Some can miss true love being in front of them all along.

Something More

Steorra's day had never meant all that much to Ophilia.

She was a woman of the church, a woman for whom love had always been platonic; she'd not even known the actual myths or meaning of the day until she'd turned sixteen. Until then, she'd spent the day 'celebrating' with Lianna and Josef, the two people she truly loved. Though the trio had still celebrated the day the last three years, Josef had taken the time each year to remind them of the true meaning of the holiday. He'd also told them he'd support and love them unconditionally regardless of whomever else they chose to love.

It was the knowledge that her father would've approved of their relationship that Lianna had fully accepted and committed to her love for Eliza, the Knight Ardent who'd helped H'aanit defeat Redeye. With the certainty that Josef would have loved Eliza for loving Lianna, the cleric and knight walked everywhere hand in hand, never noticing the disapproving looks that some of the people in smaller villages gave them.

With a lover by her side, Lianna didn't fear her first Steorra's day without her father in quite the same way she had Aelfric's day. Instead, she was looking forward to spending a day with her beloved and only worried about how her sister would handle the day.

"I'll be fine, Anna!" Ophilia laughed at her worry again as she brewed them a pot of tea. It was the day before Steorra's day and the sisters had found themselves staying in Clearbrook with Alfyn, his friend Zeph and Zeph's partner Mercedes. While Zeph and Mercedes and Eliza and Lianna had date plans for the next two days – and they'd all be returning to the Flatlands after Steorra's day to reopen the Atlasdam library and meet their fellow travellers for celebratory drinks at the Azelhart Manse – both Alfyn and Ophilia were still single and hadn't made any plans other than to enjoy the day.

"Are you sure, Phili?" Lianna asked again, taking her tea and sitting at the small inn table. "You've never spent a Steorra's day alone."

"It'll be a little weird," she admitted, "But, I know I'll be fine. Besides, I don't want you to cancel plans with Eliza just because you're worried your sister's going to be lonely!"

"If you're sure..."

"I am." Ophilia nodded. "Now, show me what you got her!"

"It's not very exciting..." Lianna blushed as she pulled out a little ring box and showed her the contents. Inside was a simple silver band studded with amethysts, one larger than the others shining brightly in the centre.

"Wow..." Ophilia gasped. "It's beautiful!"

"The jeweller told me it's meant to keep darkness away… Plus, Eliza likes amethysts." Lianna laughed a slightly nervous little chuckle. "I hope she doesn't think it's tacky..."

"She'll love it, I'm sure." Ophilia gave her a bright grin. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go see her!"

"It's not Steorra's day yet, Phili." Liana pocketed the ring and stood up all the same.

"No, but I know you have plans today, so go have fun!" With a grin, she started to push her sister out of her inn room.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

"Certain. Go on, enjoy yourself!"

Just before she left the room, Lianna turned around and hugged her sister tight. The two had been through everything together, had seen almost every holiday together, so it did feel a bit wrong to not be spending Steorra's day with one another. But, they knew this day would come eventually - they were both adults now, after all.

Still, as soon as the door closed behind Lianna, Ophilia's face dropped. She'd be the first to admit that she was a little lonely and more than a little worried about how she was going to spend the next day. But, she'd recently made a pilgrimage to literal hell, she was sure she could survive Steorra's day alone.

"Knock, knock!" No more than an hour after her sister had left did Alfyn come knocking at her door. "You in there, Lia?"

"One moment!" Stretching out of her seat, Ophilia closed the book she was reading – one that Mercedes had given to her to read earlier that week – and wandered on over to answer the door. "How can I help you, Alf?"

"I'm makin' the monthly rounds of the village and Zeph's too busy makin' doe eyes at Mercedes to help me. You free to help a guy out?"

Ophilia grinned and grabbed her staff from besides the door. "Of course. Perhaps you can finally teach me how you make those potions of yours!"

"And give away my trade secrets?!" Alfyn put a hand to his chest in mock surprise. "Why, I could never!"

Laughing, Ophilia closed the door behind her and put on her best Riverland's accent. "But, if I don't know how to make the perfect sleep salve, however will I save Mama?!"

"Waill..." Alfyn exaggerated his own accent as they made their way to Alek's house. "Ah can't exactly teach ya ma trade… But ah suppose ah can cut a deal fer a pretty lil thin' like ya..."

Ophilia started laughing uproariously which, in turn, set Alfyn off in gales of laughter. There weren't many people who could get Ophilia laughing like that, and she was always grateful when he did. He always seemed to know how to cheer her up.

"Come on," she bonked him on the head with her staff between fits of giggles. "Be serious, we've got people to heal."

"Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head in mock pain, continuing to laugh. "Bonk me like that again and I'll have to heal myself!"

"Oh, sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"Of course not," Alfyn wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her in for a side hug. "I'm just teasing."

"Good." Ophilia bonked him again with a sly little grin.

There was a sarcastic remark waiting for her behind his inward-twisted lips, a laugh waiting to be released. Instead of making the remark, he just stared at her, almost long enough to make her uncomfortable, before he stuck his tongue out and knocked on Alek's door. As his granddaughter answered, Ophilia had to try and look professional, all the while holding back another laugh.

