Lea's Liberation

Partners in Combat

Partners in Combat

Lea was running away again.

She knew that about herself. This was exactly what Addie had asked her not to do when she had initially made the decision to pursue her feelings for Emilien. She could practically see her sister paladin's condemnation, hear her lecture for daring to do exactly what she asked her not to do. Emilien was a good man and he didn't deserve her fearful heart.

Well, she had agreed with that then. Part of her still did agree with that. But it was buried under the anger she was currently desperately holding onto, because it was easier to deal with than the fear.

What was so great about 'his' princess anyway? Manon was such a skinny, waifish thing. She had never developed any womanly curves and she had that ridiculous attitude. And she was years younger than Emilien!

Maybe he was one of those men that was interested in younger women. The jerk.

Turning to face him, she crossed her arms over her chest. Trying to look intimidating and not like she was protecting her heart.

Emilien stood in the middle of her room, a determined expression on his face. His head high. Like he was facing a coming battle.

Lea was never more certain that he was going to end their relationship. Why else would he look like he was ready to fight? This was really going to make the rest of their journey awkward. But she could be professional and adult and-

She could not. She couldn't do this! She wished she could just jump out the window.

Her internal panic was so loud, her heart racing, her stomach twisting, her own voice screaming in her mind, that Emilien's voice sounded like he was talking to her from the end of a long, echoing tunnel when he started speaking.

"First, I want to say that I'm sorry. I should have had this conversation with you earlier. There always seemed to be so many other things going on. You got injured and then that thing with those thugs and you were so busy preparing for the launch-

"Will you just say it already?!" She cried, her voice warbling pitifully. She hated herself for that, but she couldn't stop the desperate words being ripped from her throat.

Emilien frowned, his head tilting curiously. "Lea? You okay?"

"No. I'm not okay! I wish you would just end it already and stop toying with me!"

"End what?"

Pained silence stretched between them as Lea trembled. Emilien looked at her oddly. That unsure, searching expression only made her more uneasy.

Slowly, watching her for another outburst, Emilien started speaking again.

"Well, I suppose I'll just get right to the point then. I wanted to have a chance to prepare you a little more first, but if you'd prefer I just come right out and say it, then I will. Lea, I'm sorry for not saying it sooner and I'm sorry for letting things get this bad when... Well, you know. Even if it's too late, even if you no longer feel the same, I just want to say that, Lea, I love you."

Lea's nerves were raw and strained, becoming more so with every word he spoke. It was taking everything in her not to interrupt again. She was so focused on that, on preparing herself to hear bad news, that she almost didn't hear what he actually said.

"Wha...?" She mumbled, unsure she heard what she actually heard.

Emilien, scratching nervously at the back of his head, repeated himself. "I love you, Lea. I really do. I have for a long time, I was just afraid to say it. Afraid that, if I did say it, I would be making things harder for you. But I realize now that it was refusing to say it that was making things harder. Something like that, something that important, shouldn't be left unsaid."