Bonus - Escaping Into The Night

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Wilder

Wilder crept down the hall, his footsteps soundless as he stole among the shadows. He feared the urgent beating of his heart would betray him. The occupants of the palace laid locked in sleep while guards made leisurely rounds. Wilder moved undetected to one room along the passage. Gently, he switched the handle and slipped inside.

On the bed lay a lone figure, completely still.

But Wilder wasn't foolish enough to believe the tranquility of the sight.

Wilder crossed the distance, moonlight from the window lighting his way.

Before he could so much as make a move toward the figure, a blade sliced through air towards him.

Wilder snatched Alwyn's wrist before her dagger could make contact.

"Alwyn," he said. "It's me."

Alwyn sat up, her blonde hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I only saw a dark silhouette."

"I should have made my presence known at the door. It is my mistake."

Wilder released her wrist and she lowered her blade.

"What do you need?" she asked, combing her fingers through her hair.

For a moment, Wilder didn't answer, simply took in the sight of her with sleep still present in her eyes, mane of wild hair, and moonlight creating shadows across her face.

"Come with me?" he asked.

He saw as Alwyn took in his attire and the pack slung over one shoulder. Without question, she reached down and grabbed her boots. Despite the times spent in the palace, Alwyn remained a sailor to her bone: sleeping fully dressed with her boots at hand.

Alwyn reached for the strip of leather on the table beside her bed to tie of her hair, but Wilder rested his hand on hers. She looked at him. He softly ran his hands through her hair and she tossed the leather strip aside.

When she stood, Wilder held out his hand and she laced her fingers with his. Together, they slipped out of the palace through the curtained archway.

The day's heat still hung heavy in the air, the breeze only serving to stir it about. The scent of sand and the fresh fruit on the trees infused the night. The full moon bathed the West Isles in a golden hue.

In the stables, Wilder readied a horse and swung himself into the saddle. He stretched his hand down to Alwyn and she grasped his forearm. He hoisted her up behind him and nudged the horse's side, Alwyn wrapping her arms around him.

As they broke from the palace grounds, Alwyn laid her head against Wilder's back and he smiled at the comfort of her.

They rode in silence, the night wind rustling the trees, the faint cooing of a bird, the distance rush of the ocean playing a midnight melody for them.

When Wilder stopped the horse, Alwyn lifted her head and peered around. He knew what she'd see: an unassuming wall of boulders surrounded by a plain circle of jungle. Still, she didn't question why he brought her here.

Wilder almost laughed. The girl he'd first met over a year ago would have made some sort of comment but this Alwyn, the Alwyn he now knew, had spent a year traveling with, knew him. Trusted him.

She slid from the horse and Wilder loosened the horse's bridle, giving him free rein to graze. Again, Wilder took possession of Alwyn's hand and led her towards the wall of rock.

But the wall wasn't solid in the way it looked. Instead, the boulders stood staggered with each other, creating narrow passages between them. Into the passage, Wilder guided Alwyn until they came out the other side and she gasped.

Before them was a lagoon that reflected the moon overhead. Wilder smiled at Alwyn's reaction. But she didn't see it, already tugging at her boots. The next moment she raced towards the water, diving in. It almost seemed like she'd been kept away from the sea for months instead of merely days. She broke through the surface, her hair fanning out in the water around her.

"Your father was right," Wilder said, keeping his gaze on her even as he set down his pack. "You are a daughter a of sea siren."

Alwyn laughed, the sound floating to Wilder and soaking into his heart.

"If that is true, does that mean you are my next victim?" she asked with a teasing voice.

Lowering herself in the water until only her eyes hovered above the water line, Alwyn drifted towards the edge of the lagoon. Wilder removed his boots and willingly drew towards her.

When he stepped into the water, Alwyn sprung up, grabbed his arms and dragged him under the water. Laughter rose inside Wilder but couldn't escape until he reached the surface. His choked laughter mingled with Alwyn's as she swayed back and forth before him, a creature of the sea in his eyes.

"What is this place to you?" Alwyn asked.

She knew. She knew without Wilder saying anything that this place meant something to him. Somehow the truth of her understanding him to such an extent still marveled him. Where he'd thought only someone like Lydia, who'd he'd grown up with could know him so well, Alwyn had proven him wrong.

"This," he said, making a slow circle in the water, taking in the familiarity of the place, the memories, the safety of it. "This is where I went when I felt alone or weak."

