~ PANDORA

Someone moved the curtain that blocked the hallway from view, and Pandora looked up from her journal to see who it was. She saw Luxa's eyes staring back at her.

"Uh, hi," Pandora said, leaving her pen in her journal, closing it, and placing it on the table beside her. "Come in."

"Greetings," Luxa walked into the room and took a seat. "Do you have a moment?"

"I've got plenty of moments," Pandora said. "There's not much else to do."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Sure. What's bothering you?"

"I didn't say..."

"I can tell," Pandora said.

Luxa stopped for a moment and began again. "I am worried Gregor will leave."

Pandora remembered Gregor coming into her room, haunted by the same idea. Should he leave? Would it be okay if he did? What would he tell his sisters if he stayed? It was something along those lines... and Pandora couldn't remember what she said to him, if she had said anything at all.

"When he left so many years ago, it left me confused. We were still so young, but we cared for each other very much. And now, when we are around each other, everything is so..."

"Awkward?" Pandora suggested. "Like neither of you know what the other is thinking?"

"Yes," Luxa said. "Exactly like that. I don't know if he even thought about me for all these years. He has probably had other girls he has cared about. Would he still have feelings for me now?"

"Well, do you still have feelings for him?"

"When Gregor left, it was as if a part of me went with him. I did not feel the same. If I told him the truth now, and he decides to go back to the Overland, it might happen all over again."

"So, you're scared of admitting your feelings. In case it leaves you with a broken heart."

Luxa was silent and stared down at the bed. Pandora took it to mean that she had hit the nail right on the head.

"But what if he decides to leave because he thinks you don't love him?"

Luxa's eyes got wide and her head jerked up to look at Pandora. "You are right. Why didn't I realize that?"

"Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see what's in front of you. And most of the time, being honest and sharing your feelings is the best road to take." Pandora sighed and bit the inside of her cheek. "I guess I'm one to talk. I should be listening to my own advice... Luxa, if you see Howard in the hall after you leave, can you ask him to come see me when he can, please?"

"Of course," Luxa said with a nod. "Thank you, Pandora," she said as she stood.

Pandora smiled warmly at the queen. "No, thank you!" Luxa returned her smile before exiting.

Before picking up her journal and resuming her work, Pandora took a minute to think over what just happened. It wasn't every day that Luxa decided to talk to Pandora for personal advice. She remembered how they used to not care for one another. They always got on each other's nerves and acted like complete opposites. It was nice to have Luxa as a friend though, and Pandora was glad they both warmed up to each other.

It was clear that Luxa loved Gregor, and Pandora knew for a fact that Gregor shared the same feelings. Was it enough, however, for Gregor to choose the Underland, when he had so many people he still cared for in the Overland?

Pandora sighed and scooped up her journal, using her pen to flip to the page she had saved. She tried to stay focused on what she was doing, but it was hopeless. Her mind kept wandering.

After about an hour, someone else entered her room.

"Howard, I'm glad you're back," Pandora greeted him.

Howard nodded. "Luxa told me you wanted to see me. However, I wasn't able to pull myself away from my tasks until now."

"That's ok. It's nothing urgent," Pandora shrugged. "I'm not keeping you from something, am I?"

"Oh, no. I needed to take a short rest anyway," Howard answered.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry," Pandora said. "You know, for how I've been acting. I haven't been very grateful. I've been grumpy and irritable... argumentative... and..."

"I forgive you, Pandora," Howard answered without delay. "I understand it cannot be easy. I have had my fair share of hospital stays. The rules might be simple – stay in bed, drink water, heal – but following them, however, is rather difficult."

"That's for sure," Pandora said with a smile and a roll of her eyes.

"I also wanted to apologize," he said softly. "I have not been giving you the privacy you deserve. How do you say it? Giving you your own space? It is just that... the knowledge of healing has kept me distracted from the bigger picture. It helped my mind stay busy, instead of dwelling on what might happen, if things went wrong."

Pandora looked down at the journal still in her hands. "I forgive you, too. But I can't say I understand. It must be hard to lose someone when you're standing so close by... but there's nothing you can do to help."

Howard furrowed his brow. "What?"

"Your old bond," Pandora clarified. "She was only scoping out a newly-formed island on the Waterway. She found some mites that tasted like Blue Bits, but they ended up being dangerous." Pandora glanced down at her notebook then, focusing on what she remembered. "Luxa was there. And Mareth and Gregor. Ares was attacked, too. But everything happened so fast..."

"How do you know that?" Howard asked. Pandora looked back at him to see his eyes shining with tears. "Who told you that story?"

