And the next chapter!
Someone becomes privy to Willow's newest secret...
Perhaps if I hadn't been dreaming, I would've seen a certain friend of mine coming my way, and perhaps then I would not have walked smack-bang into him in the ahllway. Or perhaps that day the Goddess had decided to put him in my path. Whatever the case, I certainly did walk straight into Alex without looking. "Ouch!"
"You should pay attention to where you are walking," my best friend said, an amused look turning his eyes a cheerful silver. After spending a moment to glare at him – making his smile widen – I at last grabbed his offered hand, letting him pull me to my feet.
"So, Willow, what gives you right to wander the halls at this time of day – and so dreamily too?" Alex asked once I was upright.
I recognised the teasing twinkle in his eye, even as he added, "And who, I wonder, might be the cause of such dreams?"
"What are you doing here?" I asked instead, hoping to distract him.
"Oh?" A grin formed. "Changing the subject, are we? Come now, you know I know you better than that." His grin widened. "Are you and a certain sorcerer-"
I clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was my face that betrayed me, the expression one I saw reflected in his eyes. His teasing demeanour fell away as soon as I dropped my hand. "...If you must know, I was speaking in jest," he finally said, his eyes searching mine. "Walk with me? We haven't spoken in a while, and my room is not far away."
I took his offered arm, using the silence of the walk to control my embarrassment. It was only once we were in his rooms and seated that he turned to me. "So. You and Master Lord Thom. That's certainly...interesting."
"I didn't- I mean-" I flushed as I struggled to speak. At last I managed to mumble, "It's new. Not even a week."
Alex's gaze didn't leave mine as I fumbled. At last the story spilled from my lips, quiet and muddled. My friend didn't even respond after that except to ask who else knew. I flushed even deeper. "...Just you."
"...That new then. Are you planning to tell Jon?"
"...I don't know. I mean- I don't mean to hide it from him. I just-" I exhaled and looked away.
"You act as if your behaviour is something he would disapprove, when in reality he has engaged in such behaviour himself," Alex pointed out mildly.
"Why are you so reasonable?" I suddenly blurted. "I mean...this is me, and you and I-"
A hand slid under my chin as Alex tilted my face so he could look at me. The grey in his eyes was a colour that seemed to shine just for me – certainly I had not seen it when he looked at anyone else. "You and I were a long time ago. It's in the past, and that's where it will stay."
"But-"
"Did you ever tell me that you loved me?"
"What sort of question is that to ask? You never said it either!" When he continued to stare at me, waiting for an answer, I let out a breath. "...No. We- we were too young. How could I know what love was?"
"Exactly. How could either of us know?" He let go of me, only to drop his hand to cover my own. "Our star was always meant to burn bright yet quickly. It was better to have ended it then than to watch it reached the fiery end that neither of us deserved." He dug in his pocket, and it was only when he offered me a handkerchief that I realised my cheeks were wet. I accepted the offering, laughing softly at a thought that occurred to me. "My maid gave me so many handkerchiefs after Father's death that I thought I was meant to cry for years – yet today of all days I do not have one."
"Your maid has overlooked something – you only cry for important things." Alex's gentle smile didn't change.
"This is important. You are important. I need you Alex – you're my best friend, my shield."
He chuckled, squeezing my hand. "I like that far better than being your Prince. You know as well as I how terrible of an idea that would've been, cooped up by your side. While fun, I would've challenged someone sooner or later."
His words made me give him a watery smile. Y-You're right Alex. Still...it would've been fun," I whispered, seeing his own smile widen in response.
All's well and good, right? For now, anyway! ;)