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♪ Do you feel the same when I’m away from you?
Do you know the line that I’d walk for you?
We could turn around or we could give it up
But we’ll take what comes, take what comes ♪
*****
Celina turned to lay on her back as she slept, a hand moving to land on the spot where Brine should have been on her right. The lack of Brine’s warmth there next to her and Cenlar was odd, and it made her snap out of her dream. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, a small noise escaping her lips. Celina turned her head to the right. “Brine?”
Her Demi-Deity of a spouse wasn’t in the bed.
Celina sat up slowly, trying not to wake Cenlar up in the process. She could hear his soft snoring, so she knew the king was still there. However, Brine wasn’t under the covers. The queen looked around, seeing if there was any sign of her spouse. The room’s torches cast a soft glow over the furniture and painting, and the flowers in the room provided a faint but pleasant smell. Everything was untouched, not even any of the chairs had been moved. It was clear Brine had gone, but it seems like he didn’t take anything with him.
Celina quirked a brow. “Brine… where did you go?” She slowly stood from the bed, grabbing her robe from a nearby chest.
*****
♪ Oh, the storm is raging against us now
If you’re afraid of falling then don’t look down
But we took the step and took the leap
And we’ll take what comes, take what comes ♪
*****
Celina pushed open the doors to the bedroom of her and her spouses, the cool night air slowly washing over her and making a small chill crawl up her spine. The moon hung high over her head, indicating it couldn’t have been later than midnight. With the light from above her head, not many monsters were out tonight. Celina couldn’t see any sign of Brine from her vantage point. She couldn’t hear his heartbeat, so he was a little further from the bedroom than she expected. “Brine, where are you,” the queen murmured. She began to make her way down the steps to the grand room. Perhaps he was somewhere down in the lower parts of the castle?
Celina took quiet, soft steps down the stone brick stairs, making sure she didn’t scare anyone who could be awake. She knew some of her guards were up, she just had to make sure her steps were loud enough to be heard, but not enough to alarm anyone.
She made her way down into the grand room and took a look around. Still no sign of Brine anywhere.
“Damn it, Brine. Where did you go?”
*****
♪ Feel the wind in your hair
Feel the rush way up here ♪
*****
Celina walked out of the doors to the throne room after having checked the large room. It was strange, there was no sign of him anywhere in the castle. Normally he would have said something or left a note and this didn’t make sense. Maybe he wasn’t feeling very good? She found herself fearing that he had gone on a rampage, but he didn’t really do that anymore now that she thought about it. Someone had to have seen him. Shouldn’t they have?
*****
♪ We’re walking the wire, love
We’re walking the wire, love
We’re gonna be higher, up
We’re walking the wire, wire, wire ♪
*****
“Cameron?”
A young person with tan hair in an afro, blue eyes, and dark skin with lighter patches turned to see their queen walking towards them with worry on her face. Cameron sheathed their iron sword and bowed their head. “Good evening, Your Majesty. Is something wrong?”
“I can’t find Brine anywhere. He’s not anywhere in the castle and I didn’t see any note or message from him telling me where we went. Have you seen him at all?” Celina hoped the worry wasn’t too evident in her voice, but she really couldn’t help herself.
Cameron seemed to think for a moment. “You know, I haven’t seen him myself, but I think I heard the gates to the kingdom opening earlier. And I didn’t see anyone come in. Check with the guards at the gates, I’ll bet you anything they’ve seen him.”
“Okay, thank you, Cameron. Be safe.”
“Will do, Your Majesty.”
Celina then began to make her way down the gravel streets, heading in the direction of the gates to the kingdom walls. She was really hoping someone had seen him, or else she would have to start searching for him. If he wasn’t in the Overworld, she had a few ideas as to where he could be. But for now, she had to search here.
*****
♪ There’s nights we had to just walk away
And there’s tears we’ll cry, but those tears will fade
It’s the price we pay when it comes to love
And we’ll take what comes, take what comes ♪
*****
A slight breeze was now beginning to pick up as Celina made her way towards the gates, seeing two of her female guards standing by the entrance to the kingdom. She hurried towards them and the two girls took notice. The one with dyed silver hair, gray eyes, and fair skin was the first to speak. “Hello, Your Highness Celina. You’re up awfully late.”
Celina sighed. “I know, Jenna, but I can’t find Brine. He wasn’t in bed, he wasn’t anywhere in the castle. Have either of you seen him?”
