Arielle prepared a basket and Ruthina was very excited that she rushed towards Arielle. The morning sun streamed through the windows of the small antechamber where Arielle had been gathering supplies, casting warm golden light across the woven basket she had filled with care.
Fresh bread, still warm from the oven. A jar of honey. Cheese wrapped in cloth. Fruits from the palace orchards, their skins still dusted with morning dew. She had even tucked a small bunch of wildflowers into the side of the basket, a last-minute addition that she hoped would make Ruthina smile.
Ruthina had been waiting outside, bouncing on the balls of her feet with an energy that seemed almost too large for her small frame. The moment Arielle stepped through the door, the golden rabbit rushed forward, her bright eyes fixed on the basket as though it contained the secrets of the universe.
"Ruthina, calm down. I assure you I won’t leave without you." Arielle said, and Ruthina giggled. The sound was light and musical, and it made something warm bloom in Arielle’s chest.
She had heard Ruthina laugh before, had watched her bring joy to Eiravelle’s eyes during the darkest days, but this was different. This laughter was for her. It was directed at her, shared with her, and the intimacy of it made Arielle’s heart beat a little faster.
"Sorry, Arielle. This is my first time someone taking me to a picnic, hehe. But what’s a picnic?" Ruthina said, and Arielle just chuckled and smiled. Of course Ruthina did not know what a picnic was. The simple pleasures of life—the warmth of a shared meal, the comfort of a blanket spread on the grass, the joy of eating outdoors with someone you cared about—were foreign to her. And Arielle found that endearing. She found everything about Ruthina endearing.
"You’ll find out once we’re there. Me and Eiravelle likes going on picnics whenever I don’t have work in the palace." Arielle said. The words were carried a weight of nostalgia, of memories that were both sweet and painful. She and Eiravelle had spent countless afternoons in the gardens, escaping the pressures of the palace and the cruelty of their family.
Those picnics had been their sanctuary, the one place where they could be sisters without the shadow of Elaria’s contempt hanging over them. Arielle had not gone on a picnic since Eiravelle had left for the palace, had not allowed herself the simple joy of sitting in the grass and watching the clouds drift by. Until now.
Ruthina’s eyes widened and even become more excited. "That sounds fun!" The rabbit’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Arielle found herself smiling despite the bittersweet memories that had surfaced.
Ruthina had a way of pulling her out of her own head, of reminding her that there was still joy to be found in the world. It was a gift, one that Arielle was beginning to treasure more with each passing day.
"Arielle, take care of the golden rabbit, alright?" Elaria said, and Arielle nodded. Her mother stood in the doorway of the small antechamber, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression unreadable.
Elaria had been different in the weeks since Ruthina’s arrival, softer somehow, more reflective. But there were still moments when Arielle caught her staring into the distance with a look of deep sorrow, and she knew that her mother was thinking about Eiravelle. About the daughter she had neglected. About the years of cruelty that could never be undone.
"I will, Oma." Arielle answered and Elaria approached and kissed Ruthina’s forehead. The gesture was gentle, almost maternal, and Ruthina blinked in surprise. She had not been expecting it, had not been prepared for the sudden warmth of Elaria’s lips against her skin. "Deer Goddess, why did you kiss my forehead?" Ruthina asked, clearly doesn’t know what it means.
"It means I care about you, or I cherish you." Elaria answered. The words were simple, but they carried a depth of emotion that made Arielle’s throat tighten. Her mother was not an affectionate person. She had never been one to express love through touch or words. And yet here she was, kissing the forehead of a rabbit spirit she had known for only a few weeks, showing a tenderness that she had never shown to her own daughter.
Ruthina tilted her head, considering the answer with the serious intensity of someone who was trying very hard to understand a foreign custom. And then she asked the question that would linger in the air long after they left. "Do you also do this to saintess, Eiravelle?"
The question was innocent and harmless yet it struck a chord on both Arielle and Elaria. Both knew the answer which only made the silence stretched on between them. The question hung in the air like a physical weight, pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe.
Elaria had never kissed Eiravelle’s forehead. Had never held her close or spoken words of comfort. Had never once looked at her eldest daughter with anything other than contempt and hatred. The truth of it was written on Elaria’s face, in the way her smile faltered, in the way her eyes dropped to the floor.
Arielle cleared her throat, her voice slightly hoarse when she spoke. "We’re going now." She said, and gently held Ruthina’s hand. Her fingers were trembling slightly, and she hoped Ruthina would not notice. She did not want to explain. She did not want to talk about the years of pain, about the way their mother had made Eiravelle’s life a living nightmare. That was a conversation for another day, if it ever came at all.
"Yehey! We’re going now deer goddess!" Ruthina said, oblivious to the tension that had settled over the room. She was too excited, too full of joy to notice the way Elaria’s shoulders had slumped, or the way Arielle’s jaw had tightened. She simply waved goodbye, her smile bright and genuine, and let Arielle lead her away.
But after they left, Elaria was left with the heavy and deafening noise of her own thoughts. The silence of the antechamber pressed in on her, suffocating and absolute, and she found herself sinking into the nearest chair as though her legs could no longer hold her.
’Do you also do this to saintess, Eiravelle?’ That was the question, but it got stuck in Elaria’s head knowing she had never kissed her daughter, Eiravelle, in the forehead before as she always look at her with contempt and hatred. She had looked at her daughter, her own flesh and blood, and seen only a curse.
A jinx. A misfortune. She had blamed Eiravelle for everything that had gone wrong in her life, had taken her anger and her bitterness out on an innocent child who had done nothing to deserve it. And now, sitting alone in the quiet of the room, Elaria realized that she had never told Eiravelle she loved her. Had never held her close. Had never kissed her forehead the way she had just done to a rabbit spirit she barely knew.
