Age of Heroes

IN ARRANDY

IN THE ARIADNE GARDEN

The scent of flowers fills the gardens and the water in the lake under the bridge in the garden is still, creating an environment of serenity and peace. 

With the wind cool air anyone who is tired will be calmed seeing the picturesque scene of this large garden. 

It was built by an architect from Asteros in commemoration of Arial daughter nameday. In the gardens right now are two figures.

The woman is wearing a sophisticated, noble dress. It is simple in style, but the detail in making this is superb. 

Only rich household like the Vermont's could afford this. It features a pretty full length gown with an elaborate collar. 

The dress is blaring red, with white and gold accents, as well as sleeve and bodice detailing. It makes a noble impression just by a glance, and the woman wearing such clothes must be only from the noblest of lineage.

The man on the other hand is also refined from head to toe, an extremely handsome man. If they sit by side, even the woman will not be embarrassed. 

It was a finery outfit a bold statement of clothing of noble ability, clothing in bright red and gold complementing the woman dress. 

This clothing of the handsome men displays fabric in a detailed pattern with golden trim that help to accentuate the breadth of the man shoulders and waist.

It has a puffed sleeve, an Arrandian style clothing that is trending lately, while his boot is also very high quality. The wind blows and they looked at each other. 

First, glancing. Then, a sneak peek. And then they locked their eyes with each other.

Both of them looked at each other awkwardly but there is affection in both of them. They both could not deny this. 

They don't want to deny it. This is a precious relationship between them. Though the level of affection for both of these figures is different, that affection exists. 

The woman and man has been friend for so long, how could affection is non-existent? Of course it is there. 

However, the level of their affection is definitely different. 

One views the other as an irreplaceable friend while the other views the other as the love of his life. 

Such difference in perspective of course will bring conflict of the hearts.

Then the man spoke his first word.

'Is Ariadne fine? I heard she got a fever?' 

'She is fine now. The healer has prescribed her some herbs to eat.' 

She said looking at Kyle with the wind blowing her beautiful flowing hair. There is some trace of tiredness on her eyes. 

After all this week with the news she received from Silas about Harald and Edward she could not sit still in her husband throne. 

There is also movement in the Principality. Harald and that fox...are they colluding? If they are, then Helia might have underestimated the cunningness of King Edward Merovich.

There is also the matter of Lady Adriana betrothal. Helia has been spending time with Adriana but the kid just reached her sixth birthday. 

She is active and bright, and she is attached to Helia. 

Lady Adrianna had the highest opinion for Helia virtue and gifts, and Helia kind natured as she is, made it her quest to give the younger sister of Arial to receive knowledge of the highest kind. 

Books fill the young girl room. 

All kinds of books are given to her ranging from medicine, philosophy, arithmetic, languages, history, and all manners of knowledge that the world could offer to such a privileged young lady.

Tutors from all across Arrandy are recruited and only the best of the best teaches her in every matter from courtly manners to fighting, science, arithmetic and politics.

Helia also gained a deeper understanding of the feelings of Lady Adrianna in regards to her opinion of her always absent brother.

It could be said while Lady Adrianna rarely see his older brother; Helia could see an unspoken affection that Lady Adrianna hold for Arial. 

Sometimes it looks like Lady Adriana is seeking for her brother approval and recognition.

It seems that Lady Adriana view Arial as a figure of respect and absolute power, which inspired her with some fear of his brother which almost overcame her affection. 

In a way it could be said Arial achievement makes even his own sister felt a little intimidated to be around his presence.

Then Helia looked back at Kyle and said. 

'There is no need for you to worry about her' 

'Can't I even worry about her?' 

'What is your intention Kyle, asking me to come to the gardens this late at night? Didn't I tell you to stop this?'

'I have been thinking about a lot of matters.' He said, sighing

'Matters that involve us. Involves you. Involves Arial.' 

Helia looked at Kyle and she looked at him with a complicated expression. She doesn't know what to think. 

There is a lot in her mind but she has decided…. decided a long time ago….and if there is something consistent about Helia, something true, something that made Arial love her it was her will, her steadfast decision. 

In the matter of politics, she is flexible but in the matter of her life, she is always unbending and unmovable like the mountains. 