The other girl, who had violet eyes, purple hair, and dark skin, snapped her fingers. “You know what? He came through this way not too long ago! About half an hour ago! He didn’t say why he needed to head out, but he did ask us to open the gate.”
Celina’s eyes went wide. “Marky, did he say where he was going?”
“No, but he did say that if anyone came looking for him… what was it he said?” She thought for a moment. “Oh. He said to, ‘follow the signs.’ I wasn’t sure what that meant.”
Celina knew exactly what that meant and she blinked in surprise. She knew where he was now. She straightened up a bit, adjusting her robe. “I need to get out there. Can you girls open the gate for me?”
The two nodded, moving to opposite sides of the gate to flip two levers that activated the Redstone under the gate. The wooden and iron blocks slid aside and Celina quickly moved out the gate, pulling her cloak from her inventory. She then moved into a light sprint. She needed to find Brine.
****
♪ Feel the wind in your hair
Feel the rush way up here ♪
*****
Celina could see the circle of mushrooms up ahead, in a small clearing between some trees. She then moved from it after making sure it was the right one. It was made of crimson and warped mushrooms, which usually weren’t found in the Overworld. That was one of the first signs he wanted her to follow. She looked ahead, seeing an arrow stuck into a birch ahead of her. She then saw two stuck into another birch as she moved forward. She kept moving through the forest, seeing more arrows stuck into more birches until she reached the edge of the forest. She was pretty far from the kingdom now, but she knew she was getting closer to Brine.
*****
♪ We’re walking the wire, love
We’re walking the wire, love
We’re gonna be higher, up
We’re walking the wire, wire, wire ♪
*****
It was only after following more arrows in trees, mushroom circles, fallen trees, and vines that Celina found what she was looking for. She could see it about twenty blocks away from her. A hill with a large, lone oak tree standing on top of it. She knew what was at the top of that hill, and so she hoped the person she was looking for was there too. And so she began to walk towards it.
As she made her way to the hill and began to climb it, she could sense an energy signature. It was the presence of a very powerful being, someone who was definitely not human. But she could also hear a heavy heart beat, as if this being was suffering great grief and couldn’t handle whatever was causing their despair. The queen knew something was bothering him. She knew it. And she had a good feeling as to what it was.
Celina finally reached the top of the hill and looked at the base of the tree. Sure enough, there was Brine, sitting on the grass with his head bowed as he held his knees close to his chest. He was audibly sniveling and sobbing, though soft, it could still be heard. He was dressed in his usual daytime clothes and his long hair draped down over his shoulders. He didn’t seem to notice Celina, which was odd considering he could sense the energy of other beings.
She moved her eyes from where her spouse sat, to the gravestones that were sitting beside him. The queen knew who was buried in those four spots. And she knew Brine only came here when he truly missed them.
“Brine?”
*****
♪ So look out down below
Look out down below
Look out down below
Walking the wire, wire, wire
So look out down below ♪
*****
Brine’s head slowly lifted and he turned to look at the source of the voice calling his name. Celina stood there with worry clear on her features, dressed in her cloak and her robe over her pajamas. He could see her through his tears. He didn’t even notice her when she arrived, though he should have known she would come looking for him. He did tell the guards at the gates to tell anyone looking for him to follow the signs he had left behind long ago. And Celina was one of the few who he knew would know what that meant.
Brine let out a soft whimper and found himself shaking as he looked at her. He wanted to say something but nothing would come out. He just sat there like an upset child.
Celina walked over to Brine and carefully sat next to him. She looked at him and said a soft, “Hi.”
Brine blinked, before saying, “Hey.”
She tried to smile, but it fell just as quick as it came. She looked over to the frontmost grave and read to words across it.
“Cebrina Conneray Oakdred-Alstrom
Loving mother, wonderful wife, kind royalty
I will never forget you, my princess”
Celina’s eyes moved back to Brine and she gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He began to sob again, his whole body shaking with his ragged breathing. After a moment, she moved to wrap her arms around Brine and pulled him into a loving embrace. He let out a small gasp and tensed when she did, but soon relaxed and returned it. He wrapped his arms around Celina and found himself crying into her shoulder. He held tightly to his queen and she rocked him back and forth ever so softly.
After a few moments of this, Brine murmured through his sobs. “I don’t deserve you.”
