Chapter 33
We've been riding for nearly an hour now. My body grows tired from clinging to Alyn the entire time. I'm surprised he's been able to withstand the journey with how exhausted he looked. The wind blows against my face and my hair sprays out behind me. I take in the moment and the sun nearly sets behind the surrounding mountains. The horse grunts with each gallop kicking dirt behind us.
"We're almost there," Alyn says nearly breathless.
I peek around his arm and see a small town growing bigger the closer we get. We ride for another ten minutes before Alyn pulls the horse to slow canter when we reach edge of town. Most of the townsfolk have already gone inside for the night and lights flicker in the windows. A woman stands outside of an inn and waves at us.
We slide off the horse and a young boy takes the horse to a stable in the back. The woman looks us over and clicks her tongue. "You two look like death. Get inside quickly!" She barks orders to some of the other young women cleaning tables and carrying supplies. I'm force into a back room where hot water is being poured into a large tub. I watch as Alyn is shoved into another room. I'm quickly stripped of my clothes and lifted into the tub where the women begin scrubbing away at the dirt and blood decorating my skin. I'm dried off and handed a basic white dress to change into. My damp hair sticks to my neck as I lower the dress over my shoulders.
"I want to see my friend," I say to one of the women. They look at each before one of them leads me to the other room. She knocks lightly on the door and it opens to reveal Alyn being bandaged by one of the other girls. She has short blonde hair that is cut just above below her ears.
"I'm almost done," she says in a light voice. She ties the last of the bandage and he slowly puts on an off white shirt. He remains sitting on the bed as the women leave. Once they're gone, I rush over and wrap my arms around him. "I can't believe we made it," I whisper into his hair.
His hands rest at my hips and his head lies against my chest. He remains quiet and I lower myself beside him on the bed. His eyes focus on his hands and he doesn't look at me. "You were willing to marry that horrible man if it meant to save me."
"Alyn," I say quietly. His hands tighten into fists and his muscles flex under his shirt.
"If Giles never showed up; if we never got out of there and you had no choice but to marry him; I would've rather died than see you with someone like him."
His voice grows quiet and his jaw is tense. "I did it for you! I was willing to sacrifice my happiness to know you were alive!"
His hands release and he grips the side of my legs firmly beneath them. "Do you think I'd be happy being alive knowing that the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with was spending it with someone else?"
"Alyn," I say through a hushed breath. He stands up and paces the room.
"Damnit, Aria. I can't be with anybody else. I don't want anybody else." He turns to look at me and I remain quiet. He steps closer to me and gets down on one of his knees. "I want to be with you forever."
My eyes grow wide and I inhale a loud, gasping breath. "Alyn, are you-" I cut myself off and he holds my hands in his. Our eyes lock and I feel my cheeks burning.
"Aria, will you marry me?"