TBATE: A Hero's Return

I will overcome

ARTHUR LEYWIN

"I am sorry Arthur," Caera said. "I wish I could confirm otherwise."

I stood up sharply, feeling closed in by the walls of the dingy seeming room in Alacrya where Caera got her work done. I don't look her in the eyes. "You promised."

"I know," Caera looked down, looking dejected behind her cluttered desk. "All guards on the scene were killed, and there are no witnesses for us to question what happened. If I could, I would change places with them in a heartbeat."

I turned my back to her, leaning on the edge of the desk. "I know. I'm sorry for snapping. You did your best."

Caera, as usual, was unmoved by my temper. She was probably one of the only people on the planet to not feel threatened by me no matter how mad I get. She instead crossed over to the other side of the desk, and rested her hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I would do the same in your shoes."

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "What am I going to do?"

Caera looked at me with a sympathetic smile. I knew she was trying to be empathetic and comforting, but all it served to do was irritate me more.

I brushed off her hand before speaking, still not meeting her eye. "I need some space right now."

I saw her nod silently before I walked out without saying goodbye, spilling out into the street behind Caera's office. I paced the length of the street, everything compounding and building. I have worked too hard to get here for everything to end like this.

"Fuck," I said to myself, eyes stinging. My breathing is heavy and I felt on the edge of losing control completely.

I had no idea what to do. But I do know where I want to go.

Silently without another word, I took a portal back from Alacrya to Zestier, wanting and desiring the comfort of the one I love.

I knew she was in a meeting with the Sapin nobles that came down for an official visit, so I simply asked her to come to the alleyway nearby when she got the chance via a communication artifact.

I paced up and down the alley as I waited. I felt like I was going to crawl out of my own skin.

I heard the quiet click-clack of a woman's formal shoes, and there she was. She looked absolutely beautiful. She peered down the alley, clearly trying to find the obscure location I had given her.

Her eyes took me in in a sweep. I knew I should stop pacing, but just couldn't. It was all that was stopping me from putting my fist into the brick wall nearby, really.

She walked up to me, glancing around. "Should we go somewhere?"

I reached for her, backing her up against the wall. "Do we have to?"

I had talked her down when she was on the edge of straight-up maiming some pompous nobles getting all haughty during a meeting before. Right now, I needed her to return the favor and get me off this goddamned cliff.

She didn't say anything, her eyes intent on my face, and I got the feeling she could read exactly how close I was to breaking. Saw it and yet still wasn't running the other way.

"No," she said, fingers digging in on my hips as she pulled me flush against her body. God, this was exactly what I needed. Her warmth as she wrapped her arms around me is soothing, and I suddenly feel calmer now than I was moments before. "We can stay right here."

Carriages rumbled past at the other end of the alley, and the occasional person walked by. She is the princess, soon-to-be queen. She really shouldn't be seen here. But nothing a little magic couldn't fix.

I tried, but my hands and my magic abilities didn't seem like they wanted to cooperate with me today.

"Art," she said, her hand covering my shaking ones. I didn't even realize they had been shaking.

"Don't," I said. "Please don't ask."

She eyed me for a moment before doing a competent flick of her wrist. Soon, a web of vines surrounded us, creating a small pocket of privacy. It wouldn't stop someone from seeing something was out of the ordinary if they peer into the shadows of the alleyway we are in, but it's enough.

She then pulled on the collar of my shirt, pressing her lips against my own.

For a while, I was able to forget, to take comfort in the embrace of the one I loved. I was so lost on what to do, except for here and now. Except with her.

All I wanted to do was stay there in the moment.

When it was done, I told myself that I would pick up all these pieces and find a way forward.

I will overcome this. Somehow.