Alfyn and Ophilia had gotten on like a house on fire from the moment they met. They were both healers for one and had a great deal of respect for each other as a result; they were also of a similar age and background, which only helped strengthen an already blossoming friendship. Then came the day that one of Alfyn's sarcastic quips finally broke Ophilia serious, professional seeming exterior and got her laughing.

After that first laughing fit, Alfyn had been desperate to get another one out of her. Although, as much as he tried – and, by the Gods, he tried a lot – the giggles and uproarious laughter he managed to elicit from her were still few and far between. In reality, their rarity only made them all the sweeter.

As the pair went around town healing and laughing, Ophilia started to reflect more and more on the time the two of them had spent together in their travels. It hadn't taken long at all for the two to start shortening each others names and soon they were always seen together after a long day. After they both took their first human life, it was the other healer that they turned to for reassurance and hugs and by the end of their travels they considered each other as close a friend as Lianna and Zeph.

And it was a wonderful thing to be travelling with someone you considered your closest friend.

By the time all the villagers had had their check-ups performed by the apothecary and cleric duo, it was already getting towards sunset. And Alfyn still had one more trip to make.

Following in curiosity, Ophilia watched as Alfyn reached the bottom of the stairs that lead to the cemetery and pulled a slightly flattened bouquet of waterblooms from his satchel. With a rare serious expression creasing his features, he turned to Ophilia.

"Would you mind waitin' here for me?" He asked her politely. Knowing all too well how important it can be to visit relatives graves alone, Ophilia nodded and allowed him his time alone with his mother.

Alfyn had never much talked about his father – nor his mother, really – but it was clear that his mother meant a great deal to him, and that was something Ophilia understood all too well. Whilst she'd been orphaned at just 5 years old and couldn't remember her real parents, Josef and Liana were all she really needed. So, after she'd lost one she was all too eager to keep the other hale and hearty.

She was also all too eager to be around her sister as much as possible, afraid to see her die too. Afraid that any conversation could be their last. It was an awfully morbid way of thinking, but one her mind would always turn to whenever she was left alone. So, she was always glad to have someone nearby to talk to, and Alfyn was always all to eager to talk to her, to keep her smiling.

Eventually, he returned from the cemetery, his serious expression replaced by a sort of melancholic happiness: sad eyes and smiling lips. In a subdued voice he asked, "Do you have a favourite flower, Lia?"

"Hmm," she mused aloud, not questioning his question nor asking how he felt; there was no need to, she knew all too well. "I have a special fondness for the Frostland Daisies that grow at the top of the hill back home, they were the first flowers I ever saw there. But, I also like Mind-Me-Always blooms, though I don't see them very often."

"Those are the ones that used to grow up in Northreach, right?" Alfyn asked as they started to make their way back to his house and the inn.

"Yes, the ones we found for Ogen." Ophilia nodded, remembering how they'd travelled halfway across Orsterra looking for these blooms only to find them in Victor's Hollow. Alfyn's search for those flowers for Ogen was one of those acts of kindness that Ophilia would never forget, if only because of the look of gratitude that finally appeared on Ogen's face as he took those blooms from his fellow apothecary.

They walked the rest of the way to Alfyn's house in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Alfyn spoke up. "You got any plans for tomorrow?"

"Not particularly," Ophilia shook her head with a little laugh. "I normally spend the day with my family but it looks like Lianna's got other things on her mind!"

Alfyn chuckled. "I used to spend the day with Zeph, tryin' to distract him from his heartache. Looks like that's been fixed this year!"

Ophilia was right on the verge of asking Alfyn if he wanted to do something with her tomorrow before stopping herself. She'd only be asking a friend if they wanted to spend time with her, like they often did, relaxing and chatting. But, what if people saw and got the wrong idea, what if people thought they were dating? They were just friends, so why did Ophilia feel so nervous asking to spend time with him? Why had the cat suddenly caught her tongue when the reality of the situation was that tomorrow as just like any other day?

"Well," she said a little awkwardly, spinning her staff around in her hand, "Have a good evening, Alfyn."

He raised an eyebrow. "You too, Ophilia."

And with that, she gave him a little wave and dashed off in the direction of her inn room, throwing herself onto the bed almost before the door had closed.

What in the hells was that?! They'd been having a normal day, behaving as they always did – a pair of close friends who enjoyed each others company immensely. Then the idea of Steorra's day entered her mind, then the worry of what he'd think if she invited him out to do something on Steorra's day crossed her mind.

They were just friends, nothing more. It wouldn't have been awkward to ask.

Then why, in the name of Aelfric, was her heart beating so fast right now? Why was the thought of spending tomorrow, a day like any other, with her dear friend making her blush?

Why was she wondering if they were something more than friends when all signs indicated that they weren't? Why was her heart aching, wanting them to be something more?

It was long past midnight when Alfyn finally gave up on sleeping and started to get dressed.

Ever since Ophilia had left him so abruptly and weirdly earlier thoughts of the cleric had been running around his head. Had he said something wrong to her today? Had he made things awkward between them by asking her about flowers and her plans for tomorrow? He'd been asking about her favourite flowers out of nothing more than curiosity, but had she thought he wanted to get her some for tomorrow?

