Chapter 2 The River of Tears

The moonlight bathed the Midnight Citadel in a ghostly glow, its beams shimmering across the labyrinthine ruins that stretched in every direction. The night was cold, the air crisp with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers. The River of Tears, so named for its mystical properties and the sorrow that lingered in its waters, wound through the Citadel like a silver ribbon, its song a soft whisper in the darkness.

Runa stood at the edge of the river, the waters reflecting the light of the moon, twisting and turning in strange patterns that almost seemed to beckon her. The river had always called to her, even in the years of war and strife, and now, in this moment of solitude, it felt like an old friend. It was a reminder of everything she could never have-peace, stillness, a life without the heavy burden of duty.

Her fingers hovered just above the water, a slight shiver running through her at the coolness of the air and the palpable magic that hummed beneath the surface. Her eyes were still a pale silver-blue, a reflection of the calm she sought, but even as she sought solace, she could feel the weight of her role as the Queen of Light pressing on her chest.

She wasn't supposed to be here. Her father needed her at the palace, her people needed her leadership, her sword in battle. But the very idea of returning felt like a prison. She had never asked for this life, this title, and even less so for the forced marriage that loomed over her future like an inevitable storm.

Runa closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the fresh air. She had always wondered what her life could have been, what kind of woman she could have been without the crown weighing her down, without the constant fight for survival against the other kingdoms. But in her heart, she knew she couldn't abandon them. She was the Queen of Light, and a queen's duty was to her people, no matter the personal cost.

A soft rustling of leaves broke the stillness, and Runa's senses immediately sharpened. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her dagger, the action practiced and smooth, even in the quiet of the night. The sound grew louder, closer, and within moments, a figure emerged from the shadows-a tall, broad-shouldered man, dressed in dark clothes that seemed to blend with the night.

Her heart skipped in her chest, and her fingers tightened around the dagger's hilt. She hadn't expected to see him here. Not tonight.

"Asher," she whispered, though her voice held no surprise-only the weight of something deeper, something unspoken.

He didn't speak at first, simply observing her from where he stood, a slight tilt of his head indicating his curiosity. His deep blue eyes, cold and intense, locked onto hers, and Runa felt a flicker of unease stir in her chest. She had crossed paths with Asher before-on the battlefield, in meetings between their kingdoms-but never this close, never with the stillness of the night surrounding them.

"You come to the River of Tears often," Asher finally spoke, his voice deep and rich, with a hint of something that Runa couldn't place. "I've heard it said that those who come here are seeking something."

Runa's hand relaxed on the dagger, but she didn't lower it. The stranger standing before her was no stranger at all. Asher was the Alpha of the Waterfall Pack, the enemy of her people. They had fought side by side in battles, eyes locked in hatred, blood spilled in the name of their kingdoms. And yet, as she stood here now, it felt different. His presence wasn't just an enemy-it was something else entirely.

"I'm not seeking anything," Runa replied, her voice steady, though the words didn't quite align with the stir of emotions within her. "I came for peace, for solitude."

Asher raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile curling at his lips. "Solitude, in a place like this? The River of Tears holds secrets, and peace is not one of them."

Runa felt a chill creep over her at his words. She had heard the legends-whispers of lost souls and forbidden magic that swirled in the river's waters, of how those who sought solace here might find themselves drowning in their own memories. But she had never believed in such things. The river was simply a place to think, to clear her mind. Or at least, that was what she had convinced herself of.

"You think I come here for some sort of magic?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement, but underneath, a flicker of uncertainty remained.

"I think you come here because you understand what the river is," Asher said, his eyes softening slightly. "It's not magic-it's memory. And it has a way of drawing people in who have lost something."

Runa stiffened, her pulse quickening. For a moment, she wasn't sure if the words stung because of their truth, or because of how easily he had seen through her carefully built walls. Her life had been a series of losses-her mother's death, the war that had torn her people apart, the loss of her freedom. All of it was etched into her soul, and she had carried it for as long as she could remember. But she had never allowed anyone to see the weight of it. Never.

"I don't need your sympathy," she said quickly, her voice sharp as a blade. "Nor do I need the judgment of someone who has done nothing but fight and destroy."

Asher didn't flinch at her harsh words. Instead, his gaze remained steady, unwavering. "I don't judge you, Runa," he said softly. "I understand more than you think."

A long silence stretched between them, the only sound the soft murmur of the river's flow. Runa could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her, and though she didn't want to, she couldn't help but look at him. For all his strength, all his power, Asher seemed... lost in some way. He wasn't the ruthless leader she had expected him to be. There was something more to him, something buried beneath the hard exterior.

"I don't need your understanding," Runa said again, though this time, there was less conviction in her words. She hated that she couldn't shake the feeling that he might be right.

Asher took a small step forward, and for a moment, Runa's body tensed instinctively. But he didn't come any closer. Instead, he simply stood there, watching her, his gaze unwavering.

"We all need understanding, Runa," he said quietly. "Even warriors."

The words settled into the air between them, and for a moment, Runa was unsure of how to respond. Her mind screamed at her to walk away, to remember the gulf that separated them-their kingdoms, their people, their paths. They could never be allies, not when everything in their worlds was at odds. And yet... the connection between them was undeniable. Even now, standing here in the moonlight, she felt it.

"You don't understand," she murmured, her eyes shifting toward the river as the memory of the war came crashing back. "You don't know what it's like to bear the weight of a kingdom's fate on your shoulders."

Asher's expression softened. "I do understand. I carry the weight of my people every day. I make decisions that cost lives. But I also understand that the burden is easier to carry when you don't have to carry it alone."

The words hit Runa harder than she expected. She stood in silence, the river's flow becoming louder in her ears, and for a brief moment, she almost believed him. But the reality of her life, of the war waiting to consume them both, broke the fragile moment between them.

"I'm not your ally, Asher," she said, her voice cold now, the wall she had erected around herself fully restored.

Asher's gaze hardened once again, but there was no anger in it. Only a quiet resignation.

"Then I guess I'll see you on the battlefield, Queen of Light," he said, his voice low, almost regretful.

And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the citadel. Runa remained standing by the river, her breath coming in shallow gasps, her thoughts swirling in the space he had left behind. For a moment, she wondered if she had just crossed a line-if her heart had begun to drift toward something she knew she could never have.

But the war was coming, and there was no room for weakness. No room for anything but duty.