Celina blinked in surprise. “What?”
*****
♪ Oh I’ll take your hand when thunder roars
And I’ll hold you close, I’ll stay the course
I promise you from up above
That we’ll take what comes, take what comes ♪
*****
“I don’t deserve you. I--I don’t… it was my fault that... she died. I--I don’t deserve someone… like you after… letting her die.”
Celina found herself holding tighter to Brine. “Sweetheart.”
“I don’t… I don’t… I just… she died because of me, Celina.” Brine let out a soft, mournful howl. “She died and I didn’t do anything to save her. She died and I… I don’t want to lose you too.” He held tightly to the queen, as if she was his lifeline. “It’s my fault… she died, and I don’t want you to die because of me too.”
Celina knew what he meant. Brine had shown her his memories years ago, but to think of what happened still hurt so much. Brine had had a loving wife, a kingdom that adored him, two wonderful children, and everything he ever wanted so long ago. And what happened to all that? He had lost it because of one person’s envy, the envy of his own sister-in-law, and her scheming with the person who would ultimately cause the downfall of her beloved Demi-God.
Brine had lost so much, lost everything and lived in vengeful isolation for years. He lived in hatred for so long, but Celina had picked up his pieces and put him back together. Like a broken teapot, shattered on the ground, Celina had come into his life and put him back together.
Now she knew what was truly bothering him.
Brine could feel Celina gently break their embrace, and she took his hands in hers. “Brine, I want you to know something, and I want you to never forget this. Do you understand?”
Brine blinked more tears from his eyes. He knew that tone of voice Celina was using. She truly was serious about this, but in a loving way. He nodded softly.
*****
♪ We’re walking the wire, love
We’re walking the wire, love
We’re gonna be higher up
We’re walking the wire, wire, wire ♪
*****
Celina smiled gently, taking her hands and laying them against his cheeks. “Brine, I’ve known you for over nine years now. I never thought I could befriend someone like you, much less stay friends for so long. When we became friends, I promised myself that I would always protect you, and stay by your side for as long as I could. I know I’m not going to live forever, but as long as I live, I will love you and care for you. I… I love you, Herobrine.
“You’re my very best friend, you mean so much to me, more than any gem in this server. I would never let anyone hurt you on purpose, and I would never hurt you myself on purpose. You’re my everything, Brine. And trust me when I say: I’m not going anywhere for a long time. I love you and I promise you that I won’t leave you. You mean everything to me. And I will not let anyone hurt me. And I won’t let anyone hurt you either.
“I love you so much, and I promise, as long as I live, I will be here for you.” Celina leaned over and pulled him into a hug once more. “I love you, Brine. You’re my best friend, and I’m not going to leave you. Ever. And that I can promise you.”
Brine’s heart melted, and his muscles became slime in the hot sun. He fell into Celina’s touch and held onto her with a weakness he would never show to anyone else. He held onto his queen for a moment, wanting only to stay in her arms for the rest of the night.
“Celina,” Brine spoke softly.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.” He smiled and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I love you so much. I couldn’t ask for anything more from a spouse. You’re so wonderful… Thank you. I wish I could better express how much I love you.”
Celina chuckled. “No need to, Brine. You’ve already said so much.” She looked up at the moon hanging over their head, before gently stroking his hair and asking, “It’s late. Should we head home?”
“I… I would like that.”
*****
♪ So look out down below
Look out down below
Look out down below
We’re walking the wire, wire, wire
So look out down below ♪
*****
Celina and Brine walked down the gravel path after the gates closed behind them. They waved to some of the guards as they walked, the queen holding onto one of her spouse’s hands. They had their fingers intertwined and stayed close as they walked together. The journey back to the castle was quiet, but it was a loving silence, one filled with understanding. Brine seemed much better now, as some of the guards noticed. He had a small smile, and with Celina by his side, he was much more content.
*****
♪ We’re walking the wire
We’re walking the wire
We’re walking the wire, wire, wire ♪
*****
“Celina?”
Celina, now lying on her side between Brine and Cenlar, looked at her Demi-God of a spouse. “Yes, Brine?”
Brine slowly closed his eyes, pulling the blankets up to his chin. He smiled softly and whispered, “Thank you.”
Celina giggled quietly. “You’re welcome, Brine. I love you.”
“I love you too. Sleep well, my queen.”
“You too, my Demi-God.”