“Aye, I can do that,” Lewis said as he knelt down and pulled her into his arms. “Anything for you.” He lifted her, and was still surprised at the lack of weight. “It’ll be a long trip…please try to get some rest.” His voice cracked. It was to be a several day trip at the pace Lewis had to go, but he knew that it would be worth it, even if Simone didn’t make it. And so, he set off on the journey with the love of his life, broken in his arms.

The first day was the hardest. Lewis wasn’t used to carrying someone, and soon he grew tired. They stopped for a rest at a creek, where Lewis gave Simone some of the water. Despite her struggles, she sipped at it, commenting on how it was the best water she had ever had.

Lewis told her stories from his world, of a happy world where the children they had could play on the island without fear. A world that existed outside of this cruel time, of a happier Simone. That seemed to put her mind at ease, that at least in another world she had succeeded. It was the tiniest, simple things that she ended up enjoying the most about her freedom. But, her temporary happiness didn’t last.

The second day was easier for Lewis, but harder for Simone. Her body threatened to give out more than once, causing fits of coughing and convulsions. It was as if the fae had been keeping her on the edge of death, and without their ‘aid’, she was slowly dying. “Stay with me, Simone…”

It was on the third day, the day when they were to reach Sulwal, that Lewis realized that she might not make it in time. He picked up the pace as her breathing quickened. She looked to be in pain, gripped Lewis’ shirt as she coughed more. Blood trickled down the side of her cracked lips.

“We’re here, Simone,” Lewis said as they crossed into the forest. “Look! Simone…” Already, he could feel the presence of the elves circling around him. They didn’t know what to make of the stranger who carried a broken woman into their territory.

Simone opened her eyes slowly and looked at the elves, “That stupid prince.” She said it softly enough. “Llywellyn. Tell 'im it’s Mone.” They barely heard it and from the looks on their faces, they weren’t expecting such a thing.

“This way. She isn’t going to make it if we don’t hurry.” They didn’t dare take her from Lewis as they got him into a cart with her. The ride to Sulwal hurt her and she laid on his lap. “Janus and Lila huh? Like the poem?” She finally recalled what he said and she held a smile. “Reminds me of a poem I read once.”

She was trying to stay lucid as they arrived. Word had already been sent ahead and Llywellyn was running down the palace steps to them. “MONE,” he saw Lewis and he hesitated but he didn’t even take her as he held her with Lewis. Almost as if he was scared of breaking her. “Fucking hell look at you.”

“Listen, I know I’m ugly but,” she coughing up some blood, and Llywellyn called for healers.

“You aren’t any of the sort even now,” Llywellyn shushed her.

“Thank you, Lewis,” she looked up at him and smiled. “Remember your promise okay? I’m tired now.” The moment she closed her eyes everything seemed to leave her as if she had enough strength for this one thing.

The healers were rushing towards and Llywellyn shook his head at them. “I’m going to fucking murder that man. Your promise to her… What was it?”

Lewis froze when the life left Simone’s eyes. It wasn’t the first time he had seen her die, but this time, there was a finality to it. When he had killed her so long ago, she had waited, her stubborn soul unwilling to move on. This time, he knew that she didn’t linger. This Simone was done, finished with the world that had failed her. Even the solace of being with her loved ones as she passed was not enough to dispel the apathy in her heart.

“Kill them all,” Lewis said as he laid her body down. “Alvaro…the fae lord. Kill him, and every last of the fae who followed him. Burn his city to the ground, and…” He paused, looking at Llywellyn. “Save her daughter…I don’t know her name…but Simone called her Llynette…” Again, a world where she loved Llywellyn enough to bear a child in his name. The two really did have a strong connection.

Perhaps…it was meant to be. Is that what Sapphiele is hoping for? Lewis wondered if her despair, the feelings that he knew she hid from him, would go away if she were with Llywellyn instead of him. He wondered if she wouldn’t wake up feeling as though she had no right to her own life. He wondered…

“To arms,” Llywellyn said, breaking Lewis’ concentration. It was a full two days before the army was ready to march. Lewis joined them, of course, and as they stormed the city, Lewis realized just how powerful Llywellyn really was. As an assassin, Lewis was unparalleled, but the blade of an assassin wasn’t to protect. What Llywellyn had…the respect of his people, and the power to protect them.

The power to protect Simone.

Lewis’ purpose was more of a formality than anything. His strength was not needed here, in a battle of elves and fae. It was a one sided slaughter, and soon Llywellyn faced down Alvaro, destroying him. It was then, he met the little girl that he took to calling Lynnete. Despite being part fae, she had Simone’s hair and stormy grey eyes. She smiled at Llywellyn, and shied away from Lewis.

“Thank you, Lewis,” Llywellyn said as he picked up the girl. “I am…forever in your debt.” He bowed to the assassin, who shuffled awkwardly in response.

