A Court of Shadows and Stars; Azriel

II

6 months later...

{3rd person PoV}

Lorelai awoke to the sound of critters and insects scurrying about in the woodland outside her window. Soft moonlight shone through her window and the early morning breeze made the silk curtains dance.

Lorelai quickly gathered her bedding and made it neatly. Even though it was dark out, it was still miserably humid. Thus Lorelai decided not to wear her usual running clothes- Black leather pants and a thick, black tunic.

After a few minutes of rummaging through her wardrobe she decided to wear black leggings, a tight, black leather shirt that went above her belly button, and comfortable black boots.

She finished the look off by braiding her long, blonde hair into a simple fishtail plait that hung down her back. Grabbing an apple on her way out, Lorelai headed to the fields where she usually met Azriel for their morning run.

When she arrived to the fields, Azriel was perched atop a log and sharpening a stick with his knife. As she approached he looked up.

''Sleeping in I see''.

''I'm only a few minutes late, Az''.

''And what are you wearing?''

Lorelai looked down to her clothes before simply responding, ''Clothes'' in a duh tone.

Azriel shook his head before looking back to her. ''Those are hardly clothes. At least not clothes that a Lady would wear''.

''Good thing I'm not a Lady, then'', Lorelai said while smirking.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. ''While that may be true, you are still late. Give me an extra lap.''

Lorelai simply rolled her eyes and said one last thing before sprinting off, ''Come on, Az. That's hardly a punishment. You know that I love running''.

It was true. Lorelai loved running. She loved the wind in her face, the burning in her lungs, the way her hair bounced off her back, the ache in her legs. Lorelai was on her second lap when Azriel joined her.

After a few laps in comfortable silence, Lorelai asked the question that was on both of their minds.

''Do you think that we will be able to beat Hybern?"

Azriel kept his gaze on the trail ahead of them. After a few moments he said, ''He may have won the battle in Adriata, but we will win the war.''

Lorelai knew he was keeping something in, but she remained silent.

It was true. Azriel did believe that they would win the war against Hybern. What he didn't mention to Lorelai was that he had a strong feeling that they will lose something along the way.

After a few more laps, they decided to stop running and take a break before begininng combat training. Lorelai sat on a log and drank some water while Azriel was doubled over, trying to catch his breath. Azriel sat down beside Lorelai and thanked her when she handed him the flask.

The sun was only starting to rise. The pair sat there in comfortable silence as the sun rose, each enjoying the other's company.

The sky became filled with a beautiful mix of oranges, pinks, and purples. Clouds moved in shoals until equal parts of blue and choruses of grey were streaked with golds and silvers.

It was evident, just as it is every morning to the two, that beauty and light can still be found in the world.

{Lorelai PoV}