The sun was shining high above the village and its busy streets. People were rushing about, buying and trading goods from the street market that slithered through the dirty streets and narrow alleys like a serpent. The sounds flowing from the town and the noise of the ocean blended together to create a peaceful soundtrack, fitting for the beautiful scenery. But Arthur didn't think too much about the loud voices that echoed around him as he strode down the street. This is where he grew up after all, this small village surrounded by wild waters and great woods, far away from the modernity of city life, Here, warm water in your showers and electricity was a privilege, but that's what made the village so charming. He enjoyed the simplicity of it and its people. And living in a town that kept itself isolated from modern technology and medicine did have its benefits. While most people supported themselves through either fishing, baking, craftsmanship or simple trading, Arthur had managed to make a living out of selling different kinds of orbs and teas. It wasn't much, but it was enough. He had managed to live a quiet and steady, and normal, life upp till now, and he wasn't going to do anything to risk losing it all.
Arthur turned into one of the alleyways, a pleased sigh escaping him as he made his way to the market stand he had been looking for.
"Good day, sir." The old man behind the table greeted him with a smile on his lips as Arthur approached him.
"And good day to you," Arthur answered while taking of his hat for the older man. "Have you received my order?"
"Yes, I have. In fact, I happen to have it right here," the elder turned around to pick up a small package from one of the boxes stacked behind the table. "I must say, this wasn't easy to get my hands on," the continued as he returned to his proper place behind the table and placed the small bundle in front of Arthur.
"And I truly appreciate you taking the trouble to get this for me," Arthur smiled as he dug around in his coat pocket for a few golden coins.
"You sure are an odd man, Mr. Kirkland. Always asking for rare herbs and plants, but I guess I should poke my nose into other's business. You are my best customer after all. "
Arthur placed the coins on the wooden table and reach for the herbs carefully wrapped up in parchment paper. " I can assure you, I'm nothing more than a simple herbalist," he smiled and thanked the man again before taking his leave. He placed the package in his pocket and started to walk back down the alley.
Suddenly a pair of pale hands covered his eyes and he could feel a warm breath on his neck. "Emily," he whispered as he gently touched the hands of his lovingly fiancée.
"Ive missed you so," The girl whispered in his ear. Arthur slowly removed her hands from his eyes and turned around to cup her face in his hands. "Silly girl, I was only away for a short while." He gently pressed his lips against hers, he could feel the heat from her lips and the burning flame inside her heart as he hug her tighter.
Arthur finally broke the kiss and looked at the beautiful young girl in front him. How he loved those deep blue eyes and that long blond hair that danced in the wind. He took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips before kissing it. "I missed you too," he said with a smile as he saw those ocean eyes lightening up with happiness.
"Wake up, Arthur," she giggled and brought her hand up to touch his chin.
Arthur knitted his big eyebrows in confusion at her words. "But, I am awake," he laughs nervously as he looked at her.
"Wake up."
"Emily, what's wrong?" Arthur was starting to get worried by the girl's sudden change of topic. He had laughed it off as a silly joke, but when Emily started to repeat herself like a mindless doll, he could no longer keep his worries away.
"Please, wake up!" She suddenly raised her voice, and Arthur could feel himself slipping in and out of consciousness. His vision started to get blurry and he desperately tried to grasp at something, anything, as he felt himself sink down on his knees.
"Wake up! Arthur, please!"
"Arthur!"
"Emily?" The beautiful face of the girl he once held so dearly vorped into the face of the silly American as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked deep into Alfred's ocean blue eyes, now stormy with worry and fear for the man under him.
"Arthur," he whispered barely audible as he drew the still drowsy man into his chest, hugging him tightly.
Arthur finally snapped out of his confusion when the familiar smell of the man reached him- the smell of safety, and tears started to run down his cheeks. "I saw her…" He said with a hoarse voice as he pressed his face into Alfred's shoulder.
"Who did you see?" Alfred asked carefully, not wanting to trigger any bad memories.
"Emily" Arthur said weakly as he clutched the fabric of Alfred's coat tightly. "I saw Emily."
Alfred didn't know much about Arthur's past life,, but he knew enough to feel a stink of sorrow in his heart when the sobbing man whispered her name. Emily was the young town girl that Arthur had fallen in love with. But she was also the girl whose name the englishman would cry out during his feverish dreams as he desperately begged for forgiveness.
