Return to Glory

Solidifying Dreams

Again the days scrolled by quickly, and before Alex could even think of it, she had been living with the prince for three months. The pangs of guilt would hit her now and then, as she knew she had to go back home to check on her mother, but she enjoyed her routine with Aidan too much to be able to make the decision of leaving on a specific date. Each time they discussed the matter, they'd conclude it with a "in the next couple of days" and those would then just stretch out indefinitely.

As the end of the cold season was coming to an end, Aidan reminded her of their agreement to wed. Both thought it wasn't necessary to do much, but as their beliefs and tradition required, they would have to be ordained by a third party if they wanted to pass on together to the next life. Alex was more skeptical when it came to religion, but was aware that the prince surely had had much more indoctrinating than she did and considered it wouldn't hurt her to just comply with that need, just in case his beliefs were right.

Assertive as always, Alex proposed they go to the closest village and make the decision official. She wasn't sure what it was that made her slightly nervous, but the little tremors she had in her stomach every time she thought of it during the days leading to, were not an unwelcome sensation. She didn't know why, but her gut feeling was not opposing the idea of her tying herself up to another person for the rest of her life.

Well, she knew she could easily flee if she wanted to, but if there was an afterlife, they supposedly were going to be tied together for eternity. She shrugged the idea away. It was the least of her worries.

What truly still had her a bit on edge was the attack they had suffered. Though they continued to train together afterwards, which resulted being a truly intimate experience that only served to bring them closer, she was constantly afraid of not being able to defend both of them if something happened. Aidan had proven to be a worthy opponent, which at least gave her the guarantee that he'd try to fend for himself, but she hated the idea that maybe someone out there wanted him dead.

And the idea was not some sort of out of the blue paranoia. It only made sense that if one party wanted him back to see if he could be the symbol that would restore the order, at least one other party would want to ensure that never happened. And what Aidan had told her regarding his father and closest acquaintances only made her more suspicious regarding how many people might now want the prince dead, even if he was exiled, far away, and not bothering a soul.

She tried to ignore the thoughts, but they were always on her mind.

"Is something wrong?" Aidan asked as they walked calmly under the earliest rays of the sun in the still cool forest. She had been silent most of the way now, as she let him lead them to the town she didn't even know if she had ever seen before. If she was left alone in the cabin, she knew well that it would take her days to find her way out of the woods again. Gods, she hated getting lost there.

Shaking her head thoughtlessly, she replied, "No. Just thinking."

"About?" the blond's hand squeezed hers lightly as he pressed. She knew she was being odd, but it wasn't her intention to make him nervous.

"The attack…" she admitted, not wanting to kill the mood, but refusing to ever lie to him.

"Oh. Why?" He wasn't angry, which was a bit of a relief to the brunette. Had it been the other way around, she knew she'd be eating his head off for thinking about such bothersome things on the day they were headed to the village to seal their love.

"I'm just… afraid it might happen again. I hate the thought of you possibly getting hurt." She could feel her face burning in embarrassment. Though she had no problem exposing her entire body to him, countless times and under basically all circumstances when they were back at the cottage, exposing her feelings this way just felt too maiden-like for her. He knew she loved him and she didn't have to talk about it to prove it. But what she was saying was the truth and her biggest concern at the moment. She was terrified of the chance of having this happy moment and happy life taken away from her forever, in just a second. The helplessness ate at her.

"We had no problem with the last attack and it was three, huuuge guys. You took them on, all on your own, and barely messed up your messy hair," he teased softly, giving her a quick peck on the head as they continued with their walk. "And we've been training together. I'm not going to say nothing is going to happen, because I don't want to end up lying. But I can say that if something happens, we'll give them one hell of a fight. Together."

Alex's heart gave a quick flutter as she heard the reassuring words. She had never expected to be such a silly girl in love, but Aidan was much more than any other guy she had ever met. The maidens from the citadel would be fawning over men who literally made them clean their boots. She had never wanted that. For all she cared, she'd always prefer to be alone, than to be a man's slave for life. But Aidan was her equal. He expected nothing of her, that she wasn't willing to offer on her own. And anything she gave, he was willing to provide as well. She had never thought there could be such a perfect balance between two individuals.

"I guess I'll give one hell of a fight. You can watch in shock and then cure my wounds," she stated with false exasperation. They had already joked around with this whole matter; about how he had apparently frozen when the attackers began to seize them, and how Alex had had to do all the work by herself. Through their training, and now more alert to the possibility that his home could be invaded at any moment, both assumed he'd react better the next time, but the brunette still liked to jab at him with the matter from time to time, and he always said she was absolutely right.

Aidan had no fear of admitting his flaws or whenever he was wrong, which Alex found to be completely bewildering. Most of the men, noble or not, who she had ever had to relate with, were always high and mighty, overly sure of themselves. She would expect much more arrogance from the prince. But his whole demeanor was peaceful; nothing like anyone else she had met.

