He knew exactly who he was and remembered everything about the past, and his heart knew exactly where he belonged. During his every waking moment he thought about how easy it would be to turn around and walk back towards Akaneia. Back towards her.
She knew exactly who he was, too. Even if she was tired she wasn't blind, and even as he denied who she said he was she could see right through him.
When he looked at his reflection in the mirror he saw her face beside his. In his memories she always seemed sad, but he remembered her smile, her laugh, the warmth of her body against his, her voice.
"I'm sorry, Nina."
He wanted to go back to her, to say the hell with royal standards and tradition, I want to become your king! He would have married her, made her happy beyond words, ruled side by side until they grew old and faded away. But as much as he was a man, he was a knight, and he knew she wouldn't want him to break his vows for her sake. At least that's what he told himself every day.
He glanced back in the direction of Akaneia and closed his eyes.
"Goodbye."
He set sail for his home the next day. His new home, he reminded himself. She was waiting, and for the sake of her happiness he would lock those old memories away.
When he arrived on Valencia, she was waiting at the port.
"Zeke," she said, throwing her arms around him. "Welcome home. You were gone so long I feared you'd gone missing again."
He smiled as he held her in his arms, burying his face in her hair.
"I had business to take care of," he said, "but it's done now."
"You're staying for good this time, then?" she asked, and he nodded.
"Yes, Teeta. I'll never leave your side again."