192 Touching Moments

CHAPTER 192

The truth was, it broke his heart when the kingdom mourned his son, the then Crown Prince. And seeing his wife in such a state, made his heartache with so much guilt. 

"Sorry! Sorry isn't good enough, Regin. Sorry, can't bring back those lost years. Sorry, can't and won't bring back my dead son!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

At the mention of her child, she broke and fell to her knees with her palms covering her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. "He is gone and with him, our family fell."

"Aelinor…" His once cold eyes became soft and filled with emotions. 

Moving in, he knelt down in front of her and took her into his embrace to comfort her. He held her close to his body, his hands moving up and down her back in a soothing way.

"I never meant to hurt you or our children. When I saw you broke and in pain, I felt guilty and the guilt took over. I thought I needed some space from you, and then probably the guilt would wash away, but no matter what I did, no matter the battles I charged into… Nothing could wash it away. And since then, further and further away I became from you."

His eyes drooped close at his confession, his mind taking him to those painful years.

All of a sudden she pulled away from his embrace and looked up at his face. "That is no excuse, Regin. What could you have been so guilty of for you to ignore us?"

He opened his eyes only to see hers, burning into his as her nostrils flared in anger and eyes became redder than there already were from the tears.

"Guilty that I couldn't protect my child, like I had promised you on our wedding day, to protect you and our children with my life. Guilty that my failure had caused great pain to this family and kingdom."

"Screw the guilt, Regin. You should have known better. I never blamed you. All I needed and wanted was you! You were my light and support. I was a mourning mother in need of that, to pull through! How could you not see that?!"

"I am so sorry, Aelinor. I failed you and the kids. I failed everyone." He said and let the tears flow out this time. 

This was the first time she was seeing him cry and he did. Even when their son was brutally murdered, he didn't cry, all he showed was maddening anger. This time was different, he did cry.

He let go of everything and let his pain wash through. He was tired of keeping a bold front when he hurt deep inside. He was true to himself for once, he needed his wife too. He always had.

Seeing this vulnerable side of her husband, she was at a loss of words. She saw the sincerity and pain in his eyes as he broke down. He looked like a fragile child the way he let out all of his emotions. 

He had been carrying the pain and guilt on his shoulders for years now, but now he felt free, free that he let it out to the only person allowed to see it.

They were both losers in this world and they had come to accept it that life stole something scared from them.

"But why did you still send Blade out?"

"You know how much he adored and loved his brother. He wanted to do this. Even if I had objected him…"

"Wouldn't listen," she completed his sentence for him. They knew their son and his stubborn nature all too well.

"I am scared, Regin." Her head lowered as she spoke, moving in close to his chest for comfort.

He pulled her in, one hand on her back and another under her chin, lifting her head up to look at him. "I am too, Aelinor, but we can only pray that the gods watch over him."

"I am sorry, sorry for not reaching out to you as well and blaming my pains on you," she said with a pained voice as the tears came rolling down her cheeks.

"No, Aelinor. Don't be. I never once blamed you, my love. I love you, please forgive me."

"Silly, old man," a smile broke off from her lips as she continued. "I have forgiven you since. I was just hurt you drifted away. I love you, always had and always will."

His face lit up into a smile as well and said, "Same here, and I promise not to hide my pain from you again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He felt so happy in his heart and it showed on his face as his smile broadened and he leaned in his head and captured her lips in his own.

Aelinor parted her lips a bit for his waiting tongue and his tongue slid effortlessly into her warm mouth. She replied to her husband's kiss with the same need and passion he gave, melting into his arms.

*********

~ELVEN FOREST – TUNNEL~

Soon it was the dawn of a new day. Minutes later, Jareth opened his eyes and slowly looked up. Due to his heightened senses, he could feel they were already at the entrance of the tunnel and it was morning already.

His eyes flickered to his side and landed on Astrid's sleeping form. A small smile crept up his lips, his lingering gazed fixed on her beautiful face. 

'I am sorry, Astrid but it is time. I am sorry to have indulged you, but it is time to say goodbye and let these feelings go.' He said in his mind, his smile dropping and his face that held a certain warmth, turned cold almost instantly. 

"Ahhh!"

Astrid's mouth opened into a wide yawn, her hand moving up to rub her eyes not bothering to cover her mouth. Jareth caught this and found himself smiling at her childish behaviour.

Her head shifted to her side and her gaze met his. With a smile on her face, she greeted." Morning. Slept well?"

"Hmm. Wake up your baby, let's go."