Across Two Lifetimes

POV: Amelia

"Kael, if you eat the last piece of bread, I swear I'll never cook for you again." Kael looked down at the bread in his hand, then at me. "You said that yesterday." "And you ate the last piece yesterday."

"And yet, here you are, threatening me while preparing breakfast." I stared at him. He smiled and took another bite. "Unbelievable."

"What?" he asked, pretending to be innocent. "I'm your husband. Surely I deserve a little extra food." "You deserve to make your own breakfast." "I tried that once."

"Yes, and you nearly burned down the kitchen." "That was one time, Amelia." "One time too many."

He laughed, and I turned back to the small pot sitting over the fire. I tried to look annoyed, but the smile on my face betrayed me.

This was how most of our mornings began. Kael would find something to tease me about, I would threaten to stop doing something for him, and neither of us would take the threat seriously.

We had been married for two years, and somehow, he still found new ways to irritate me. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing. Perhaps it was.

"Are you going to stand there all morning?" I asked when I noticed he was still watching me. "I'm admiring my wife." "Admire me while fetching the water."

His smile widened. "There she is." "Who?" "The woman I married. I was beginning to think the king had sent someone to replace you."

I picked up a wooden spoon and pointed it at him. "Go." Kael raised both hands in surrender, laughing as he stepped outside. I shook my head.

The truth was, I liked mornings like this. Our home wasn't large, and we had no servants to take care of the work. There were always things to mend, meals to prepare, and chores waiting to be done.

But it was ours. We had a wooden table near the window, two stools that didn't quite match, and a roof that leaked whenever the rain became too heavy.

Kael had promised to repair it before the next rainy season. He had made that promise three months ago. I had stopped reminding him. Mostly.

By the time he returned with the water, breakfast was ready. He placed the container beside the hearth and sat across from me. I served him a portion before taking mine.

He looked at his bowl. "That's all?" I narrowed my eyes. "Would you like me to take it back?" "No." "Then eat."

He obeyed, though not before giving me a look that made it clear he thought I was being unfair. For a while, we ate in comfortable silence.

Then Kael glanced toward the window. "I may have to leave early tomorrow." I looked up. "Where are you going?"

"The village near the western fields. One of the farmers asked me to help settle a disagreement over a piece of land." "You're going to settle another argument?"

"It's what happens when people discover that I can listen to both sides without throwing anyone into a river." "Is that what you did to the last man who argued with you?" "I considered it."

I laughed despite myself. Kael reached for his cup. "I shouldn't be gone long," he added. "I'll try to return before sunset."

"You said that last time." "And I returned before sunset." "After sunset." "Barely." "Kael." "All right. I'll come home earlier."

I studied his face, trying to decide whether he meant it. He reached across the table and touched my hand. "I'll be back before you start missing me."

I pulled my hand away, but I couldn't stop smiling. "Don't flatter yourself." "Of course not."

He finished his breakfast and stood, carrying both bowls toward the washing basin before I could tell him to leave them. I watched him for a moment.

It wasn't that Kael was perfect. He could be stubborn, careless with his belongings, and far too pleased with himself whenever he made me laugh. But he tried.

He helped when he could, listened when something troubled me, and never made me feel that being his wife meant I had to agree with everything he said. I hadn't understood how much those little things mattered until I married him.

"Amelia?" I looked up. Kael was standing by the doorway, waiting for me. "Are you coming to see me off, or are you planning to enjoy the peace and quiet while I'm gone?"

"I'm considering both options." "Cruel woman." "You married me." "My greatest achievement." "Your greatest mistake, you mean." He grinned. "That, too."

I followed him outside. The morning was already busy. A few villagers passed along the narrow road, carrying baskets and leading animals toward the fields.

Somewhere nearby, a child was crying while his mother tried to persuade him to keep walking. Kael stopped beside the gate and adjusted the strap across his shoulder.

"I shouldn't be long," he said again. "I heard you the first time." "Then why do you look as though you're preparing to mourn me?" "Because you talk too much."

