The training grounds bustled with activity at dawn. Arianne woke early, the chill of the morning air biting against her skin. As she pulled on her training gear, she felt a strange mix of anticipation and unease. Rian was here. After all the time apart, after all the uncertainties, he was here. But he was no longer the revered general who would one day be her husband. Here, he was just another soldier, and she—she was just another recruit.
She stepped out of the barracks, watching the first hints of sunlight spill across the sky. Kael was already waiting for her near the training field, his arms crossed.
"You slept at all?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Arianne forced a smile. "Enough."
Kael studied her for a moment before shaking his head. "I saw you staring at the new recruits last night. One recruit in particular."
Her stomach tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "It doesn't matter."
Kael scoffed. "Right. Because that's exactly what your face said."
Before she could respond, the sharp blast of the morning horn signaled the start of drills. The recruits rushed to the training field, where Commander Alden awaited them. He paced before them, eyes scanning the fresh faces.
"Today's drill is simple," Alden announced. "Pairs combat. Real conditions. No holding back."
Arianne swallowed hard. The last thing she needed was to end up in a match with Rian. But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.
Alden's sharp voice carried over the murmuring crowd. "Arianne, you'll spar with Rian."
Arianne stiffened. From the corner of her eye, she saw Rian's head snap in her direction. The tension in the air thickened.
Kael muttered under his breath, "This should be interesting."
Steel and Sparks
Arianne and Rian stepped onto the training circle. The other recruits gathered around, eager to witness the match. She could feel their eyes on her, but her focus remained on the man standing before her.
Rian drew his practice sword, his grip steady. "Are you ready?" he asked quietly.
Arianne nodded. "Always."
The moment the signal was given, Rian moved. Fast. Too fast. Arianne barely had time to block his first strike, the force of it reverberating up her arm.
She gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let him win so easily.
Adjusting her stance, she lunged forward, feinting to the right before twisting her sword upward in a move meant to catch him off guard. But Rian knew her too well. He deflected her strike effortlessly, his expression unreadable.
"Good," he murmured. "But not good enough."
He swept low, knocking her off balance. Arianne barely managed to roll out of the way before his blade could tap against her side. Springing back to her feet, she exhaled sharply, determination flashing in her eyes.
Their swords clashed again and again, each movement bringing them closer. Arianne could feel the heat of his presence, the intensity of his gaze. It was maddening, distracting—and exhilarating.
"You're holding back," Rian said suddenly, blocking another strike with ease.
Arianne scowled. "And you're not?"
Rian's lips twitched. "Fair point."
The next strike came faster, sharper. Arianne barely managed to dodge in time, her pulse pounding. She had never faced him like this before—never fought him, never had to stand on equal ground.
For a fleeting moment, it was almost as if the world had disappeared, leaving only them. The battle. The rhythm of their movements. The unspoken words between them.
Then, in a split second of hesitation, Rian's blade met hers with a sharp clang. The force sent her stumbling back, and in one swift motion, he disarmed her, sending her practice sword skidding across the ground.
The match was over.
Rian stepped closer, lowering his weapon. His voice was barely a whisper. "You've grown stronger."
Arianne's chest rose and fell rapidly. "Not strong enough."
He held her gaze for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "You will be."
Around them, the other recruits broke into murmurs, but Arianne hardly heard them. All she could feel was the lingering heat of Rian's presence, the weight of their unspoken history pressing down on her.
A Night of Truths
That night, unable to sleep, Arianne wandered toward the quiet edge of the camp. The moonlight bathed the land in silver, the cool air a welcome contrast to the heat still simmering within her.
She wasn't surprised when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned slowly, already knowing who it was.
Rian.
He stopped a few feet away, arms crossed. "Can't sleep?"
Arianne shook her head. "Too much on my mind."
Rian nodded, stepping closer. The silence between them stretched, thick with the weight of things left unsaid.
Finally, he spoke. "Why did you come here, Arianne?"
She hesitated before answering, her voice soft. "Because I needed to prove something. To myself. To my family. To you."
Rian's eyes darkened. "You never had to prove anything to me."
Arianne looked away. "Maybe not. But I had to prove it to myself."
Another beat of silence. Then Rian reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. It was barely a touch, but it sent a shiver down her spine.
"I thought I'd lost you," he admitted, voice raw. "And now you're here, but I can't reach you."
Arianne swallowed hard. "You're the one who said we can't be who we were at the palace."
Rian exhaled slowly. "And yet, every time I look at you, all I see is the girl I fell in love with."
Her heart clenched. The moonlight cast shadows across his face, highlighting the quiet torment in his expression.
"Rian," she whispered.
He took another step closer, so close she could feel his warmth. "Tell me to stop, and I will."
Arianne opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come. Because she didn't want him to stop. She wanted to close the distance between them, to forget the barriers that separated them.
But the world was watching. And love, no matter how powerful, was never simple.
So she did the only thing she could—she turned away, her heart aching with the weight of the choice she wasn't ready to make.
Rian stood there for a long moment before he finally whispered, "Goodnight, Arianne."
And as he walked away, she realized that no matter how much she tried to fight it, their hearts had already found their way back to each other.
And maybe—just maybe—that was a battle worth fighting for.