Ariana Barbo, the witch of Poppy, strode through the wandering woods with a pressing purpose. The broken bodies of soldiers littered the forest as she stepped around them. Her long, heavy cloak brushed the snow as she strode through the trees. The drow had her hands full, mopping up the knights and wayward trolls from the village. When she had disposed of them, Ariana had gone to find Drake and Gigi.

  It hadn’t taken much prying from the soldier’s lips to find out who they had been in pursuit of. The witch knew Drake was powerful, but suddenly, all the pieces clicked into place within her agile mind when she found out he was the Shadow Drake. Then the sky turned black, and Ariana knew the knights of Paxia had found their prey.

  A simple locator spell later, and she had found her quarry. However, as the drow drew closer and the night broke, she feared she may be too late to help. She was impressed by the sheer volume of ailing soldiers that littered the woods. They had come prepared, but it seemed more still was needed.

  That was when she came to the clearing where the battle with the Keeper Knights had transpired. She found the vaunted warriors all defeated or dead and heard the faintest cry on the winds. At first, she wasn’t sure if it was just the howl of the tundra, but then she felt the sadness in the cry. Ariana looked down the cliffside to the scene below.

  She could see two small figures on the ice from her vantage point—one held by the other. One green and the other...Drake. The drow felt a pang of grief but stuffed it back down. If she were too late, there would be plenty of time for tears later. The witch snapped her fingers, and the snow beneath her feet swelled and packed together until she found herself standing on a wintery platform.

  She raised her hand, and the icy disc rose with it. A moment later, she was sailing through the air to the frozen river below. After a short journey to the bottom, she disembarked and began striding toward Drake and Gigi.

  ***

  Gigi was too entangled in loss to notice Ariana’s approach. The goblin felt the hot streaks of her tears as she clutched her breathless love to her chest. As she felt a slight touch on her shoulder, Gigi jumped and looked around, finding the witch standing over her. With shaky hands, the goblin wiped her tears away.

  “How long?” Ariana asked. Gigi looked at her with confusion. “How long has he been dead?”

  “I...A minute, maybe?”

  Ariana nodded solemnly. “I can’t mend his wounds, but perhaps there is something that I can still do.”

  Ariana brought her hands together as if in prayer, whispering to herself. Not long after, white sparks of electricity began to jump from her hands. The current surged, causing a slight glow.

  “Lay him flat,” the drow commanded.

  Gigi complied without question. The witch put her hands on Drake’s chest, delivering an immense jolt into his heart. His entire body jumped. He groaned in response. Gigi jumped up in joy, doing everything she could not to sweep him off the ice.

  “HE’S ALIVE!” she cried out.

  Ariana gave a small, relieved smile and nodded. “He is.”

  “I thought you couldn’t do healing magic, though?” Gigi asked quizzically.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “I can’t. That was just a bit of science and luck. Any longer, and I don’t think it would have worked.” The witch raised her hands and shrugged. “What can I say? I am amazing.”

  “Thank you, Ariana, we owe you.”

  Ariana waved her hand dismissively. Gigi knelt before her, softly wheezing in love. “Pay me back by making sure he doesn’t die again, okay? Gigi?”

  Gigi vigorously nodded her head through a fresh round of tears. She scooped up Drake in her arms. Despite his size, he felt frail and small. Gigi held his cold body close and kissed him on the cheek.

  “We’re going home.”

  ***

  For the next few days, Drake hung in the balance between life and death. Ariana may have restarted his heart, but he had used more magic than any mortal man should have in a very short time and lost a lot of blood doing it. Ariana told Gigi that men had turned to stone for less. Gigi wasn’t sure if that was supposed to make her feel better.

  “A lesser man would have died,” Ariana said.

  “He did die,” Gigi responded, wrapping him with new bandages.

  “Pay attention! Or he’ll die again,” Griselda chidded.

  Over the next few days, the three women doted on the convalescing Drake. Ariana left and came back with herbs and tinctures. Gigi started to suspect that her “no healing” had extended only to herself.

  However, Ariana had undeniably warmed to Gigi considerably. For one thing, she no longer referred to her as a “goblin " but as her name. Moreover, it was clear when Gigi asked about the medicines Ariana had brought. She patiently explained rather than snapping like before. Gigi begrudgingly had to admit that she was also starting to like Ariana.

  Griselda primarily complained as she sutured stitch after stitch on Drake’s tortured body, but Gigi caught the looks of worry in her eyes. She didn’t think her mother would admit it, but she was as scared as her. For her part, Gigi never left her love’s side, even when they were dressing her wounds.

  “Gigi, I really wish both of you didn’t have a death wish,” her mother said, exasperated.

  “I don’t have a death wish,” Drake wheezed. The three stopped and stared at him. He looked back with tired, half-lidded eyes. “Why are you staring at me? Did I do something?”

  Tears began to well in Gigi’s eyes, the brown gems full of relief. She wanted to embrace him with all her joy but suspected she might squeeze the life out of him once more. Instead, she kept her strength in check, something she would need to remember for the rest of their lives. Gigi slipped her arms around the bruised and beaten Drake and gently brought him close.

  “I love you, I love you, I love you. Now, please never do anything like that again,” she whispered to him.

  Drake grinned and laughed, wincing at the pain it produced. “I’ll never leave you again, promise.”

  Then, a worry came slithering back to her, his shadow. He must have used an unfathomable amount, turning into the demon she saw in the forest. He had so little left. She couldn’t bear to lose him again. She looked at him. Gigi knew now wasn’t a great time, but when would be good?

  “Drake, what are we going to do about your shadow?”

  Griselda looked at her daughter in confusion. “I’ll explain later,” Ariana whispered to Gigi’s mother.

  Drake’s eyes opened fully. “My shadow! That’s right, I didn’t get to tell you.” He tried to sit up but fell back to the bed. She delicately put her hand on his chest to tell him to rest. He sighed and smiled. “I’m really beat up,” he laughed.

  “You are,” she said, taking his hand.

  “We don’t need to worry anymore. I accepted the Black Lord’s offer.”

  A fresh round of tears ran down her cheeks. Could it be true? “Drake, but what about your freedom?”

  “Gigi, I realized you are my freedom. I would fight until the end of time for him if it meant I got to be with you.”

  Gigi broke down. Tears of joy made it hard for her to speak for a long while.

  “Who is the Black Lord?” Griselda asked, with an edge of worry.

  “Oh, he’s my patron, the god that gives me my powers. I’m his avatar now,” Drake explained casually.

  “I…See.” Griselda nodded. “What does that mean exactly?”

  “It means he’s here to stay,” Gigi said.

  “What’s next for our lovebirds?” Ariana asked with delight.

  “Well,” Drake scratched his neck, “Gigi mentioned something called the Gifts of the Gods would happen soon. I’m looking forward to that.”

  “You’ve never done the Gifts?” asked Griselda.

  Drake shook his head. “But now that I’m free, I want to do them with you all…My family.”

  That was right. They were a family now and forever more. A fresh stream of tears began to cascade down Gigi’s cheeks. She even caught a glimpse of her mother tearing up.

  “I love you so much, you sweet, wonderful man, and we will have the best Gifts ever this year!” Gigi promised.

  THANK YOU FOR READING!!!!!!! YOU ARE MY HERO!!!! PLEASE FOLLOW FOR MORE!!! COMMENTS AND REVIEWS MAKE MY DAY!!!!

  PATREON TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! Come on over and say hi at the !