Days had passed, the tension still between Alaric and Rosalind and Eleanor, but always there. It was a presence that hovered like a gray fog and refused to budge. Rosalind had not approached either of them, not since that horrible night, her usual affection replaced with a stony politeness that hurt where anger could not. Every smile she threw Alaric was an unspoken promise, though she was certainly not a woman who couldn't forget. She tried to.
In stark contrast, Eleanor resumed her mask of politeness. She did not think twice about discussing her work in the village and chatted smoothly with Alaric with all the coldness or friendliness he had grown used to, but Alaric felt that beneath his placid surface, he could feel a change-the way of their relationship being one neither of them said a word about.
Alaric spent much of the time alone, reliving all that he did and its aftermath. He missed the companionship, the easy laughter with which they would spend their afternoons together, which could never be the same again. And then, of course, there was Eleanor, whose presence seemed simultaneously to stabilize and destabilize him.
One evening, after yet another long day of patrols and quiet tension, Alaric sat by the edge of the village, looking out into the distance as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was cool, carrying the scent of the coming autumn, and the village behind him buzzed with the quiet hum of activity.
He heard the sound of footsteps and turned to see Rosalind coming towards him, her face unreadable. Alaric's heart leaped into his throat. This was the first time they were alone since their difficult conversation, and he didn't know if he was prepared for whatever this encounter was going to bring.
"Hey," Rosalind said softly, standing a few feet away from him. Her voice was tentative, as if she were testing the waters.
"Hey," Alaric said, his voice low. He stood up, not wanting to sit when she was standing, but not knowing what to do with himself.
Rosalind crossed her arms, her eyes drifting toward the horizon. For a long moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them palpable.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking," Rosalind finally said, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. "About everything."
Alaric nodded, though he didn't trust himself to speak just yet.
Rosalind let out a small, shaky breath before turning to face him fully. "I'm still hurt, Alaric. I won't pretend that I'm not. But I've realized that I can't keep avoiding you forever. We're too connected, too… intertwined for that."
Alaric's chest tightened. "Rosalind, I—"
She raised a hand, stopping him gently. "Let me finish."
He fell silent, his chest pounding in his heart.
"This hasn't been easy for me," she went on, her voice heavy. "I thought I knew where we stood and then everything just flipped over so fast. But I've had time to think now, and I realize maybe I was holding onto an idea of you, of us that wasn't all that real."
Alaric felt a pang of guilt at the words, but Rosalind wasn't going to let it stop her.
"I'm not saying I'm over it," she said, shaking a little. "But I'm starting to understand sometimes things just… change. And maybe that's all right."
Alaric searched her face, where he saw the vulnerability, and the openness that had made her so easy to love. "Rosalind, I never wanted to hurt you.".
"I know," she whispered, her eyes welting up with unshed tears. "I believe you."
Neither of them spoke for a moment, but all the weight of what had gone between them sat there, suspended in the air. Then Rosalind took a step forward and softened her gaze.
"I don't even know what is awaiting for us in the future," she said, quietly, though firm. "Yet now I do not want to lose you at all. Maybe we could turn the clock back and again get back to who we both were before. Though in my heart I sense a feeling that there will exist something for us which feels right for both, though it's something entirely different."
Alaric's heart overflowed with gratitude for her words, the kindness she offered him as a result of what he'd done to hurt her. He nodded his head, his voice breaking into rough emotion. "I would like that, too, Rosalind. More than anything."
A tiny smile tried to emerge from the corner of her mouth, though it failed to touch her eyes. "Good. I think that's a start."
They stood there another moment, the quiet was no longer unpleasant but instead full of promise for something different. It was nothing like the casual friendship once known, yet it was something—to build on.
"I have to go," said Rosalind quietly and glanced back over at the village. "I am glad we talked,"
"Me too," Alaric said, looking after her as she walked away, disappearing into the fading light.
As Rosalind walked away, Alaric felt a strange sense of relief and sadness. Their conversation had been healing in its way, but it had also marked the end of something. What they had before was gone, replaced by something more complicated, more fragile. But at least now, there was the hope of moving forward—of finding new ground to stand on.
---
The next day, he went to the training area. Maybe some sword play would clear his head a bit. He had gotten used to the routine sparring flow over the years to help him think. And after the last discussion with Rosalind, he felt the growing necessity to center himself in that regard.
He worked his way through a series of strikes and parries when he heard the familiar voice behind him.
"Your form's improved since last time.".
Alaric turned to see Eleanor standing at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed and a small smirk playing on her lips.
"Watching me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Not intentionally," she replied with a shrug, though the glint in her eyes suggested otherwise. "But you're hard to miss when you're swinging a sword around like that."
Alaric laughed, feeling some tension in his chest ease at her teasing. "Gladdened to know I at least entertain."
Eleanor stepped closer, her gaze very appraising as she stared at him. "Though you're getting better though. You're more concentrated.".
Alaric nodded, though he wasn't sure if his concentration was a result of increased ability or a strong desire to avoid everything that was going on in his life. "I've had much to consider."
Eleanor's face relaxed a little and she leaned against the fence along the training ground. "How did it go with Rosalind?
Alaric sighed and put down his sword and turned to her. "We talked. It was. difficult, but I think we're finding a way forward. Not going to be the same, but she wants to try and stay in each other's lives."
Eleanor nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "That's good. That's a sign of strength, for both of you.".
Alaric gazed at her, his chest constricting slightly at the manner in which she spoke. She always seemed to grasp things so clearly, bringing into his life a light of understanding that dispelled confusion and doubt.
He thanked her softly. "Thanks for everything. You have been… a good friend."
Eleanor's glance stayed on his for an instant, something unvoiced crossing between them. "We have gone through a lot together, Alaric. I'd have liked to think that stands for something.".
Alaric nodded, though he felt the weight of those words more deeply than he could ever possibly express. They had been through a lot, and their connection had grown stronger with each shared experience, each conversation. But with that connection came an undeniable pull-one that Alaric wasn't sure how to navigate.
She then slid off from the fence as she laughed and said, "Well, I let you go back to practicing. Don't over-practice yourself.".
He watched her go, with a mix of emotions churning within him. There was something silent between them, something that hung in the balance, just beyond his reach. Tonight, though he let it alone, maybe because he felt they'd have some more time to understand it.
As Eleanor disappeared from view, Alaric lifted his sword once more and felt its weight in his hand. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt he was ready to face whatever came next.