Since Uthain was the only village Alyviah has ever visited, she had nothing else to compare this new place to. The accommodations there were vastly different from here, where Thaddeus claimed his father resided. In fact, the houses here held an uncanny resemblance to the cabin she'd grown up in.

The abrupt neighs of the tamed horse burst the bubble of thoughts swarming around in her head. Her eyes fell on the man that was guiding them. "You're Aaryavir."

He chuckled. "Indeed."

Thaddeus was tense behind her, his body erect and jaw set, which only served to spike her never-ending curiosity. Unconsciously, her body leaned back against him. Or, perhaps, it was her way to repay him for what he did whenever the nightmares disturbed her rest and sleep evaded her nights. "I'm very enchanted to finally meet you. I'm Alyviah." It was her best attempt at distracting herself from the fact that he called her a queen, his queen. What the hell?

"Such a lovely name for a beautiful lady like you." She blushed, completely not used to compliments.

"Leave her alone, father." Thaddeus' grunt was dismissed as Aaryavir offered her a tender smile that filled the hole inside her soul.

"Are you aware of its meaning?" She shook her head slowly, confused as to where all this weird comfort was coming from. Tying the horse next to its fellow beasts, Aaryavir was brushed off by his son as he dropped down and helped her to her feet to stand beside him.

"Pardon my interruption, father. However, we need to rest as the journey was beyond exhausting for all of us, especially Aly for she isn't used to traveling."

"Ah." An apologetic look spread across the father's face, his blue eyes bright. "My apologies, Aly. I'll have someone escort you somewhere to rest before we can catch up."

Alyviah glanced between the two, blinking rapidly before opting out of a verbal answer and nodded. Aaryavir introduced her to a woman called Imelda who was very scarce with her words but her company wasn't uncomfortable as she led her to a small cabin, which was surrounded by plants and slouching flowers, to rest. "It is still very early in the morning so you can rest for a while and I'll come to get you later." With that, she departed as quickly as she came.

Alyviah, finally alone, dreaded the sudden coldness that seeped into her bones. What was she doing to do?

The tension surrounding Thaddeus and Aaryavir was palpable, too obvious to miss. Alyviah wondered about what could've led to the rift between a father and his son. Peter has never been less of an amazing father. However, her visits to Uthain has shown her that not everyone was blessed with amazing parents as she was, for orphans were numerous and some parents were beyond neglectful, to put it nicely. She'd also learned that it's not alright to ask about everything that stimulates her inquisitiveness. Some things were private and if he wished to tell her, then he would on his own terms and pace.

Yet, Curiosity was nagging at her, demanding some information to quench its thirst. Alyviah groaned, discarding the cloak that has shielded her for days on end. It felt like eons of tossing and turning before her escort came knocking on the door. "May I come in?"

Shouting a hesitant yes, Alyviah nearly fainted after chancing a glimpse at her dirty limbs and indecorous nightgown. "Oy, Imelda...do you think I can bathe before meeting up with anyone?" The other woman nodded solemnly.

"Definitely. We can't have you walking around like that." The embarrassment only heightened as cheeks burned while gratitude was being murmured. "I'll inform them of the change in plans before I escort you to bathe in the lake."

The last word echoed in her head while Imelda left for a brief moment before coming back to drag a dazed Alyviah to a secluded area. The gentle whoosh of the breeze was very welcomed, teasing the nimble branches and causing them to sway slightly. Leaves danced in the air then landed softly on the surface of the sparkling lake. Her gaze absorbed everything, captivated by the breathtaking scenery of the trees that surrounded the spot, creating the perfect place for bathing, relaxing, and pondering over things. Small streams purred as they cascaded from various places. "Is it alright to clean my body in here?" It looked so heavenly she dared not taint it with her filthiness.

"Worry not. These are sacred waters that flow all the way from deep within the mountains of Ducriedan. They are the purest you'll ever come across and will always remain clean." Imelda's emotionless voice didn't dim her growing excitement.

Soon again, Alyviah was left to the viciousness of her own mind, numbly tossing the small number of garments she had on afore her bare feet dipped slightly in the still water, testing it. Ripples formed, mirroring the shudders that shot down her spine at the coolness of it. "The mountains of Ducriedan," she hummed, slowly advancing deeper into the lake and fully submerging herself.