He laughed. Then, before he left, he leaned down and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. It was a small gesture, so familiar that I barely thought about it.

Yet I caught myself watching him as he walked away. He turned once and lifted his hand. I waved him off.

"Don't forget the roof!" I called. "I won't!" "You said that three months ago!" "I heard you!"

His laughter carried back to me before he disappeared around the bend. I stood there for another moment, then returned inside.

There was washing to do, vegetables to prepare, and a loose section of the roof that still needed attention. Our life wasn't extraordinary.

We weren't nobles living behind palace walls or wealthy landowners with servants at our command. We were simply two people who had built a home together and were learning how to share it.

At the time, I thought we had plenty of years ahead of us. I thought there would be more mornings filled with arguments over bread, more evenings spent listening to Kael complain about stubborn villagers, and more promises about fixing things around the house.

I had no reason to believe otherwise.

By midday, I had finished most of my chores. I was sitting near the window, repairing a tear in one of Kael's tunics, when someone knocked on the door.

I expected a neighbour. Instead, I found Mara, the woman who lived two houses away, standing outside with an empty basket in her hand. "Amelia, have you heard?"

I lowered the tunic. "Heard what?" She glanced toward the road before stepping closer. "Merchants came through the village this morning. They said soldiers have been seen near the northern roads."

I frowned. "Soldiers from where?" "They weren't sure. Some believe they're from the neighbouring kingdom."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The two kingdoms had never been particularly friendly, but neither had we heard of anything serious happening recently.

"Perhaps it's nothing," I said. "I hope so." Mara tightened her grip on the basket. "My husband says we shouldn't worry until there's something certain."

"That sounds sensible." "Still, I thought you should know. Kael spends time with the king's men. If anyone hears anything, it might be him."

I nodded slowly. "Thank you for telling me."

After Mara left, I remained by the doorway, looking down the road Kael had taken that morning. Soldiers near the northern roads.

Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps the merchants had misunderstood what they had seen. I told myself there was no reason to worry.

Kael had enough to deal with without me imagining trouble where there might be none. I returned to my sewing, but I found myself making the same stitch twice before noticing my mistake.

By evening, Kael still hadn't returned. I tried not to think about the rumours. He had said he might be late. That was all.

I placed his portion of dinner beside mine and waited a little longer. When the light outside began to fade, I heard footsteps approaching.

I rose so quickly that the stool scraped against the floor. The door opened, and Kael stepped inside. "You're late," I said.

He looked at me, then at the food on the table. "I know." "Did you settle the disagreement?" "Eventually." "And?" "The farmer was right."

I folded my arms. "You spent the entire day settling an argument only to discover that one man was right?" "People don't always accept that they're wrong just because someone tells them."

I wanted to laugh, but something about his expression stopped me. He looked tired. Not the ordinary tiredness that came from walking all day, either.

There was a tension in his face that hadn't been there that morning. "What happened?" I asked. Kael set his belongings down. "Nothing that concerns you."

I stared at him. "Try that again." He sighed and pulled out a stool. "Some of the king's men have been sent north. There are reports of unfamiliar soldiers moving close to our territory."

My stomach tightened. "Mara heard something similar from the merchants." "Then the rumours are spreading faster than the truth." "Do you think they'll attack?" "I don't know."

It was the uncertainty in his answer that frightened me more than anything else. Kael reached for my hand. "Don't start worrying over something that hasn't happened."

"And what am I supposed to do if it does happen?" He was quiet for a moment. Then he squeezed my hand. "We'll face whatever comes when it comes."

I wanted to believe him. So I sat beside him, and we ate our dinner together. He told me about the farmer who had nearly thrown a shovel at his neighbour, and I laughed at the way Kael described their argument.

For a little while, our home felt ordinary again. Later, as we prepared for bed, I asked him one more question. "Will you have to go north if the king calls for you?"