He met Alwyn's gaze and saw the curiosity in her expression. She asked nothing of him, but her openness told him his secrets, his past were safe with her. Again, how different she was from the girl he first met, angry and brash.

"My mother died at my birth," Wilder said. "She had been close friends with the queen and due to that fact, the queen took interest in my life, making me feel welcome in the palace. But that favor played against me with the sons of the soldiers. I was mocked for being soft, untrained."

Alwyn drifted closer but didn't reach for Wilder, simply being there, letting him know that his past pain was understood.

"I didn't have the chance to make mistakes," Wilder said. "I worked tirelessly to improve as fast as I could. When on the days I couldn't, when I was beat in a sparring match and taunted, I came here. I found comfort in the solitude. Then the day came when they could no longer beat me and no longer mock me. This place was needed less for comfort and only for quiet."

Wilder lifted his head and breathed in the salty air. He hadn't planned for the night to take the turn into something so solemn but he didn't mind. This secret of his was something he wanted to share.

Share with her.

"I never brought anyone here," he said.

Alwyn raised her eyebrows and he nodded. Not even Lydia had been shown this place. He hadn't wanted her to ask why the place was special to him. He hadn't wanted her to know he was weak.

But now, with Alwyn he could share this place, his past. She was the person who'd gotten him through the weakness time in his life. She'd been the lifeline that guided him through.

Alwyn floated over to him and cupped his face, her eyes bright with reflected moonlight. She kissed him gently.

It was the only response he needed.

"I fear that we wouldn't have been friends as children," she said, lightly as she drifted back. "I had far too much pride in my own capabilities. I would have challenged you to a lot of sparring sessions and rubbed it in your face when I won."

"With your parents I'm not surprised you would be that way. You were raised to be a fighter."

"And now I'm a fighter who sails around for peace," Alwyn said.

"Would you want a different life? One more like your mother's?"

Wilder asked the question with no weight attached to it but felt his emotions, his hopes knotted to her answer.

Alwyn floated, contemplating the star strewn sky.

"My mother's life is her own," Alwyn said. "And mine is one that only I can live. I would not want to try and live someone's life." She met his eyes. "Not anymore."

Wilder tilted his head back, aware how his expression would betray everything inside his mind. And betray it too soon.

"What is in the pack?" Alwyn asked.

"Food and something to drink," Wilder said.

And something else that he couldn't say.

"Then if you don't want this sea siren to take your life," Alwyn said. "You must feed me."

Wilder grinned as he followed Alwyn back to the edge of the lagoon and they climbed out of the water. Alwyn twisted her hair and wrung it out as Wilder laid out a blanket. The warm air cocooned them, keeping them from getting chilled in their clothes.

As they ate, they exchanged the pieces of their early lives that they'd yet given to each other. The moon shifted overhead, changing the angle of the shadows around them. The forest trees whispered to each other.

When the food was gone, Wilder opened the pack again. He stared at the one remaining item. He felt as his heart jolted with excitement, anticipation. Reaching inside, he wrapped his fingers around the sheathed dagger and lifted it out. When he faced Alwyn, she eyed the knife.

"That's not your dagger," she said.

The simple state calmed Wilder's heart and filled it with certainty.

"I asked your parents," Wilder said. "If there was a tradition in your Eldin culture for something like this but there was none. But when we were in Gadolphie I heard one that I found fit better."

He looked from the jeweled dagger to Alwyn.

"The tradition is this. You gift a dagger to someone you wish to be in your life until the end. It symbolizes that you know that person will never betray you with it but will use it to protect you."

Wilder held the dagger out to Alwyn. "Will you accept this, Alwyn?"

She held his gaze, fully understanding what he asked her. To be by his side to death. Be his wife.

"You trust me with your life?" she asked, softly, wrapping her fingers around his.

"I trust you with my heart."

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Lords and Ladies, welcome

You have Ev_gyu to thank for this chapter. She asked me for more and it took me months but I finally wrote this.

It was simple but I hope you liked it. Let me know! 💬🗯💭

For this proposal I wondered how Wilder would even do it because let's face it, Alwyn isn't a normal girl. Rings are the thing that we do in our world I wondered if there was something that would be the equivalent to that in this world.

That's when the knife showed up. Because it can be used to hurt or defined. Also it kind fits their personalities so I was happy with that.

If you're still mad at me for flipping the ships, well that's okay. I am kind cruel but I hope this could help sooth your anger a little.

Vote, comment, follow


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