Had she thought that him asking about her Steorra's day plans meant he wanted to ask her out?

Because he'd never thought any of those things.

Truthfully, he'd only ever seen Ophilia as a friend, a close and true friend, but a friend all the same. But seeing Zeph with Mercedes, Lianna with Eliza and all of his fellow travellers with their partners had got him thinking more about the fact that he was still single.

Normally, he wouldn't think about his own relationship status and would spend his Steorra's days with Zeph, trying to cheer him up and distract him from missing Mercedes. This year was different. Zeph was happy and Mercedes was actually here and it was Alfyn left feeling like the odd one out.

It was Alfyn who needed cheering up.

But he guessed he'd have to settle for looking at the moon in the river. Stretching and settling his clothes, he opened his door and started on the short walk from his house to the bridge in the centre of town.

Only to find it occupied by a certain cleric.

Should I turn back and leave her alone? Alfyn wondered, looking at Ophilia's moon washed silhouette. She was leaning on her elbows, hands intertwined as if she was praying but her eyes were wide open and staring straight down into the lake; the gentle breeze twisted her hair behind her and the moon leached all colour from her, making her looking even paler than usual.

Honestly, Alfyn thought her quite beautiful. ...Which brought him up short and locked him to his place. Before the two had become fast friends, he'd thought her beautiful many a time. Since then, though he still appreciated her beauty, he hadn't been quite as entranced by it as he was now.

Evidently, Ophilia felt someone staring and looked up from the river, straight at Alfyn. Bollocks.

"Hey, Lia," he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I was just, ah, gettin' some air..."

"You can't sleep either, can you?" She asked, a smile in her voice that he couldn't see.

There was no point lying, so he just shook his head and made his way over to stand next to her, also leaning against the bridge railing. "No, I can't."

"I'm really sorry," Ophilia laughed a little, "I made things awkward earlier, didn't I?"

"No!" Lied Alfyn, a little too quickly. "No, you-"

"Alf, I made things awkward and I'm really sorry." Ophilia said assuredly with a smile before turning back to stare at the river. "I've never spent Steorra's day alone and I thought I'd ask if you wanted to do something, but then I thought you'd get the wrong idea and… I'm rambling."

They both laughed, that natural laugh that came so easily when the two of them were together. Suddenly, everything seemed normal again, all the earlier awkwardness washed away.

"I've never spent Steorra's day alone either," Alfyn admitted, staring down into the river for a moment before turning to Ophilia and giving her the biggest smile. "But, I'd love to spend tomorrow with you. I could show you the Cave of Rhiyo, where the waterblooms… bloom."

"I'd like that," Ophilia giggled before becoming nervous again. "It… won't be weird, will it? Two people looking at flowers on Steorra's day…?"

"Of course not!" Again, Alfyn jumped in a little too quickly with the reassurance. Really, he was wondering if it'd be weird himself. "It's not like it's a date."

"Right..." Even washed pale in the moonlight, it was impossible to deny that Ophilia was blushing as she asked. "But, what if it was? Would… you date me?"

Alfyn could only stare at her in astonishment. "Ophilia, you're one of the most beautiful and talented people I've ever met, any man would be lucky to date you."

Red in the face, Ophilia turned her body towards him, giving him her full attention as she asked, "Would you?"

"Why on earth would you want to settle for a schlub like me?" Alfyn asked, also turning to face her head on. Deep, deep down – below his conscious thoughts and in the depths of his heart - he wanted this. But something held him back. There was a worry, in the back of his mind, about what would happen if they went down this route and it didn't work out. What if this was just nerves about being alone on Steorra's day? What if they threw a great friendship away because of a useless, Steorra's day fling?

"Because," Ophilia took a step closer to him, looking him right in the eye as she quietly said, "You are one of the kindest, most selfless people I've ever met and you don't give yourself enough credit. Not only do you help everyone you meet free of charge, but you do it with a smile that only adds to your already beautiful face."

"Ophilia, are you-" Alfyn started, red in the face as well as, the cleric only inches away from him. This couldn't be real. "Am I dreamin'?"

With a gentle expression, she pinched his forearm and leant up to steal a quick kiss. Only, Alfyn wouldn't let her get away with just a quick kiss. If everything went wrong after this, so be it. Because this was the best he'd ever felt. In fact, it felt so natural, so perfect that he could only wonder why they hadn't been doing this all the time.

It was as though an already perfect friendship had just been made even better, as though that something he'd never realised had been missing had just been found.

Still, after what felt both like forever and not long enough, he broke the kiss and pulled Ophilia close to his beating heart.

"What if this all goes wrong?"

"What if it doesn't?" Leaning gently away, she looked him full in the face with the largest of smiles, a smile brighter than the moon shining on them. "Happy Steorra's day, Alf."

Resting his chin on the top of her head, he grinned out into his tiny village. His journey as a travelling apothecary had taught him so much, had allowed him to grow and mature in ways he never could in Clearbrook. And it had given him the best, most beautiful friend he'd ever had. A person he could truly call his partner.

"Happy Steorra's day, Lia."