Chapter Text
Unable to fall asleep, Arietta keeps tossing and turning in her bed for what seems like hours.
Her bedroom just felt so cold to her, which was odd because the fire that’s crackling inside the fireplace was shining as brightly as ever. But even that warmth wasn’t enough to comfort her mind into falling asleep. So before getting knots in her hair by constantly tossing and turning she decided to go for a walk, thinking that maybe it will eventually tire her out.
Putting on a long cardigan and slipping into her slippers she ventures off into the dark corridors that were only dimly illuminated by torch scones. This new place Arietta now calls her home felt so empty to her, after all, spending most of your life in a small wooden house covered in trinkets and books within arm’s reach then suddenly moving into a palace ten times the size with lots of empty space and big rooms is a huge change.
It didn’t feel like home to her.
It’s not the same house where she first learned how to walk, talk, read, and play with Cyrus.
Right. Cyrus.
She wonders if he’s doing well right now, sleeping soundly, unlike her who’s up in the middle of the night despite already being in bed at 10pm.
Remembering that Cyrus’s room was just a few corridors away she decided to check up on him, thinking that maybe the reason why she’s feeling so restless is because of the fact that her and Cyrus have never really been this far apart from each other, without knowing whether or not the other will be back. Sure there will be nights where Cyrus comes home at 2am but Arietta always knows that he’ll be back to say that he’s home to her when she’s half asleep.
The two of them have always been close together, as if they were a magnet. Trying to tear them off from each other would end up with either one of them crying their eyes out. Arietta let out a small chuckle thinking about how much of a pain both Cyrus and her must have been for grandma Helga to raise, thankfully that woman had so much patience.
While Arietta was reminiscing about their childhood together she reached Cyrus’s bedroom sooner than she thought. Raising her hand, she gives a gentle knock on the door. “Cyrus, are you awake? Can I come in?”
There was nothing but silence for a few seconds before the sound of footsteps approaching the door came closer. “Ari what’s wrong? It’s 12 in the morning” Cyrus looked at her with a slight worry plastered on his face. She looked up at him, she felt relieved but noticed a lit candle on the table and a book that was left open in the corner of her eye. “Can’t sleep, I don’t know why, I thought seeing you might fix it.”
Cyrus smiled at her and ruffled her hair a bit, “guess we both have the same problem, come in, it’s cold outside.” Arietta went inside and stood next to the door as Cyrus closes the door and went towards the table to blow the candle out.
He then went to his bed and motioned Arietta to come here. She walked over and climbed onto the bed and made herself comfortable, Cyrus doing the same after pulling the blanket over her just enough to not cover her wings. He then drapes one of his wings over her, acting like a weighted blanket. It was a comfortable feeling, one that she was familiar with.
“Cyrus, we will always be together right? We wont be separated again right?” Arietta said softly, loud enough for only Cyrus to hear. He opened his eyes and looked at her, even when she was looking down he could tell that she was anxious. “Even if we were to be separated I’ll find you again, even if you’re in a different universe or whatever else is out there.”
“Promise?”
Arietta heard rustling and looked up at Cyrus, only to see him with his pinky finger out, waiting for her to do the same. She slowly raised her pinky finger too and linked them together. “I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll always be there with you.” Cyrus smiles at her and holds her hand. Arietta gave him a small smile back, gently squeezing his hand as she moves closer to him before the wave of tiredness finally hits her, after what felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.
As she falls asleep Cyrus can’t help but smile at the fact that even after saying she wanted her own bedroom back then, she’s still here sleeping on the same bed as him. He slightly tugs on his hand, still holding onto hers before falling asleep.