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Two months after her “death” Sarah Alder waltzed back to Fort Salem like it was the most natural thing to do. It wasn’t! It was unexpected as well as Petra Bellwether’s reaction to it. The general didn't bat an eye and without any further ado, she gave her back everything the army inherited from her plus she agreed to her request to teach some classes at the academy. Sarah Alder didn't want her military status back all she wanted now was to pass forward all the knowledge she possesses to the younger generations.
This happened two weeks ago and the base was slowly wrapping its head around her comeback. Her classes were obviously fully booked. No one wanted to miss the opportunity to learn from the legendary former general.
During those two weeks Tally talked to the older woman once and honestly it made her mad. She had no idea why but it did. It was a mundane Tuesday late morning when rumors started spreading about how someone saw general Alder walking into Bellweather’s office. It was confirmed within one hour when the two women in question left the office and walked together towards the necro lab. Abigail, Tally, and Raelle were there instantly just to be turned around by a powerful lock on the door which kept them out long enough to make them walk away.
A few hours later Alder came out and walked across the base and that was when the Bellweather unit finally caught up with her bombarding the poor woman with hundred questions. She answered them kindly but then turned around on her heels and disappeared into the woods behind the barracks.
Since then she saw her a few times but the older woman looked deeply in thoughts and never attempted to talk to Tally and that was what made the young woman angry. Why in hell is Alder ignoring her? Their relationship grew stronger while they were looking for the First Song. Well, Tally even assumed that they have formed some sort of strange friendship but obviously she was mistaken. Because the Sarah Alder who used to appear in her bedroom without any shame or who dragged her through snowy mountains was clearly happy without talking to her.
The young redhead felt really upset about it and even more with the fact that she couldn’t feel her anymore. Their connection was broken. Probably severed by Alder and that made Tally Craven really angry and truly hurt. Their connection was something she cherished since that fateful day in Tarim. They had fights since then and goddess knows how many misunderstandings but no matter how low their relationship fell – they always were connected. Tally could feel her at least to some extent and she found comfort in that.
A few weeks before Alder vanished their relationship changed. Tally thought that they have crossed a line and their strange relationship ventured into a place where every word, look, and touch was flirtatious. Tally could see the change in their work when they were together. She could feel it and see it and now it was gone. The redhead was hurt, angry, and confused.
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Sarah regretted the moment when she has decided to visit her friend this afternoon. After she finished her class about old rarely used seeds she made a detour to the necro lab to visit Izadora. She did that already two times since she came back and it was really nice to catch up with her old friend. On the second occasion, they even went to get lunch together. Because yes, as a human without biddies or a mushroom mother, Sarah Alder has to eat as everyone else.
However, this time, as soon as Izadora noticed her presence she skipped all foreplay and went for the jugular without hesitation.
- What is going on with you? – she asked skipping the greeting and formalities altogether.
- Nothing, why do you ask? – came the stunned reply.
- I haven’t seen the sun since you came back. - Izadora said, she wasn't in the mood to play games today. - The sky is constantly cloudy and it feels like monsoon season. Did you come back just to drown us?
Sarah groaned. She is not ready for this conversation.
- I’m good, just leave it.
- Sarah, I could pretend that I have no idea what this is about or we both can cut the crap and you can explain to me why you avoid Craven instead of telling her what you feel.
The former general let out a long frustrated sigh. She didn’t want to insult Izadora or herself by trying to deny what was said.
- I can’t tell her that. – she mumbled.
- Why not? Don’t tell me that you choose to come back just to watch her getting hand-fasted and live her life with someone else. You could have rather stayed with the Mother then and enjoy your well-deserved rest. You have sacrificed so much already that I have no clue why would you do this to yourself.
- All I want is to know that she is happy. I don’t care if ...
- I think you do care otherwise that boy wouldn’t have to get used to lightning hitting the ground three feet from him constantly.
- Constantly? – Sarah rolled her eyes. – It happened merely three times.
- You have to talk to her, Sarah.
The former general shook her head. There is no way she will talk about this to anyone.
- She made her choice. I have to respect that.
- She must know how you feel to make an informed decision.
- I came back too late. – Alder let out another deep sigh. - I have to cope with what I was given. I’m not going to talk to her.
Izadora felt her anger rise. She knew that Sarah was stubborn and complicated, to put it mildly. But now she was just simply being stupid about this.
- You can’t be sure unless you talk with her.
Sarah shook her head.
- I need just a few days to compartmentalize it. Then I will be alright and we can be friends at least. Rain will stop – I promise. – she said while forcing a smile on her lips.
Izadora was not having it.