Kael paused while removing his belt. "If the king orders me to defend our land, I will go." I looked down at my hands. He came closer and gently lifted my chin. "Amelia."

I met his eyes. "I won't leave because I want to," he said. "But if our people are in danger, I cannot pretend it isn't my responsibility."

I understood that. That didn't mean I liked it. "I know," I whispered. He kissed my forehead and drew me into his arms. "Come on. We have a long day tomorrow."

I rested my head against his chest, listening to his steady breathing. Outside, the village slowly settled into silence. I closed my eyes, believing that tomorrow would be another ordinary day.

I didn't know that the rumours coming from the northern roads would soon change the course of our lives. And I didn't know that the man holding me that night would one day leave our home for a war he would never return from.

POV: Amelia

The first scream came from the northern road. I was outside washing a bowl when I heard it. I looked up, expecting to see children chasing one another through the village, but the road was filling with people.

A horse galloped past, its rider shouting for everyone to clear the way. "Get inside!" he yelled. "Everyone, get inside!"

I dropped the bowl. It struck the ground and broke. "What happened?" I called after him. He didn't answer. He was already disappearing down the road.

Within minutes, doors were opening, people were gathering outside their homes, and questions were being shouted from every direction. I hurried toward our gate.

Mara was standing in front of her house, holding her youngest son by the hand. "Amelia!" she called. "Have you heard anything?" "No. What happened?" "I don't know. Someone said the soldiers have returned from the north." "Returned?"

Before she could answer, another rider appeared. This time, I recognized the man. He was one of the king's messengers.

He pulled his horse to a stop near the village well and climbed down. "Everyone, listen!" The conversations slowly died. "An enemy force has crossed into our territory. The northern settlement has been attacked. Anyone living near the main road must leave their homes and move toward the village centre."

For a moment, nobody moved. Then everyone began speaking at once. "Which kingdom?" "How many soldiers?" "Are they coming here?" "What about our families in the north?"

The messenger raised his voice. "I don't have all the answers. The king has ordered the local guards to gather at the village hall. Men with military experience are to report there immediately."

My heart began to pound. Kael. He had military experience. He had served the king before we married, and although he had spent the last two years living a quieter life, he had never stopped being a soldier when the kingdom needed him.

I turned and hurried inside. Our home suddenly felt too small. I looked around at the table, the bowls, and the clothes hanging near the hearth.

Everything was exactly as I had left it that morning, but the ordinary things that had occupied my thoughts now seemed unimportant. The northern settlement had been attacked. This wasn't another rumour.

Someone knocked on the door. I opened it and found Kael standing outside, already dressed to leave. For a moment, I could only stare at him.

"When did you hear?" I asked. "On my way back from the village hall. The messenger arrived while I was speaking to the guards." "Are you going?"

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "I've been ordered to report to the captain." "That wasn't what I asked." His eyes met mine. "Amelia-" "Are you going to the north?" "I don't know yet."

I looked at the sword hanging at his waist. "You're wearing that." "Because I was told to report for duty." "And you think that means you might not have to go?"

He exhaled slowly. "I don't know what the king will decide. The guards are gathering, and we need to understand how far the enemy has advanced before anyone makes a decision."

I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn't find the words. Outside, another horse passed. Kael glanced toward the window. "I need to go." "Already?" "I won't be able to help anyone by staying here."

I stepped aside to let him reach the door, but before he could open it, I caught his arm. "When will you come back?" He looked down at my hand. "I'll return as soon as I can." "That isn't a time." "I know." "Kael, please."

Something changed in his expression. He turned toward me fully and placed his hands on my shoulders. "I can't promise you I'll be home tonight," he said. "I won't lie to you just to make you feel better."

My throat tightened. He continued, more gently, "But I will do everything I can to return to you." I nodded, even though I hated his answer.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Lock the door. Don't let strangers inside, and if the guards tell you to leave the village, go with the others." "I can take care of myself." "I know you can." "Then stop giving me instructions as though I can't."

