"Aloy…" he stammered, nervously swallowing "There's one last thing that... I've been wanting to tell you for a while." she turned to Avad upon hearing her name and looked at him. The light illuminated his face, and his deep brown eyes acquired a special gleam. His clothes sparkled with golden lights, and his cheeks had reddened. Avad looked so elegant, and his gaze expressed sincerity. The king wasn't hiding or keeping anything from her "You see... I-I don't know how to tell you this... but... I need to clarify it..." Avad lifted his gaze to meet hers. Unintentionally, their faces had gotten very close. Too close. So much so that he had to suppress the urge to kiss her tightly, biting his lower lip. He made an effort not to lower his gaze from her eyes. Her green irises shone illuminated by the sun in a way that seemed like they emitted their own light. For a moment, he got lost in her gaze, feeling a lot of peace. A peace that he only felt when he was by her side. That gave him the push he needed to continue "Since you crossed the threshold of my kingdom, I knew you weren't just any hunter, that you had something special... something that changed my life completely. All my days were monotonous and exhausting. I saw myself locked in the palace as I had always been, only now the weight of the crown was added. Everything was gray and dark, and you… you appeared like a light, like hope. You even saved my brother and brought him back home, under my protection. The day I saw you for the first time... I felt how my heart beat in a different way... Whenever I had felt it move strongly or quickly, it had been for something unpleasant that caused me anxiety... But... that day it moved in a way more intense than it had ever done and awakened sensations in me that I had never perceived." both felt that the proximity and emotional connection between them intensified with each word they articulated while conversing in the light of the sunset "I'll never forget that you even challenged me, saying that I spent my time watching the citizens from the height of my palace." both laughed "Then came the war. The fate of everyone depended on what happened during those endless hours. Seeing my city crumble beneath my feet was... ah... devastating, but you were there, by my side, and that somehow made me feel better. When in battle, you threw yourself into fighting Helis and then the machines... I assumed you would die fighting as the brave warrior you are. Thinking that I wouldn't see you smile again... it crushed me inside. I stayed there... feeling immense helplessness... I couldn't do anything! But at the same time, I realized your unparalleled strength and determination... You were willing to give your life in that battle for everyone... That's why you're such an admirable person, and every time I'm with you, I discover something more about you, something that increases my admiration for you, like the fact that that day, you were giving your life to save us all, even though you were alone... That day, you gave me strength and the hope of a prosperous future when it seemed like everything was going to end." the monarch made a brief pause, searching for the right words to continue speaking and not mess it up at the last moment. "I-I know... I know that before the battle, I told you that I didn't love you, that I was confused by everything that had happened those days, but really... I... um... Look, I loved Ersa a lot, but like a brother, it's... something different, and I see it all so clearly... Still, what I told you was... largely to... push you away and try to convince myself that..." the words began to stumble out of his mouth, but this time, he wasn't going to back down as he always did. Gently, he took the huntress' hand, wrapping it with his fingers, and gathered the strength to continue with his voice trembling from nerves "I was confused and what I felt wasn't... real, and hiding this way... my feelings for you... And I really tried to forget you and move on. Besides, Marad was determined to marry me and tried to find me a good match, but... deep down, I already knew I wasn't interested in looking for anyone because I had already found you..." Aloy felt her cheeks flush red "And this has been reinforced now... After all, the battle, how you wanted to protect me on the night of the storm, or how you saved me in the Sun-Ring and the time we've spent fixing Meridian, doing things together, or just talking, I've realized that... for me, you're much more than a friend with exceptional talent. We can't change our past, but our future is still in our hands. I want to stop thinking that my future will speak of a me... to be able to say an... us, because I love you, Aloy. I want to spend the rest of my days with you. I may not be able to give you everything you deserve, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy by giving you everything I have. Building a future with you is what I desire the most, but I can only do that if... if you... feel the... the same..." he finished with his voice trembling. She remained silent, looking at him. A wave of feelings shook Aloy, overwhelming her, leaving her at a loss for words. 'Please, say something, tell me something...' echoed in the king's head "After all this time, my feelings for you haven't changed... I... I love you, and after these days, all that I feel has intensified, b-but... if you don't love me back, y-you just... just have to tell me, and I-I won't bother you again... never again." he nervously stammered to break the dreadful silence that had formed between them, while averting his gaze. He just wanted an answer, whatever it may be. She didn't know what to do or say. Of course, she loved him, but... maybe it wasn't the best for him.