“Don’t,,,mention it.”

“I am sure that Simone is watching us from the soulstream, proud of what was achieved here…” The world shimmered, signifying that Lewis had ‘saved’ Simone in this world. Images of a happy Lynnette growing up to rule over Sulwal flashed around Lewis as the world went dark, but…

Is this what she really wants…to wake up beside me every morning? She hides the pain, hides the guilt… He had not felt this alone in a very long time….

Angela looked at Xeik, “Lewis is wavering. His heart is breaking. We have to do something… IDEAS XEIK. We’ll lose both of them.”

–

The world that he came into was the last one. “You see now? How everything is so wrapped around Llywellyn. She even names her child after him.” Saphielle walked around him. “She doesn’t need you. You were just there. You were the only one there.”

Suddenly Saphielle was yanked out by her hair by some unknown pissed-off force. No doubt it was Simone but she wondered if Lewis would actually know.

“Hey,” a little red-haired elf girl appeared at his side. “Can you take me home? I climbed out my window and I can’t find my way home no more.” She batted her pretty storm-colored eyes up at him. “My name is Llynette!” She took his hand.

“Can you take me back to my mommy and daddy? I’m pretty sure that they are worried about me. I hear the trumpets.”

Xeik ruffled his hair, “Auughh…I don’t know Ang. I don’t know what to do…” He closed his eyes. “Okay, here me out. Saphielle…she keeps changing the rules, right? Well…what happens if we try to cheat? You can’t send me back in, but what if we send…like…a mana construct of me? One that I can control? If we flood enough magic into it, we might be able to break the flow of mana for her world?” Was that even an option? Would Angela even risk it? “The only downside I can think of…is that Lewis and Simone might not be able to handle that much magic. It might result in a burnout…but…”

—

Lewis could almost understand Saphielle, but when she was pulled back unexpectedly, Lewis looked around curiously. What had happened? “Saphielle? Where did you go? Whe-” He blinked. The little girl from the second timeline was there, Lynette. She seemed to be lost, and was asking him to take her home.

“Er…Llynette?” lewis was confused. What kind of world was this where Llynette existed? Her red hair matched that of Llywellyn’s, but she still had Simone’s signature storm grey eyes. This was definitely their daughter. “Oh…of course. I can…I can take you..” He held out his hand. “Here…let’s go.” As she took it, they wandered through the woods, towards the sounds of the trumpets. It wasn’t long before they entered the clearing.

“Here we are, Lynette,” Lewis said, letting her hand go as she ran towards her parents. Surely enough…Llywellyn, and Simone…

“We have to try Xeik. If that’s the only answer then we have to do it. Lewis is going to give in if we don’t do something. For all the lousy times for you to be pulled out.”

–

Once they got into the clearing. “MOMMY! DADDY!” Simone lowered herself the best she could. She looked to be about four or five months pregnant.

“Llynette, I was so worried about you!”

“The nice man brought me home!” Llynette hugged onto Simone but Llywellyn was quick to take her.

“You know holding onto your mother right now is bad for your little sibling,” the elf laughed and looked at Lewis. “Please, come to our palace it’s the least we can do. This is my wife Simone and I am Llywellyn. We’re pretty much friends now… Aren’t we, Llynette?”

“YES!” She kicked down and ran to Lewis before taking his hand. “Isn’t my mommy glowing? Daddy says she’s glowing! I don’t know what that means but I’m getting a sibling to finally play with!”

“Llynette… We’ve talked about this,” Simone frowned a bit.

“But…”

“No,” Simone shook her head. “We can spend time with you in a few days okay?” Simone looked sorry she had to have the conversation in front of Lewis.

“They never make time for me…” She frowned. “And now they have the new baby too…”

Seeing the family together was something else. Simone was absolutely glowing, and in this timeline she had her womb. It was the happiest he had seen her, ever. Except, Lynette didn’t seem too happy about the status of things. She seemed to want to play, but Simone was being oddly protective of her belly, and of the child to be.

The fact that Lewis was present in this situation made him feel awkward, as he was the odd one out. It was odd how they welcomed him with open arms, and in the same moment, shot down Llynette’s wish to merely spend time with them. Simone and Llywellyn moved to the side to have a hushed conversation, leaving Llynette to complain to Lewis about her parents.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lewis replied. “They must be very protective of your sibling.” He wondered why. He doubted that his Simone would be anything like that. If anything, he admitted to himself that he would be the more cautious of the two, worried to death over their child. That brought a half smile to his face.

“What do you do, then? It must be very lonely for you…”

“No, they are just busy… Mama has a hard time having babies because of the Everglade potion though. It makes her age really slowwwwwww.” Llynette took his hand and sneered at them when they looked at her. Simone looked to be getting into an argument with Llywellyn.

