“No! No! No!” Radianne cried. Tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto her friend in little splashes. They had come so far, they were so close! He could not leave her now.
“Hold on Blink! We are almost there!”
Henrick and Thomas kneeled down next to her, and tried to console both the girl and star. Henrick was especially alarmed, but was trying to remain calm.
“He's tough, Radianne. He will make it through this,” he murmured, placing a reassuring hand on her back.
Radianne struggled not to shake him off. She felt like saying something cruel to him then, as she felt he had done several times on the journey, when he seemed to only care about himself and his brooding. However, such grievances were trivial in that moment.
She brushed away tears as she continued to stroke Blink. His eyes relaxed under her touch. She knew it was only a matter of time before the star turned to completely to rock.
Had it all been for nothing?
She had to remain hopeful. If they could only send him home soon, she was sure he would return to his true form. He had to.
“Hold on, my dear friend,” she whispered.
The three Pegasus reappeared. Unaware of what had just transpired, they neighed loudly as they announced the arrival of the Queen.
“The Queen, Permeredia.”
With that, they abruptly flew away, leaving Radianne and her friends standing alone on the cloud, waiting for the mysterious noble to arrive. Radianne's heart beat wildly in her chest. She felt so helpless as she prayed that Queen Permeredia would be able to save Blink in time.
So distraught was she, she didn't notice Henrick staring at her, taking in her scruffy clothing and appearance.
The three of them hadn't washed in days, but Henrick was thinking Radianne was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and never more so than at that moment, when she was completely oblivious to anything but saving her friend. He was worried about Blink as well, and found himself frustrated at the direction his thoughts were going in such a dire time. But he could not help it… her love for the star was so evident. It was, and she was, beautiful.
The Queen emerged from the pine trees in silence, stepping out into the sunlight, revealing a coat a shimmery shade of lavender, her wings and mane a luminous and elegant silver. Her hooves were snow white, her eyes a wise sky blue.
As she approached, she nodded her head, as if she'd known all along they were coming.
“How do you do, weary travelers?” she asked in a soft sing-song voice. "Hello again, Henrick.”
Henrick nodded his head. "Your Majesty."
Radianne and Thomas politely responded, not quite sure how to greet the lovely creature.
After the brief introduction, Radianne could not afford to stand on ceremony. She could not contain herself any longer. Not caring if she was being bold, she cleared her throat.
“We have come very far,” she began, stepping toward the Queen with tear-filled eyes, holding Blink forward with outstretched arms.
Permeredia quickly, but kindly, cut her off. “I know you need my help, that much is clear,” she said gently. “We do not get travelers from other parts of this world so much these days. I've heard whispers and rumors of your coming. I think I already know what it is you ask of me. But please, forgive my interruption. Continue.”
Radianne went back to the beginning, and told the tale in a hurried tone. She told of how Blink had unexpectedly and miraculously fallen into her life. She spoke of their long journey, the brief encounter with the Snorgs and how poor Blink's state of being had become along the way. She spoke of her great love for the star, and how she wanted nothing more than to return him to where he rightfully belonged. She told the Queen how that had been the goal and the sole reason for the journey since the beginning, and she had to see it through.
The Queen listened quietly, shifting her gaze every now and again to Blink.
“We do not have long,” Permeredia said when Radianne finished talking. She sighed. “It is difficult. This is the second time I've seen a star fall from above,” she added, her thoughts suddenly seeming to drift far away as her eyes looked across the horizon, remembering. “There was a star that fell long ago in these parts, and befriended us. We did not know at that time what would happen if a star spent too much time below. This star assumed he would have an adventure, learn all he could about this world. He would then return to his own realm.”
“What happened to him?” Radianne quietly asked.
The Queen lowered her head to Blink and squinted at him, then straightened and focused her attention on Radianne, her face very grave.
“The star didn't realize that a star that stayed too long below would soon become a rock. Sadly, that is what happened to our other friend, and he realized what was transpiring too late. His fate was secured. He is now a sad and lovely stone.”
She shook her head and sighed again.“You haven't much time to help Blink, I'm afraid. His state is very poor. I can only hope there is enough time for the journey. I would bring him back today, but this kind of endeavor will take much of my strength.” She paused. "After the tragedy with the first star, we realized if such a thing were to ever happen again, we had to figure out the best way to make a return possible. The way back is much too high and far. I must take special sustenance tonight to provide my body with the enormous amount of energy needed before our trip. The concoction will also speed us ahead. But I am afraid that we can't depart until morning.”
She turned and walked toward the castle. “Come with me. Stay as my guests. I will take your star at the first rays of morning light. We cannot do more for him now. But I will do my best tomorrow.”
-23-
Reflections
R
adianne lay propped on one elbow on the soft bed. She looked down at Blink, who seemed seemed to be sound asleep at the moment.
After they'd been shown their rooms, they'd been treated to hot baths and a delicious-smelling dinner, though Radianne had hardly been able to eat due to all the anxiety she was feeling about Blink's deteriorating health and the mixed emotions she had about his impending departure. Queen Permeredia introduced the group to her three young children, all beautiful and delightful, frolicking creatures. They all had their mother's eyes.