***
They got into the place, the grass was clean and well trimmed and the sun is not entirely harsh, but they still sit on a tree for the shade. What were those flowers? Why did the birds sing? Did the trees always smell so sweet? And Arielle had answered every question with patience and warmth, finding herself charmed by the rabbit’s endless curiosity.
"Me and Eiravelle used to come here, and this is the same spot where we sit as always." Arielle said, and she spread out the picnic blanket on the grass and sat on it. The blanket was old and worn, patched in a few places where the fabric had torn, but it was soft and familiar.
It held memories. It held laughter and whispered secrets and the warmth of two sisters who had found refuge in each other’s company. Ruthina sat on the opposite area and face Arielle. She was sitting directly across from Arielle, and her eyes were wide and bright.
She was taking in the colors of the flowers, the sound of the wind, the warmth of the sun filtering through the leaves. All of it was new to her, and all of it was wonderful.
"The wind here is not harsh." Ruthina said, and inhale the fresh air. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the breeze wash over her, and a small, contented smile curved her lips.
"Yeah... By the way, the celebration for the Golden rabbit is happening tomorrow. After welcoming you, we will then do the ritual of looking for your saint." Arielle said, and Ruthina shook her head. The movement was quick, almost dismissive, and Arielle felt a flicker of concern.
"The ritual is not needed, Eiravelle is my saintess." She said, and Arielle sigh. She had known Ruthina would say this. Had known that the rabbit spirit was convinced of Eiravelle’s role in her destiny, had heard her declare it with unwavering certainty.
But faith was not enough. The people needed proof. They needed the rituals and the traditions that had been passed down for generations, the ceremonies that gave them something to believe in.
"Ruthina, listen to me. As long as we haven’t proven Eiravelle to be your saintess, we cannot just jump to conclusions. People wanted a proof they can cling on. I hope you understand." Arielle said, and Ruthina frown and nodded. She did not like it.
Arielle could see that in the set of her jaw, in the way her brow furrowed. But she understood. She was a creature of another realm, but she was not foolish. She knew that mortals needed symbols, needed rituals, needed something concrete to hold onto.
"Okay... But I promise you, I am not lying when I said that Eiravelle is my saintess." Ruthina said, and there was a quiet defiance in her voice. A determination that Arielle could not help but admire.
Arielle smiled and nodded. "I believe you, don’t worry."
Then Arielle took the food she prepared, and the juice she had on the basket. She spread everything out on the blanket—the bread and cheese, the honey and fruit, the small pastries she had asked the kitchen to prepare. It was a simple meal, nothing elaborate, but it was made with care.
She had chosen every item with Ruthina in mind, had thought about what the rabbit might enjoy, had wanted to create something special for their first picnic together.
"I also want to apologize if we’re throwing a welcome celebration this late. You knew we had finished some things." Arielle said, and Ruthina also took some sandwich on the basket. The apology had been weighing on her mind for days.
Ruthina had arrived weeks ago, had been living in the palace, and they had not yet thrown a proper celebration to welcome her. The concubine situation, the political chaos, the endless demands of the court—all of it had gotten in the way. And Arielle felt guilty. Ruthina deserved better. She deserved to be celebrated, to be welcomed with joy and fanfare.
"It’s okay, you don’t entirely have to apologize. I’m fine with it. What I really want is to find a safe place where no one will hurt me." Ruthina said, she was trying to hide her frown. But her words carried a weight of pain that Arielle recognized all too well.
Ruthina was not just a golden rabbit from another realm. She was a being who had been hunted, who had known fear and suffering, who had come to this world seeking sanctuary. And she was terrified that she would not find it.
Arielle stopped and looked at her, her heart aching with sympathy. "I’m sorry..."
"Eh?! No no no! Don’t apologize, it’s okay." Ruthina said, waving her hands frantically. She did not want Arielle to feel guilty. She did not want anyone to feel guilty on her account. She was so tired of being a burden, of being someone others had to worry about.
Arielle stood then sat next to Ruthina to hug her. The movement was instinctive, a response to the pain she saw in Ruthina’s eyes. She wrapped her arms around the rabbit spirit, pulling her close, and held her the way she had held Eiravelle countless times before.
"Whenever I sense Eiravelle is sad, I’ll just pull her into a hug like this." Arielle said, and Ruthina stiffened at first, then eventually calm down and lean more to the hug. The rabbit’s body was tense at first, rigid with surprise, but then she melted into Arielle’s embrace as though she had been waiting for this moment all along.
"Sigh... This feels really good." Ruthina murmured, and Arielle smiled and blushed as she heard that. The words were soft, barely more than a breath, and they made something flutter in Arielle’s chest.
She could feel Ruthina’s warmth against her, could feel the steady beat of her heart, and she knew that she wanted this. Wanted more of this. Wanted to hold Ruthina like this every day, to be the one who brought her comfort and joy. "I’m glad you like it." Arielle said, and her voice was slightly breathless.
She can’t say it yet, but she really liked Ruthina. She was just finding the right time to confess. The words were on the tip of her tongue, had been for days, but she could not bring herself to say them. She was afraid. Afraid that Ruthina did not feel the same way.
Afraid that she would ruin the fragile connection they had built. So she stayed silent, holding Ruthina close, and let the moment stretch on. She held Ruthina close, feeling the warmth of her body, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and she wished that time would stop so that they could stay like this forever. The sun was warm on her skin, the grass was soft beneath her, and Ruthina was in her arms.
It was perfect.