"Avad... I-I…" Aloy sighed "No... I don't want to hurt you, but…" the king bit his lower lip. His face showed great concern, and he furrowed his brow, very nervous, preparing to endure the hard blow of rejection. The huntress could feel how the temperature of the Carja's hands dropped significantly as they became moist "I can't stay here much longer…"
"But…"
"A threat is looming, one greater than any we've faced so far. And... yes, it may sound familiar for me to say something like this to you…" the huntress lamented. Her gaze was also flooded with immense concern, and for a moment, it reflected the weight of the immense burden she carried on her shoulders "The situation is worsening every day. There are people much more advanced and powerful than us, with unimaginable technologies, who have died because of it, and... if we don't do something, we'll be next."
"What?" he asked, blinking several times in a row, not understanding a word of what she was saying "I can't comprehend what you're telling me."
"The threat is called Nemesis, and it comes from the stars, just like the people it defeated, who are over a thousand years old and have weaponry clearly superior to ours. That... monster is coming straight here, Avad... For everything that has life. That includes all the tribes, the Sundom, and... you…"
"Th-this can't be... That's... impossible…"
"I'm... I'm sorry, Avad…" she rejected him, biting her lower lip and letting go of his hands, moving away from him with tears in her eyes, thinking that she shouldn't have invited him. Their relationship should have remained strictly formal so that this farewell wouldn't hurt so much "Everything is getting harder... It's better if... you look for someone else." that was when he perceived her pain, realizing her true feelings. She was rejecting him to protect him, not because she didn't really love him.
"Aloy, no, it's not your fault, as you told me, you were born for this, but that doesn't mean your mission will never end, someday you'll be free from all this burden, and... I'll be waiting for you." he insisted, gripping her hands tightly, trying unsuccessfully to get her to look at him.
"But... I don't know how long this will last, every time it seems like everything is going to end... something new appears, something even worse than before, even though it seems impossible to make it even more complicated. I don't want you tied to me, and that one day I fail and don't come back... Maybe you'll meet someone else... and... I'll just be an impediment to you." she said, turning her face away, with tears in her eyes.
"No, never, Aloy, don't say that, please…" he said, looking intensely into her eyes "Look, the day you left without warning after the battle, I... ah... felt a very painful void... It wasn't because you left without saying goodbye, but because that could mean that maybe I would never hear from you again." the huntress looked up again into the king's deep eyes "I was devastated thinking that maybe I wouldn't see the person I love again, I couldn't bear that feeling again. That's why I insisted so much on talking about it when you returned, even though it wasn't the best time... And I'll tell you the same thing I told you that day: I don't want to stop you, or hold you back. I would never wish for that, I would never push you away from your duties and aspirations. All I want is to know that you'll come back to my side someday, or that someday I can go find you wherever you are... because... you also want to be with me."
"But I don't know how much time will pass... I... huh…" she sighed "I've fought until losing consciousness, I've run until I couldn't breathe anymore... The pressure I feel takes my breath away... If you only knew how many times I've been close to losing my life... Maybe next time, I won't be able to go on, I don't know if we'll see each other again... I don't know when I'll manage to end all of this."
"Time doesn't matter to me, Aloy." he interrupted, taking her beautiful face in his right hand, wiping away one of her tears that had rebelliously slid down her cheek "I can wait as long as it takes... I'm not asking you to stay here forever, I'm not even asking for a return date or for you to rush back... I just want you to tell me if someday we can be together again, whether it's here in Meridian... or wherever."
"Would you really wait for me to... come back?" she asked, locking her gaze onto the king's eyes.