- Sarah, you were practically dead for the second time if I can keep up correctly. It is a damn time to behave accordingly. How many chances do you need?
- What about you give me a little time to wrap my head around everything that's going on before meddling into my business?! It's a lot to take in you know?
Izadora couldn't disagree with that but she was adamant about not letting this go. Sarah Alder deserved to be happy and she will help her achieve it even if she would have to drag her in front of the redhead and butt their heads together.
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Cadets from Fort Salem occupied half of the loud club enjoying their Friday night out. Bellweather unit and their friends were currently sitting behind the biggest table in the corner waiting for Gregorio and Raelle to come back with their drinks.
- I need a shot! I want to celebrate! – Gregorio shouted loudly approaching the table with a tray of shots.
- Is it your birthday? – Abigail asked while helping him place the tray with the shots on the table.
- Not really. But we can say so! I was almost hit by lightning three times this week! , - he said. - I was walking from the training when one landed next to me. I swear it missed me just by four feet! – He threw a shot down his throat and drank half of his beer wiped his mouth and then continued. – Four days after that I just stepped out of the car when boom! Another one landed in front of me! It is crazy, I’m telling you! This morning as well! Boom! It hit the ground right in front of me!
- Wow buddy! Be careful alright! – Raelle laughed.
- This rain is crazy! – Scylla said. – Two weeks almost nonstop. It must be work!
- It is not a Bellweather that is for sure! – Abigail said. – I already checked that out.
- Enough about the weather! – Adil downed his shot and grabbed his wife. – Dance with me.
- Lead the way husband! – Abigail smiled as she was pulled towards the dance floor.
Scylla, Raelle, and Tally joined them with a few other cadets from around their table. They danced and drank until after midnight. Everyone had a good time. Laughter and joy were echoing all around as the young cadets and their friends enjoyed themselves.
They arrived back at the campus around half past one in the morning. Scylla and Raelle took away right after they got out of the car. They said that they are going for a walk and nobody dared question them. Abigail and Adil walked hand in hand towards their new place which left Tally going alone across the lawn towards their old room.
- Wait! – She heard Gregorio yell from the other car as he stepped out. His steps were loud on the pavement in the quiet of the night as he ran towards her. – I will walk with you. – he said catching up with her.
The redhead was not in the mood for his company. She tried to avoid him as much as she could in the last weeks. Realizing where her heart was or better to say on who it was focused on giving her clarity about her status with him. She barely likes him as a friend. Not even the charge was worth it to continue. The only person she was trying to fool was herself. After Alder disappeared once again and this time for good – Tally felt like someone has pulled a blanket from her head. Realizing that Alder is gone made her see and feel a lot of things differently.
Watching the older woman disappear into the thin air made her head spin with thoughts and emotions. She was lost in her thoughts for the whole flight and as soon as the bat landed a different Tally Craven jumped out of it. One of those changes was that she was staying as far as she could from the young boy who had no place in her heart or life – there was no need for him and there was no need to lead him on. It was the best for everyone.
- Tally liste... – he started but a sudden crash interrupted him. A bolt of powerful lightning struck the ground just a few feet from him. His eyes went wide and he froze on the spot. – What the hell! Not again!
- Are you alright? - Tally asked her eyes wide with shock.
The young boy nodded afraid to even move his brow.
- This is not normal. – She whispered looking up towards the dark sky. The clouds were moving fast above them. Swirling and twisting hiding the stars. Droplets of rain fell on her face effectively pulling her out from the shock. – Come on! – she started running towards the closest building with Gregorio right behind her. As much as she wanted to avoid him she felt that there must be something done to fix this. Getting almost hit by lightning multiple times within a few days is not normal. He needed help and Tally had an idea of what to do.
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The peaceful silence in the greenhouse was interrupted by a soft click and thud signaling that someone just came inside. Sarah lifted her head and peeked through the flowers. She saw a crown of red hair and her heart rate doubled involuntarily.
- What do you want Craven? – She asked instantly wincing at the sound of her own voice. The question came out harsher than she intended. Tally to her credit hasn't even flinched.
- I need your help. – She said as she came closer.
- Of course, what can I do? – Alder looked at her stepping out from behind the table.
- Gregorio, ...Tally started but she was interrupted by a loud crack and then “boom” a powerful thunder echoed through the air. She was waiting until it was quiet and then she continued. – As I was saying, this week Gregorio... “booom” another deafening thunder tore through the air making Tally close her mouth in silence. She looked at Alder who was looking at her with a strange expression.
- So, Gregorio...... the redhead continued just to be interrupted once more by a huge thunder roaring outside making the glass tremble on the greenhouse. Alright, this is not normal. Tally tilted her head. Her eyes fell on Sarah’s clenched fists. “What is going on?” the young witch was confused.
