When Aloy descended, Avad was waiting for her in the same spot where they had parted ways. It was still a while before dusk, but she wanted to arrive early to settle in, prepare some dinner, and, above all, to mentally prepare herself before entering the place. Upon leaving the settlement, they rode on the back of the machine that would take them to the secluded house of the hunter.
"I'm looking forward to seeing your home." he said, holding onto her waist excitedly. She took a few seconds to respond.
"Yeah... I'm also looking forward to you seeing it... but I'll need to take it slowly..." she replied with a somewhat sad tone.
"Oh, y-yes, of course, don't worry, we'll go at the pace you need, there's no hurry." he replied, recalling Rost. The ascent became steeper until they finally reached a well-built wooden palisade.
"This is... here." Aloy said, dismounting from the Strider. Avad dismounted a few seconds later, while she crossed the wooden fence. He followed her footsteps into the enclosure, finding her kneeling in the snow, with a beautiful ornament made of machine parts in front of what looked like a grave. Rost's grave. He didn't know exactly what to do until he heard her sob. Then, without thinking twice, as if a force propelled him from within, he knelt beside her and enveloped her in his arms. Aloy fell silent, leaning against his chest.
"Hey... If you want, we can postpone the visit. Maybe it's better if you show me later, don't worry." he whispered gently in her ear while caressing her soft cheek, moistened by a cold tear. "I just want to see it when you're ready."
"No..." she murmured. "I want you to see it; it's important to me."
"Alright, you... take your time." he said. Then, she wiped her nose with the back of her hand and stood up, leaning on him. Holding Avad's hand, the huntress walked to the door of the house, sheltered under an awning that covered a large pile of wood destined for the warmth of the hearth. There, she stopped.
"I haven't been in here since... the day of the Proving. Without Rost, it doesn't feel like my home anymore. I need to take it slow."
"Take all the time you need, and if you decide it's better to go back to the village, I'll have no problem with that, really." Avad said. Aloy turned towards him gratefully for being so understanding. He was probably exhausted after the long day they had experienced, but all that mattered to him was that she was okay. He took one more step and unlocked the door, pushing it afterward. It opened with a faint creaking sound. It was starting to get dark, and although the sunsets in the Sacred Lands were not as beautiful as in the Sundom, the sky began to be tinged with orange.
The door opened, revealing the interior of the house, dark because the shutters were closed. The warm sunset light traced the shape of the door on the floor, containing the shadow of the couple. A gust of wind brought in several snowflakes, depositing them on a fur rug. She sighed, and after standing still for a few seconds, entered, followed by the monarch. For Aloy, the sight was striking. Everything was as if Rost had never left: the dishes, the decorations... nothing was out of place, as if he were about to return any moment. But he wouldn't. When her eyes adjusted to the dim light, Avad placed his satchel on the rug and looked around. It wasn't too large, nor did it have many rooms, but it looked very cozy. To the left, there was a fireplace surrounded by stone, with some ashes inside. The Sun King deduced that this place was also used for cooking, as several kitchen utensils hung around it for heating and preparing meals. Near the fireplace, there was a not-too-large bed, covered with blankets and furs. On the wall opposite the fire, a small shelf hung with various figurines made from machine parts, representing several of them: one was a Strider, another a Tallneck, a Watcher, and a Grazer as well. Nearby, there was a table made of ridge-wood, along with a couple of chairs resting beside it. On the wall opposite the door, there was a cupboard near the table, where wooden dishes were stored. There was also a door, slightly ajar, but due to the low light, its interior couldn't be seen. On this same wall near the bed, there was another large cupboard that was closed. It was large enough to store various objects, weapons, clothes... Numerous Nora decorations hung on the walls, as well as others made from fabric and boar horns. Near them, there were several trunks that were closed, preventing a view of their contents.
"Everything is the same as the last time I was here." she pointed out, still holding onto his hand while reminiscing about everything she had experienced there with Rost. The only difference was that the hearth was extinguished and covered in cold gray ash. A gust of wind slipped under her legs, lifting one corner of the rug.
