Alina’s POV

I was unaware of where I was. I was no longer in my little house, nor was Robin or my mother anywhere in sight. My hand flew to my temple as I attempted to summon memories of how I had arrived here, wherever here was.

“I am lost. If anyone is there, I beseech thee for assistance. I am lost.” I could not see anyone near me, yet I felt that someone was watching me.

“I will help you, dear.” I turned in the direction of the soft voice in the distance and beheld a beautiful woman. She looked like an angel whose smile radiated kindness.

“I have lost my way,” I whispered so softly that I was afraid she did not hear me.

“I know, darling. I know. Come to me and I will help you. It’s all right. No harm will come to you here,” she said, opening her arms to me.

Her presence was so compelling that I could not resist. She enfolded me in a warm embrace and held me to her for a long time. “My name is Rose, Alina, dear, and I’m here to help.”

“You know of me?” I asked, holding onto her and not wanting to let her go.

“Of course,” she laughed. “I’m one of the spirit guides who greets newcomers when they arrive.”

“Where am I? I don’t understand how I arrived here?” I said, confused.

Rose released her embrace to take me by the shoulders. “You died, Alina. You passed from your earthly life and are here in the world of the spirits. This is the Afterlife.”

Panic filled me, and I cried out in despair. “I do not understand.”

Rose looked sadly at me and caressed my cheek gently. “What was your last memory before you found yourself here?”

“I…” I closed my eyes, willing the memories to come. When they surfaced moments later, my eyes flew open, and I looked at her frightfully. “I was mixing elixirs and…and…something went awry. Noxious odors…became dreadfully ill. I tried to call for help…tried to crawl toward the door, but…” I shook my head. “Then, nothing else.”

Rose leaned close, her eyes looking into mine. “Alina, dear, you died. You misread your potion recipe, and it went very wrong. You died from poisoned fumes, sweetheart. Had you been in full health, you would have survived, but your grief for poor Lenora has made you ill. Top that with the fallout from the potion you were attempting to brew, and you have a dangerous combination there.”

“Alack the day!” I exclaimed, tears welling in my eyes at the utterance of Lenora’s name.

“I know, dear. It’s such a sorrowful thing,” Rose sighed.

“Am I in Heaven? Think you I could see Lenora? Is she here?” I asked.

“The answer to your first question is yes. You have passed from your earthly life to here, which we must talk about directly. In answer to your second question, you will see Lenora again. Thirdly, no. Lenora is not here.”

“I do not understand. Wouldst thou enlighten me?” I asked, realizing that I was slipping back into my customary manner of speaking.

Rose embraced me again, then said quietly. “I will tell all momentarily, but first, you must listen. The sounds are beautiful here. There is music in everything you hear in this place. But there is something else you must listen for. Listen carefully and deeply. You will hear it.”

I could not fathom what I was to listen for except for what was already around me. The ocean was beautiful beneath the setting sun, and there was, indeed, music in the crashing of the waves. It was the most glorious place I had ever beheld.

As I was about to question Rose about what I was to listen for, I heard what she must have meant.

I love you, Alina. I can’t live in this world without you. You are my heart…my love and my life. You’re my world, Alina. When that time portal opened and hurled you here, my life was changed irrevocably. You’re everything, Alina. Without you, there is only darkness. Come back to me, Alina. I need you. Please come back to me. I can’t live without you.

A cry of desolation escaped, and I called for him. “Robin! I am here.” Sorrow crashed over me as though it were one of the waves on the ocean. I could sense his grief as if it were my own.

“He needs you, Alina,” Rose said.

“He weeps!” I exclaimed, feeling as though my own heart were breaking. “He believes me dead. I must go to him but alack! I do not know the way.”

“I know, my dear. This is why we must talk. You are here prematurely. Your time to be here is still yet to come. However, sometimes the main path branches off into other directions. Your work on Earth is not done yet, but you can remain here should you wish. You can go back should you wish. You cannot be forced to return to the physical world, for you must go willingly. I must warm you though. Should you wish not to go back, many a person’s destiny will be altered and not for the better. You will play a very crucial role in many lives.”

“But I am insignificant. Surely, you are speaking of someone other than me. It is Lenora who will have an impact on many lives,” I said.

“Lenora is very important, but so are you, Alina. You don’t realize yet just how important you are, but you will. I’m not at liberty to divulge anything else in regards to this other than what I have just said. All I am allowed to say is that you must return to your earthly life, but nobody can force you should you wish to remain here.” Rose’s voice was very firm but compassionate.

I surveyed the beautiful surroundings and then heard it again. It was Robin’s voice professing love for me and speaking of our life together. I could not see him but somehow realized he was in the physical world trying to call me back to him. “I know what I must do, but I beseech thee to tell me of Lenora, Rose. It is not right that she should be here now. The world needs her. Her husband and children need her.”

“That they do, and Lenora is not here, dear. She remains in her earthly life but is in danger. Don’t worry. I have it on good authority that all will be well with her in due course.”

“She…Lenora is alive?” I asked.

“She is. Now, put your mind at ease. It is you we must see to,” Rose said. “You must go back.”

“How?” I asked.

“Robin is coming for you. Look! Over there.” I turned in the direction her finger was pointing in…and there he was. In all my days, I have never beheld such a beautiful sight as my Robin running to me.

