Page 35 of Hope Entwined (Chronicles of Aldreda: Hope Rising)

I n the wee hours of the morning, golden dawn blanketed the heart of the mountain. Celina had woken early to view the sunrise and hadn’t been disappointed as she watched the shades of gold drive out the shadows of night from the protected glade.

She had never seen anything like it and wondered if it was unique to this spot or to all sacred spaces. The amount of knowledge that had been lost continually amazed her. Along with the refugee program, she had a desire to bring some of their other lost traditions back to life.

Rodric’s presence pulled her attention away from the mist. He bent to brush his lips over her ear. “Come with me.”

Rising from her barely used bedding, Celina did a quick head count of the children sleeping around her before following Rodric out into the quiet morning.

Taking her hand, he led her down to the sacred pool. The mist was so thick that she could barely see the blue glimmer through the tendrils. She took in the scent of morning with a relaxed sigh. Rodric squeezed her hand, continuing to lead her quietly around the pool. From their vantage point in the meadow, the pool seemed to disappear into the landscape of trees. Up close, she could see that it did not, in fact, disappear. Weeping trees dipped to kiss the water, hiding a narrow inlet that passed under them and continued on the other side.

Ducking through the thick trees that bordered this side of the pool, they emerged into a completely secluded area. Climbing up the stone steps built into the landscape, they found carved stone benches shaped in a half circle. The small space would have been meant to hold only a few witnesses or participants. A stone pedestal matched the one in the ceremonial place where they’d held the healing rite. Gently weeping trees rose above the area, their branches overhanging just enough to shade the space.

If the meadow and glade could be described as idyllic and serene, this space was breathtaking. Though equally reverent, it had a different feel to it than the bonfire space. Rather than a space for communal joining, it evoked deep, quiet awe.

“What was this space used for?” She kept her voice soft.

“Daya said it’s one of the spots used for individual rituals and rites of passage.”

“It’s beautiful.”

Tunneling his fingers into her loose hair, Rodric pulled her to him for a deep kiss. Sparks of joy and rightness set off inside her as she rose to meet him, returning the loving greeting with passion. After a few moments, he drew back, looking down at her with heavy emotion.

“Rodric, I—”

“Celina—”

He smiled and kissed her cheekbone, fingers still trailing through her hair in a continual caress. “You go.”

“Things will be a little wild when we return. I don’t want to wait until then to settle things between us.”

“Oh? Are things unsettled ?” He gave her a mischievous smirk he must have picked up from Brenna.

“Yes,” she said, smiling at his expression.

“Mmm… What do you propose we do about that, Lady Blackwood?”

Heart fluttering, she looked into his dark green eyes. She’d known from the moment their souls touched, even before, that he was her mate. They were already bound completely. Her soul would never respond to another as it did to him. The choices and decisions came from how they would change their lives to accommodate that bond. He had much more at stake than she did and would be the one to make sacrifices and major changes.

Quieting her nerves that worried he wouldn’t be eager to accept so much upheaval in his life, she asked, “Will you join with me, Rodric?”

“Yes.” He smiled at her, no tension emanating from him. “But are you sure—”

“Yes!”

“Let me finish.” His hands moved to her neck, holding her head still. “Are you sure you’re okay with a private joining? If you want witnesses to our binding vows, we can wait.”

“No. We’ll have to do something public at some point because of my position in the realm. But I want this to be just between us.” Wanting to be fair, she stated her concern one last time. “I know we’re bonded already but making it official is complex and will bring changes, especially with us being from different realms.”

“Changes I am more than ready for. I’ll follow you anywhere, Celina.” Planting a soft kiss on her lips, he let her go.

Picking up the bag he’d dropped earlier, he took a seat on one of the stone benches. She sat next to him, watching curiously as he pulled out a carved wooden box.

“If your family has some you’d prefer to use, we can, but mine doesn’t.” He opened the box to reveal soft lavender cloth. “We could give these heirlooms new life.”

Reaching out, she gingerly moved the cloth aside to unveil a pair of joining bracelets. Violet, gold, and amorite winked out at her in the soft morning light. “Rodric, they’re beautiful.”

Lifting them out, she reverently touched the golden threads on her bracelet. The central amethyst stone was an exact match to the royal stones that embedded the hilt of her dagger. Though Zamyran in origin, as was obvious from the amorite in the bands, any Calderran looking at it would see only the symbolic purple of the royal house. Rodric’s bracelet had a central amorite stone that was rough and solid. The darker purple bands braided around his wrist would appropriately signify his allegiance to her, and by extension, Calderre.

“You’re really willing to give up your homeland for me?”

“I let go of my past last night. My home, my future, is wherever you are. Your heart is the most giving and beautiful I’ve ever encountered, Celina. I’d be honored to stand beside you as a Calderran.”

Believing he really meant what he said and was willing to embrace her people as well as her, she met his gaze and smiled, eyes wet with the possibilities of their future together. “They’re perfect. I’d love to use them.”

Setting the box aside, Rodric took her bracelet and wrapped it around her wrist. The extra weight immediately took on the feel of his strong presence as he tied the bands tight. She followed suit, securing her mark around his wrist. The dark amorite filled with shadows as the sun hit it, violet sparks appearing to almost move inside the stone.

Joining bracelets secured, they sat beside one another and laid out the matching length of braided cord that had been in the bottom of the box. Twining their hands together so their bracelets sat side by side, they looped the cord over their arms above the bracelets and crisscrossed it down to their hands. Holding the ends of the rope, they joined their free hands together, completing the circle.

As they began the vow that would bind their lives as intricately as their souls, Celina awakened their bond. Combining their magic into an intricate braid of white, blue, and gold, she drew it to the surface. She felt Rodric follow her lead, encouraging their magic to wind around them both until their essences merged.

“By my vow, I join with you and bind my soul to yours. My love surrounding you, my shield protecting you, my light embracing you. In life and death, our hearts and souls entwined. Forevermore our spirits one, my sacred vow.”

The mist of the mountain dawn wound around them, blanketing their hands in a golden shimmer. Celina touched her forehead to Rodric’s, basking in the magic blazing within them until it quieted to a gentle, steady presence.

As they stood to leave some time later, Rodric took her hand and kissed it. “Ready to head home, my mate?”

“Yes. I’m glad I won’t be going back alone.”

Rodric smiled and gently brushed his fingers over her joining bracelet with a reverent, loving touch. “Definitely not alone.”