 

“There are two of you this time?” asked a woman’s voice. 

Protectively, Roman put his arms around Ashta. 

“Who are you?” Roman called suspiciously. 

Suddenly, there was a light wind swirling around them, and it materialized into a young beautiful woman with long blue flowing hair and solid white eyes before them. 

“I am the water goddess. You need not fear me, young prince. Congratulations to you both for learning the water element,” the woman said, as she bowed her head, and respectively, Roman and Ashta bowed their heads back to the goddess. 

“I am here to give you a little word of wisdom. Now, you are most powerful when you are together. I can feel the bond between you two, and it is a very strong bond. No matter what happens, you two must hang onto that bond,” the goddess instructed, and then she began to fade away. 

“Oh, I hate when they do that!” Ashta scowled, as the ocean world began to slip away and they returned to their kneeling position in the air, as the secret paradise returned around them. 

Slowly, Roman and Ashta descended to the ground and they looked at each other. The magical creatures continued to swirl around them as they got to their feet, and the little fairies began pushing Roman and Ashta together. 

“Hey, little guys, we are just friends,” she chuckled, as she placed her hands on Roman’s arms. 

Gently, Roman looked down at her and smiled. 

“I like the sound of that,” he said softly, and she grinned at him. 

“Then let’s make a pact. No matter what happens, we will always be friends.” 

Happily, Roman smiled down at her, and he nodded. At that moment, to Ashta’s surprise, Roman bent his head down, and then he kissed her gently on the cheek. 

“Deal,” he whispered deeply in her ear, and she felt tingles form all over her body.

Suddenly, they both felt the connection they had felt earlier become stronger. Roman pulled back and looked at her oddly. 

“Did you feel that?” he asked, and Ashta only nodded. 

“Weird,” he mumbled, and Ashta nodded again.

After that, Roman and Ashta decided to practice their combat skills and go for a swim before they headed back to town. 

********************

“I had fun today,” Roman said, as he and Ashta made it back to the garden. 

“Me too. Tomorrow is going to be our easiest day. The earth element can be tricky, but I have faith in you that you will catch on pretty quickly,” Ashta said cheerfully, as they left the garden and headed for Roman’s house. 

“So, do you want to go to the falls again?” Roman asked, as they reached the door. 

Ashta looked up at him, and she nodded with a wide grin. 

“Great. Not for nothing, I do like spending time with you,” he blurted out, as he took  her hand. 

Seemingly, he looked embarrassed about something as he kissed the back of her hand. Shyly, Ashta glanced away and smiled. 

“I like spending time with you too,” she said softly, and then she looked back up at him. 

“Until tomorrow,” he said, as he opened the door. 

Suddenly, Roman stopped short, and stared at who was inside. Ashta looked at him, and then she peered inside the door. Her eyes widened as she stared at Rocco and Chantelle sitting inside. Rocco and Chantelle also stared at them standing in the doorway. 

“What are you doing here?” Ashta asked, angrily, as she stepped inside the doorway. 

Immediately, Roman grabbed her by the arms, and she looked up at him in question. 

“What?” she asked him, as she searched his eyes. 

“Just hold on,” he whispered, quietly. 

Ashta couldn’t believe that Roman was okay with his father being there as she looked up at him like she was going to lose him forever. 

“I came here to talk to my son,” stated Rocco, assertively. 

Roman looked at his father and then he looked back at Ashta. She stared at him in disbelief with wide eyes. 

“No. Come on, you can’t!” she mumbled. 

“Go home,” he said, as he looked into her eyes.

Ashta couldn’t believe what he was saying. She pushed him away from her as she took a step back out of the doorway. 

“Roman,” Ashta whispered in fear, and he shook his head. 

“Go home, Ashta. I can handle my father,” he said, firmly. 

Before she could say another word, the door was closed quickly, and she stared at the door for a moment. 

What just happened? she wondered, as she headed toward the castle. 

*************************

“Princess! There you are!” exclaimed a maid, as she walked into the castle, and Ashta looked up at her. 

“We must get you ready for dinner and the festival tonight,” stated another maid who was standing next to the other maid. 

Annoyed and hurt, she looked at the maids. 

“I can get myself ready! No thank you!” she snapped, and then she headed up the stairs toward her room. 

Seemingly, Ashta was more worried about Roman than eating and going to some party. 

Was his father there to take him back to Taitum? Would she ever see him again? Her thoughts rolled around in her mind as she showered and got herself ready.