- Gregorio. – She whispered and then her brown eyes sank into the blue ones in front of her just when a heavy thunder cracked over their heads. – Why is there thunder every time I say, Gregorio? – She asked quietly and surely another thunder roared outside as soon as she finished the sentence. – Is this you? – She looked at the older woman her questioning gaze making Sarah uncomfortable.
Well, this is it. There is no way out of this. Sarah Alder knows very well that lying to Tally Craven or denying her answer when she has this look on her face is not a good idea. But telling her the truth is not an appealing option either. Sarah Alder lived more than three hundred years and yet this young woman could make her speechless and frustrated within seconds.
- It’s raining for two weeks now. – Tally stated with a calm voice. – You came back two weeks ago. – Her gaze never strayed from the older woman’s face. – It is you, isn’t it? The rain, the thunders,... – her voice got low and sounded almost like a whisper. - ... the lightning. – Sarah saw her eyes go dark and the so familiar anger settling on her face as she asked. – Are you trying to kill Gregorio?
There was no thunder this time – just a genuine loud laugh coming from the former general.
- Craven, if I wanted that boy dead he would be dead – trust me.
Alright, that is a fair point. Tally had to admit it but then what was going on?
- What is going on then? – she asked.
Alder’s eyes darkened as she gulped nervously. Three hundred years of confidence were thrown out the window as soon as Tally Craven looked at her with those magical brown eyes.
The younger woman sensed her hesitation.
- Tell me! – she demanded. – No lies or deflection and you can start with the reason why are you avoiding me since you came back.
- I haven’t avoided you. I simply had no time. I was busy settling into my new life and you have yours too. That is all.
- Alright then, if you don’t want to talk then we don’t have to. – Tally smiled sadly at her. – I said no lies or deflection and you start with this nonsense. I will go and leave you alone just answer me one question. When you came back, was our connection broken by your death, the mycelium or something? Or was it you who severed it? Did you ask Izadora for a potion to get rid of me? – She asked with a low painfully sad voice.
Sarah felt how the words from Tally’s mouth ripped her heart out of her chest. This is what she thought? Goddess, how wrong she was! Thinking about how much pain the young woman had to endure made her sick. This is not what she wanted when she kept her distance. Watching the tears forming in the corner of the redhead’s eyes she stepped closer.
- Goddess no! – she said with an equally low voice. – Not at all! Our bond is not severed, Tally. I would never do that! – Reaching out she wiped the tear which was running down the young woman’s cheek. – It is still there. I just blocked it.
- Why? Did I do something? Are you angry with me?
Three hundred years of experience, three hundred years of wisdom, and yet Sarah Alder was stock-still by the realization of how wrong she misjudged what the younger woman was thinking and feeling. She shook her head softly.
- No Tally, you did nothing wrong and I’m not angry with you. Why would I?
Tally shrugged.
- You tell me. You are the one blocking our connection, you are the one avoiding me like a plague. You are the one who doesn’t want to talk to me.
- To be fair you were busy and I...
- Busy? We came after you but you brushed us off with quick answers and then literally ran away! The next day you actually turned away when you saw me and rushed into the necro lab. I can tell you six more cases when you turned on your heels as soon as you noticed me.
- You have your life, Tally. You are busy with your classes and then there are your sisters and your boyfriend. I’m sure that I’m the last person with whom you want to spend your precious free time.
This time it was Tally’s turn to laugh.
- You would know better if you haven’t blocked our bond! – She said angrily and then it hit her. – Boyfriend? What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend!
Sarah Alder lived three hundred years and she thought that she couldn’t be surprised with anything anymore. She has seen everything, she has experienced everything, and she knew people better than they knew themselves. She spent hundreds of years watching generations of witches come and go - she knew everything about them. But still - three hundred years were not enough to prepare her for Tally Craven.
- What about the Shellbark boy? – She asked dumbfounded. – I have seen you with him, you hugged him and ...
- Goddess no! It was a mistake! – The redhead interrupted her frantically. - It meant nothing! I thought that doing what everyone wanted from me was the way how I could have a normal life. But then you died and I realized that I don't want to live in a lie. I watched you disappear from my life and the weight of emotions that came to the surface simply paralyzed me. I have never touched him or talked to him since I stepped out of the bat! I was mourning you and my chance to be happy in this life. You would know that if you wouldn't block our connection! – she said more frustrated than angry.
Sarah couldn’t remember when she was shaking like this. Her whole body was trembling. There was just only one way out of this mess. Tally was right, she shouldn't have blocked their connection. Goddess knows if it was fear or self-doubt which led her to that foolish decision to block their bond. Whatever it was, it is time to undo it - come what may, as Tally said no lies or deflection this time.