Her will be done. But still she is curious what Kyle thinks, what he had thought, his feeling, his pain. 

No matter how she distances herself, she could not help but sympathizes with Kyle. 

He is her friend, closest friend, even closer than between her and Arial, Kyle sister is a bosom sister of Helia while Kyle friend is Arial, her husband. 

How could she be so cold and unmoved by his pain? 

Kind as she is, the unifying presence of the Four Greats, the graceful one of all the three and the uniting force between the Four Greats during their youths. 

It is this memories, all these memories that they have shared together, those life and death situation they encountered, her responsibilities towards Kyle for leading him on that made her unable to decline Kyle offer to meet her, to listen to what he wanted to say, hoping that he is able to forget her, to find a better woman than her

She loves him, this is not something that she herself doubt, but not that kind of love. But then she remembers something

In the end, she would always remember that that night years ago and something shakes her heart.

If you were faster, she mused….

if she was slower, she mused

And she closes her eyes and think, opening her eyes and look at the young man in front of her, she almost wondered...would today be different? 

Would I be in his arms instead of Arial?

Would I...be his wife? Looking at him, and she thought to herself…if I realize it earlier…. if you were faster, braver…. would we be…. looking at the same place?

But now it is too late. She realizes all of this when Arial return. 

While her loneliness is cured by the constant companionship of Kyle, she understands between affection and love. 

These two emotions seem the same but it is fundamentally different. She didn't know it before. 

Young as she is she is bound to make mistake, but now she is a mother, mature beyond her years and smart but also kind, and as such knows better of the conflicting emotion, the subtle difference in the matter of the hearts

but there are times when she doubts herself

every time she looks at him, as she wondered, if not for that night all those years ago

If not for her own misunderstanding and his stubbornness, would she still be Helia Vermont?

But she can't turn back time. 

They both can't. 

Both of them are trapped by their past, choked by their present, worrying about the days ahead, regret welling in both of their hearts.

They can only move forward.

'Yes...and? What do you think?' she said

'You said to forget you. You said to be faithful to Arial. Faithful to Arial? That I can do. Forget you. I can't.' 

'Kyle!' she said almost screaming. 

She thought Kyle has asked here to resolve their conflict. 

After all Kyle has begun showing his face in the court nowadays and Helia has seen his behavior and he has behaved most nobly and gentlemanlike manner towards her, never did he imply or ask anything regarding that matter again.

'But!' Kyle said 

'I also understand that I can't force love. I can't force you to love me. But neither could you force me to dislike you. I love you. And I will always love you. At least this, you could not take away from me.' 

Helia sighed. 

But she smiled bitterly. At least, she admires Kyle persistence. In a way, Helia knows all too well of Kyle disposition, especially regarding girls.

'You are stubborn.'

Kyle smile a little. The road to reconciliation is a thorny path but Kyle no matter how forceful he is, even he is not such a bastard to force his love to an unwilling lady. 

It is not his style. 

Loving her might be wrong. But when have love ever been right? He could not control who he loves. If he can, then all of this would be easier. 

And stealing her from his best friend? He could not bear to do that. But that is what he is trying to do. Love does not make sense.

But he hopes that by showing his sincerity, his honest attitude, that Helia might one day open that beautiful eyes of her and look at him the same way he has been looking at her all these years.

That one day, Helia will whisper that word in his ears. It might be a dream. It might be a deluded illusion. 

But he can't let her go. He can't just stop loving her because she told him to. Only people who have fallen in love understand his feeling.

If Helia ever turn her face to look at him even if he has to betray every virtue on this earth, he would be willing to. 

He would be willing to burn all the knightly code he had learned in the Academy and he did not mind becoming the enemy of the world as long as she is by his side.

A person that would burn the world for love that is a man he can understand. These are the fundamental difference between him and Arial. 

If Arial were ever given a choice of saving the world and his family, his sense of responsibility would never have allowed him to choose his family no matter the pain he would endure. 

But Kyle will not hesitate. 

His family, friends, his love, that is what is important to him. People would say he is a bastard, an ungrateful person but he doesn't care. 

And if Helia fall in love with him, Helia will be called by many names, whores, unfaithful wife, betrayer and many fouler names. 

They would tell her that her virtues are false. 

