Aria and Alec were walking through the forest to collect some food and firewood for the night. They needed it, especially in this forest. It was known for it’s terifying creatures and deadly plants, so they were careful on what they picked for food. As Aria was picking berries Alec stopped immediately and just watched her. Ever since she held a knife to his throat in that Stormtower ruin, he had fallen for her. He watched as she picked berries and the glow of the morning sun illuminating her violet eyes. She held up her basket with one of those heart-melting smiles that outshined the sun itself. Alec’s heart melted indeed, and he gave her a thumbs-up, he was so entranced by everything about her that he jumped when she said, “ Why are you looking at me like that?” His eyes softened as he smirked at her, “ Just admiring the view, Stormbird.” He said, “ I told you to stop calling me that.” She said crossing her arms and pouting. Then they heard screams coming from over the hill, they dropped the baskets and ran towards the rising screams. As the came up over the hill they saw a small Aerlinreach village on the outskirts of the forest. They froze as they stared at the burning village, Vaelorth soldiers invading each home forcing out the families, fire burning, smoke rising to the red skies, children running in panic through the streets. Alec and Aria ran through the streets, she was trying to save all the children but she couldn’t do it on her own, but Alec seemed really out of it.“ We need to help them! They’ll be killed if we don’t Alec! “ Aria yelled to him over the screams. Alec was looking ahead as he saw not only an army of Vaelorth soldiers but his mother too, High Lady Seraphine Caereth. He froze, the world around him stopped, if his mother knew he was protecting the one she ordered him to destroy, she’d kill him too. Alec pulled Aria behind a burning building, out of sight from his mother. “ What the hell, what are you doing we have to help the people!” She yelled at him. “ We can’t my mother will see us. “ He said without thinking what he had just revealed.

By the time hes realized Aria’s face was a mix of hurt and pure hatred. “ Your mother is High Lady Seraphine Caereth! Alec, why are you really traveling with me?” She asked angrily. He sighed and said, “ My mother sent me to find you, she ordered me to find out if your the salvation of Drosmyr or the doom. If you were the salvation I was to bring you to her, and if you were the doom I would have had to……” He couldn’t finish the sentence as his voice broke. “ But after I met you, and really got to know you I knew you were much more than some prophecy, I stopped reporting to my mother, I comforted you when you had nightmares, I calmed you when you lost control, and I love you. I have since the moment I met you in the Stormtower ruin, and I knew I would do anything to protect you from my mother and anyone else who could try to hurt you. “ He stared into her eyes completely forgetting about the burning village around them. Aria pushed him away and left to help the children in the streets. He stood there for a moment realizing he might’ve just ruined everything. After Alec’s mother and the Vaelorth soldiers left they helped the people put out the fires, they never made eye contact, and Aria avoided him the rest of the day.

Later they went back to their camp in the woods, she stormed off to her tent but he ran after her. “ Wait, Aria please just hear me out. I never wanted to keep this from you, I love you. It kills me to see that I’ve hurt you. “ He said as his voice broke. She froze in her place. She didn’t turn as she said, “ You were sent to judge if I’m dangerous, and guess what? I am. I hated you from the very beginning, but after you held me all night when I had nightmares, calmed me when I lost control, and stood by me when no one else would. I started to think I was using hatred to mask my true feelings. But then I found out who you truely are, why you are really here. All the things I felt, is gone. I hate you, I will never forgive you. I can;t believe I was so stupid to think I might have actually loved you! “ Her voice broke as she whipped around to face him, tears streaming down her face. Her power began to flare outward at him. Alec’s face was filled with hurt and the guilt of what he’s done. But he let out a cry of pain as a flare of her power hit the Sid elf his arm. Aria immediately reeled in her power, holding her hands close to her chest as if terrified of hurting him again. She ran off toward the forest cliff. Alec called after her but was in to much pain to chase her. He wanted to, he wanted to chase her and hold her close, and to tell her it’s ok. He walked back to the camp and wrapped his arm, wincing as the cloth touched the dark gash Aria’s powers had left.

Aria was climbed to the top of the small mountain in the forest. She sat on the edge of the cliff, her legs dangling over the edge. She sat for hours, staring at the star scattered sky. She replayed that day, the battle, Alec lying to her about who he was, accidentally hurting him. She was angry, not only at him for not telling her that his mother was a narsisstic queen of fire that wants to kill her. But also at herself for hurting him, letting herself lose control like that.

Then she heard soft and hesitant footsteps approaching behind her, but she didn’t need to look to know who is was. Alec walked over to her and sat next to her on the cliff. He didn’t talk or try to get Aria to say something. He just sat there, looking up at the stars with her. He knew he couldn’t undo what he’d done but sitting with her, just being might help. She was still still angry, not only at him for lying and betraying her, but also at herself for hurting him. She hadn’t meant to. She was sorry and wanted to say it, but she heard his voice on the wind telling her that he’s fine, and it’s going to be ok. Even though neither of them spoke, the silence was enough, it was everything.