What Happened to the Witch That Saved the World

Scarred hands shook with nerves as they reached for the clothespins securing the white bed sheet to the line. The sleeves of her tunic slid down revealing more scars ringed around her wrists from where shackles used to tear into her skin. They matched the marks around her ankles as well which she kept covered with stockings.

Such menial tasks made her remember her old life of battles and blood. Made her thankful that it was over. She’d never go back. Especially not now, she thought as she nervously caressed her swollen belly.

Liliana survived a rough life during her hundred years of life so far. Apparently, that’s what you got when you were the most powerful witch in history to ever grace this world. Her epic journey had been grueling and filled with sorrow. So many of her friends and family did not survive the war between witches and demons. A lot of people did not survive, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty about that every single day of her life.

She had been the prophesized one. The chosen one to defeat the evil demon lord that tried to seize their world for his own. As with any great hero’s journey, through many trials and tribulations, she fulfilled her destiny.

After the dust settled from such a catastrophic war, Liliana stuck around for a few years to help rebuild. She found that keeping busy eased her mind from the relentless memories of the battles she fought. Of the innocent souls that were murdered and plagued her nightmares. She gave everything she had left to the survivors in the hopes that it eased their suffering even a fraction.

It took many years to return the witch kingdom to its former glory, to repair what the demons destroyed so easily. Years that Liliana spent trying to ease her survivor’s guilt. She’d watched so many die while they fought side by side. Watched as her fellow witches sacrificed their lives for a war that nearly destroyed them all. She cried herself to sleep most nights in the beginning while cursing the fates that forced her to live on to bear this burden of survival.

She had no other option but to go on, to live for all those that didn’t.

Once the repairs were complete, she opened a school for the orphaned witches and those that couldn’t afford a normal education like herself so many decades ago. The young witches that were orphaned by the war also found a home in Liliana’s school because they had no one left to teach them the way of magic, or the legends and myths that every witchling was raised on. She made sure they were all educated and were taught about the war. More specifically, taught about demons and how to defeat them should they dare to return. It was her way of honoring the dead, by preparing their future generations from ever having to go through that again.

Her school grew into the largest and most renowned school in the kingdom under her leadership and was now a small city of its own with the sheer number of staff and students residing there. Everyone flocked to her wanting to learn from the Savior, as was her new, albeit reluctant, title. Liliana hated it but if it helped her school, she used it at any chance. It allowed all witches to attend free of charge if they required it.

After years of building her legacy and ensuring the continuation of great magic wielders, Liliana found herself yearning for something different. Her school was thriving on its own now and she had no desire to stay in the city any longer. She’d put in her time. She saved the world and helped rebuild it. She ensured that future generations were safe, now it was finally her time to do what she wanted.

She left everything behind. With few belongings, she set off into the woods to explore and find the perfect place to call home. She searched for a few years, staying in some places for months before deciding to move one. The fates guided her, gave her the direction and gut feeling that she wasn’t ready to stop yet. That feeling kept her moving and the experienced witch knew that she must always listen to her intuition.

As Liliana folded the laundry, she remembered the day her life changed yet again so clearly. It had been a cool autumn day, the leaves looking like a brilliant sunset rolling over the hills with all the fall colors. Something else caught her eyes though. It was a pond at the bottom of the hill. As she neared, she also spotted a rudimentary cabin. Smoke puffed out of the chimney alerting her to a presence inside which put her on high alert. Who would be out this far, secluded in the woods?

Keeping her magical shield up, she sent out her senses. There was only one person in the cabin, a male, but he felt different. There was something off with him. He certainly wasn’t a witch, nor was he a demon. Before she could discover more, the door opened.

As soon as her hazel eyes connected with vibrant purple ones, she knew he wasn’t from their world.

After much talk, which consisted mostly of threats combined with a magical snare, Lily agreed not to kill the man. It may have been overkill but she didn’t have much tolerance for intruders in their world after the demons. This man meant no harm though and even convinced Liliana to stay in his home while he was away. He would return home for the duration of the winter because the portal he came through to get here was the pond beside his cabin. When it was frozen over, he could not use the portal, so he stayed in his home world.