Despite everything, the corner of his mouth lifted. "There she is." I almost laughed. Almost. Then he opened the door and left.

I watched him walk toward the village hall until the crowd swallowed him. For the first time since we had married, I wished I could take back every careless complaint I had made about his work.

I wished I had spent less time teasing him about his promises and more time appreciating the ordinary days we had together. But he was only going to the hall. He hadn't gone to war yet. I held on to that thought.

By late afternoon, the village had changed. The market stalls were closing. Parents were calling their children indoors, and several families had begun packing their belongings.

No one knew whether the enemy would advance this far, but nobody wanted to wait until it was too late to find out. I helped Mara carry a sack of grain into her house before returning home.

"Have you seen your husband?" she asked. "Not since he left this morning." She hesitated. "My brother is one of the guards. He says the king is sending more men north." I stopped. "When?" "I don't know. He heard it from someone at the hall."

I tried to keep my voice steady. "Perhaps they're only sending reinforcements to protect the northern settlement." "Perhaps." Neither of us sounded convinced.

When I returned home, I found Kael's spare cloak lying across the stool. He had left it behind in his hurry. I picked it up and folded it neatly. It was such a small thing, but I found myself staring at it longer than necessary.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door, expecting Kael. Instead, a young soldier stood outside. "Are you Amelia, wife of Kael?" "Yes. Is something wrong?" "No, madam. I was asked to deliver this message."

He held out a folded piece of parchment. I took it with trembling fingers. The soldier waited while I opened it.

Amelia, the message read, the king has ordered the guards to prepare for further movement north. I may not return tonight. Please stay with the other families if the village is ordered to evacuate. Don't worry about me. I'll send word when I can. Kael.

I read it twice. Then I folded the parchment and held it against my chest. "Did he tell you anything else?" I asked. "No, madam. I was only told to deliver the message." "Thank you." He bowed before leaving.

I closed the door and sat at the table. Kael had written only a few lines. There was nothing unusual about the message, nothing that should have frightened me more than the news already had.

Yet I couldn't stop thinking about the words further movement north. The enemy had attacked a settlement. The king was gathering soldiers. Kael might soon be among the men sent to defend our land.

I had always known my husband could be called to serve. Knowing it and facing it were two different things.

That evening, I ate alone. I left Kael's portion covered beside the hearth, although I knew there was a chance he wouldn't return in time to eat it. Before going to bed, I checked the door twice and placed his message beneath a wooden cup on the table.

I lay down, but sleep wouldn't come. Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined Kael standing among the soldiers, listening to orders I couldn't hear.

I imagined him returning home and telling me that everything had been settled. I imagined him walking through the door, complaining about the food I had saved for him. That was the version I wanted. It was the only version I allowed myself to believe.

The following morning, I woke to the sound of bells. I sat up immediately. They were coming from the direction of the village hall. I hurried outside.

People were already gathering in the road. Some carried bundles of clothing, while others led children by the hand. A few guards were moving from house to house, telling everyone to remain calm and follow the evacuation instructions.

Then I saw Kael. He was standing near the village well with several soldiers. His sword was at his waist, and he wore the expression I knew so well the one he used when he had already made a decision and didn't want anyone trying to change his mind.

I walked straight toward him. "Kael!" He turned. For a moment, his expression softened when he saw me. Then he glanced at the guards waiting nearby.

"You should be inside," he said. "Everyone is outside." "I can see that." "What's happening?"

He looked toward the northern road. "The king has ordered troops to reinforce the northern settlement. The enemy has advanced farther into our territory than we expected." My stomach dropped. "And you're going?" "Yes." The word was quiet, but it left no room for misunderstanding.

I stared at him. "When do you leave?" "Soon." "How soon?" "Amelia." "Just tell me." He took my hands. "Before midday."

I looked at the soldiers waiting behind him. One was checking the straps on his armour. Another was speaking to a guard near the well. None of them looked as though they were going on a routine journey.

