The storm of the night was spent by morning and the air was fresh and crisp with a golden sunrise spilling across Brackenwood. Rosalind had hardly slept, her mind racing with the decision she had made. There would be no more waiting, no more silently watching as Alaric pined after Eleanor. Today, she would act.
Rosalind dressed carefully that morning, in the pale blue dress she knew to be Alaric's favorite-she remembered his compliment, in his shy manner, mumbling out the words as he always seemed to do. She took a deep breath to calm the nervous fluttering in her stomach as she turned to the small mirror by her window.
She would talk to Alaric today. She would tell him how she felt-how she had always felt. And though that terrified her, it also gave her a strange sense of relief. Whatever he would say, at least the truth would finally be out there.
---
As he often was, Alaric sat under the shade of an ancient oak tree at his favorite spot in the meadow just outside of town. His notebook lay open upon his lap, and he was scribbling furiously, lost to thought. It was a quiet, peaceful place, and one where Rosalind had often found him when he wasn't immured inside the library or wandering down the town's cobblestone streets with his head buried inside some book.
As she drew closer, Rosalind's heart started to race in her chest. What if he didn't feel the same? What if this screwed up their friendship? But she pushed those thoughts aside. She'd made her decision, and she wasn't going to back down now.
"Alaric," she called softly as she neared the tree.
Alaric looked up, startled. His face brightened at the sight of her, and that shy, awkward smile slipped out. "Rosalind! I didn't expect to see you out here."
"I wanted to talk to you," she said, trying to keep her voice even as she sat down beside him.
"Oh, of course!" Alaric said, shutting his notebook and turning toward her, though looking a bit on edge, as if he knew this wasn't just a casual conversation. "What's on your mind?"
Rosalind said nothing for a moment longer, her mind racing to frame just the right words in her mind. She had rehearsed this in her head so many times before, but now, actually sitting there, it seemed rather daunting. Then she remembered the way Eleanor had dismissed Alaric's feelings. A surge of determination welled up inside her.
Alaric," she began, her voice soft and even. "There is something I have to tell you. Something that has been bottled up inside for quite some time."
Alaric blinked, his brow furrowing slightly as he listened, his eyes filled with concern. "Is everything okay?
Rosalind smiled wryly at his obtuseness. "Yes, everything's fine. It's just that. for some time now I have wanted to tell you, but somehow. Alaric, I like you-a lot more than you may know or imagine."
Alaric stared at her, his confusion mounting. "I-I like you too, Rosalind. You are my friend.
Rosalind took a deep breath. "No, Alaric. Not just as a friend. I. I've loved you for a long time."
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Alaric said not a word. His eyes widened in shock, and Rosalind could almost see the wheels in his head turn as he digested what she had just told him.
You. you love me?" he whispered out loud, his voice barely audible, as if he could hardly believe it.
Rosalind nodded, her heart tripping in her chest. "Yes. Long as I can recall, I have been in love with you. But you have always been so focused on Eleanor that I didn't think you'd ever notice.
Alaric opened his mouth, shut it, and tried once more. "I. I had no idea," he finally said, sounding equally surprised. "Rosalind, I-I don't know what to say. This is. unexpected.
Rosalind's heart sank a little at his hesitation, but she pressed on, determined to be brave. "I know it's sudden for you, and I don't expect you to have all the answers right now. But I needed to tell you the truth-I needed you to know how I feel, because. because it couldn't be kept inside anymore.".
A long moment passed as Alaric said nothing, his eyes unmoving from the ground while he digested what Rosalind had just told him. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft and uncertain. "Rosalind, I. I care about you deeply. You're one of my closest friends. But I—I've been so focused on Eleanor.
Rosalind forced a smile, her heart aching from his words. "I know. That's why I needed to tell you. I wanted you to know there is someone who loves you, that's been here all this time.
Alaric stared at her, his face open in a mixture of surprise, confusion, and something else Rosalind couldn't quite trace. "I don't know what to say," he admitted. "This is. a lot to take in."
Rosalind nodded understandingly. "I know. And I don't expect you to have an answer right away. But I couldn't keep faking it anymore. I needed to tell you.
Alaric was silent again, and for a moment, Rosalind wondered if she had made a huge mistake. Then he leaned forward and gently took her hand in his. His touch was warm and reassuring. "Thank you for telling me," he said softly. "I-I don't know what to do with this right now, but. I'm glad you told me.
The words gave Rosalind a flicker of hope, although she knew it would take time for Alaric to sort his emotions. But for now, she was satisfied with him knowing the truth; she had taken the first step, and that was enough.
---
Later that afternoon, long after the conversation had come to an end, Alaric strolled through the woods, his head filled with thoughts. Rosalind's confession had shaken him to his core. He always thought of her as his friend, someone he could talk to, someone who understood him in a way few others did. But love? Never had he considered such an option.
And there was Eleanor.
His heart had long belonged to Eleanor, and he wasn't quite sure how to untangle it now. He was in awe of her beauty, her confidence, her graceful ways. But deep down, he knew his feelings for her were rooted in an idealized version rather than the woman who actually stood before him, and Rosalind's words had brought that truth into sharp focus.
His mind elsewhere, he found himself deep in the woods when the sky began once more to darken ominously. A low rumble of thunder echoed through the trees, and Alaric looked up with a frown to study the approaching storm. He quickened his pace then, hoping to reach town before the rains began.
But before he could take more than a few steps, a figure emerged from the trees ahead.
It was Eleanor.
---
Alaric was so surprised at the sudden emergence of Eleanor that for a moment, he wondered if perhaps she knew something about his conversation with Rosalind. But as she drew near, her usual serene smile was now replaced by an urgent look on her face.
"Alaric," she said, and her firm voice was quite unlike her. "We must talk."
Alaric blinked. "Eleanor? What's going on?
Eleanor looked around as if she was making sure they were well and truly alone before stepping closer to him. "I've been keeping something from you," she whispered. "Something important. And I think it's time I told you the truth."
Alaric's heart skipped a beat. The truth? Whatever was she talking about?
Before he could utter a word, Eleanor plunged ahead, her voice low and serious. "I haven't been entirely honest with you as to why I'm here in Brackenwood. There are things you don't know about me, things that could put us both in danger if they're not handled properly."
Alaric stared at her, his mind whirling. Danger? What on earth could she be referring to?
But before he could reply, Eleanor leaned forward and grasped his hand tightly. "I need your help, Alaric. You're the only one I can trust."