Ethereal

A Name Remembered

Astrid stood there in shock, all the color draining from her face.

"I knew you'd react like that.. I'm sorry." he said while looking back at his feet. Astrid remained quiet and stared at him. "Please.." his voice started again. "Don't tell Oliver that I'm David.. I.. I don't exactly want to die.."

"Neither did he, and yet you tried to kill him. What makes you any better?" she said, her eyes gleaming, full of anger. David did not reply. "Huh? Tell me. What makes you think you have any right to hold the power over life and death?" she said, tears welling in her eyes.

"I don't. You're right.. I was stupid. I never should have done this. I was mad that he killed while he was blinded by rage, but here I am trying to do the same.. I'm sorry."

She sighed and looked at him. 'He truly means it..' she thought to herself. "Alright."

"W-what? You mean you won't tell him?" he asked, his voice full of an even mixture of relief and confusion.

"No, I won't tell him. I do have a request though."

"Name it. If it's in my power, I shall grant it." David said, leaning his whole body forward towards Astrid.

Astrid looked down at her feet."W-well, I wanted to know if you'd allow me to come an visit you while you're here. I want to still talk to you."

"You.. still want to talk to me? Even after everything I said and did..?" David looked at her, baffled by her request.

"O-of course. As long as you are okay with it. I don't think you're a bad person, David. You didn't mean for this to happen. You just wanted to make something right, but you were a little misguided as to how to do that." she said, walking towards him again. She knelt down in front of him and he leaned up again.

"Thank you, uh.. I.. never quite caught your name.."

"It's Astrid."

"Divinely beautiful.. divinely strong.. It suits you." David said as Astrid blushed uncontrollably.

"I-I'm sorry?" she said, her face red.

"Your name. That's what it means. It's Norse."

"Oh, I never knew that.. What does your name mean?" she asked. David laughed at her question.

"The name David means 'beloved', yet I hardly feel it. I've always been a loner."

"You never know. Maybe you haven't realized that someone loves you, maybe you love someone and don't realize it yet. Life is weird like that." she said, flashing David a huge smile.

David looked at her. 'She is as wise as she is beautiful' he thought as he smiled back at her."I hadn't thought about that. Thank you."

"No problem." she said as she pulled him into another hug. This time, he didn't tense of flinch. He accepted it and leaned into her embrace. "Well, I need to get back upstairs. Oliver will be livid if he found out I was here without a guard..".

"Alright. Thank you, Astrid. You know, for talking to me.. and not being afraid of me.." Astrid released him from the hug and smiled at the young man. She stood up and walked back to the stairs. "Goodbye." called out David. Astrid simply smiled once more and waved as she walked up the steps and out of David's view.