The night was silent as always in the meadows of the Nord Clan, even after the troublesome event earlier in the day had come and passed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Word had spread across the clans that there had been an attempt on the High Maiden’s life and on the lips of every nymph was the astonishing news that the High Maiden had been saved by her prize.

The High Maiden’s divination had also been a great success and the tournaments of the blooming season would begin soon.

A successful divination would mean another flourishing decade for the Nord nymphs, and it further solidified the reign of the High Maiden.

"Hush, do not make a sound." High Maiden Melissa cautioned her aides as they stepped into her quarters, lead by Timmon, the head guard of the Nord Clan.

"We came as we heard, it is a great relief that your consciousness is restored My Lady. We feared you would fall into a dark whirl." Timmon said in a quiet tone.

A dark whirl was a fearsome risk of divination, a state where one’s consciousness was lost in the plain between a vision and reality and could not be recovered.

It was for the fear of dark whirls that those nymphs who divined for the will of the Creator were left to themselves in complete peace and silence, no interruptions were allowed.

"It truly is a relief." One of Timmon’s subordinates concurred, also in a whisper.

The need for the quietness did not require explanation, laid on the bed by which the High Maiden sat was Dante, still deep asleep.

"What happened to him?" Timmon asked, passing a glance over to Dante.

"He saved my life, that is what." High Maiden Melissa replied, passing a tender gaze over to the sleeping Dante.

"When shall he awaken?" Timmon asked again, also passing a glance to Dante.

"I cannot say for sure, in a few hours or a few days. The poor lad was sucked into the whirl of divination by nymph magic, I cannot tell what effect that would have on a human." High Maiden Melissa admitted with a sigh.

"My guess is, he will be plagued by a vision. Of the past or the future, I do not know but a vision that would be of some significance to his path... I do hope it is one he can handle." High Maiden Melissa added.

"But he will awaken?" Timmon asked to be sure.

"He will, soon." The High Maiden replied with a nod.

"But the tournament shall begin tomorrow. If the bond between My Lady and the human is not destined, he must partake in the tournaments." Timmon reminded.

"There will be no need for this, I intend to bond him at dawn." High Maiden Melissa replied with certain.

"At dawn?! It is not yet time for the blessing of the bonds yet. And what of the human? Has he granted his consent to a bond?" Timmon asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

"He saved my life, what greater consent shall we speak of?" High Maiden Melissa replied with a question of her own.

"But a spoken consent is required. He is yet to awaken, what is to happen if he does not awaken by dawn?" Timmon asked worriedly.

"We shall proceed with the bonding at dawn, that is my decision." High Maiden Melissa insisted.

"That will be akin to forcing a bond on him! Once he bears your mark, there is no going back! To do this while he sleeps is... inappropriate." Timmon reasoned, exchanging a glance with his subordinates.

"I have waited three blooming seasons, Timmon. Three decades! And what has happened today has only made it all the more clear that I must propagate the royal bloodline as soon as possible."

"I must birth a heir, a male heir so those who have set eyes on my throne will see an end to their greed." High Maiden Melissa hissed.

"He is the one Tim... I know it. There is no nymph who dares challenge my claim, hence he shall have no need to participate in the tournament."

"Perhaps he may loathe my actions today, but he shall come to cherish our bond in time. I will convince him slowly and in time, he shall truly open his heart to me." High Maiden Melissa said with certainty.

"I shall bond him at dawn, there is but a few hours left. Make haste to prepare." High Maiden Melissa ordered.

The nymphs took their leave and High Maiden Melissa was left to her own thoughts.

High Maiden Melissa returned her attention to Dante, gazing down at her new found prize with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Where have you been all my life?" High Maiden Melissa murmured, thinking back to the many decades that had passed since she had become the clan leader.

"Everyone looks to me as the most powerful amongst my kin...they look to me for answers at every turn and I am obligated to provide them."

"They look to me to save my clan from declination, to be the strength and protector of my people. Who has thought to save me?" High Maiden Melissa murmured quietly, reaching out a hand to brush away the stray hair from Dante’s forehead.

"You are the first I have entrusted my life to in my long lifetime. I will not be taking it back..." High Maiden Melissa decided with a tender smile.

She could not help wondering what vision he had been given by her magic and what he would be seeing at this moment.

"A part of me hopes the Creator shows you our future together, because you need to understand as I do... how beautiful and bright it is." High Maiden Melissa murmured.

"It is a few hours to dawn, it will not be long now. When you awaken, our fates will already be entwined for eternity."

"So sleep well my beloved, whatever path was yours before now is already in the past. Your place is at my side, from this day...until our last." She said.