"No one," Pandora said, feeling guilty it was a little dishonest. Hazard had been the one to tell her a bit about it, but she had recently discovered all the details for herself. "I had a lot of weird dreams while I slept. Some I only remember fragments of. But this dream... I've had it more than once. It's a scene from the past, and I've seen it through many different eyes. But I never saw it through yours."

Howard wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "You saw her?"

Pandora smiled and nodded. "I did. She was beautiful, Howard. And her voice was like velvet."

Howard laughed. "Not when she was yelling at Stellovet."

Pandora put the journal down on her lap and reached forward to grab one of Howard's hands. She looked deep into his eyes for a moment before choosing to say her next words. "She felt nothing, Howard. No bites, no betrayal... and no remorse. No one blames you for not being there to save her. And I wouldn't blame you if you weren't here to save me."

She could tell her words affected him deeply, but his smile remained on his face. "But I would."

Pandora was just about to respond when a loud voice called from outside of the room.

"Pandora? Greetings! May we come in?" Knowing exactly who it was, Howard wiped the remaining tears off his cheeks. He rolled his eyes and smiled.

"York, hush!" Came a stage whisper. "I have told you what must be a thousand times by now to talk softly. This is a place of healing."

"Boy, I wonder who that could be?" Pandora joked. "Come in."

"Perfect," York said as he saw Howard standing near Pandora's bedside. "Now we don't have to fetch you."

"I assured you he would be here," Susannah said, standing at her husband's side. She gave Pandora a warm smile, and she smiled back. Relieved the first impression she gave Susannah didn't stick, Pandora had grown to really like the woman. She was gentle and patient and kind. She bit the side of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. What a crazy pair her and York made!

"Father, I'm surprised to see you here," Howard said. "I know how busy you are with Mareth and Vikus as you prepare a team to help save The Fount."

"Very busy," York nodded. "But I still try to make time to see my children. Have you seen Chimney recently? Her work here in the hospital has been exemplary! Perhaps, you've been teaching her too much," he joked with his son.

Howard laughed. "She's far too smart for her age."

"I haven't met Chimney yet," Pandora said. "I would love to, though."

"She came in a few times, mostly when you slept," Susannah said. She grabbed the brush she had left on the table. "May I?" Pandora nodded and Susannah started brushing out her hair.

"And what brings you both here now?" Howard asked.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Well, your mother and I have been discussing it in length. And we wanted to come apologize for..." Susannah cleared her throat and glanced over at York. "And I wanted to come apologize for how rashly and harshly I reacted to your feelings towards each other and Howard's request for courtship."

"Courtship?" Pandora asked.

"Similar to dating in the Overland," Howard said.

"Oh, like how we had to take an escort to go on a picnic."

Howard raised a hand and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, yes. But I didn't get my parent's permission for that. Traditionally, it is supposed to be your parent's permission."

"But I don't have any," Pandora finished.

"I was going to say 'but they are not present.' And I did ask Rose," Howard floundered. "I sent a letter up and..."

"You don't have to explain," Pandora said with a smile. "I can guess I know what she said." Howard smiled.

"All of those matters aside," York continued. "We were musing the idea of letting you two begin your official courtship," he said while putting extra emphasis on the word 'official.' "And then we were visited by Gregor."

"Oh yes! He had said he was going to put in a good word," Howard said with a smile.

"No, no. He said it would be a terrible idea."

Howard's smile fell right off his face. Pandora pressed her lips together.

York paused for a minute and then burst into laughter.

"Dear, settle down," Susannah warned her husband as she started to braid Pandora's hair. "I warned you that would not be humorous. You're being far too boisterous. This is a place..."

"Of healing. I know," York said as he dialed down his volume. "Laughter is also medicine, let me remind you." He chuckled a bit before turning back to Howard and Pandora. "Gregor only had the best things to say. About both of you. A wonderful pairing, from what I have heard. Even Ripred shared his perspective. He is very insightful on many things. I should really ask him if he wouldn't mind leading a project at The Fount..."

As York seemed lost in thought, Susannah spoke up as she rose from her chair. The braid she had finished in Pandora's hair was simple but beautiful. She wondered if Susannah had done the braid a thousand times in her daughters' hair. "What your father is trying to say is you both have our blessing to continue seeing each other."

"Thank you! Thank you!" Howard gave his parents hugs. "I am so happy you two changed your minds."

"If you inherited my sheer will, my son, I knew there wasn't anything I could do to stop you," York joked.

Susannah put a hand on his back and pushed him out of the room. "It is my sheer will he inherited," she joked, "but nonetheless I agree." She turned and gave Pandora a final smile.