The Son of Tyr

Chapter nineteen: The Heart of Darkness

The days that followed the battle were heavy with mourning. Eirik and Valka returned to their camp, their hearts weighed down by loss. The somber atmosphere hung over them like a thick fog, the laughter and camaraderie they once shared replaced by grief.

As they sat together one night, staring into the dying embers of the fire, Eirik finally spoke. "I feel lost, Valka. I thought I was ready to embrace my destiny, but now... now I just feel the weight of it all."

Valka turned to him, her eyes reflecting the flames. "It’s okay to feel that way. Losing Thrain—it’s a heavy burden. But you’re not alone in this. I’m here with you, and I always will be."

Eirik felt a flicker of hope at her words, but it was overshadowed by his guilt. "I should have been able to save him. I should have been stronger."

"You can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders," Valka said, her voice firm yet gentle. "We fight together, remember? We honor the fallen by standing strong for those who remain."

Her words resonated deep within him. He leaned closer, his heart pounding as their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the grief melted away, leaving behind a longing that felt almost unbearable. The air between them crackled with intensity, a tension that had been building since their first kiss.

Eirik reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. "Valka, I... I don’t want to lose you."

"You won’t," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "I promise."

And in that moment, the weight of their shared grief transformed into something deeper, something that drew them closer. Eirik leaned in, capturing her lips with his in a kiss that ignited the fire within him. It was a kiss filled with both longing and reassurance, a promise that they would face whatever darkness lay ahead together.