But still, even if that time comes, he will love her, even though there is no possible benefit for him, unearned, and even underserved. 

Kyle would have not minded to defile every virtue, every oath of honor because to him that is a tribute of love, because Kyle would sacrifice his conscience, his reason, his integrity and his honor to be with the ones he loves.

One could even admire such tenacity and determination.

Then looking at Helia chuckling at him he replies Helia accusation.

'I rather you call me passionate.' 

'Obsessed, is more of an apt description.' 

'Obsessed? Of you?' 

'Yes' Helia said a smile formed on her lips.

It seems Kyle has calmed down his heart. After all, he is joking right now. That indifferent attitude shows itself. 

A mask, Helia reminded herself. A mask of broken heart. And Helia believe Kyle. Because no matter what Kyle has done, she still trusted him. 

He…still has honor, if not honor, respect for her decision for her will and choice. If there is one thing Helia could say without a shred of doubt about Kyle it is this. 

Kyle will always respect her. At least, this she knows. She has been so long acquainted with him.

They are the Four Greats. Friends, always and forever. How could she not trust him? How could she not give him the benefit of the doubt? 

How…could she just stop to hope? Stop to love Kyle, his quirks, his amiable personality, his attentions to the minutia details. 

While her love might be different from Kyle, it is love all the same. And there is still hope, hope for this precious friendship that Helia cherished to save.

'You flatter yourself Helia. I love you, true. Obsessed? Just by your beauty alone? I don't think so.' Kyle said a slight joking on his part.

'HAHAHA.' Helia laughed and her laugh fills the empty garden, almost giving it life.

It has been a long time since she laughed together with Kyle so unreserved like this. It reminds her of old times, when life is not so complicated. 

When everything was simple and free of web of lies and secrets. Now, the web is everywhere and everything is tangled. 

Not even a swing of a sword could cut this knot

'So…you will not pursue me?' 

'Not…unless you give me a sign.' 

'I won't.' 

'Well, time will tell.' 

'What are you saying?' 

'I might not pursue you Helia but who's to say someday you will not fall in love with me? If only I was faster- 'he said 

'If you were faster, braver….' Helia look at the stars and then she said with honesty 

'Then I might have fallen in love with you.' She said honestly. 

This answer shocked Kyle. 

'You would?' 

'Of course I would. You are a charming person, kind, attentive and…you have a way with words.' 

'Thank you' Kyle grins. 

'But it is not good talking about road not taken. I love Arial. Before. Now. Then. If you were faster, then I might not have become Arial wife. If' she said and she smiles bitterly

'But fate has spoken. My heart has spoken. And I do not regret it.' 

'Do you want to be Arial wife that bad?' he asked.

Helia chuckled a bit, looking at that pitiful face of Kyle. With a hint of mischievousness, she said

'I do. And Kyle while you have your good qualities, Arial also has his. Loyal. Honorable. Brave. Strong. Smart and inspires such things in the heart of men. He is steadfast and always honor his promise'

She smiles again but there is pain in that smile. Kyle didn't like seeing that smile. She continued

'And sometimes…. maybe that is also his flaw. Honor, responsibility, he took all of this on his shoulders. He is stumbling along, dragging his weary feet, the weight of the world burdened on him. Many open a path for him, allowing him passage but none dare to take that weight for him...no one can take that burden from him. His burden is so invisible, yet so daunting. I wish to lighten his load and if I can, to switch places with him, to took up that burden, lifting it for him.' 

And then Helia look at the stars again and she spotted two stars in the starry skies, two stars, and one shine brightly while another is dimming. 

Then she looks back at Kyle her eyes shine brighter as the doubt in her heart clears and her resolve strengthened.

'So, what you want to say to me tonight is that you will not forget me, and you would wait for me? What a lovely sentiment but it is wasted on me. Find another girl. With your status and background, I doubt it will be hard for you to find a suitable match that will please your mother and sister. And how long could you wait for me? My heart will always belong to him. You know this.'

Kyle smiles bitterly. His smile also has a pain inside it. And she could also see that pain as much as Kyle could see the pain in her smile.

She too did not like seeing such smile.

'How long you ask me? Till the end of my life and if there is a life after this, I will also wait you there.'

He said sincerely and even Helia heartbeats flutter a bit to be so intensely courted. 