She stepped closer and gently wrapped the younger woman in a hug. Well aware of her emotions she knew that Tally would be hit by a flood of varied feelings. So, she held her tightly while slowly lifting the block she had imposed on their connection. Her hand slid into the red locks holding the young woman close.
Alder didn’t want to leave anything unanswered or omitted. So, she started from the very beginning. From the day Tally challenged her as a newbie cadet, then through their - for Sarah - so painful fight in the hangar, up to the point how she came back looking for the First Song. How happy she was seeing Tally in Cession and also how scared she was in the ice cave when the witch got hold of her.
Then she showed her how she felt when she was back with the Mother, how her restless soul was aching for Tally. Every fiber of her body was longing to see the redhead. Which led to her return and the instant heartache of seeing Tally walking next to Gregorio. Gut-wrenching pain and jealousy rippled through the young woman and bottomless sorrow consumed her whole being while Sarah shared her feelings with her. Tally tightened her grip on her. Squeezing her firmly and sending back an affectionate reply to all the pain she inadvertently caused.
- You were the only one in my mind for years now. – She said pulling back from the hug so she could look into the older woman’s face. – As a child, I was admiring you as a leader and a hero. Then my own naive perspective of the world pushed you down from that pedestal and even if I'm very sorry for that and especially how it happened. But everything happens for a reason, right? So, in that way, I'm happy it happened because after that I thankfully had a chance to know you. The real you - not the legendary general, but the witch.
She lifted her hand to cradle the older woman’s face in it.
– And then it was very easy to fall. – She whispered leaning closer with her heart thudding in her chest. – I loved you all my life and I knew that I’m in love with you since the moment when you came for Khalida. When you hugged me I felt it deep in my soul and when you left it was like watching a part of me walking away.
Tally finally pressed her lips to the soft ones in front of her making the older woman shiver. Their lips slid over each other gently. Both of them were enjoying the simple yet so magical touch. The slow brushing and nibbling soon enough progressed into a more passionate kiss. Their mouths opened against each other letting the other taste and explore as their tongues brushed against each other.
They were pulling each other as close as possible. Drawing the other close, squeezing and savoring the warmth and love flooding between them. The kiss was long and all-consuming. Sarah pulled back just after good five minutes when their hearts calmed down and the bond between them settled from a frenzied mess to a calm and slow torrent of love and joy.
- Come back here after your class. I will wait for you. – she said.
Tally chuckled loving the fact that Sarah kept a tab on her classes.
- I hope you know that there is no way I’m going back to class today.
- You are not? - Sarah smiled at her. – Why is that?
- Because I wouldn’t be able to focus anyway. – She let her hands slide down the older woman’s arms until she was holding her hands. – Plus I think that you owe me a grand tour of your new place. – She winked while biting her lip a huge smile plastered on her face.
- New place? – Sarah asked. – Darling that cabin is a hundred and fifty years old. – Pulling the redhead to her side she started walking towards the door. – I had it reconstructed twenty years ago though. I think you will like it. – She opened the door and they both stepped out into the sunny afternoon.
- Let’s go first to my room I need a few stuff. I mean, - She turned to Sarah shyly. – I'm staying the night, right?
- It is up to you. – Sarah said and she felt a soft kiss on her temple which made her smile contently. Both of them knew that this answer was just a sheer courtesy. Their bond was humming with affection, need, and contentment. There was no question that they are not going to part anytime soon if not forever.
Suddenly Tally felt Sarah’s grip on her tighten and she heard a low hum coming from her throat and a few dark clouds emerged above them in that instant. Swirling around as the wind picked up. Tally had no time to comprehend what was going on when she saw Gregorio coming out from behind the corner of the training hall. “Oh, no!” – she quickly swiped her head towards Sarah but before she could say anything it was already late.
There was a loud crack and then a deafening "boom" followed by a flash of lightning hitting three feet from the young boy. He stopped dead in his track looking like a scared little rabbit and Alder chuckled.
- Was that necessary? – Tally asked but couldn’t suppress the laugh in her voice. Sarah pulled her close and kissed her temple once again as they were walking toward the other building.
- Not necessary but fun! – she wrinkled her nose laughing.
Tally laughed with her pressing herself into the older woman’s side. She came looking for Sarah under the pretense of helping the boy but now she couldn't care less - if she wants to continue having fun with him she is not going to stop her. It doesn't matter. The only thing what matters is the strong arm around her waist and the happy smile on both of their faces. Not even the rain could change her mind.