The early evening had passed in a sort of blur. However, over dinner, Radianne had learned the sad tale of the Queen's husband, King Eurene. He had disappeared while on a “secret mission” the year before, and rumor had it that he had been killed by a band of Snorgs. The Queen, who preferred to stand at the head of the enormous dining table (instead of sitting on ornate cushions on the floor, like the other Pegasus present) simply said the Pegasus had underestimated the Snorgs and their growing power. It was one of the reasons they were laying low until “the time was right.”
The Queen did not go into much detail. Radianne wondered what exactly had happened. She also wondered why she hadn't thought of the King before. She'd only always envisioned the Queen when she thought of Shondalina.
His death was another tragic loss due to those Snorg fiends, and she knew more deaths would be coming. Growing cold, she lay on her back and wrapped her arms around herself. If the Snorgs could take down the King of the Pegasus, what little hope was there for the rest of them?
Guiltily, she thought again of the Floppersnogs and hoped to find them alive when she went back for them.
She knew, however, that she had to focus on the task at hand at present. Her eyes welled up with tears for what seemed to be the tenth time that day as she gazed at her friend.
It seemed to her like only yesterday Blink had fallen into her life… but then again, it also seemed ages ago somehow. So much had changed since she'd left Eugladia. She knew she had been selfish at times, thinking more of herself, her “adventure,” and her odd relationship with Henrick than about what her friend may have needed.
Yet, she'd also learned so much from Blink over the course of the journey. He taught her so much about ta
king things for granted. He taught her how to keep pressing on, how light and strength could be found in even the most dire of circumstances. She hoped she had the chance to tell him how much his arrival into her world had changed her life. It had changed her, forever.
At that moment she knew he needed to rest. Tucking Blink gently under one corner of the silky blue blanket on the bed, Radianne stood up and walked quietly out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The Queen had given them leave to explore the grounds if they desired to do so, and Radianne certainly could use some time alone. She shook her head as she walked. Always had to analyze things.
As she wandered through a long and elegant white corridor of floors that seemed to be made from pearls – they shimmered so beautifully – she gazed up at the portraits of generations of Pegasus royalty and warriors.
She wondered about the lives they had lived and what they may have been like. Some of the paintings were centuries old. She could not believe at that moment she was walking around in a place she could only dream about as a child. She remembered she used to wonder if Shondalina were even real or just a story adults told children to keep them entertained.
If only her heart weren't so heavy, she thought, she would treasure the experience of being in Shondalina so much more…
There was a door that led outside. As she stepped out into the early evening air, she caught the first glimpses of the sun going down. The sky was streaked with a glorious array of colors – pinks, reds, purples and gold, all mixed together brilliantly. The sight was painful, somehow.
Walking around the side of the castle, she spotted a still pond. It had a large boulder that seemed made for thinking, ironically. She as was taken back to where it all started, sitting on a rock one evening at home.
Her heart skipped a beat. It was in some ways eerie.
She shivered and walked over to the boulder and sat down. Sighing, she closed her eyes. She decided to let herself let go of time and just get lost in the moment. Get lost in reflections of where the journey had taken her and where life would lead her next…
“Beautiful night, isn't it?”
The voice broke into her thoughts.
Radianne's eyes popped open. Thomas was suddenly there beside her on the boulder, his eyes lifted up toward the fading sun.
“Though I have to say, nothing compares to the beauty of a sunset in the desert,” he mused, his face a little sad as he said the words. “I think my heart remains there and always shall.”
He turned to Radianne and stared at her with an odd intensity. “Never mind that though. How are you feeling?”
Radianne shivered again. It could have been from the slight breeze blowing, but there was something else. It was something about the way Thomas was looking at her.
As the last rays of setting sun alighted on his long dark hair and illuminated his face, her heart fluttered a little. His beautiful blue eyes showed concern for her – he actually seemed to care about her well-being – and she thought that was quite flattering.
Though she knew should be thinking about Blink, at that precise moment all she could focus on was Thomas's gaze.
Henrick had never really seemed to care all that much how she was feeling, though she cared too much for him. Though there were times she'd thought he'd felt the same way, he'd also seemed too lost in his own head most of the time…
She remembered Thomas had asked a question. She cleared her throat. “I'll be OK,” she whispered. “It's been one wild journey and I'm worried about Blink. I just hope we can get him home in time.”
Pain filled her heart as she thought again of her friend back in the room, under the blue blanket, his body mostly gone to stone. She thought of the Floppersnogs, trapped in that horrible place. It had all become too much. For the first time since embarking on the journey, she began to weep. To really, deeply weep.
Embarrassed, her hands found their way up over her face, in a feeble attempt to shield her raw emotions. They came pouring out anyway. She couldn't control the flow.
“Shhh,” Thomas whispered, wrapping a comforting arm around her as he pulled her close to his side. He didn't offer any other words of consolation, but instead just held her and allowed her to her cry until no tears were left.
It was exactly what she needed.