"Of course. That's what I've been doing since the first day you stepped into the palace, it's just that... this time, I want to wait knowing that in the end, it will be you, and not waiting with the uncertainty that maybe my wait will be in vain because you'll never return. Waiting with the fear that maybe you already have someone and don't want to come back and be with me, feeling that fear that everything may have been false illusions... I already lived that when you left after the war, and I couldn't bear to live it again. I just ask you to clarify what you want, if you feel anything for me or not, if you want us to be together at some point... wherever fate takes us."
"But what if…?"
"No, you're not going to die, Aloy, as sure as the sun rises…" he interrupted with conviction, grabbing her shoulders and looking at her intensely.
She smiled, feeling a great weight lifted off her. The huntress nodded with tears welling up in her eyes again, streaming down through Avad's fingers. This time, it wasn't tears of sadness. Aloy looked up, causing their gazes to meet again. For a moment, time seemed to stand still for both of them. The emotional tension and attraction between them were palpable. With a mix of longing and fear, Avad caressed Aloy's face, to which she responded with a shy smile. Unconsciously, their faces had come remarkably close, and nerves were on edge. The Carja couldn't help but lower his gaze from her eyes to her lips.
In that instant, her heart was on the verge of leaping out of her chest when, without further delay, he kissed her. At that moment, her head was filled with fear. It seemed like it could explode at any moment. She was truly scared, especially of hurting him. What if it took too long to be free of all that burden? What if he missed the chance to meet a great person by waiting for her? What if she never managed to return? In a few moments, she managed to think hundreds of things at the same time. But... he had been waiting for her forever. He had even prepared a gift in case she ever returned, without even knowing if she would. He had been so attentive to her from the very beginning... Every time they spoke, it never seemed enough. They always longed for more. They had always felt a deep mutual respect for each other, and it became increasingly difficult for her to move away from him when she had to leave.
Avad closed his eyes to finally savor the moment, but he felt her tense. Her fingers stiffened, and his lips hardened. Then, embarrassed, he pulled away from her, blushing beyond measure, wishing the earth would swallow him. Feeling panic taking over him, he expressed without even being able to lift his gaze from the ground:
"A-Aloy… accept my a-apologize, I shouldn't... I... I thought that... I... I'm sor-"
Aloy couldn't escape what she felt any longer. She didn't want to. Without letting him finish, she cupped his face with both hands and kissed him tenderly. At that moment, everything became clear. All her insecurities and fears disappeared. There was only him, right in front of her, frozen like a statue, barely breathing. They had felt so connected, so eager to give themselves to each other, that she would fight every day to be able to return to his side. Finally, her eyes had opened, seeing that her feelings were not an impediment; on the contrary, they would be the driving force that would help her stand when nothing else could.
He stood frozen, involuntarily letting out a surprised sound. The only thing he managed to do at that moment was to widen his eyes, not even feeling capable of breathing. Even though that was his intention, after the huntress' negative response to his kiss, he thought she would reject him, so he wasn't prepared for what was happening. He looked perplexed at the Nora, who had her emerald eyes closed and her reddish hair illuminated by the twilight. He felt her warm lips delicately pressed against his. He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with her pleasant scent, and affectionately sliding his hand over her face, he held her gently, still not quite believing what was happening. By the Sun, it was true; she was really kissing him.
Finally, he managed to react, and wrapping her in his arms, he closed his eyes and kissed her back. After so much time, he finally got to taste the sweet flavor of her mouth that he had longed for. At that moment, the world disappeared for them. The sounds from the outside faded away, isolating them in another dimension. They ceased to be two entirely independent people, having found in each other something they had never experienced before. Despite coming from completely different places, they complemented each other in a perfect and special way. The connection between them was already inherent, if it hadn't been from the very beginning. Aloy, seeing that he had managed to overcome his bewilderment and finally react, slid her hand through his dark hair, playing with one of his strands, tangling it in her hand. Pushing his face towards hers, she kissed him more passionately. He hugged her tightly, bringing their bodies even closer, eliminating the small distance between them as they continued to passionately enjoy the romantic moment. Tenderly, Aloy slid her hand under the golden adornments of the Sun-King and caressed his chest, feeling the beats of his racing heart, thinking about how they had taken so long to reach this moment, which she didn't want to end, even though she had almost rejected him. He, slowly grazing her back, felt how soft it was, sending shivers down her spine with every touch of her skin. Surprised by the passion with which she kissed him, he noticed that his cheeks were flushing.
