Comforts of the Heart

That night, a somberness filled the town as a bonfire was lit at the gates.

Townspeople and soldiers alike stood with their heads down, and their hands clasped in silent prayers for the fallen. Not a sound was made, even among those who shed tears for their lost friends or loved ones.

It was an all too familiar sight for Edward, who was reminded of the funerals for his father and Tom.

‘I thought…I would never see one of these again.’ The dark-haired man thought solemnly. ‘Much less in another world…’

He glanced aside to see Lilian with the other fae, her eyes teary as she quietly wept. He then looked towards the bonfire to see Colette standing in front of it, with her sword planted in front of her as she faced the gathering.

‘Rosaline and Captain Charles died too.’ Edward thought with guilt. ‘They tried to protect me…and they paid that price. If only I had been better as a Hero…’

He scowled slightly as he felt the burn of righteous fury in his heart.

‘What’s done is done…All I can do is see this mission through to the end, so their deaths will not be in vain. And nobody will need to sacrifice themselves, ever again.’

________________________________________

Later, Edward and the princesses met in his room at the inn to discuss their next steps.

“As much as I want to go now,” Colette said with a weary expression. “that battle took a lot out of us. We'll rest and prepare tomorrow, then leave the day after.”

Lilian nodded slightly. “Yes, we can’t just leave when we’re so weak. We also need to settle matters here, before we depart.”

Edward looked to see how her eyes were faintly red from crying. Though she tried to look composed, it was apparent the events of the battle left her quite shaken.

‘She pushed herself so hard, and got hurt for my sake.’ He thought with sympathy. ‘She even saw her friend die…I should make sure she’s alright. There’s things I want to talk about with Princess Colette, but…I can save it for tomorrow.’

“Then I’ll see you both in the morning.” He said with a nod. “But Lilian, could you stay here for a minute to talk?”

She regarded him with curious eyes, but inclined her head. Colette gave him a puzzled look, but shrugged and walked to the door.

“Goodnight, you two.” She said before leaving.

Once the door was shut, Edward went to sit on the bed, and he gestured for Lilian to sit beside him. She wordlessly obliged, and that’s when he spoke up in a careful tone.

“So, about the battle…I’m sorry for what happened to Rosaline.”

She shook her head, though a little gloomily. “N-no, you don’t have to be sorry. It wasn’t your fault that…Champion killed her. I know she wouldn’t blame you either.”

He shook his head, looking guilty. “It was my fault…If I had just been a more proper Hero, she would still be alive. Captain Charles too. Everyone who lost their lives today…they could have been saved if I had just embraced my role from the start. You even got hurt protecting me…”

“I understand the sentiment…but blaming yourself won’t do you any good. All that matters is that you’re here now, so just keep moving forward.”

She smiled at him, though there was a hint of sadness behind it.

“And…I’m happy that you were saved. Although, it wasn’t me who saved you…Heh, once again, Jen had to bail me out.”

He looked down as he remembered how Princess Jenette defended him, when the Champion made that offer for his life. While she was the one to convince the knight to go away…Edward recalled who he heard on the very moment where he was about to give up.

“It wasn’t just her.” He said with a hand on his heart. “The Champion…in a way, he asked me to join him. He said he’d destroy everything to end all suffering, and I was so…tired of everything that I nearly gave in.”

He choked back a sob, then took a deep breath before looking at Lilian with watery eyes. And slowly, his lips curled into the first smile he had in years, filled with heartfelt gratitude.

“But I heard your voice, and it kept me from making what could have been the worst mistake of my life.  That’s why…I’m grateful to you, Princess Lilian. And Rosaline, Charles, and all those who protected me with their lives. I will not let your sacrifices be in vain, I promise.”

Her sapphire eyes shimmered with tears as well, and she took a moment to brush them away before smiling back in relief.

“Thank you, Sir Edward.” She said with restrained emotion. “Just remember, this isn’t your burden alone. Princess Colette and I will be by your side, until the end of this world.”

For a few moments, all went quiet as they continued to gaze into each other’s eyes. Then Edward’s smile wavered as he began to feel something awkward in his heart.

‘What the hell…’ He thought in confusion. ‘Why am I so nervous all of a sudden?’

It seemed like Lilian was affected too, as a soft blush crept on her cheeks and she looked away with an odd cough.

“W-well…” She murmured as she stood. “Um…if that’s all, I’ll take my leave. Have a good night, Sir Edward.”