Then they sat silent for some time, watching as the sun vanished on the horizon, waiting until the stars began to come out one by one. Feeling completely caught up in the moment, Radianne lowered her head to Thomas's shoulder.
“Blink will be alright you know, you'll see,” Thomas murmured into her ear. “Things have a way of turning around and turning out exactly as they should, in the end.”
With his free arm, he gently turned Radianne's face toward his. “And you know what else? I'm starting to feel like this is how things should be too.”
He lowered his lips to hers.
For a moment, Radianne's world spun out of control and she was lost in Thomas's embrace. She had to admit that she did enjoy the kiss, though it left her a little confused.
Thomas was a good person, exotic, charming. Yet as she sat there and kissed him – her heart a jumble of emotions amid its rapid beating – the face of another flashed to her mind. She knew she couldn't ignore the fact that for whatever reason, her feelings for that man were undeniably stronger.
“Thomas,” she whispered, as she pulled back slowly.
“Radianne,” he whispered back, touching her face. “From the moment I saw you out there in the desert moonlight, looking like a wild sand fairy, you have managed to capture my heart. You are such a strong and good young woman, stronger than you believe. Did you know that when you came along, you saved me from myself out there? I think our paths were meant to cross, and I do believe this could be meant to be. Or, at the very least, we could try to figure it out.”
Radianne let his words sink in for a moment. She was just learning about the strange and many faceted aspects of love, and was not entirely sure she even understood any of it. But she suspected “could be meant to be” probably was not enough. Was it meant to be if you weren't exactly sure? Though she suspected that sometimes love did grow with time.
However, she knew she couldn't deny those feelings she had for Henrick at the moment. Everything was confusing and her emotions were obviously not functioning properly. Henrick had been such a horrible person at times… and Thomas was so kind and so very handsome… she looked at him again.
She realized she had to be true to her heart. At least to what it was telling her then.
“After we get Blink home safely, come away with me,” Thomas pressed. “Come back to the desert with me. Maybe we can marry? We can have a nice life there together, but far enough away from the Snorg's lair. I've decided I need to go back. You can help me plot my revenge against the Snorgs…” he trailed off, eager at first, but then, as he noticed Radianne's sympathetic expression, he realized his pleading and dreaming would probably prove useless.
“I can't, Thomas,” Radianne said gently, touched at his words and a little shocked at what seemed to be her first marriage proposal. But she would think about that later, she told herself.
“I don't know what I'm going to do exactly, though I plan on going back for the Floppersnogs as soon as possible. I also know I must go home and see my family first before I set out on that quest. I've missed them… I actually miss Eugladia too.”
She couldn't believe it was true but she desperately missed home. She hadn't realized just how much she would miss it, but there it was. She had taken her mundane life for granted. She had taken the people in it for granted. There was an ache for them now.
“Why don't you come back with me, as my good friend?” she asked Thomas. “You could meet some new Eugladians there, we could possibly find some recruits…”
“I know what this is about,” Thomas cut her off, his downcast expression giving away his disappointment. “It's about Henrick, isn't it? Well, let me tell you something about
him.” He narrowed his eyes. “He doesn't deserve you Radianne. He's jealous, hot-headed, and very inconsiderate. His moods are outrageous, he whines a lot, and I don't think he believes in you like I do. I'm not even sure what he believes in, exactly. He's too busy brooding all the time.”
Thomas turned his head then, looking out toward the water, frowning.
His words hit hard. The two sat in an uncomfortable silence for several moments.
Radianne remembered how angry she'd been the day she met Henrick. He had indeed seemed rude and self-serving and, as she'd thought even moments before, as if he didn't even care at times. But she also had to be honest with herself and remember the rest.
There were those undeniable moments when Henrick had helped her find her way, even when she hadn't wanted his help at first. How he'd fended off monstrous creatures, how they'd met the Floppersnogs together, that kiss by the waterfall… he seemed to care for Blink as much as she did.
Henrick had his own set of warts and quirks, but, she supposed, didn’t they all? She did not believe for one moment he was as bad as Thomas implied, though she knew he definitely wasn't without imperfections and she herself had questioned his motives on many occasions. In fact, she wasn't so sure she even wanted to be with him, but she knew she did care for him. Possibly even more than care…
“He isn't that awful, Thomas,” Radianne said quietly. “He actually has a lot of good character traits, when he lets his guard down, and gets over himself, of course.”
Thomas snorted and shook his head. “I fail to see as you do. But then again, I suppose I haven't known him as long as you have.”
He sighed then and touched her face. “Ahh well. You are pretty amazing,” he said, as his expression softened. “Maybe one day you'll change your mind. And know that if you do, the desert will be waiting, and so will I. There will come a time when you get tired of him. And his mood swings.”
Radianne smiled. “You probably think I'm pretty amazing because I'm the first woman you've seen in years, stuck in that cave of yours," she said with a laugh as his face flushed. “And anyway,” she continued, “I honestly don't expect to be with Henrick. As I said, family, then Floppersnogs. I do believe he is on his own path. And so am I.”
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