"How long will you be gone?" "I don't know." I swallowed. "You keep saying that." "Because I don't know what we'll find when we get there."

For a moment, I wanted to ask him to refuse the order. I wanted to tell him that the king had enough soldiers and that someone else could go in his place. But I knew him.

If the kingdom was under attack, Kael would never turn away while other men went to defend it. I tightened my grip on his hands. "Then come back as soon as you can." "I will." "You'd better." He gave a small laugh. "Is that an order?" "Yes." "Then I suppose I have no choice."

I tried to smile, but my eyes were already burning. Kael pulled me into his arms. I held him tightly, ignoring the soldiers waiting nearby and the people moving around us. For those few seconds, I didn't care about the war or the king's orders. I only cared that my husband was standing in front of me.

When he finally stepped back, he brushed his thumb across my cheek. "Take care of yourself," he said. "You too." He picked up his belongings and turned toward the soldiers.

I watched him mount his horse. Just before he rode away, he looked back at me. I raised my hand. He did the same. Then he turned toward the northern road, and the soldiers rode after him.

I remained beside the well long after they disappeared. The bells continued to ring behind me. The war had begun, and my husband was riding toward it.

I didn't know how long he would be gone. I didn't know what awaited him in the north. But as I returned to our quiet home, I found myself thinking about the last thing he had said to me.

Take care of yourself. I intended to. I intended to wait for him, to keep our home ready for his return, and to complain about the roof the moment he walked through the door.

I had no idea how much of my life would change before that moment came. And I had no idea that the war would take far more from me than I could imagine.

POV: Amelia

The first wounded soldier arrived before sunset. I was helping Mara move a family into an empty house near the village centre when we heard the horses. People rushed toward the road, hoping for news, but the sight of the men riding in silenced them.

There were six soldiers. Two were supporting a third between them. Another had his arm wrapped in a bloodstained cloth. Their horses were covered in dust, and their faces looked exhausted.

I searched their faces for Kael. He wasn't among them. "Where are the others?" someone shouted. The soldier at the front dismounted slowly. "The northern settlement has fallen."

A woman near me gasped. "No," she whispered. "My son is there." The soldier looked at her, but he had no comforting answer. "The enemy attacked before our reinforcements arrived. We held the road as long as we could, but they had more men than we expected."

"Where is the king's army?" another man demanded. "Fighting farther north." "And our soldiers?" "Some are still there. Others were ordered to escort the wounded and civilians back."

The questions continued, but the soldier raised his hand. "We need food, water, and somewhere for the injured to rest. That's all I can tell you right now."

People began moving again. Mara hurried toward her house to fetch water. I followed her, but my thoughts were already with Kael.

He had been sent north. The soldier hadn't said which road his unit had taken or where the fighting was happening. He hadn't mentioned Kael's name.

I kept telling myself that there were hundreds of soldiers in the king's army. Six returning men couldn't tell us what had happened to every one of them. Still, I couldn't shake the fear growing inside me.

"Amelia!" Mara's voice pulled me back to the present. "Help me with this." She handed me a bucket, and together we carried water to the wounded men.

One of the soldiers was sitting against a wall with his eyes closed. He looked younger than Kael, perhaps only a few years older than the boys who helped their fathers in the fields. I knelt beside him and held out a cup. "Drink slowly."

He opened his eyes and accepted it. "Thank you." "Which unit were you with?" He paused before answering. "The western guard."

My fingers tightened around the empty cup. "Do you know the men who went north this morning?" "Some of them." "Do you know Kael?" He looked at me properly then. "Kael?" "Kael, my husband. He was sent with the reinforcements."

The soldier lowered the cup. "I know him by name. I haven't seen him today." I waited, hoping he would say something else. He didn't.

"Were you fighting near the northern settlement?" "Yes." "Did you see the king's men?" "Some. We were separated during the retreat." He seemed reluctant to continue, and I didn't want to force him to speak while he was injured.