Intrigued, and her gut telling her this is where she needed to be, she agreed to stay. Even when winter was over and the man returned, she stayed. The man became her friend, a companion like she hadn’t had in so long. They exchanged tales of their worlds and lives, both of them warriors that had seen and done too much. He came to her world to escape from his own for peace and quiet which is exactly why she was in the woods.

The second winter she spent in that cabin is when she realized how much she had come to care for the man. It felt so lonely without him, and she found that she missed him terribly. Missed his smile each morning when he would greet her with a hot cup of tea, or the way he would sing as he cooked their supper. His voice was so rich and beautiful, and she replayed it in her mind each night to fall asleep.

When he returned that spring, she confessed her feelings for him. Luckily, he reciprocated and for years, they lived happily secluded in their cabin. And each winter, right before the pond fully froze, he would return to his home. Lily tried to keep it from freezing with her magic so that he could stay, but her magic interfered with the portal and did not work. So, they were stuck missing each other for four months each year.

As Liliana brought the basket of laundry inside, she couldn’t help the nerves that flittered in her belly. When her love returned this time, things would be so different. Unlike the past decade when he would return to his home and wife like nothing had changed, everything was different this time.

Liliana completely changed the spare room, creating new furniture with her magic for the nursery. The house had been decluttered and cleaned until the wood looked freshly chopped from the tree. A new trunk full of magically crafted toys sat beside the fireplace and a bookcase filled the opposite wall stacked with pages full of magic and the history of witches.

She glanced around the room nervously hoping that he wouldn’t mind the changes she made to the home he built, more importantly, why she made them. It had been quite the shock to her when she discovered that she was pregnant, so she could only imagine his reaction. He said children were probably not likely between them. She had been okay with that. She did not need a child, only him. It had been a welcomed surprise though.

The sun would be setting soon which meant he would be arriving. He always returned at sunset. Supper was ready for his arrival, and she dressed in her favorite gown. It was a simple piece that showed off her swollen belly beautifully.

She stood by the pond, her hands unconsciously smoothing over her new shape. Every day for the past few weeks she had been checking the frozen pond for any signs of thawing with the warmer weather approaching. Weeks she’d been a nervous wreck, anticipating his return until finally, the thick ice began to melt.

She didn’t have to wait much longer as the sun dropped beneath the trees and a blindingly white light filled the pond. He walked out of the water, untouched by it and completely dry. His tall figure and broad shoulders silhouetted against the bright light. As the light faded, she finally saw his handsome face. A smile spread his lips as he surged toward her, but he stopped suddenly, his eyes falling to the obvious swell of her abdomen. His smile faded making her nerves triple even as she was elated to see him.

“We’re having a baby,” she said, unable to contain herself. Carefully, his much larger hands lay on either side of her abdomen. Her eyes monitored every twitch in his expression trying to read him but could not discern his blank expression.

“How?” he breathed incredulously.

Liliana gave a nervous chuckle. “The usual way I presume. When a man and a woman…”

“Oh hush, you snarky female,” he teased, a smirk pulling at his lips. His hands rubbed over their child. “I didn’t think it would be possible.”

“Well, it is apparently. How do you feel? Excited? Disappointed?” she hedged uncertainly. Heavy brows drew together in confusion.

“Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed?” he exclaimed.

She shrugged. “We certainly didn’t plan or expect this. I wasn’t sure how you felt about becoming a father.”

His answer came with a beaming smile. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive. I’m thrilled to be having a child with you, my wife.” He pulled her into a loving embrace and held her close.

Liliana instantly felt safe in his arms and like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. He was happy.

They were happy.

The two warriors had found their happy endings in each other years ago. They healed each other’s wounds and repaired their broken, lost souls together. Now, they were adding to their well-deserved happily ever after.

When the next winter came and the pond froze over again, he did not return to his home world. Instead, he took his courageous wife and newborn daughter ice-skating.