Two weeks had passed since Xena's brief conversation with the King in the palace gardens. She barely saw him anymore; he was constantly occupied with the affairs of the kingdom. Whenever they did cross paths, Queen Elara ensured Xena was preoccupied with work.
Aldric was determined to live up to his father's legacy. He attended every meeting and personally oversaw various activities. He hoped that keeping busy would distract him from thoughts of Xena. She was the only woman he had ever desired this deeply, yet she seemed so unattainable. He was the most powerful man in the kingdom, yet he couldn't have the one person he truly wanted.
Aldric found himself taking more frequent walks around the palace grounds, lost in thought. His mind was the only place where he could see and speak to his parents, where he could spend time with Xena, and where, for a fleeting moment, his burdens were lifted. He also hoped that, during these walks, he might run into her, but Xena had chosen to avoid the places where they'd usually encounter each other.
She had found a secluded spot far from the oak tree where they had last met—an even more isolated area surrounded by a circle of trees. The grass in the center was overgrown, evidence that no one had visited in quite some time. She took it upon herself to trim the grass and make the spot her own little retreat. All that was missing was the bench from the oak tree. She was almost certain Aldric no longer visited that area, so she stealthily moved the bench to her new hideaway, believing she had gone unnoticed.
She was wrong.
Aldric had been nearby, and he spotted her just in time. He considered calling out to her but decided to follow her quietly instead, curious about where she was going.
Xena, pleased with her newly prepared spot, stood still for a moment, thinking. Perhaps this would be the perfect place to carry out her mission without being caught. The thought of harming Aldric resurfaced, though she had been trying to suppress it. Could she really hurt him, even to save her sister?
Aldric stood behind her, watching her for a while before finally speaking.
"Xena."
She shrieked in surprise, nearly stumbling. Aldric rushed to steady her, his hand catching hers.
"Your Majesty," she whispered, still in shock.
He kept hold of her hand, his gaze intense. "Xena, what's going on? Why are you here? And why do you try so hard to avoid me?"
She saw the longing in his eyes, and guilt flooded her.
"Your Majesty, we both know we can't continue like this. You're the King, and—"
"I've told you not to call me 'Your Majesty,' at least not when we're alone," Aldric interrupted. "I don't want to hear about my position as King, or our duties, or even the Queen. What I need to know is—do you want to be with me, despite everything? Do you want this?"
Xena knew the logical response was to tell him no, to end whatever this was before it went too far. But her heart betrayed her, and she found herself saying the opposite of what she should have.
"Aldric... I want to be with you."
His face lit up instantly. Before Xena could say another word, Aldric lifted her off the ground, wrapping her in a tight embrace. She felt the strength of his arms around her waist and inhaled the familiar scent of his cologne. Her hands instinctively clung to his broad shoulders as he spun her around.
"Your Majesty, put me down!" she laughed, breathless.
"You still need to get used to calling me Aldric," he teased, still spinning her gently before finally setting her down. The laughter faded, replaced by a charged silence between them, heavy with unspoken words.
"Xena," Aldric said softly, stepping closer, "this changes everything."
Her heart raced, but doubt clouded her thoughts. "What if the world outside this moment doesn't allow us to be together? Your duties—"
"Are not everything," he said firmly. "I can't ignore what I feel. You make me feel alive, Xena. More than any throne ever could."
She searched his eyes, looking for sincerity, for a way out of the storm brewing inside her. "But the Queen..."
"I'll never let her hurt you," Aldric assured her, his voice soft but resolute.
Xena shook her head, torn between the warmth of his gaze and the chilling reality of her sister's fate. "You don't understand. This isn't just about us," she said, tempted for a moment to reveal the truth about her mission.
"Then let me help you," Aldric pleaded, his brow furrowed in concern. "Tell me what's troubling you. You know I won't let anyone harm you."
She hesitated, unsure of what to say. "The Queen is not your enemy, Aldric. She is your wife, and she deserves your respect."
"We married for the sake of an alliance, out of duty to our families and our people."
For a brief moment, Xena felt a flicker of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of her mission.
"Aldric, we both know we're not meant to be together," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Let's just enjoy this moment, forget everything else—just for today."
His expression softened, the tension in his face easing. He gently ran his fingers through her hair, smoothing the strands that had come loose during his playful embrace.
His intensity made her heart ache. But her mind reminded her of the consequences.
"I need to know you're serious, Aldric," Xena whispered. "This isn't just about romance. This is about your life, your kingdom. Betraying your wife is like betraying your people."
"I understand that," he said, stepping closer, his voice low. "But what we have is real. I feel it every time we're apart, every time we speak. If we're going to do this, we need to be honest with each other. I can't lose you to your fears."
The air between them crackled with unspoken promises. Slowly, Xena nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words.
Aldric smiled, warmth returning to his eyes. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Xena's face flushed immediately.
He chuckled. "It seems your fears didn't stop you from blushing."
She smiled, a little embarrassed. "I can't help it."
"You have no idea how much seeing you today means to me, Xena," Aldric said.
They sat together, talking, and the hours passed like minutes. Eventually, reality intruded—Xena had duties to attend to, and the Queen had sent guards to search for Aldric.
"We should go," Xena said, reluctantly pulling herself back to reality.
"Yes, we should," Aldric replied, his tone somber as the lightness between them faded.
Xena felt the weight of her responsibilities return, but in that moment, standing with Aldric, hope blossomed—a fragile, dangerous hope for what might be. They parted ways, agreeing to meet again in two days at the same secret place.