When All You Have are Embers

XXVII

Aurora

Stolas roamed the village to gather new men to add to their army. Very little convincing was necessary as everyone was just as eager to get out as he was.

Aurora had spent most of the day in the tent with Oliver and Sam. She had learned that Sam had places to be, and with the help of Stolas's magic he'd be sent back up, and returned to his normal size by the end of the week.

Aurora wanted to ask what places and responsibilities were so important, but she didn't want to pry.
The tent was peaceful in the evenings. When the village had blown out all their candles and lanterns and the only light was now the purple crystal lamps and other gems on the ceiling.
Moments before Sam had stepped out of the tent to go for a walk and left Aurora alone with Oliver.
As Aurora was combing Oliver's hair on the floor the tent's curtains flung open.
Stolas walked in with a vacant expression on his face.

"Are you alright?" Aurora asked picking up Oliver and carrying his very tired body over to Stolas.

"I'm just fine, Rory." He said. "I'm so sorry... For everything." He said.
Aurora was caught off guard by his words, she didn't expect this from him at all.

"Well..." She sighed as she put Oliver, who was now fast asleep, onto a soft cushion on the ground.
"You have no choice." She said.

Aurora had come to terms that everything that was happening was no one's fault, and she couldn't change it no matter how mad she got at Stolas.

"I wish I didn't have to."

"We all wish that."

A fog that hung in the air outside the tent began to creep through the curtains.
"I have doubts, Rory."

"Doubts? You were named after a great Prince of the afterlife. You possess his magic in your veins."

"I don't know where I'm going. I fear my future is undecided. It's all blurry."

"I will tell you where you're going. I will decide your future. If you will let me."

"I will."

"Your future is with me." She said as she pulled him close, into a hug. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and sighed. "I will be your reason never to doubt. For you are mine." She said. Stolas stared at her as she looked into his eyes with not a single shred of fear. She knew everything would be beautiful once again if they just clung onto what little hope they still had.
"I should not have waited for you, I was right." She said.
"I should have always been with you in the first place... And I'm sorry."

"Do not apologise to me. I am the one who has done wrong by you."

"No... You had no choice. It was impossible for you to reach me from down here."

"Then I should have found a way. An impossible way." He said as he held her hands.
"That's what we do. We love each other even when it's impossible. I mean, what do you call you waiting for me at that booth all this time? Everyone else thought I was dead. Why didn't you?"

Aurora took a moment to really understand what he was saying. And he was right, everyone in that village thought he and everyone else that left for war was dead and never going to return. But not her. They all saw her as the crazy woman who couldn't face reality. But that wasn't true. She knew. She always knew, deep down that he was alive. Even when she had no evidence that he was. She knew.

"You're right." She said.

They held each other in a tight hug for a while before someone entered the tent again.