The soft warmth of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the bedroom.
I stirred first, my senses slowly returning as the scent of lavender clung to my skin. Aeliana was still curled against me, her head tucked beneath my chin and her fingers loosely intertwined with mine.
The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest against me was a comfort I hadn't realised I needed so badly.
I tilted my head to look at her. Her black hair was slightly dishevelled, but her face was peaceful, almost serene, as if the events of the past days had been nothing more than a fleeting nightmare.
A bruise along her jaw was a stark reminder of reality, though, and I clenched my free hand into a fist, the memory of Nathaniel's cruelty flickering through my mind.
But I wouldn't let that steal this moment from us. Not today.
Her lashes fluttered, and she shifted slightly, her lips parting as she murmured something inaudible. I leaned closer. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
Her eyes opened, unfocused at first, but when they found mine, they lit up with a quiet joy that made my heart ache. "Morning," she whispered, her voice still laced with sleep.
I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It's not morning anymore, you know. We slept through the entire morning. It's nearly lunchtime."
Her cheeks flushed, and she buried her face against my shoulder. "You let me sleep that long?"
"You needed it," I said simply, running my fingers down her back in soothing strokes. "And if I'm honest, so did I."
She tilted her head to meet my gaze again, her expression softening. "You've been through so much, Ciara. You shouldn't have had to fight so hard for me."
"Don't start with that," I said firmly, though my tone was gentle. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. Nothing."
Her eyes glistened, but she blinked quickly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Alright. But only if you let me make today about you too."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"
"You'll see," she said, her smile growing mischievous as she sat up, stretching.
I followed her, taking a moment to admire the way the sunlight caught in her hair and lit up her green eyes. She looked radiant, even in the simplest of robes.
For a brief moment, I imagined her in her wedding dress again, and a pang of longing coursed through me. That vision, that day, had been stolen from us.
But as she turned and reached for my hand, I reminded myself that we had the most important thing back: each other.
In the dining room, the staff had outdone themselves. The long table was set with an array of dishes that smelled heavenly roasted meats, fresh bread, an assortment of cheeses, and an array of fruit so vibrant it looked like it had been plucked straight from a painting.
Aeliana led me to the table, pulling out a chair for me with exaggerated flourish. "My lady," she said with a grin.
I laughed, shaking my head as I sat down. "You're ridiculous."
She sat across from me, a playful glint in her eyes. "You love it."
"I do," I admitted, reaching for her hand across the table. Her fingers slid into mine, and for a moment, we just sat there, holding on to each other as the world outside seemed to fade away.
The first bite of food was like heaven. The flavours danced on my tongue, and I realised just how long it had been since I'd had a proper meal. Aeliana watched me, a satisfied smile on her face as she picked at her plate.
"You're not eating much," I observed.
"I'm just happy watching you," she said softly. "You've been through so much, Ciara. Seeing you here, safe, enjoying something simple like this... it means everything to me."
Her words made my chest tighten, and I put down my fork, leaning across the table to kiss her hand. "We're here together. That's all that matters."
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she squeezed my hand. "I know. But you're always so strong, so focused on everyone else. Let me take care of you for once."
I chuckled. "You already do, Aeliana. More than you know."
Her eyes shimmered, and she reached for a piece of bread, tearing it in half and holding it out to me. "Here, then. Let me feed you."
I arched an eyebrow but leaned forward, letting her place the morsel in my mouth. She giggled, and the sound was so pure and full of life that it made my heart ache. This was the Aeliana I knew, the woman who could find joy even in the smallest moments.
We spent the meal like that, laughing and teasing each other, the weight of the past few days temporarily lifted.
She insisted on trying to outdo herself with every bite, creating little combinations of food on my plate and waiting expectantly for my reaction.
I played along, overdramatising my delight with every bite, which only made her laugh harder.
As the meal wound down, I leaned back in my chair, feeling a warmth I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. Not just from the food, but from Aeliana's presence, her laughter, her unwavering love.
She stood then, coming around the table to kneel beside me. Her hand rested on my knee, her eyes searching mine. "Ciara," she began softly, her voice trembling just slightly, "I... I'm so sorry."
"For what?" I asked, reaching down to cup her face.
"For ruining the wedding," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her gaze dropped, shame flickering in her eyes.
"Aeliana," I said firmly, tilting her chin up so she had to look at me. "The wedding wasn't ruined. It was just postponed. And it wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault."
"But—"
"No buts," I interrupted, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "When we stand together in that field again, when we say our vows, it will be because we're ready, because the day is ours. Not stolen, not tainted by fear or pain. It'll be perfect, just like you."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she smiled, leaning into my touch. "You always know what to say."
"That's because I know you," I said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. It was tender, lingering, and filled with all the promises I couldn't yet put into words.
When we finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine, her breath mingling with mine. "Let's make a new promise," she whispered.
"What promise?" I asked.
"That no matter what happens, no matter what tries to come between us, we'll always fight for this. For us."
I smiled, pressing another kiss to her forehead. "I promise, Aeliana. Always."
She smiled back, her tears drying, and in that moment, I knew we'd find our way forward together.
The warmth of Aeliana's hand in mine was grounding as we lingered in the dining room, unwilling to part from the moment.
Her emerald eyes still held a glimmer of moisture, but her smile was radiant, full of the love we had fought so hard to preserve.
I squeezed her fingers gently, and she tilted her head, giving me a look that melted the last of my lingering fatigue.
"Come with me," I said softly, standing and helping her to her feet.
"Where to?" she asked, a playful curiosity in her tone.
"You'll see," I replied with a sly smile.
Leading her by the hand, I guided her out into the castle gardens. The air was crisp and refreshing, a light breeze rustling through the trees and carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers.
The garden had always been one of my favourite places—a quiet sanctuary where I could gather my thoughts or find peace amidst the chaos.
Now, it was the perfect backdrop for a moment of respite with Aeliana.
We stopped by a small fountain at the heart of the garden, its gentle trickling sound adding to the serene atmosphere.
The sunlight danced on the water's surface, creating a mosaic of light and shadow that reflected in her eyes. She looked around, her lips parting in wonder.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Not as beautiful as you," I said, and her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head, a soft laugh escaping her.
"Stop that," she murmured, though I could tell she didn't mean it.
"Never," I said firmly, lifting her hand to my lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "You deserve to hear it every day."
We sat together on the edge of the fountain, our hands still entwined as we talked about everything and nothing.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was no urgency, no looming threat hanging over us. Just the two of us, together, in a moment that felt untouched by the world's harshness.
Aeliana leaned her head against my shoulder, her auburn hair cascading over my arm. "You know," she began, her voice light, "I think this is even better than the grand feast they were preparing for the wedding."
"Oh? And why's that?" I teased.
"Because it's just us," she said simply, looking up at me. "No guests, no pressure, no interruptions. Just you and me. This is what I've always wanted."
Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. "Then let's make a promise," I said, my voice soft but steady.
"What kind of promise?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.
"No matter where we go or what we face, we'll always find moments like this. Just for us."
Her smile was bright as she nodded, leaning up to press a tender kiss to my lips. "I promise," she whispered.
As we sat there, the sun warm on our skin, I knew that no matter what challenges awaited us, we would face them together.