Counting to ten, Alyviah resurfaced with a soft gasp and freshness trickling into her body. Craning her neck backward, nimble fingers rubbed over her soft skin, ridding it of unwanted dirt while she gazed at the shy sun as it peeked at her from between the intertwined twigs casting shadows over the private space. Energy coursed through her and she wished this moment could last for an eternity.

Perhaps, Alyviah had forgotten about time, deeply immersed in the magical place she was floating in. So, it was no surprise when an hour later, someone had come to check on her. She'd heard their footsteps before they even uttered a word. "I must apologize for my tardiness. I didn't expect myself to be this tired, or unclean." Arms wrapping around tender breasts, her body sunk further underwater until nothing was visible but her head. "However, I didn't expect you to personally seek me out, Thaddeus."

He cleared his throat, showing her his back as he leaned against the trunk of a tree a good distance away. Ignoring what she said, he sighed before speaking. "I've come to apologize for not offering you a change of clothes before."

"Everything happened so fast, don't worry about it." Her lips quivered, prompting an abrupt pause to overcome the urge for useless tears. "I'd be grateful for a pair of pants, a similar attire to what you and the warriors are wearing."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. I shall return shortly." Pushing himself off the harshness of the wood, Thaddeus started his journey back when a sudden call halted his quick steps. "Yes?"

"King Veles is a man, right?"

"He is."

"Does he have a wife? A daughter? A sister?"

Thaddeus hesitated. "Not anymore. Why?"

"Nothing. Thank you." He almost turned around, his interest increasing as he pondered over what she's thinking about but her high squeaky voice alerted him that it was a matter to be delayed. "I require clothes to change into. So, would you mind hurrying up, please?"

"Very well, my lady." Alyviah's shoulders sagged, a deep exhale slipping past her lips as she awaited his return. A true gentleman, Thaddeus kept his back to her as she reluctantly left the safety of the lake and grabbed the new garments before staggering to a nearby giant tree. The hunt for clothes wasn't as easy as he expected. "I hope those fit you. Imelda helped me pick them," he murmured, rubbing the side of his head.

It was silent for a while, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of Alyviah getting dressed before an unexpected statement left him puzzled. "The voice that speaks to me in my nightmares is that of a woman." Thaddeus heard her move toward him with slow measured steps. "Every night, every time I close my eyes, I hear her vile voice in my head threatening me and everyone I know and I don't know. Every time I close my eyes, I see everyone dying over and over again with me simply watching, not doing anything because I'm paralyzed in fear."

She'd always said that she didn't see anything. Thaddeus whirled around, facing her hunched figure. "What are you talking about, Aly-" Her eyes flitted across his face, searching for the reason as to why he'd suddenly stopped. "Alyviah," he started slowly, a hand reaching forward to hold a strand of her curls, "your hair..."

Dainty hands moved to damp strands, patting them. "What about it? I made sure to wash it thoroughly. I'm glad it finally doesn't smell weird because of my mother's weird mixture..." Her voice faltered, noting the look across his face, mouth agape, eyes unblinking, and head tilted to the side. "What's wrong?" Not waiting for an answer, she raced back to the lake, willing the ripples to cease so she can make out her reflection.

Scattered silvery strands twirled and intertwined with her usually brown locks, extending from the roots to the end. Her gaze roamed the dancing reflection, twisting and turning to get a better look. "This is a weird lake, I tell you!" The frantic whisper was left hanging in the air, both wondering if they were imagining things. "Is it white?"

"Or, perhaps, silver?" Thaddeus finally snapped out of the spell that befell him.

"It is Platinum." Both stumbled at the sound of Aaryavir's confident statement, swiveling to face the burly man that stood far to their left. He crossed his arms and offered her a content smile, his eyes glinting. "Platinum hair for a platinum offspring."

MEANING OF THE WORDS USED:

Platinum: it is a color that is the metallic tint of pale grayish-white.

Imelda: is a feminine Spanish/Italian given name derived from the German form of Irmhild and it means warrior woman, universal battle, or powerful fighter.