We had decided to find a new camp and had set up a small space near a little pond. Briar had mumbled something about needing a moment and walked away. Through the bond, I could tell she was struggling.
I began gathering wood; we would need it for the fire later, and Mydrn lugged behind me carrying some sticks.
The marsh didn’t have great wood for a fire; most of it was pretty wet. I focused on finding wood until I heard the humming.
A melody was coming from the left of the camp.
I walked closer, wanting to make sure it wasn’t who was following us. At least that’s what I am going to tell myself. I would recognize Briar’s voice anywhere. Slowly, I peered around a thick tree. The tree bark was rough against my hands.
“W—” Mydrn started, but I put my hand over his mouth and pressed a finger to his lips. He nodded.
I let him go, and we watched in silence.
Briar stood in a small grove. Humming as she slowly lowered herself to her knees. She folded her hands together and bowed her head.
Then she began to sing, her voice carrying a melody that tightened my heart.
“Oh,
Viana, won’t you listen,
Oh,
Viana, won’t you hear my prayer,
Oh,
Viana, Goddess of Love
Viana, Goddess of my heart,
Viana, Goddess of Soulfated,
Oh
Viana, why am I Soulfated to a Seer?”
Her voice broke slightly. As she leaned forward, I felt that pain rip through her chest. She was silent for a moment, and I wondered if she would continue.
When her voice picked back up, something in it was raw and painful. She sang the words like they hurt to get out of her throat.
Her voice grew louder, and she almost sounded angry as she stood with her hands loose at her sides.
“Oh Viana, won’t you listen,
Oh Viana, won’t you hear,
My prayer
To you
You can’t Fate me to love him, and not have our love be true,
That’s designing my heartbreak,
Not giving me the person that fits my Soul
Why would you Fate me to love him?”
I could feel the tears that Briar let fall from her face on my own.
Her shoulders sagged, and she looked up at the sky.
“Oh Viana, I love him.
Oh, Viana, I want to walk beside him.”
She collapsed to her knees, clasping her hands together and her eyes never leaving the sky. Her voice carried a painful sorrow.
“Oh Viana, won’t you let me love him?
Oh Viana, won’t you listen,
Oh Viana, won’t you hear,”
She sniffled slightly, her hand reaching up to wipe her eyes.
“My prayer to you is
Neverending,
I know you will bring my love to me.”
Her voice got soft, and she swayed slightly.
“For Viana you always listen,
Viana, you always hear,
Viana, my prayer is for your ear.”
I pulled away, my chest heavy. She petitioned the Goddess of Love to allow our Soulfated connection. Normally, that song is sung by people who have not yet found their Soulfated; it is supposed to be joyous and ask when their Soulfated will arrive.
But Briar, this version made my heart yearn to run to a different realm with her.
All I wanted was to wrap her in my arms, but instead I held tighter to the bundle of wood; its wet bark scraping my knuckles. I gripped it tight enough to distract my thoughts.
How badly I wanted to tell her. How my heart ached for her to know. What I saw in that vision back in the cabin, the life we will have. I felt the splinters from the log digging deeper into my skin.
All I wanted was to tell her, but that would break Fate's plans. I walked back to camp with Mydrn. My thoughts circled a single dangerous thread: what if Fate’s plan is meant to be broken?
I shoved the thought away, hoping Briar didn’t catch it.
What would she need after a petition like that?
Food.
I nodded to myself; I may not be able to fix the Seer Laws of Celentra, but I can fix her a meal.