In the Shadows

Chapter 14: Returned

Aaron's POV

The slap hurt much to my surprise. But none the less I did not react until she was out of sight, that's when I rubbed my cheek. I could see where Alex got her strength.

"Ow..." I mumbled to myself as the stinging subsided, and I stopped in my tracks.

"...I am sorry you had to go through that..." Alex started it seemed as if she truly blamed her self for her mother slapping me.

I shook my head and grabbed her hands in my own. "There is nothing to worry about, I have been through worse than that," I replied with a laugh, then my expression hardened. "More importantly, it is you that I am worried about. With all that happened... Are you sure that you are alright?"

She nodded. "I am well Aaron, you do not have to worry about me." However I could tell that she was pained, but she was too proud to admit it out loud. Reacting without thinking, I pulled her arm and embarrassed her tightly against my chest.

"You do not sound alright at all Alex..." I murmured quietly to her. She stayed quiet for a while and then I heard her soft sobs, I tightened my grip around her. After a while she stepped back a bit. I used my thumb to wipe the tears off her face.

"So much has happened," she said, surprisingly her breathing was even, it was if she hadn't cried at all.

"I know." Between her brother, to coming home and finding out that she was engaged, to the attack on the castle; a lot happens in our lives but even that is too much. "But we are okay and everything will turn out well."

"How do you know? Every time something good happens something horrible happens and as of late more bad has been happening than good."

"But this is good, us." She walked away from me and sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Alex."

"I cannot return to the guild."

"Why not?"

"I am needed here. The families in my land depend on us and since I became associated with the guild they have not been taken care of and if I am not in Court the other nobles and the king will try to do something drastic."

"Then have my brothers take care of it. They have seen what it is like in Court due to my father. Unless there is something else."

"I need a husband, the Court was willing to tolerate me because my brother was still in charge but with him gone, they do not think I should run my estate alone. And not only that, but my land needs heirs, my family cannot die out."

"Are you saying we cannot be together?" She looked down at the ground. "Alex."

"Please Aaron, please do not make this harder."

"Alex, we are just able to be together."

"You think I do not realize that?" She looked up at me, tears were streaming down her face. "You think that this hasn't gone through my mind since Liz told me she was taking my place? Do you think this is not killing me inside? Aaron there is nothing in this world that I want more than to be with you."

"Then come back to the guild with me."

"Aaron..."

"Alex, please."

I couldn't live without her. I didn't want to try to live my life without her being in it. It may just have been two years since she entered my life, but I could no longer imagine it without her being there, smiling, laughing, fighting beside me, making me worry beyond belief; I didn't want to imagine what it would be like if she weren't there. She was my everything now and I could not leave her ever.

"Fine, for a little while longer."

"You know you'll be there longer than a little while."

"You know with my luck we will get into another war. We should leave now before the wedding ends and people want answers."

"Are we just going to leave Liz and Luca to answer the questions?"

"Pretty much, you have a problem with that?"

"...No, I don't, let's go."

We went to the stable, got two horses, and rode off towards the guild. It was a silent ride I do not know if that was a good thing or not. She still seemed troubled, but I would not force her to tell me anything she was not ready for.

We made good time when we arrived at the guild. It was not yet dark.

"Stop!" someone yelled.

"Uh oh," Alex whispered.

"Boys it is just us!" I yelled up at them.

"Alex is not allowed to enter the guild Aaron," one of the men shouted.

"Aaron, the king forbade me from coming into the guild," Alex said to me.

"Well what are we going to do?" I asked.

"Boys! I need to speak to Elliot, if you could just tell him to come out here!" she yelled. There was a moment of silence. "I won't be going into the guild, so the king's order remain in tact." A minute later the doors opened and Elliot came out. Alex started to speak before either of us got the chance.

She explained what events had occurred that day, explaining that she did not need to kept out any longer. Elliot stood there and listened the entire time with no expression on his face.

"I see, but the king has not retracted his orders," Elliot said, there was one thing Elliot would never do and that was going against the king.

"Elliot please, I will go speak with him in the morning, just let me in for the night," Alex practically begged. It occurred to me that Alex must have been thinking that the guild is her home and right now she is being kept out of it. Everyone knew that after a long mission, nothing was better than getting back to the guild.

"Fine, just for tonight, but you have to go see the king tomorrow morning," he said and then the three of us walked into the guild.

"Hey Aaron, you're back?" Cecil asked. "Alex? What the hell?"

"Cecil I would love to explain, but I am far too tired," Alex said and then she walked past everyone and then went into the hall that lead into her room. I told Cecil what happened.

"Wow and Alex told that to her mother?" he asked.

"Yeah, she was pretty upset," I said.

"Do you think she will apologize to her?" Elliot asked.

"She needs to calm down, too much has happened and she cannot process it all. She needs a break, do not send her on any missions for a while, she needs to rest, she needs to be able to process and grieve," I said.

"I think we can handle that, but the king still has to let her back in," Elliot said.

"That will not be a problem," I replied.

"I hope not, I like having Alex here," Cecil said.

"When we get her brought in, we can send a message to Christine so she and Lynn can return as well," I said.

"I am going out on mission, rest easy Aaron," Cecil said before he left the guild.

"Get some rest Aaron," Elliot said. I nodded and then went off to my room. When I got there I saw Alex sitting on my bed.

"Alex? Are you alright?" I asked as I sat down next to her.

"Aaron, I do not want to be alone tonight," she replied. I looked at her.

"You do not have to be," I replied.

"Aaron! Wake up!" I heard Joel shout, but I did not love much. I moved my arms to make sure if Alex was there or not, thankfully she had already left. "The king is here."

My eyes shot open and I jumped out of bed, the king arriving could not be anything good.