"Thank you," I said quietly. I stood and returned the empty cup to the bucket. Mara touched my arm. "Come and sit down for a moment." "I'm fine." "You've been standing here for hours." "I said I'm fine."

She studied me, then nodded. "All right. But don't forget to eat something." I almost smiled. "You sound like Kael." "Then perhaps you should listen to me."

Under different circumstances, I might have teased her for that. Instead, I carried another bucket of water toward the soldiers. There was still work to do, and I couldn't spend the whole evening waiting for news that might not come.

By nightfall, the village hall had become a place for the wounded and the families who had nowhere else to go. The local guards had begun organising food and supplies.

Women carried blankets from their homes, while older children helped distribute water. Those who could still walk were being directed toward the safer villages farther south.

I helped wherever I was needed. I carried bread, cleaned empty bowls, and sat beside a frightened little girl while her mother spoke to one of the guards. Her name was Lila. She couldn't have been more than seven.

"Are the soldiers going to come here?" she asked me. I looked down at her. "I don't know." "Will they hurt us?"

I wanted to tell her no. I wanted to promise that the guards would protect everyone and that the enemy would never reach our village. But I had already heard too many promises that no one could guarantee.

"The guards are here to keep us safe," I told her. "Stay with your mother, and listen when they give instructions." She nodded, though she still looked frightened. I gave her a piece of bread. She took it with both hands. "Thank you."

I watched her join her mother before returning to the other families. The thought of children growing up in a war they hadn't chosen made my chest ache.

None of us had asked for this. We had been farmers, merchants, mothers, fathers, and wives. We had spent our days worrying about food, work, and the small troubles that made up ordinary life. Now we were counting soldiers and wondering which of our loved ones would return.

A loud voice interrupted my thoughts. "Make room! We need space for the injured!" I moved aside as two guards carried another man into the hall. He was conscious, but barely. His clothes were torn, and he kept asking for water. I hurried to help.

As I knelt beside him, I noticed a strip of dark blue cloth tied around his wrist. It was the same colour used by the king's northern guard. "Where did you come from?" I asked. "The road," he managed. "Were you with the reinforcements?" He nodded weakly.

"Did you see Kael?" The question escaped before I could stop myself. The man blinked at me. "Who?" "Kael. He rode north this morning." "I don't know."

I looked away. It was becoming the answer I feared most. Nobody knew. Nobody could tell me where my husband was, whether he had reached the battlefield, or whether he had even received the same orders as the other soldiers.

I stood and went to fetch more water. I had to keep moving. If I stopped, I was afraid I would begin thinking about everything that could go wrong. And I didn't know how to live with those thoughts.

The following morning, the sound of shouting woke the village. I rushed outside and found people gathering near the main road again. This time, a group of soldiers had arrived on foot.

Their captain was speaking with the village guards. His armour was scratched, and he had a deep cut across one cheek. I moved closer, trying to hear what he was saying.

"The enemy has taken the northern road," he announced. "They are moving toward the river crossing. We must prevent them from reaching the southern settlements." "What about the king's army?" a man asked. "The king has sent another force to meet them." "Then why are you here?" "To gather supplies and organise additional men."

His gaze travelled across the crowd. "Every able-bodied man with military training must report to the village hall. We need men who know the land and can help defend the crossing."

My stomach tightened. More men would be sent north. More families would be left waiting. I looked toward the road, half expecting Kael to appear among the returning soldiers. He didn't.

Instead, I noticed a familiar face standing near the captain. It was Tomas, a man who had served alongside Kael before our marriage. I hurried toward him. "Tomas!" He turned, surprised. "Amelia?" "Have you seen Kael?"

His expression changed. "When did you last hear from him?" "Yesterday morning. He was sent north with the reinforcements." Tomas rubbed a hand over his face. "I wasn't in his unit. We were assigned to different roads." "But you might have seen him." "I haven't."

I searched his face for any sign that he was hiding something from me. "Do you know where his unit went?" "They were meant to meet the northern guard near the river crossing." "Then he's there?" "I didn't say that."