"If you still want to stay... it's better that we close the door." Avad suggested, putting the rug back in place with the tip of his foot.
"You're right." she replied, somewhat distant. "Open the shutters to let in some light while I light the fire." and so they did. Then, she sat on the floor, gazing at the flames enigmatically.
"The house... is very beautiful." the king said to break the silence and try to distract her.
"Do you know that... Rost built it all with his own hands?"
"Really? Every single thing?" he asked, looking around. "You have to be very skilled for that."
"Yes." she replied, smiling slightly. Then, she took a deep breath and stood up. "Do you... want me to show you something?" she suggested afterward.
"Sure, I'd love to." he replied cheerfully.
"Look." she said, grabbing the Carja's wrist and pulling him. "He made these figurines; the last one to be finished was this one," she commented, carefully taking the Tallneck model and placing it in his hands. The monarch examined it closely, seeing the details that he hadn't been able to appreciate from a distance.
"It's a Tallneck!" he exclaimed, placing it back in its spot, unable to avoid thinking about their first kiss. She nodded slightly more animatedly.
"Here, we store the dishes, also made by him." Avad contemplated the shelf in admiration. "And this is my bed." The Nora explained, sitting on the bed in the room. Then, she grabbed a chest that was next to a small shelf with various wooden figurines, which he hadn't seen due to the blind spot caused by the fireplace. She gestured for him to sit beside her and opened the container.
"This was my first bow." she said, showing it to him. It was very small, suitable for a girl of short stature.
"How small it is!" he exclaimed, surprised.
"I've been hunting almost since I can remember." she laughed. They sat by the fire for a while, as she told him anecdotes of how she learned to hunt thanks to Rost's teachings.
Aloy carefully handed Avad a bowl of stew by the fire. Although they could eat at the table, they chose to sit on the rug near the fire to warm up (mostly to keep him from getting cold). Besides, it was where she and Rost often had dinner, especially on colder nights. She was lost in her thoughts until a warm hand rested on hers.
"Everything okay?" Avad asked, concerned and unsure if staying in the house would affect her too much.
"Y-yes." she replied, hugging her knees with glassy eyes, unable to look at him. "Don't worry." He stared at her, not sure whether to insist, so he decided it was best to postpone it and not make her feel pressured. Instead, he stayed by her side in case she needed anything.
"I'll close the shutters to keep out the cold at night." The Nora said, getting up. Avad remained seated by the fire, unable to resist glancing at a place that intrigued him, one she had avoided mentioning during the house tour. After covering the windows, Aloy turned to the monarch, seeing where he was looking. "It was Rost's room. If you want, you can go in, but don't move anything. I want it to be exactly as he left it. In fact, I was thinking that, if you don't mind, we can both sleep here, though it might be a bit cramped."
"No problem." he replied with a warm and welcoming smile. "Thanks for wanting to share this with me; I appreciate it a lot, really." She smiled back at him. A big yawn escaped Avad, causing his eyes to glisten.
"Tired?" Aloy raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, you have no idea." he replied, rubbing his eyelids with his fingers. She chuckled softly. "And I'm a bit chilly, but I guess I'll get used to it."
"If you want, you can change here; you'll be warmer by the fire. I'll do the same in Rost's room, and then we can go to sleep." she suggested. Avad nodded and, opening his travel bag, began to take out the sleepwear he usually wore. Avad got dressed quickly, feeling the cold fabric settle on his body. He rubbed himself to warm up and then got into bed, also feeling the cold blankets. A shiver ran down his spine, making him shudder.
"U-ughh…" he sighed, feeling as if he were freezing. He waited for a few minutes, but Aloy didn't arrive, which began to worry him. Then, he took a breath to call her just as she entered the room. She had put on the clothes that made her feel most comfortable, the ones she wore before the Proving, the ones she had crafted with Rost's help, and brought back fond memories. Upon entering, she met the gaze of the Sun-King, who was sitting on the bed, covered up to his chest with blankets. Without saying anything, the huntress approached and covered up beside him. As there wasn't much space, she accidentally kicked him in the leg, and after apologizing, she lay down with her back to him. The room was illuminated only by the fire, casting shadows that moved restlessly along the walls and floor. The couple remained silent for several minutes. She pretended to be trying to sleep, and he tried to find the words to talk to her. He was fully aware that something was wrong.
