In the cold mountains of Dragonspine resides a certain alchemist best known by the people of Mondstadt as Albedo. Most think of him as distant and independent, only focusing on his studies when he isn't exploring the vast landscape, but there is muc...
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The entire time, Albedo remained silent, running his fingers through her hair to calm her trembling body while he held her. Tears flooded down her cheeks, and her nose threatened to run if she didn't continue to sniff occasionally. She didn't stop talking, even with her throat aching with every word.
Melanie clung to Albedo's jacket, pulling him as close to her as physically possible. He didn't fight her, seeing that she needed the comfort of his presence. The gentle movement of his fingers through her brown locks encouraged deep breaths to be taken in between her many jumbled words of fear.
"They... I- I couldn't get to you in time..." She let out a sob, burying her face in his chest, ending her story there.
Albedo shushed her quietly, hugging her tightly. "Deep breaths, deep breaths... Just keep breathing. I'm right here," he reassured in a voice barely above a whisper. "It was only a nightmare." She looked up at him through blurry eyes, sniffling. He shifted one of his arms to gently lift her chin, modeling some deep breaths for her to follow. Inhale... exhale... inhale... exhale... The rhythm was slow and steady, and it brought Melanie a bit of control over her emotion.
With his gloved thumb, Albedo wiped away some of her tears with a few quick swipes. The gentleness of his touch melted her against him. His scent washed over her and comforted her further until she was able to look away to breathe on her own. The deep breaths were doing the job, but they could not end the tremors.
"Melanie, look at me again. I want you to look into my eyes and tell me what you see." He raised her chin, the red underside of his glove in her peripheral vision. She swallowed hard and met his gaze with great uncertainty.
She did as he told; getting lost in his gentle yet concerned teal orbs. There was great knowledge swirling in the colored depths. To oppose her distrust in herself, he had enough trust for the both of them. Emotion circled around the wiseness displayed, almost clouding it. The two intertwined to create a beautiful display.
Love, concern, a lust for knowledge... it was all there, dormant, but there. His compassion and worry shone the brightest, combining themselves with whatever he seemed to know. Often, all she ever saw was his bright knowledge. He was omniscient in many tight situations. There wasn't much she was sure he didn't know.
"You care, but you also seem to know something more that you're not telling me. Albedo, you're unnaturally calm about this..." Melanie tore her gaze away, feeling the tears that were swimming in her blue eyes once again. "I learned quite a bit."
Albedo went back to running his fingers through her hair, planting a kiss on the top of her head. "I learned a lot too. You're scared that they'll come for me, rip me away from you just like I did to them. You want to believe you're safe, don't you?"
Melanie nodded slowly, curling into him further. "Finn is your greatest enemy, even if you don't know it yet. He's never liked you, and I don't find it entirely unfathomable that he wouldn't threaten your life all because of me..."
"We've moved past this, haven't we?" Albedo murmured into her ear, leaning closer. "You're too hard on yourself. Not everything is your fault. I'm aware of... Finn's ongoing feud with me. But it's not just him."
The wind blew a faint breeze into the cave. It surpassed them thanks to the wall at their backs, but it made the fire flicker for a moment. The flames struggled to return to their former power without proper motivation from the unconsumed kindling. Not even a moment later, it licked at the small twigs and flourished like before.
After a great moment of hesitation, Albedo spoke again. "Melanie, I wasn't completely honest with you when I left you here alone. I'm sure you have some idea by now, especially after your dream-"
"It's not prophetic, is it?!" Melanie toppled away from his arms, turning to look at him with wild eyes. Her hair was a messy heap of brown snarls going in every direction. "Albedo, I can't lose you! I can't, I can't-"
The gentle expression on Albedo's face lured her back into his outstretched arms. He crossed his legs, allowing her to sit on his lap. When she situated herself to both be held and have her hair fixed, he continued speaking in his soothing voice.
"I'm never going to leave you, and that's a promise." His fingers got caught in a snarl. Quickly, his other fingers undid the tangled hair to continue his procession to the others. Not once did he react to the massive number of them, instead, he took care of them without verbal acknowledgment.
"When I left, I was told the other Treasure Hoarders broke out of the Knights of Favonius and were on the loose. Donna noticed them sneaking out of the city while she was on her way to the tavern. In fact, she gave them instructions to Dragonspine thinking they were no different than travelers."
An image of the woman he mentioned popped into her mind. Donna was always raving over Diluc or making a moon pie while observing the shop owner in the stall below her. One of these days, Melanie expected to show her another version of a moon pie if she didn't shut up the next time she saw her. Alas, that would only land her behind bars again.
Melanie stared off into space, unsure of how to react to his sudden honesty. In a way, he wasn't lying, only revealing the hidden details from before. She didn't resent him at all, because she understood why Albedo would conceal part of the truth. In fact, this was the reason. Her panic and fear were the reason.
Albedo continued at his work. "The Knights have been tracking the area since before you disappeared. Truthfully, that was all that could be done. It's why I've kept you so close, and why I especially panicked when you fled. I, myself, was afraid they'd slaughter you as they did to me in your dream."
That caught her attention, especially with added harshness in a particular word. She brushed some of her hair back, allowing him to braid the treated locks with his quick fingers. A ponytail was removed from around her wrist and passed back to Albedo, who styled her hair exactly as his. A braid on the top, the rest hanging loose.
"It's okay, Albedo," she whispered. "I understand why you'd protect me for this reason. But please, I ask for nothing but honesty in the future."
She felt movement by the up and down motion of his sternum, suggesting he was nodding. Melanie tilted her head back and kissed his lips gently, in a quick motion. He reciprocated the gesture, a smile spreading across his lips.
"Let's go for a walk, okay? Just you and me, a walk through the woods. When we get back, you can nap, and I'll be with you the entire time," Albedo said, his smile growing. "I'll even read you a book."
Melanie smiled. His rise in mood influenced a sudden rush of positivity within her. She nodded and slid off of his lap to stand. Albedo offered out his hand. She took it, and the two dressed for the cold weather to walk through the snowy wilderness.
~~~~~~~~~~~
AHHH MY LACK OF UPDATES MADE THE RANKING GO DOWNNNNNN- I MUST RECLAIM MY THRONE FOR THE SAKE OF ALBEDOOOOO
Question of the chapter: Do you think it was right of Albedo to hide that detail?
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