That moment would be permanently engraved in their memories.
"Ah... Aloy..." he stammered, breathing heavily as they pulled away, blushing as he still felt her hand caressing his bare skin.
"It's been... incredible." she said, unable to look away from the king's eyes, who smiled shyly.
"It's been wonderful. I... ah... don't know what to say. You're the only person who can leave me speechless." he responded shyly.
"I... um..." she stammered, causing both of them to laugh.
Avad took her face, sliding his thumb gently while observing her mouth. Her pink lips curved into a small, shy smile. The king returned his gaze to Aloy's eyes before asking "May I... kiss you again?" timidly, feeling his cheeks flush. Aloy's smile widened as she nodded, slightly parting her lips. Avad approached her face, lingering for a moment, savoring the moment before closing the gap between their lips. The wait had been worth it. This idyllic moment was... It was real! The sleepless nights, pondering that she might not return, the humiliating dates with those nobles, Aloy's disappearances... All that pain had just healed "Oh, by the Sun, Aloy, I can't believe this is finally happening!" he exclaimed, hugging her, feeling a tear of happiness trickle down his cheek.
"Avad... I... I love you." she whispered sweetly, with a smile full of sincerity, not moving away from him. Those words she had longed to hear had finally been uttered by her lips. "And although it won't be easy, I want to be by your side, no matter what happens. I really hope we achieve that future we both desire." the huntress paused, never breaking eye contact with the monarch. "When all this is over, returning to your side is what I desire the most." she added. He placed his hands on top of hers and pressed them against his heart, unable to stop smiling. "I'll fight every day and overcome all obstacles to make our dream come true."
"I don't think it's beyond your reach, Huntress, just like everything else." he replied, smiling. She hugged him, resting her head on his chest, and he enveloped her with his arms. "You don't know how much I've been waiting for this... And it's infinitely better than I could ever have conceived."
"Me too." she replied. "After all this time, dragging my burden alone and losing everything... During these last few months, I've realized that my home is... wherever you are." He smiled.
"Mine too... Wherever we end up together." and they stayed leaning on each other for several minutes, contemplating the magical sunset.
"This is... beautiful." was all she managed to say, rendered speechless.
"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced, and that's saying something considering I'm on a machine." he admitted, laughing softly. "Aloy... thanks to you, I feel like I can face my deepest fears, maybe even overcome them someday, something that a few weeks ago seemed impossible to achieve. I hope to remember you every time I see a machine, instead of... Kadaman... now that the happiest moment of my entire existence has happened on a Tallneck. Who would have thought, right?" She laughed.
"I'm really glad you're getting over it, truly. I guess that, after all this time, this is a big step forward for you..."
"You have no idea." he replied, squeezing her tightly.
"You are... very brave." she expressed, caressing his cheek. The Sun-King opened his eyes wide, surprised by the comment.
"Yes, sure..." he replied, rolling his eyes sarcastically.
"Yes, you are. Look at you, calmly on a Tallneck, despite everything." she affirmed, looking into his eyes with conviction. "Despite feeling fear, when the time comes to act, you manage to find the courage to do it, and that's a quality few possess. During this time I've spent with you, I've realized that you undervalue yourself a lot. You have... a very mistaken view of yourself. You are much, much more than what you see."
"Wow, thanks." he replied, admiring the landscape that was becoming darker. "And thanks for bringing me here and for... well, everything. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough." She returned a big smile.
"I have... one last thing for you." she added, searching for something in her travel bag. "It's from... when the embassy in the Forbidden West... Fashav gave it to me as a signal so I could cross Tenakth territory." She explained, handing him something wrapped in leather. "Now that they know me there and I won't have any problem crossing any city or settlement... I think it's best that you keep it as a memento of him."
"Oh..." Avad grabbed the mysterious object she was offering him and unwrapped it. It was a Tenakth-made knife stored in a sheath. Its serrated edge was very sharp, and the tip area was double-edged. The handle, secured with ropes and covered in leather, had a small trace of blood. Despite its rough appearance, it was well-maintained, and it could be seen that it was a powerful weapon, useful for combat. "I wish I had had the opportunity to return it to its home..." the monarch expressed with a shadowed look as he observed the weapon.