“I can never thank you enough for the kindness you have bestowed upon me.,” I said, turning quickly to embrace her.

“You living a happy life with Robin is all the thanks I need. Now, go to him, my dear. He has been waiting for you,” she said. I turned my eyes upon Robin, who was still running toward me, then returned my glance to where Rose stood. “Go now!” she said.

I did as bidden, not stopping until Robin caught me in his strong, loving arms. I had never been held so fiercely, and I, myself, clung shamelessly to my Robin. I did not know how long I had been here, but it seemed like an eternity since I had held him last. “Robin! Oh, my Robin! You came for me!” I cradled his beloved face in my hands and smiled through my tears.

“How could I have not come for you, Alina? I love you and would do anything to have you back. I can’t be without you. That is simply not an option.”

“I love you so, Robin! The words I would speak of such love are woefully inadequate. I would never want to be anywhere without you, not even in such a glorious realm as this. I belong with thee, Robin, forever and ever,” I whispered.

“That’s right, and don’t you ever forget it. I don’t ever want you to doubt how I feel about you. Class systems don’t matter, only actions. I came here for you, and nothing was going to stop me. I want you to come back with me, my Alina. I need you,” Robin said as his burning gaze bore into my soul.

“Nay, I shall not forget. You came here at great peril to your own life. If you are here, it is because Mother paved the way. She sent you to retrieve me, this I know.” I brushed my fingers over his cheek. “I will come back with thee, my Robin. I will go with thee wherever thou sayeth.”

I had never received such a sweet yet passionate kiss as the one Robin placed upon my lips thusly. “I am so very blessed,” I whispered on a sigh. “I am certain not even a queen could be as blessed and happy as I am with thee, Robin. I feel like a lady of the highest nobility whilst in your embrace.”

“You are the finest of ladies, Alina. No one, not even the loveliest of queens is more fair than thee. You are everything.”

In that moment as I drank him in, I realized that this man loved me beyond anything. Oh yes, I knew he loved me. He was always ready and willing to both say it and show me in so many ways. However, as the reality of what my beloved Robin had done in order to come to this place to retrieve me settled itself irrevocably into my heart and soul, I knew beyond any doubt how deep his love for me ran. This trip could have easily killed him. He risked everything to come for me…and it was my fault for putting us both in such peril in the first place.

“Forgive me, my Robin. Can you ever forgive me?” The shame of my carelessness was so great that I could no longer look at him.

Robin crushed me to his chest and kissed me with such a passion that my knees literally buckled. “Oh, my Alina! There is nothing to forgive. As long as you come back to me, I can withstand anything. I love you so much, Alina. I need you.”

My weight was completely supported against his strong body as the ocean’s music rose to an almost deafening crescendo. I clutched him close when the wind picked up speed and swirled around us. “Oh, Robin! I am frightened. What is happening?”

Robin’s arms fastened even tighter around me. “I think we’re about to be pulled out of here. I can feel it. Hold onto me very tightly, Alina. Don’t be frightened, my dearest love. I won’t let you go.”

Robin’s POV

I sensed the pull back to my body before actually feeling it. My body jerked, and I sucked in a great gasp of air. My awareness started returning quickly. Alina’s weight was still settled against me, and I found that my hold on her hadn’t lessened. Memories of my time in the spirit world looking for her and finally finding her rushed back. My eyes popped open, and I looked at Alina. She wasn’t breathing, which made alarm bells gong ferociously inside my heart. I rubbed her back and stroked her hair, then lavished little kisses over her face. “Come back to me, Alina. I need you. You said you would return with me. I love you, Alina. Come back to me…please!”

What seemed like centuries, but was probably only seconds, passed, and Alina’s small frame gave a lurch. A shuddering gasp escaped her, then another one came. “That’s it, Alina! I’m here, sweetheart. It’s Robin, and I’ve got you. You’re safe, and I’m not letting you go. That’s it, Alina, Breathe for me, my beloved.”

Alina began to breathe normally, and her tiny hand moved over my chest where my heart lay. I had never seen such a beautiful sight as when her eyes opened. “Robin.” My name whispered on her lips in that moment was more divine than the loveliest of symphonies.

“I’m here, Alina. I’m right here with you. It’s all right now. Everything is going to be all right,” I said, unable to take my eyes off her and unwilling to keep my hands from caressing her.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“And I love you, my Alina. Rest now. You’ve been through a horrible ordeal,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.

“Robin is right, child. You both need to rest. It has been quite a day,” Mathilda added. I’d almost forgotten she was there but was so thankful for her presence.

“Mathilda…I…” I began, then swallowed hard.

“Hush now. There is no need to say anything. What’s done is done, and now, you both need to rest,” Mathilda said. She sounded so tired, and her voice was rather raspy, as though she’d been crying.

“Robin…stay with me,” Alina’s soft voice whispered.

“Always, my Alina…always.” As I brought my lips to hers, Mathilda spread a blanket over both of us. I heard her chanting softly and figured she was performing a sleep spell over us. I felt my eyes drift closed as Alina gave a little sigh. Alina’s deep, even breathing, along with Mathilda’s spell, lulled me into a deep sleep that my body apparently craved. I didn’t fight it, for I knew Alina was safe. She was back with me, and I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight for a long time to come.

Author’s Note – Thank you to PiazzaGirl for lending me Rose for this chapter. Her stories are awesome. You can find them here at her blog.