Chapter Text
Thorn opened the door to the manor, and for a moment he felt as if he had gone back years, as if he was coming to visit Berenilde after a busy week at work. But the reality was that it had been several years since he had set foot in the Manor. And much had changed. God and the Other were no longer a threat, he had acquired new wounds and scars, and above all, he held Ophelia's hand. He dreaded the return to the Pole, but the difficulties he might encounter there seemed ridiculous compared to his time on Babel, and then his visit to the Reverse. And with his wife by his side, he was no longer alone.
When the door closed behind them, he heard rapid footsteps in the corridor: Berenilde had surely heard the door.
When Ophelia and Thorn had decided to return to the Pole, Thorn had sent a telegram to Berenilde, announcing their return, with the date and time of arrival of the airship. He had not been able to give more information because of the limited length of the message, but he had counted on his aunt to accept their arrival: the explanations would come later, when Ophelia and Thorn had had a chance to recover from their emotions.
A moment later, Berenilde had her arms around Thorn. Still a little embarrassed by these displays of affection, but happy to see his aunt again, he put an arm around Berenilde's back. After a moment, Ophelia was also in Berenilde's arms, who was repeating:
- My dear children, I am so happy to see you again.
Roseline was here too, and she took Ophelia in her arms for a long time before turning to Thorn, her hand outstretched.
- I'm glad you're back, said Roseline.
- Thank you, Thorn replied. And thank you for keeping my aunt company and looking after her.
- Thorn, said Berenilde, I've had your room prepared, so you can go to bed and we'll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow. Victoire is looking forward to meeting you, but she is already in bed.
Thorn heard Roseline whisper to Ophelia that she had a second room ready if necessary, but Ophelia replied that one room was more than enough.
A few minutes later, Thorn closed the door to his old room. It was the first time Ophelia had been in there, and she seemed very interested. Yet it was probably the least interesting room in the house: a large bed pushed up against the wall, which Berenilde had ordered especially for Thorn, a bedside table with a lamp on it, a chest of drawers, a large desk and chair, a coat rack and a small bookcase. This was where Thorn spent the night when he was Treasurer and visited Berenilde, but he had never bothered to decorate the room. Berenilde had made a warmer room for him as a child, but he had preferred a plain room at the Manor.
Ophelia turned to Thorn and said:
- I've just realised that I don't have any clothes to sleep in, do you know where I could find a nightgown? If not, I'll ask my aunt, she's probably still awake.
- I... Do you want me to lend you one of my pyjama shirts? The length should be sufficient.
- That'll be perfect, thank you.
Thorn took out a shirt for Ophelia from his chest of drawers, then a pair of pyjamas for himself, and they went their separate ways to wash.
When Thorn returned to the room, he was surprised to find Ophelia sitting in the middle of the bed in his shirt. He closed the door behind him and stood for a moment, watching his wife. He found her adorable, sitting cross-legged with her hair still damp, her hands hidden by the too-long sleeves. Slowly he began to realise how much his life would change: he was back at the Pole, with the woman he loved. It had been several days since Ophelia had taken him out of the Reverse, since they had fallen into each other's arms and cried. But the few days spent on Babel, then in the airship, had not been enough to make him realise that it was all over. It was now, in this familiar room, that he truly realized that God and the Other were no longer threats. He could get on with his life and build a real relationship with Ophelia.
Thorn came and sat in the bed beside Ophelia, slipping an arm around her waist. She turned to him and said:
- I imagined your room to be plain and tidy, but I thought you'd have a bit more decoration. Even your office had some globes and abacuses.
- I spent more time in my office than in this room, so why leave my stuff here? I, on the other hand, never imagined you would sit in this bed. But I like the sight of it very much. Somewhat more than that, even.
Ophelia leaned her head against Thorn's shoulder, and he spent a moment playing with her curls. After a moment, he gathered his courage to break the silence:
- Ophelia, I know we're back at the Pole, but I promise you that this time your experience here will be very different. I know I've made a lot of mistakes in the last few years. I have kept you out of my plans, I have taken you away from your Ark and your family, I have underestimated you, I have sometimes prevented you from making your own decisions, and I have made some of them for you without consulting you, I have found it difficult to express what I thought and felt, but I want to change that. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through, and I promise you that from now on, all my efforts will be dedicated to making you happy.
He took Ophelia's hands between his and placed a kiss on them, before looking up at her. She looked at him tenderly, a smile on her lips.
- Thank you, she said. Looking back, I understand your behaviour at the time, and I have long since forgiven you. And I, too, have often found it difficult to be clear with you about how I felt. So I want to be clear now: I'm happy to be here with you, and I love you. And I think that if we both learn to communicate better, everything will be fine.
Ophelia finished her sentence with a big yawn, and Thorn glanced at his watch on the bedside table: it was past midnight. He slipped under the covers, and invited Ophelia to join him. Ophelia fell asleep quickly, her head against Thorn's shoulder and a hand on his chest. He spent another moment stroking her back, savouring the moment. He was not yet used to spending his nights with Ophelia, but he hoped the rest of his life would be like this moment.