"He died with honor, fighting to the end." she said, squeezing his hand. "You could tell he was a very valuable warrior." She paused, then continued, "In fact, I talked to him before we were ambushed, and he told me that such a challenging task shouldn't be done alone. I think that was the starting point of my change. Before that, I never risked trusting others because I had always been hurt…"
"Wow... I didn't know." he said. "And... thank you for bringing it. It's... a thoughtful gesture," he responded with a sad smile, wrapping the knife again. "I would have liked to see him again," he murmured, not taking his eyes off the object as he caressed it with his fingertips.
"Although he was respected and had earned his place among the Tenakth, I'm sure Fashav wanted the same," she said affectionately into his ear, wrapping him in her arms while kissing his cheek gently. Avad smiled and kissed her, gently caressing her face. They both fell silent, looking at each other with complicity, then stopped again to admire the view as the last rays of the sun touched them.
"Hey." Aloy interrupted when the sun had finished setting, although there were still traces of its light. "It's great here, but we should head back. Traveling in complete darkness is more dangerous; visibility becomes more difficult... If we don't return, we might have to spend the night somewhere." He gave her a daring look, accompanied by a smile, while pointing to the large metal structure on which they rested. She raised her eyebrows, "You're not serious, are you?"
"Well, Longlegs are harmless, and the only machines that could reach us are Glinthawks, and... there are none around here, so it seems like a pretty good spot."
"I can't believe it." she laughed. "I've had adventures with machines, but I would never have thought of sleeping on one of these, and that's not a bad idea... Look at you, so innovative."
"That's how I'm known." he joked, raising his chin and placing a hand on his chest as a gesture of superiority. They both laughed. Then, Aloy separated from him and grabbed a rope. "Is it for us not to fall, right?" he asked while she tied his waist, then hers, and finally secured them to one of the handholds for rappelling.
"Yes, and you're lucky I brought a blanket in case you didn't want to climb up here in the end... We can wrap ourselves in it." she said. He nodded as he removed his golden Sun-King ornaments to avoid poking himself while lying down, exposing his chest to the curious gaze of the Nora. Then, she placed the blanket at the metal base to avoid getting cold from direct contact with the iron if they lay down, and she lay down beside Avad, resting her head on his outstretched arm in a seemingly casual manner. "Can I?" she asked, stretching her neck, pointing with her gaze to his torso.
"Y-yes." he replied, blushing. She leaned on his chest while the king grabbed the blanket and covered them both. Aloy combed his dark hair back with both hands, saying inches away from his face, "I don't know why, but I've always been curious about what your hair would be like, you know? I've barely seen you with your head uncovered, and now that I've seen you without the crown, I can say that... I love it." he averted his gaze shyly, involuntarily smiling as he felt the caresses on his head and his cheeks flushing.
"It's th-that the royal family always keeps their heads covered... I've always been told that it was frowned upon, although I haven't heard anyone criticize me when I haven't worn it these days." he explained hesitantly. "In fact, when you woke up in Meridian... You were the first person to see me without the crown... I always felt embarrassed not wearing it when I was with other people, but at the moment you opened your eyes, I was so excited to see you that I didn't even realize, and... since then, I made it a point to go out without it sometime... although I still don't feel quite right without it."
"Wow, I had no idea... Don't worry, everything will come in due time."
They stayed silent for a long time, gazing at the first stars visible due to the diminishing sunlight. Eventually, it became completely dark, and both of them felt their eyelids growing heavier with each blink. Aloy curled up on his chest and gently caressed him. "I want you to know that you look good without the crown too." she commented, making Avad blush even more. Fortunately for him, the dim light prevented her from seeing him, and as they were lying down, he couldn't maintain eye contact with her. Avad just cleared his throat and wrapped her in his arms, creating a very comforting feeling for both of them. They fell into a deep sleep minutes later, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the Tallneck's footsteps and the breeze rustling the treetops.