TBATE: A Hero's Return

Think About Me

Tessia turned around and saw Arthur heading for her. She smiled at him.

"Arthur, hey," she said as he stopped in front of her.

He grinned. Her heart skipped a beat as usual, but she ignored it. It was slowly but surely getting easier to control her reactions around him.

"Are you going to visit your parents again today?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm stopping by for a few minutes."

He looked at her hesitantly. "Do you mind if I tag along? I want to see my dad."

She was surprised but she smiled at him again. "Sure, Arthur. Let's go."

"Do you go visit them every day?" Arthur asked as they walked side by side.

Tessia shook her head even as she marveled at how normal she was acting around him. Recently, she could actually hold a normal conversation without feeling like she would fall into pieces. This was good.

"Not every day, but whenever I can. I only have a few minutes today. I have to go back right after. There is a council meeting I need to go to."

He looked at her, squinting. "You've been busy."

"Yes," she said. "It helps. Otherwise, I'd be moping around and just letting things overwhelm me, you know?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I know exactly what you mean."

She glanced at his arm, a large nasty scar flowing across his forearm, most likely from his time as a prisoner of war. "How's everything going?"

He gave a snort full of feeling. "It's been hard. Ellie and Mom both have left to go to Alacrya now. I know that they are safe, and Caera said she would protect them, but I can't help but worry about them. Ellie wants to spread her wings, and I love her too much to stand in her way. It's been hard finding my place now that the war is over...I am getting there, slowly but surely."

"I'm glad," she said. She truly was. When she'd seen him after he came home, she'd worried that his mental trauma would be one more thing he'd have to deal with in a life already filled with so many obstacles. So many experiences that would have drowned anyone else.

They reached the cemetery and silently went their separate ways, Arthur going to visit his father while Tessia prayed over her parents' graves after she lit candles and cleaned the stones bearing their names. After about half an hour, she felt Arthur's presence behind her, patiently waiting for her while respecting her privacy.

She sat down with her knees up, patted the seat next to her, and looked up at him. "I'm staying for a couple more minutes. I like it here. It's quiet and I can think about a lot of things. You're welcome to join me if you want."

He hastily sat down next to her, crossed-legged, his right arm and leg brushing up against hers, invading her space.

She smiled inwardly. A little too close, but I'm not going to complain.

"So what kinds of things do you think about?" he asked.

A surprised laugh escaped her before she could stop it. "Where do I start?!" she said.

He smiled at her and then glanced back at Alduin's grave. "I can guess why you're here all the time. I heard you the last time when you were talking to them. How are things going on the political side?"

"It's a mess!" she said with a chuckle. "But we're working on it. Many families have been split apart due to the war, as people fled with those they could get their hands on to safer places during the invasion of Elenoir. It's hard work, but seeing people's smiling faces when they run into their loved one's arms makes it all worth it."