The Secret of Blood Mountain

☽ 13 ☾Between Love and Hate

The tension between Winter and Taeleorn hung heavy in the air, a palpable miasma of sorrow and remorse that threatened to engulf them both. In the aftermath of tragedy, their fragile bond teetered on the precipice of dissolution, tested by the weight of unspoken words and shattered illusions.

"Please forgive me. I beg your mercy. I just wanted to save her!"

As Winter recounted the harrowing events that led to Eve's disappearance, the raw anguish in his voice mirrored the depths of his despair. Taeleorn, ever the embodiment of composure, listened in stoic silence, his mask of indifference belied by the tumult raging within.

"I know," Tae's voice cut through the stillness, a quiet reassurance tinged with sorrow. "Tell me what transpired."

Winter's narrative unfolded like a haunting melody, each word laden with the weight of his grief. The memory of Eve's abduction loomed large, a specter of darkness that threatened to consume him whole. In the crucible of his confession, Winter bared his soul, his anguish laid bare for all to see.

"I-I took her to the clearing just beyond the tunnel to the South. The one where the portal was before...," his voice fading to nothing.

"Go on," Tae said. "We waited a long time to see if it would open. We had no idea if it would, but we hoped. We were cold and wet from the dew. She couldn't stop shivering. The sky was getting slightly brighter, and soon it would be dawn. Suddenly, we saw a darkness spawn in front of us. A creature so black it was barely visible. It grabbed her with many limbs and dragged her away before I could move. She just disappeared. It was so quick. There was nothing I could do. It took her."

In the embrace of Taeleorn's arms, Winter found solace amidst the storm, his tears a testament to the depth of his sorrow. In that fleeting moment of vulnerability, their fractured bond flickered to life, a fragile thread binding them together in shared anguish.

"She is lost to us," Taeleorn's words hung heavy in the air, a somber lament for a love lost to the shadows. "What am I to do with you?" He whispered as if scolding a dear child.

Winter's plea for absolution reverberated through the silence, his heart laid bare before the prince's gaze. In the crucible of their shared grief, redemption beckoned a distant beacon of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them both.

"Send me away," Winter's voice trembled with desperation, his resolve unyielding in the face of adversity. "Let me search for her."

Taeleorn's response was measured, his gaze a mask of icy resolve. "I should, for your part in this," he sighed, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. "But how can I lose you too?"

In the quiet depths of their shared sorrow, Winter dared to hope, his heart yearning for absolution amidst the ruins of their shattered dreams. In the shadow of Taeleorn's judgment, redemption beckoned, a distant promise of salvation amidst the wreckage of their shared tragedy.

"Would you miss me?" Winter's voice quivered with uncertainty, his gaze searching for a glimmer of warmth amidst the chill of Taeleorn's indifference.

"Yes, you fool," Taeleorn's response was laced with a feeling of bitter sorrow, his facade of indifference crumbling in the face of Winter's unwavering devotion.

Winter dared to hope for a future beyond the confines of their grief. Winter whispered, "Tell me how you feel before you send me away from you."

Taeleorn's jaw tightened and his eyes flickered an emotion closer to hate. "I am still furious. This is not the time."

Winter looked down in shame feeling his wrath. He had acted out of love but now knew his mistake.

"Please understand I loved her too. However, I never let it slip. She never knew me to be anything but a friend. I would not betray you," Winter said.

"Tell me this. Did she not care for our child? Why did she not stay for him?" The pain in his voice was evident.

Winter looked up, eyes hiding behind his messy black hair, "she knew he would not survive away from the magic but she had to save herself."

"I see," Taeleorn said.

"I knew how she felt even if she tried to hide it from me. She took a drawing of the bairn that Jeongly made. She kept it hidden but many times I would catch her staring at it when she thought I couldn't see. It made me sad that you didn't allow her to see him. Why?"

"It was not my place. My mother you see... she follows the ways of old. She wanted the child to be like us, not her."

"If you had stood up to her. If you had allowed it, she would not have left."

"I know," Tae replied after a second of silence.

"You should have been honest. You should have shown her your love."

"I loved her from the very first look, from the very first words from her sweet lips. But she loved the sunlight and she made it clear I could never reside in her heart. I feel safe in the dark while she fears it. How can such souls be together?"

"I think she understood that," Winter replied.

"Kissing her cheeks, her lips, it was like I could taste the sun, which has always been forbidden to me. She tasted wild and free and all I could do was tame her. We live deep in the earth, grounded in fear, loss, and decay. While the last of our magic dwindles to nothing. She was like a breath of fresh air. She belonged to the living and I so wanted a part of her."

As Taeleorn spoke, his voice wavered, revealing the depth of his internal struggle. Winter, though battered by grief, couldn't help but see the vulnerability beneath the prince's stoic facade.

Author's notes:

Regarding who loved Eve more, it's a complex question that ultimately depends on one's perspective. Both Winter and Taeleorn undoubtedly harbored deep feelings for Eve, but their love manifested in different ways:

Winter's love for Eve was characterized by selflessness and sacrifice. He was willing to risk everything, even his own life, to save her. His inability to let go of his guilt and grief is a testament to the depth of his love and devotion.

On the other hand, Taeleorn's love for Eve was tempered by duty and obligation. He grappled with his conflicting emotions, torn between his desire to protect Eve and his responsibilities as a prince. His decision to let her go, albeit reluctantly, may be seen as an act of love in itself, albeit one tinged with regret and sorrow.

In the end, it's not a matter of who loved Eve more, but rather how their love shaped their actions and defined their journey. Each character's struggle reflects the complexities of human emotion and the enduring power of love in the face of adversity.

(Edited 1/28/24)