"Oh, Arthur." Alfred wrapped his arms around Arthur's trembling body and held him close, not ever wanting to let the other man out of his sight again. He felt a strong need to protect the older man, even though Arthur had made it quite clear that he didn't want nor needed his help. He could see all the cracks in his facade and he was willing to give up everything to heal him again and mend his broken heart. So he sat there on the dirty ground, holding the man tightly as he listened to the broken sobs of the man he loved, not caring about the cold air hitting his face.
The sapphire sky quickly turned into a pitch black darkness and Alfred, still holding the other male in a tight embrace, peered up at the stars and the silver moon, letting his face bath in their light. "We should probably head back before you catch a cold," Alfred whispered as he stroked Arthur's blond hair.
"Yeah, you are right," he managed to answer with a dry voice as he slowly rose to his feet, still feeling a little unsteady from the gas.
Alfred reached out to take Arthur's hand in his and smiled in relief when he didn't feel the usual rejection from the other. Maybe Arthur was just too tired to even care, or maybe he had actually started to accept the other man's affections. The thought made Alfred feel warm inside. He didn't really care about the reason, he was just happy to be close to him.
"I'm sorry…" His voice was barely audible, but Alfred could hear it loud and clear. That weak and defeated voice, the voice filled with so much sorrow and shame. Alfred had heard that voice many times before, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't stop his heart from aching.
Alfred gently squeezed Arthur's hand as they followed the path back to their small cottage. "For what?" Alfred already knew the answer to that question. To say sorry and apologise had become a habit of sort to the englishman, it was the only word he could choke out when he was in this state, even if he had no reason to do so.
"For everything," he started, his lips trembling as he tried to keep his emotions under control, not wanting to show Alfred any more of his weakness. "I- I know that you are trying to open up to me, to make me trust you. And I know that you care about me…" Arthur stopped to draw a shaky breath before continuing. "And I'm sorry that I can't show the same affection back to you. I want to forget and move on, but I can't. I'm trying,I really am, but i just ..."
Alfred couldn't bear to listen to his trembling words. He didn't need to hear him apologize for feeling the way he did. Alfred already knew that the other man was doing his best, and he had already accepted the fact that Arthur may never be able to truly love him back.
"I'm tired of feeling this weak, this shameful. I want to be able to live in the present, to live with you and …
Alfred suddenly leaned in and captured Arthur's lips before the man got the chance to finish his sentence. A silent tear ran down Arthur's flushed chin as he let go of all thoughts and fully lost himself in Alfred´s warmt. All this time, he had fought to maintain control, to stay strong all by himself, but he could no longer lie to himself. He liked to be held by the American, to feel his heat and to listen to his steady heartbeat as he rested his head against his broad chest.
When Alfred slowly broke the kiss, Arthur could feel a sting of disappointment in his chest. He wanted to cherish that moment, to freeze time and just stay like that forever. "I love you, Arthur. And no matter how long it may take for you to recover, I will wait for you. I made a promise that day in the forest, I said that I would never leave your side, and I would rather die than break that promise."
Without thinking, Arthur pressed up against the other man and kissed him. His action had caught Alfred of guard who stared down at him in surprise, but he soon run his hand through Arthur's blonde hair, holding him closer. Alfred didn't really know how to react to Arthur's sudden change of heart. He wanted to move forward, to take their relationship to another level, but held those selfish wishes to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to move to fast and watch Arthur retrieve behind those cold stone walls that he had once built to keep himself distant from the rest of the world. He loved this man, more than words could ever express, so he stayed still, with his lips pressed against Arthur's as he let him take the lead. Maybe showing Arthur that it was in fact okay for him to let go and move forward, and that he was capable of doing so himself would give him some of his confidence back.
Arthur slowly broke away from the kiss, his lips still tingling from the warmth, and drew a shaky breath. " I thought the prince was supposed to fall in love with the princess and live happily ever after in a grand castle…" he said as those green eyes gazed up at Alfred's ocean blues. Alfred couldn't help but let out a soft laugh by the English man´s words. Arthur, always so obsessed with these childish fairy tales filled with princess and princesses, evil witches and true love's kisses. "But why would I want a princess, when I have a handsome wizard right here in front of me," he whispered as he caressed Arthur's smooth chin. "Beside, I like our little cottage. It may not be the greatest of houses, but it's nice and cosy. And most importantly, it's home."