I swallowed. Tomas stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Amelia, I know you're worried. But the roads are crowded, and the orders have been changing since the fighting began. I can't tell you where he is because I don't know."

I looked down at my hands. "I'm sorry." "You have nothing to apologise for." He hesitated. "If I hear anything, I'll come and find you." I nodded. It wasn't much, but it was the only offer anyone could give me.

Before he left, I caught his arm. "Tomas?" He turned. "Please don't let him take unnecessary risks." His expression softened. "I'll tell him you're waiting for him."

I watched him walk toward the captain. Then I returned to Mara's house, where several families had gathered to prepare for evacuation. We were told to leave before noon. The enemy hadn't reached our village, but the guards weren't willing to wait until they did.

I packed what I could carry: two changes of clothing, a small bag of grain, and the wooden comb Kael had carved for me during our first year of marriage. I almost left it behind.

Then I remembered how proud he had been when he finished it, insisting that it was the finest comb ever made. I placed it carefully inside my bag. It was a foolish thing to take when we didn't know where we would sleep that night. But it belonged to our life. And I wasn't ready to leave every part of that life behind.

By midday, the road south was filled with families. Children walked beside their parents, and older people leaned on relatives for support. Some carried baskets of food. Others had nothing but the clothes they wore.

I walked beside Mara, helping her keep her children together. Every few minutes, I looked back. Part of me expected to see Kael riding toward us, laughing at my worried expression and asking why I had packed half our house. But the road remained crowded with strangers.

We stopped near a group of trees when one of the guards ordered everyone to rest. I sat on a fallen branch and took the folded message from my bag.

Don't worry about me. I'll send word when I can. I had read those words so many times that I knew them by heart. At the time, I had thought they were ordinary words from a husband leaving home for a dangerous assignment. Now they were all I had.

"Amelia?" Mara sat beside me. "Do you think we'll see them again?" I knew who she meant. "Our husbands?" She nodded. I looked at the road behind us. "Yes," I said. The answer came quickly, before fear could stop me. "We'll see them again."

Mara leaned against my shoulder. "I hope you're right." I held her hand. "So do I." A guard called for everyone to move. I tucked Kael's message away and stood. We continued south, leaving our village behind.

I had no idea when I would return to our home, whether the roof would still be standing, or whether the things we had left behind would still be there when the fighting ended. But none of those questions mattered as much as the one I couldn't answer. Where was Kael?

That evening, we reached a settlement several miles from the river crossing. The guards directed us toward a large house where the village elders had arranged temporary shelter. There were already dozens of families inside.

I helped Mara settle her children before finding a quiet corner near the doorway. My legs ached, and I was exhausted, but I couldn't bring myself to sleep.

Outside, soldiers were gathering near the road. Their horses were restless. Their voices carried through the darkness as they checked their weapons and prepared for another journey.

Then a rider came galloping toward them. He dismounted before his horse had fully stopped and hurried toward the captain. I couldn't hear everything he said, but I caught a few words. "The crossing..." "Enemy forces..." "Before dawn..."

The captain's expression hardened. He immediately began calling for his men. A cold feeling spread through me. Whatever news the rider had brought, it wasn't good.

I stepped outside, hoping to hear more, but a guard stopped me. "Return to the house, madam." "What happened?" "Nothing you need to worry about." "Then why are you preparing to leave?" He didn't answer. He simply turned and hurried toward the other soldiers.

I stood in the doorway, watching them mount their horses. They were going back toward the fighting. And somewhere beyond the darkness, beyond the roads and the river, my husband was still out there.

I pressed my hands together. "Please come home, Kael," I whispered.

For the first time since the war began, I allowed myself to admit what I had been trying to avoid. I was afraid. Not because I knew Kael was hurt. Not because I had received news that he was missing. But because I knew nothing at all.

And as the soldiers rode into the night, I realised that the war had already taken away the one thing I had always believed I could count on. The certainty that tomorrow, I would see my husband again.