“Vhalla, you have known me for only—”
“You built this.” She cut him off, and he blinked at her in surprise. “Us, you built us.” Vhalla showed him the watch he’d given her as proof. “And it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever known.”
Aldrik didn’t have words; he simply pressed his forehead against hers and fought for control over his emotions. Vhalla felt the smallest of quivers in the hand that held hers, and she insisted there would be no tears. She insisted through each inhale that was weaker than the last exhale.
“I love you, my lady, my future wife,” he whispered. Aldrik’s fingers shifted around hers, running over the watch at her neck.
“I love you,” she replied. Nothing had ever been truer. “My future husband.”
The words humbled them both into a surprised silence. They’d both said it. It had been secretly official for days, but somehow saying it so openly made it all the more real.
Vhalla stared at Aldrik. They would both make it. Her fingers tightened around his.
Aldrik finally pulled away, almost an hour later. It seemed to take that long for them both to muster the strength for him leave her side. Vhalla sat as well, watching him dress.
“What will happen?” she asked softly.
“We’re going over everything once more,” Aldrik explained as she walked over to him in nothing more than one of his long shirts.
His eyes lingered on her bare legs as Vhalla latched up his plate carefully, reverently.
“You’re much preferred over any other squire I’ve ever had tend to me,” Aldrik said with a small grin.
Vhalla laughed softly. It was the lightest moment they’d had in a long time. A jest that normal lovers would make, not the hushed words of desperation they’d been sharing for weeks.
“Happy to serve, my prince,” she murmured and raised his mailed hand to her lips, kissing it thoughtfully.
“I love you.” Aldrik kissed her once more and left.
Vhalla suddenly felt nauseous, and she placed a palm on her forehead. Fumbling with the watch on her neck, Vhalla studied the hands. It was almost noon; sunset would come sooner than she knew.
She took the same care in donning her own armor. Vhalla made sure every clasp was fastened properly, each clip was tightened and in place. She made sure the chainmail of her hood had no kinks and her gauntlets and greaves were just so.
The main room was surprisingly quiet. Baldair sat with the Golden Guard; a few other majors discussed one or two things, Aldrik among them. The Emperor seemed to be huddled around something at the far end with senior members. But otherwise there was little activity.
She ended up sitting with the Golden Guard as Aldrik was too engrossed in what he was doing to break away. She had not eaten yet, but that didn’t spur her to do anything other than stare listlessly at the food. Vhalla reminded herself that sustenance was needed, but she couldn’t seem to muster the will. She was far too uneasy to eat.
“Vhalla,” Daniel’s whisper jarred her out of her thoughts.
The moment her eyes met his, they shared books of unspoken words. His gaze was like a distanced caress, absorbing her as though it were the last time. Vhalla realized that, in their own ways, they were all making peace with the fact that no one knew who would still be sitting at the table the next morning. They were all saying silent, fearful goodbyes.
“Eat,” he said finally.
“I know.” She picked up a fork.
“Try not to be nervous,” he offered helpfully.
“Try to tell the sun not to rise.” She was slightly annoyed he’d even suggest such.
“Then have faith in the people surrounding you.” He leaned forward. “I will be there, at your side.”
Vhalla stared in shock, suddenly remembering he was fighting on the front line of the side she and Aldrik were assigned to. The name that had been ink on a map of a battlefield suddenly became real, and with it, horror clawed its way through her. There were too many people she cared about, too many for her to protect them all.
“The Black Legion knows to protect you and the prince,” Jax said with more seriousness than Vhalla had heard in a long time.
Vhalla shifted her attention to the man at Daniel’s right. “I don’t want them to—”
“To what?” Jax interrupted her. “To have the Tower not protect their leaders?”