“Mone, I don’t have time. The council is meeting. A few days will be fine. You have to meet with the other leaders as well. Don’t forget that. We just don’t have the time.” Llywellyn kissed his wife’s forehead and Simone came over and knelt the best she could.

“Hey, I’m trying okay? I’m sorry for what it's worth,” Simone looked at Llynette.

“You’re always sorry… You left in the middle of our playtime last week.”

“That was an emergency Llynette…”

“It’s always an emergency. Everything is always more important than me.” The little girl had a huge attitude much like how Lila was showing hers. Totally Simone.

Simone had her hand on her belly and she looked up at Lewis, “Not to be a bother but can you help me up. He’s angry with me right now.” Lewis helped the queen up and she took his hand. “Seriously feel this child.” It was nothing but angry kicking. “I have to go though… Llynette… Why don’t you ask Mr…”

“Lewis.”

“Lewis. Ask Mr. Lewis to play with you? That’s better than nothing isn’t it?” Simone waved and left to join a group of chatting women.

Llynette nodded and she grumbled. “Finee… Will you play with me?” Llynette looked up at him, “I’m not allowed outside the palace.” Which was a lie because she was outside of it when he found her. “I sneak out though.” She took his hand and took him to her room. “I hate it. I hate that they are always busy. I hate the new baby… I was excited but then I remembered they don’t play with me so they aren’t gonna play with him either.” Llynette got some of her stuffed animals and she pouted at Lewis.

“THIS SUCKS,” Llynette threw herself on the bed. “I wish they didn’t have anything to do so they could spend time with me all day.”

It was odd that they were so trusting of Lewis, and when Simone more or less offered him up to entertain Llynette, he was taken aback. Maybe it was the safety of the castle, the fact that they were surrounded by guards at all times. Or maybe, this Simone was too wrapped up in her duty as Queen to really understand the implications. Even Llywellyn seemed to be busier than he had ever seen the real version.

Llynette pulled Lewis to her room, and flopped down on her bed, complaining about the new baby and her lack of attention. Lewis sat down on the ground, his back to the wall as he faced Llynette. “I don’t really know if I’m cut out for ‘playing’,” Lewis said with a half chuckle at how much she reminded him of Simone. “But…I have stories. And I’ve memorized some poems too…”

“Oh…stories?” Llynette asked. “Could you tell me stories from your world?”

“What was that?” Lewis asked, confused by her wording.

“Oh. I mean…” she paused, realizing that she probably shouldn’t have said that. “Sorry. I would like to hear your stories though. I bet you have great ones! Of mothers who actually dote on their daughters.”

That earned a small chuckle from Lewis. “I can’t say for sure, but I do know of a few great stories. Let’s see…there’s a tale of a thief and the boy he saved. Have you heard anything like that?”

“Nope!” Lynnette responded cheerily.

“Well…long ago, there was a boy named Xeik. He wasn’t anything special in his mind, just someone trying to survive on the streets. He was a talented thief…and one day…”

Llynette seemed enthralled with the tale, and when it ended she clapped. “But that boy he saved…you never gave a name.”

“Oh. Well… I…” Lewis glanced away.

“That’s okay. I know the truth…you’re that boy, aren’t you!”

“I am,” he replied. “You’re quite smart, you know.”

“I know,” she said back with a gleeful smile. “Since Mama and Papa barely pay attention, I read a lot. I’ve learned a lot. But I know you have different stories. I want to hear about the other ones…”

“Other ones?” Lewis asked.

“Well…yeah. Xeik is your friend. I’m sure he’s worried about you. But there must be others, right? From your world?”

There it was again, that phrase. “Llynette…you know, don’t you?”

Llynette gave him a sly smile as she nodded, “Yeah! I know alllll about it. I know that my mommy you’re married to misses you very much and she’s been screaming this WHOOLEEEE time. She’s calling you a moron though.”

“WAIT, you can hear her?!” Lewis’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah, in and out but I can hear her lots. She’s screaming at you that you are a… that’s a dirty… dirty word… but she says you are an idiot for thinking she would love my daddy more than you. She says she can’t stand how stupid he is sometimes.”

Llynette thought for a moment and nodded, “She said she loves you more than anything and that she has to cut the connection because she is going to… What’s curb-stomping a bitch?” She had a funny look on her face. “Okay, that’s it she’s gone.” She hopped up and was surprised when her mother came into the room.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I managed to push my meeting back.”

“Really? FOR ME?” Llynette’s eyes got bright.

“Just for you.” She had some tea with her. “Got this from the kitchen help. I bet it's good.” She poured three cups and blew on it, to taste if she steeped it right. Something wasn’t right though as Simone started to choke.

“Mommy? MOMMY?!” Llynette jumped up. “LEWIS!”