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The air should have been sweet with the scent of oranges, their aroma drawn from their blossoms by the warm April sunshine. Instead, Alear’s lungs ached and burned from the smoke as he wandered through Florra Port after the battle, street by street, looking for each member of their army.
He did this every time, even after just a small skirmish. He had to reassure himself everyone was alright, that they had all made it together.
Panette . Safe. Boucheron . Only lightly wounded. Timerra . Safe. Diamant . Trying to pretend he wasn’t wounded. Amber, Jade, Alcryst. Forcing Diamant to stop pretending and see the healer. Hortensia . Safe. Chloé . Safe. Kagetsu . Safe. Fogado . In bad condition but Ivy and Pandreo were attending to him. He would pull through.
Alear checked each person off in his mind with relief. The dread would not ease from his heart until he had seen them all, and so far he had yet to find the one most dear to him.
When he came across Yunaka, the last person on his list other than Alfred, his dread had turned to a deep terror.
“Have you seen Prince Alfred?” he asked her desperately.
“I haven’t, but hang on a sec,” Yunaka answered. She ran over to a nearby house and deftly scaled the side of it and climbed onto the roof. She ran across it sure-footed as a cat until she reached the highest point of its frame. Then she shaded her eyes with her hand and surveyed the town.
“Divine One!” she called, pointing out into the flame-desecrated orchard. “He’s on the other side of it.”
“Thank you!” Alear cried and dashed away.
He had to cover his mouth with his sleeve as he ventured into the burnt orchard, for the smoke and ash was thick in the air here. He raced down its tragic rows until he heard the screeching whinny of a panicked horse and the sound of Alfred’s voice speaking in a warm, calming tone.
Alear slowed his pace and crept towards them, not wanting to startle the horse further. He found them in a little clearing and hung back in the shadow of the trees to assess the situation.
Alfred – blessedly unhurt – was attempting to catch a frightened horse who was stamping her feet and shying around the clearing away from him. Alear could see burn marks on her sleek coat, and the fear in her eyes broke his heart.
“Sshhh, it’s going to be alright,” Alfred said softly. “I’m here to help. I won’t hurt you.”
He didn’t approach the horse head-on. Instead he took slow steps sideways, wandering in a casual, indirect way closer and closer, talking soothingly all the while.
“I know you’re scared. I know you’ve seen terrible things today no creature should have to,” Alfred said. “But you need to take care of yourself. You need to drink water and breathe clean air. You need to let us treat your wounds. Come with me and let me help.”
The mare began to settle her nervous movements a little and Alfred gained some ground.
“There you go. That’s it,” he murmured. “Everything’s going to be okay. Just let me take care of you.”
Alear held his breath as he watched Alfred close the last step between him and the horse and catch her halter. The mare whinnied and stamped anxiously at the charred grass again, tossing her mane. Alfred continued to whisper and pet her neck until she calmed. He swiftly won her over and within a couple minutes she was nuzzling him and he was stroking her soft muzzle and pressing kisses to her forehead.
Finally, Alear dared to step into the clearing. So reassured by Alfred’s calm, affectionate manner, the horse did not spook at the sight of Alear.
“Can I come closer?” Alear asked.
“Yes. She’s at peace now. Aren’t you, girl?” Alfred said. He ran his fingers across the yellow flowers embroidered into her halter and said. “Aren’t you, Daffodil?”
The horse's ears perked up at the name and Alfred smiled.
Alear walked over slowly and petted Daffodil’s neck. “Poor thing,” he murmured.
Alfred nodded. “I’m sorry I disappeared,” he said quietly. “I know you must have been looking for me. I saw her run into the orchard and had to catch her.”
Alear’s heart ached with love. Even in his despair, Alfred’s compassion came first. No power in this world or any other was stronger than that of Alfred’s kindness.
It was harder than ever in this moment to keep his unspoken feelings to himself, and Alear’s self-control slipped. He wanted to gather Alfred in his arms and hold him tightly and never let go. He wanted to kiss him and tell him that of all the people he searched for after battles, Alfred’s face was the one he longed most to see. Instead, he reached out and brushed the hair from Alfred’s brow and straightened his crown of flowers, even though they were withered from the smoke and their petals burnt and blackened.
“You are always so kind,” Alear said.
Alfred looked into Alear’s eyes with a tired smile. “I’m just doing my part.”
With great effort, Alear pulled his hand back and looked away lest his feelings become all too clear in his eyes. His friendship with Alfred meant the world to him. He could not bear to risk it.
“Let’s get Daffodil back to the others so Céline can heal him,” Alear said.
As the three of them walked through the orchard back towards the town, Alfred was uncharacteristically quiet. He led Daffodil gently by her halter with one hand and with the other he reached over and took Alear’s, intertwining their fingers.
“Alfred,” Alear said softly.
“Yes?”
I love you. “You are the strongest, kindest person I have ever known. I’m lucky to have you as my friend. And Firene will be lucky to have you as its king.”
Alfred sighed. “Not after I let them down today. I didn’t get here in time to protect my people.”
“But you will help them rebuild and heal,” Alear said. “We both will. I know it seems a long ways yet to go before the war is over, but it will be someday. And when it is, I want to stay by your side and help you with your work. I feel that I owe it to Firene as well, and to my first friend.”
Alfred squeezed his hand. “I would like that,” he said after a minute, his voice hoarse and vulnerable. “I don’t want to lose you either.”
Daffodil nudged Alfred’s shoulder and whickered. He laughed, even though tears were glistening in his eyes – whether from emotion or the pain of the smoke, Alear did not know.
“You want to stay with me too, girl?” Alfred asked, pressing a kiss to her muzzle. “We need friends by us in dark times like this. I’m happy to be yours.”
The mare snorted against his head, her breath tousling Alfred’s hair and blowing some of the petals from his flower crown. He patted her neck and said, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
When they reached the others and found Céline, she hugged Alfred for a long minute then set to work healing Daffodil’s wounds while Alfred petted the mare and talked reassuringly to her. The horse looked relieved when they were done and drank some water and ate some grain.
Once he was satisfied she was taken care of, Alfred left her to rest and returned to Alear who had gone to help Boucheron and Louis distribute food and vulneries.
“Divine One,” Alfred called, then as he came closer said, “Alear.”
Alear turned away from his work and walked over to him. “Yes?”
“I’m going to ride to the palace to tell my mother of what has happened here.”
“I’ll come with you,” Alear said.
“No, you must stay. The others need you.”
Alear put his hand on Alfred’s arm and looked at him worriedly. “I want to be there for you.”
“You already have,” Alfred said with a faint, fond smile. He hesitated for a second then pulled Alear into a hug, wrapping his arms around his waist and leaning his head on his shoulder. “You give me such hope, my friend.”
“You do the same for me,” Alear said earnestly. “All of the time, since the very beginning.”
When they at last let go of each other, Alear was relieved to see that Alfred looked more like himself again. He was still weighed down by exhaustion, but determination was fierce in his eyes.
He might claim that Alear had helped him, but Alear knew that Alfred’s hope was not something he could take any credit for. It was something fundamental to Alfred’s being, something he put his heart and soul into growing so it could bloom bright and strong for himself and everyone around him who saw it.
Alear had never admired anyone more, nor cherished anyone so dearly as he did Alfred.
“Look after Daffodil for me. I will be back tomorrow,” Alfred said.
“I will,” Alear promised. “We will both miss you. Be safe on the road.”
“Of course.” Alfred gave him a warm smile then turned away. Alear watched him go, knowing he would count down the hours until his return.