Helia then moved away ready to leave the gardens now that Kyle has made his intention known. 

At least Helia knows Kyle will not harass her again. The choice is in her hands. Eerily, it reminded her of her quarrel with her husband. 

Before he left, Arial look at Helia eyes, kissed her lips and whisper to her ears. 'The choice is yours. It always has, and it always will.' 

Remembering her husband words, it was almost like he knows. Helia quickly dispel such thoughts. 

That would be too heartbreaking for Arial if he knows what she has done. Then a hit of suspicion dawn on her. 

Could he….no…. he…did he know about me and Kyle, right? 

'That is impossible' and once again Helia dispel that notion. Looking at Kyle, her eyebrow creased and she gives him her advice

'Forget me Kyle. Let us stay like before. Friends.' 

Helia look left and right and said 

'The night is late and I have to return to the castle." She said informing that she is returning home to the castle.

'Consider what I said. There is no need to regret over the road not taken. Our destiny is not to be together. I am married and while I admit my heart always flutter when you speak with me whispering love song, I could not deny nor lie about my feelings for Arial. You once said why I married him? You ask me of this.'

'Yes, I did,' Kyle admits. 

'You never give me the answer? Why? You found it now?' he asks and she nodded.

'I do not understand this before and so I could never answer you…but now, though I do not admit to know everything there is to know about marriage, I could claim I know some things. Want to hear it Kyle?' 

Kyle just nodded curious of Helia answer.

'A good marriage is one in which both the wife and husband both choose each other as the guardian of their solitude and thus by this act shows that they display for each other the greatest possible trust'

She laughs. It is the words that she heard from Lady Julia.

She then continued

'It is a mix of hearts, a mutual consent between two people that seem to be saying 'take my freedom, rob me of it'. Sound like it is terrifying isn't it? To give your heart, the freedom of the heart to one person. To remain committed to that oath sworn in that church. But once it is accepted that even between two closest souls, infinite distance exists, then the husband and wife can grow, and if they succeed in loving the infinite expanse between them which give them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky filled with glittering stars, such love…. will endure. Such love… will persevere.' 

Saying this she stared at Kyle, a compassionate stare and she said, with all the sincerity that her heart could muster.

'I love him Kyle and I don't think I could love you the same way I love him. To me you are an irreplaceable friend. I do not want to lose you. And I hope you do not want to lose me too. But asking me to choose between you and Arial? I will always choose him. You know this. So…. don't make me choose Kyle. Please. Don't make me choose. Because you already know the answer.' 

Saying this Helia walked away from the garden and outside the gardens her attendants is already waiting beside her carriage. 

Then she disappeared from the garden vicinity rushing to get home to the castle.

Kyle looked at the disappearing carriage and he keeps looking until the carriage has disappeared from his sight. 

Taking a pebble in the ground he throws it to the still lake water and the ripples resonated outward with the pebbles creating a plop sound as it falls to the bottom of the lake. 

Kyle leans on one of the bench near the bridge as he sat down underneath a tree.

'Keeping passion at bay or surrendering blindly to it - which of these two attitudes is the least destructive? I don't know' Kyle answers. 

And Arial word rings in his ear during one of their journey solving quest. 

They were celebrating after accomplishing another completion of their quest and that night Arial said to him

"However rare true love maybe, it is less so than true friendship." And he patted Kyle back and gives him the warmest smile he has ever shown to anyone. 

Remembering that scene made Kyle heart constricted. 

He…...doesn't know anymore. About anything. Where did it all go wrong? Where did it all start unraveling? At which point?

He doesn't know. 

On one side, he hoped Helia never accept his advances, while another side, he earnestly hopes Helia will love her. 

His heart, his mind is at war with each other. Conflicting emotions boiled under that calm face. 

Looking at the ripple effect of the lake, Kyle remembered that Arial always said this to him. 

'One choice could change everything. One ripple in a lake, a flutter of a butterfly wings could cause a hurricane a world away.' 

He never understood what Arial was talking about but for some reason, he grasps a bit of truth in that's statement. 

'Choices' he muttered. 

'That is the only thing that matters. Choices.'

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

One of the longer chapters. I know people woudl be even more angry if I cut this chpater into parts.