Chapter 184 - 185
After that night, Lessa had been quite active in her attempts to create situations where the two of them could be alone, which made it fairly difficult to keep things discreet. They were both well known throughout the town, easily distinguished by their silver eyes and finer clothing, so he wanted to avoid becoming a topic of public discussion. People loved to gossip about the aristocracy, a fact proven by recent rumours of Lessa’s engagement to Lord Edgar. There were only a handful of Silverkins in the county, and as members of the kingdom’s ruling house it was only natural that they attracted a fair degree of attention from the townsfolk.
"How am I ever going to leave?" said Lessa as she finished putting on her sundress a while later, an electric blue affair with short sleeves and silver trimming.
Feeling quite satisfied, Alistar scratched at the back of his head as a subtle blush added colour to his face. "We won’t be apart for too long. Once we see each other again, I promise that we can—"
"Not that," she muttered in exasperation. Leaning a hand against a nearby tree trunk, she took a step forward on unsteady feet. "I meant literally. Why is it only ever me?"
Following her gaze to where Star and a black palfrey were tethered to some distant branches, he suddenly felt a bit guilty. If only he hadn’t pressed her to stay, then she wouldn’t have to put up with such an uncomfortable trip home.
"If you want, I can mend..." He wilted beneath her glare, subconsciously gathering up the blanket and folding it into a small bundle. "Ahem, after you."
They returned the horses to the stables a short while later, Lessa a little worse for wear after the brief ride across the field’s expansive grounds. After helping her dismount from her palfrey and seeing the beasts back to their stalls, the two of them took their time walking along the cobblestone pathways that led through the gardens and over to the eastern gates of the estate. Once they had drawn close to the manor house’s eastern exit, Lessa assured him that she would be fine on her own and promised to seek him out at some point during the delegation’s grand parade.
"Are you sure?" he asked, more than willing to walk her into town. "I have something to do in Mayhaven anyways, so it won’t be any trouble."
Standing near the stone steps that led into the manor house’s eastern vestibule, Lessa grasped both of his hands in hers and then fixed him with a slightly melancholic stare. "No matter what happens in the future, I’ll always cherish the memories we’ve made together." Voice wavering for a moment, she continued, "Thank you, Alie. Because of you, I was able to learn what love really is. Whether it’s now or many years down the line, you’ll always be the only man in my heart."