His laugh was hearty, warming her up inside as he said, "But I am a master at curing wounds."

It was the brunette's turn to laugh. He was right. Apparently, during his time alone in exile, surrounded by nothing but nature, the young man learned everything there was to know in books, and all he could apply in the practice, regarding healing all sorts of ailments. He told her that he had helped many passers that came with injuries, as well as animals and a handful of the woods' more mystical creatures.

"By the way…" he began rather quietly. Alex glanced up at him and found his face and ears were red. "I'm sort of renowned in the village," he admitted bashfully.

"What? They know you're the prince?" Alex all but exclaimed. How could he just now be telling her this?

"No, no. To them, I am just Aidan. Not the other name," he didn't even pronounce it. Alex had also been very respectful, since the moment he presented himself with this false name, in calling him only this way. She had known him as Prince Atreo Soleil of Echeveria, but if he chose to go by this new pseudonym, then she was no one to be opposing his decisions.

Aidan continued, "But they do kind of have me in high esteem as the healer from the forest." Alex could see the modesty in his features.

"Wow!" the brunette exclaimed in an outburst. She quickly tried to calm her tone and added, "That is simply splendid," in a mockingly lady-like tone.

The prince's smile made her melt each time the emerald eyes softened upon her. "I guess it is," he said with a soft shrug, trying to dismiss it as something with little meaning. However, he quickly had to add, "So I might be approached by some people while we're there. I didn't mean to keep it from you; I just remembered a while ago. We can still turn back if you want." It was endearing to see how much it concerned him to not disappoint her in any way.

"Don't be silly," Alex stated bluntly, deciding then to be more caring towards him, like he was with her. Holding onto his arm with both of hers, hugging it close, she added, "I'm on my way to marrying an eminence."

Again the blond chuckled, seemingly enjoying the way the mood had shifted. "Yes, but it would have been greater to marry the prince," he reminded her.

"I never did care for noble titles," Alex replied in all honesty. If they were to ever return to their homeland and to his reign, she didn't even know if they'd be able to be married. She assumed he had the power to make the laws as he desired, but wasn't sure what that could entitle.

"You mean you didn't grow up wanting to become the lady of some high lord? Or even the princess?" he asked with fake surprise.

Alex scowled. Of course not. She had almost hated all the nobles she had ever had to interact with. Each one was more entitled and arrogant than the one before them. And this egotism wasn't reserved to just one s*x. The women were just as bad, if not worse, than the men, when they wanted to be. Her mother had had her fair share of working for lower-classed nobles before reaching her job at the castle, and the ladies that had just enough to pay a few coins for a maid were probably the most self-absorbed people Alex had ever seen, with the most outrageous demands and pretensions she could even imagine.

"Gods, no," she blurted out as always. She knew she didn't have to feign grace in front of him.

"What did you want?" Aidan asked curiously, catching her a bit off guard. She knew he was aware that it had never been her dream to be a noble, but she had never talked about what she had planned for her life, especially considering that she was rather old to find a suitor. If anything, had she decided she wanted a husband, she would probably have to conform with some elder widower who would still consider her unworthy.

"I never was too invested in planning my future. I only wanted to be able to provide for my mother. Maybe make a good, big haul, and buy a home at the edges of the citadel, as Mother would never want to leave completely, and live calmly there with her," she confessed. The guilt hit her stomach again, but Aidan's warm arm between hers reminded her that she was finally truly happy for the first time in her life. She hadn't known this feeling existed, having been just complacent all her years. This was something new, but not volatile, and she felt she could trust Aidan in a way she had never trusted anyone, even her own mother.

"A big haul like taking the prince back home?" The blond's words seemed bitter, but his tone sounded more remorseful than anything. "I stole you of that dream…" he muttered, the regret evident in his face. "Alex, I didn't know this. We have to go back to the citadel." The blond stopped completely in his tracks, almost making Alex trip and fall.

The brunette couldn't believe the way he had escalated all on his own. "Calm down, Sir," she blurted angrily. "That was not my dream. I do not want to give you in. We are not going to the citadel," she stated with authority. "We are going to wed now and in some days I will go back on my own to the citadel, with the only goal of making sure that my mother is well."

Aidan watched her with curious eyes before letting out a small chuckle that only made her angrier. Noticing how the brunette's face reddened even more as she scowled up at him, the blond stated, "I'm sorry for laughing. It's just such a pity you won't have the chance of being my queen. You would have been better suited for the role than me as a king."

Alex scoffed at the idea. "Yes, I'm a true lady," she stated, releasing him to use her hands to indicate her entire look. She was as disheveled as always, and her demeanor was never poised; she knew well she was far from what was expected of a royal.

The blond pulled her back into his embrace before warmly saying, "There is much more in being a queen than your looks or manners. But it doesn't matter, we'll be peasants in our cottage," he concluded with a kiss on her warm forehead.

Some smoke in the near distance indicated that they were teaching civilization. Alex's heart began to race in anticipation; their souls were soon going to be bound forever.