"Aloy…" he said, adopting a gentle tone, whispering softly, "I can see that you're not feeling well." He signaled by placing a hand on her shoulder and gently pushing her to face him so he could look into her eyes. She didn't resist but turned her face away to hide it. "I don't know if you want to talk about something, or maybe you prefer silence, but just know that I'm here for whatever you need—whatever you prefer, I'm here for you." She suddenly hugged him, pressing her face against the monarch's chest, and cried.
"I-I miss him so much…" the Sun-King enveloped her in his arms and stroked her red hair illuminated by the fire. "He's... present everywhere."
"I'm sorry…" he replied, hugging her tightly. She wiped away the tears with her fingers and then embraced him. "If you want, tomorrow we can stay in the village."
"No... I can't run from my pain forever... I prefer that we stay here... I have to face what I feel and stop ignoring it as I've been doing since they killed him." Avad nodded and gently stroked her neck. She sighed, and they remained silent for several minutes.
"I understand perfectly." he replied, sweetly kissing her forehead.
"Thank you, Avad." she whispered, holding onto him tightly. "Having you here helps me a lot."
"I'll always be here for you, no matter what you need. If there's anything I can do to make you feel better, just tell me."
"Just... hold me." she whispered. They remained silent for several minutes. Accompanied by the crackling of the fire and the sound of the breeze, they stayed embraced until Aloy startled.
"What's wrong?" the Sun-King asked, noticing her sudden movement.
"Are your feet that cold?" she asked as she dried her cheeks with both hands. While they were hugging, she had moved, and her feet had collided with Avad's, realizing at that moment how cold they were.
"I'm having a bit of trouble getting used to the cold." he explained. He still felt the icy sheets against his body. "I think my feet have decided not to warm up." Aloy laughed.
"Wait, I have something that might help you." the Nora carefully left the bed, making sure that the little warmth inside didn't escape, and headed to a wardrobe. She rummaged through a drawer, and within a minute, she returned to his side hiding something behind her back. Then, she squatted on the side where the king was lying.
"What is it?" he asked intrigued.
"Stick one foot out, and you'll see." she said mysteriously. The Carja obeyed. Then, Aloy wrapped his foot with both hands for a few seconds to warm it, and afterward, she covered it with a thick, furry blue sock. She did the same with the other foot.
"Ah... much better, thank you…" he sighed with gratitude. He truly felt much better. The huntress took the opportunity to stoke the fireplace before snuggling back next to the monarch.
"Come, get closer." she whispered, opening her arms. The king approached and then nestled close to her body. She embraced the monarch, sharing her warmth with him.
"Oh..." he sighed. "Thank you." Avad hugged her back, feeling like he was melting in her arms. Aloy gently caressed his face, running her fingers through the king's beard, causing him to blush. In that moment, the huntress felt better.
"How was your first day?" she asked after a while, looking into his eyes dimly lit by the fire.
"It has been... wonderful." he whispered sweetly near her ear. "I truly appreciate all of this, every little detail fills me inside. I love your land, and the climate is so different, so beautiful... The snow is like... magic, everything here is special. Although as beautiful as it is, it certainly wouldn't have been the same if I weren't with you... You make everything different, brighter." She smiled.
"I'm glad you like it, and that you're here." she whispered, snuggling onto his chest. "Despite what happened with Rost... I feel comfortable with you." He hugged her affectionately.
"It was something that I found very difficult to share, but with you, it's more bearable." he said.
"Thank you." he replied, stroking her cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped from her eyelid. "You are very strong, you've been carrying so much weight on your own... But now, I'm here so you don't have to bear that burden alone."
"Everything has changed so much since I took the prove... but having you by my side brings me a lot of peace," she said, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Avad sweetly kissed her forehead and enveloped her again with his protective arms. They didn't speak any further, just remaining still, waiting for sleep to arrive.