Sebastian rode into the courtyard of the Rohan castle, feeling the weight of his long journey and the encounter he’d had in the Hisidorean forest. Before he even had a chance to dismount, a tall, striking figure in armor strode toward him. Aurelia, his best friend and head of royal guard, her long black hair pulled back and her black eyes flashing with irritation, stood with her hands on her hips.
“Well, where have you been?” she demanded, crossing her arms. “I was moments away from gathering the entire royal guard and launching a search!”
Sebastian chuckled as he dismounted. “Calm down, Aurelia. I just stayed a bit longer on the hunt. That’s all.”
Aurelia scoffed, her voice stern. “How do you expect me to stay calm when the future king is wandering around forests crawling with elves? Do you realize you could have been killed?”
Just then, a young man with dark hair, dressed simply in a white shirt, black pants, and well-worn leather boots, approached them. That was Orath, the royal stableboy, his hands calloused from years of caring for the royal horses. He offered Sebastian a polite nod.
“Your majesty, I’d suggest cutting back on the lengthy rides. The horses come back hungry and exhausted, and with the current supply issues, we’re struggling to feed them properly.”
Sebastian offered a reassuring smile and reached into his saddlebag, producing the roll of lambas bread that Faelyn had gifted him. “Give each horse a small piece of this. It’ll keep them fed and strong for a good while. Then take the rest to the kitchen and share it with the staff.”
Orath raised his eyebrows at the offering but nodded gratefully. “Thank you, your majesty.” He then glanced at Aurelia, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of color. “And miss Aurelia… you look lovely today.”
As Orath led Edek toward the stables, Aurelia blushed, an unusual sight that did not go unnoticed by Sebastian. He smirked, leaning in closer to her. “Still haven’t confessed your feelings to him, have you?”
Aurelia narrowed her eyes at him, though a faint smile softened her expression. “I’ll tell him when the time is right. But, more importantly—where’s your catch? How do you intend to feed the people?”
Sebastian grinned. “What I gave him just now will do more for our people than any hunt could. I’ve met someone who’s… let’s say, more captivating than any prey I could catch.”
Aurelia rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “And you think that will distract me from Orath?”
“I just think you’d better speak up before someone else sweeps him off his feet.” Sebastian replied with a wink. “You two have danced around each other for long enough.” He gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and headed into the castle, leaving Aurelia standing there, slightly flustered.
Taking a deep breath, Aurelia turned and made her way to the stables. Inside, she found Orath brushing Edek, the bundle of lambas bread resting unwrapped on a nearby barrel. She hesitated, her gaze lingering on him as he worked, his movements steady and careful. Gathering her courage, she cleared her throat.
“Orath, may I have a word?”
He looked up, a small, warm smile on his face. “Of course, miss Aurelia. What’s on your mind?”
She took a deep breath, her heart racing. “Orath… I’ve had feelings for you for quite some time now. In fact, I’ve loved you since the day we met.”
Orath froze, the brush slipping from his hand as he turned to face her. His cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. “Aurelia… is that true?”
She nodded, her own cheeks burning. “Yes. I know it might seem unexpected, but I couldn’t hide it any longer.”
Orath took a hesitant step forward, his expression a mix of surprise and joy. “I… I feel the same way. From the very first moment. But I always thought you were out of my reach… you, a knight with such bravery and skill.”
Before he could say another word, Aurelia closed the distance between them, leaning up to press her lips to his in a gentle, lingering kiss. Orath’s arms wrapped around her instinctively, his touch both gentle and warm as he returned her kiss, each of them feeling the weight of years of silent affection lifted at last.
When they finally pulled apart, Orath looked into her eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. “I don’t think I’ll ever have the words to express how long I’ve waited for this moment.”
Aurelia’s fingers brushed his cheek, her smile soft and genuine. “Neither will I.” she whispered.
YOU ARE READING
Sallitia: Age of War
FantasyThe war between humans and magical creatures is raging in full swing. The magical creatures are led by the elves led by king Eburon while the humans are led by the Rohan royal family led by king Caspian. But what will happen when the elven princess...
