Cassyus's POV:
Cassyus stood, melded in the shadows cast by the castle walls, he watched as Arella disappeared behind the door. His heart pounded in his chest as he could remember the feeling of her hand in his and the softness of her skin against his own. He let out a breath he didn't realize he held onto, shook his head and began to walk away.
'How long can I keep this up? She is getting too close, and I can't stop myself from being near her again, just like we used to all those years ago. Gods, I never stopped loving her.' He thought to himself. Sadness clouded his eyes as he continued to move away from the castle.
Just as he was about to descend the hill and disappear from view, Cassyus caught a shadow that darted from the corner of his eye. He turned and readied himself for whatever lay within the darkness.
"So, you are back huh." a deep gruff voice rumbled from behind. He spun around to find none other than Kaylln who stood a few feet from him. His stature was impressive, built like an ox with sturdy shoulders, hands meant for slaying monsters for sport. Kaylln always had been a muscular, well-built guy but he had truly become an intimidating man over the years.
Kaylln crossed his arms and jerked his head toward the Lake, the same one where he and Arella sat and talked hours earlier. Cassyus stiffened as Kaylln moved to his left side, they walked in tense silence until they reached the bottom of the hill where the Lake met the grass. Kaylln broke the silence before Cassyus got a chance to gather his thoughts.
"After all this time you finally decided to show up. You have some nerve I'll give you that. And massive balls to approach Arella again after what you did." Kaylln spoke, his voice dripped with a slow simmering anger. He turned to face Cassyus, eyes burned with rage, and what appeared to be a tinge of sadness. "You better have a damn good reason to step back into our lives after all these years."
Cassyus shuddered at Kaylln's harsh words, he knew that the odds were against him for getting a warm welcome home but he could not have expected this. He quickly realized there would be no way to talk his way out of this. He sighed and raised his hands up to show he was unarmed and not a threat.
"Please Kaylln, I harbor no ill intent, truly. I heard about what happened to Lord Alexios and Lady Rae -" Cassyus was cut off by Kaylln's indignant scoff. Kaylln unfolded his arms and stepped closer, a sarcastic smile plastered on his face.
"Lord and Lady Evynne died nearly two years ago to the day Cassyus. Your time for condolences and comfort has long passed." Kaylln's voice cold, his demeanor matching. He took another step closer, closing the cap to ensure he could grab Cassyus if necessary. "Why did you actually return?"
Cass's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? It cannot have been that long. I started making my way to Evynne the moment I caught wind of the news." His voice was firm as he relaxed his shoulders, releasing the tension he had been holding. Kaylln shook his head, folding his arms once more.
"They were murdered two years ago, the anniversary is next month, on the 13th day. News travels fast across Foristol. It would not have taken you this long to get back to Evynne even if you were at the top of the furthest peak of the Strayvn Mountains." Kaylln placed himself just inches from Cassyus's face, he loomed in front of him like a wolf about to lunge onto prey. "Lie to me again…" His hand hovered over the hilt of his longsword.
Cassyus's face hardened, taking a half step to eliminate any space that remained between them. "Do it then. Rid me and be done with it. Arella would be better off for it, and it certainly would be doing me a favor." His voice ice as the words slid out of his throat. Kaylln's eyes narrowed at Cassyus. He let out a breath in a huff and moved his hand from his sword, placing it on his hip.
"The only reason I have not done so already is because of her. She has gone through so much as it is, I could never hurt her by taking away someone she..." Kaylln's voice trailed off, his eyes softened ever so slightly at the thought of Arella. He sighed and shook his head. "Tell me why you are actually here."
"I told you already Kaylln. I did not realize it took so long, but you know nothing of travel with the world in the state that it is. There is no city like Evynne, not everyone takes kindly to our people Kay." Cass's eyes darkened at the memory of his travels. He looked back toward the castle; thoughts raced and suffocated his mind. There is so much he wanted to tell her, apologize for, explain if he could.
Cassyus brought his gaze back to Kaylln, someone he once saw as his best friend, now stood before him no better than a stranger with the shell of a friend. He softened his face slightly, how he wished to go back to the simpler times. He looked at the details of his face, Kaylln's brown eyes an unreadable sea with every emotion he could name floating within their depths.
It took Cassyus a few moments but the realization finally hit him.
"You love her." Cassyus said calmly.
Kaylln remained unphased by his statement. His eyes remained hard and cold; his stance never faltered. "What I feel does not matter. Nothing changes. I am here to protect her and the people she governs. I am the Commander of the ShadowFlame Knights, you will do well to remember that the next time you address me." He looked over at the castle and then quickly went back at Cassyus.
"I will not tell Arella about anything that transpired here, I will not tell her who you are on one condition." He paused as he looked into Cassyus's eyes. "You will tell her; you will tell her you lied and hid from her. You will tell her the truth, nothing left out. If you do not, I will, and you will not like how." His voice carried across the empty water.
Cassyus nodded, squaring his shoulders toward Kaylln. "I swear this to you, in the eyes of the Gods old and new, I will never hurt her. I will never leave Arella, or you ever again. I will care for and cherish her, now until the day I die no matter what happens." Conviction poured out of every word. Kaylln chuckled bitterly, his eyes darkened at his former friend's vow.
"Your empty words mean nothing to me. You do not need to prove anything to me, but everything to Arella." He sighed heavily before he continued. "I assume you have no place to stay in the city. Arella will kill me if she ever found out that I let you sleep on the streets, you can stay in one of my squire's empty barracks rooms. Move whatever personal belongings you have silently, my men are trying to sleep." Kaylln turned to leave, pausing for a moment to turn back to Cassyus one last time.
"If you hurt her...let's, just say the Gods would have more mercy than I would." He spoke, venom clung onto each word as he spun around and disappeared into the night.