Her steps were hasty as she went to the door. Once she was gone, Edward flopped onto his back and let out a breath he didn’t he was holding. He then recalled those seconds before, where he had stared into her brilliant blue eyes…then shook his head and turned over.

‘What the hell am I thinking?’ He thought with a frustrated growl.

After calming himself down, he laid back and looked at the ceiling with a firm frown.

“At least she seems to feel better.” He said to himself. “No matter what, I will uphold my promise. To protect her, and save this world.”

_________________________________________

Lilian was on the bed in her and Colette’s room, staring into space as she had those minutes before on her mind. Edward’s smile had stood out to her…and left her heart burning with some kind of need.

She knew this feeling all too well…and that was why she shook her head and tried to will it away. Yet, her cheeks remained as red as cherries.

‘Calm down already!’ She scolded herself. ‘You can’t be…fancying him!’

Colette, who had finished dressing in a nightgown, looked at her in confusion.

“What’s got you so flustered?” She inquired.

Lilian smiled awkwardly. “I-I’m just tired from everything that’s happened, that’s all. Actually, are you okay? I mean, you did fight…Princess Helena.”

The redheaded princess frowned and nodded in a resolute manner.

“I’m alright. Now, more than ever, I’m ready to save her from Nocturne’s clutches. The next time I face him, I won’t hold back.”

She untied her hair, then went to sit on the other side of the bed before giving Lilian a softer look.

“What about you? Since Rosaline died…”

The Fae Princess smiled with a hint of sadness. “It still hurts…but I’m okay. Sir Edward helped me cheer up, with our talk earlier.”

Colette crossed her arms, now intrigued. “So that’s what happened, huh? He’s nicer than I thought.”

“Y-yes…it surprised me too.”

‘Sh-she doesn’t suspect anything, does she?’ Lilian thought nervously.

After a few awkward seconds of silence, Colette laid on her side with a yawn.

“Well, glad you’re okay.” She said wearily. “Mmm…have a good night, Lil.”

Lilian let out a sigh of relief. “Mhm, good night, Colette.”

As she laid down, she recalled memories of the past.

The times Rosaline scolded her when she was a child. The afternoons where she meditated with her father. And the laughs she shared with Anne and Jen.

Finally, her thoughts once again turned to Edward. How she tried to save him, and how he protected her. Then his smile…which left her heart fluttering to the point where it took her a while longer to start falling asleep.

‘So many precious memories…’ She thought as she dozed off. ‘They all drive me to fight this battle. That’s right, I’m protecting him to honor my past friends, nothing more.’

________________________________________

The next morning, Edward was sitting in a warm bubble bath.

He had no nightmares last night, and he was strangely full of energy. He felt so light, like the weight on both his mind and body had disappeared.

‘When was the last time I felt so…at peace?’ He thought with a sigh of bliss.

As he continued to relax in the tub, he thought of the Champion, and the last words he had said.

‘If you can live through the dragon’s storm, I shall await you in Drakonburg. Do not disappoint me…Hero of Worlds.’

‘It seems like he won’t be haunting my dreams anymore.’ Edward thought with a slight edge. ‘Just you wait, Champion, I will grow stronger. That’s why starting today, I’ll take my training with Princess Colette more seriously.’

He let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall, and his eyes closed slightly.

“But for now…I’ll just enjoy the bath.” He murmured. “It’s been so long since I felt at ease like this…”

He continued to soak for another minute…then the soothing quiet was broken by the click of the door opening.

Edward quickly straightened up and looked to see Lilian, who stood frozen at the door like a cornered deer.

For a very tense moment, they stared at each other with reddening faces. Neither of them spoke. And as much as he tried to…his voice just got caught in his throat.

Finally, after several more seconds of awkward silence…Lilian let out a cough and turned away.

“F-forgive me, I should have knocked first.” She said with forced composure.

“Uh, it’s ok-” Edward tried to say.

He was cut off by her shutting the door, and he let out an embarrassed groan as he put his face in his hands.

“I lived alone for so long, I forgot about locking the door..."

_______________________________________

Just outside the door, Princess Lilian was leaning against the wall and taking deep breaths.

She put a hand over her rapidly beating heart as she thought of what she saw of Edward’s upper body.

‘He’s very lean…not much else. Yet, seeing him like that made me feel so hot!’

She rapidly shook her head as she tried to get her mind out of the gutter.

‘No no no! I do not like him, not like that! I will not think such shameless thoughts! I’m a fae, he’s a human…and we’re literally worlds apart!’