The small hut on the hill was alive with laughter.
Alaric and Elara sat with their children around the fire, the stars above twinkling like tiny candles in the endless sky.
"Tell us again," their eldest son begged, eyes shining.
Elara laughed softly. "Again? Very well."
She and Alaric recounted the story of how they met, the letters, the battle, and the miracles of fate.
The children listened with rapt attention, imagining the knight in black armor, the silver-thread charm, and the courage it took to fight not just wars, but destiny itself.
But peace, as always, carries shadows.
Far away, in the capital, King Eldoria had learned that Alaric had abandoned his duties to live on the hill, hidden with a woman and their children.
He was furious.
"Sir Alaric Vayne defies the crown!" the king roared. "Send soldiers. Bring him back… dead if he refuses!"
The next morning, armored soldiers approached the hill. Alaric and Elara spotted them from the garden.
"They're here," Elara whispered, gripping his hand. "We can't fight them all."
Alaric looked at the children, then at the small path leading to the forest. "We run," he said. "Together."
With hearts pounding, they fled through the trees, children clinging to their hands. The soldiers followed, relentless.
The forest became a blur of movement. Alaric led them through secret paths, places only he and Elara knew. But even he could not foresee every danger.
A low branch swung too quickly. Alaric didn't see it until it was too late.
He felt a sharp pain—his shoulder caught on the branch, a deep cut tearing through his armor. Blood seeped, warm and heavy.
"Elara!" he gasped, but she held his other hand firmly. "Keep moving. We can't stop now!"
Their children, sensing the danger, stayed close, fearless in the safety of their parents' presence.
Finally, they reached a hidden glade. Alaric stumbled, bleeding, but they were out of immediate sight of the soldiers. He sank to his knees.
Elara knelt beside him, pressing her hands against the wound. Tears streamed down her face.
"Stay with me," she whispered. "Please, Alaric…"
He smiled faintly, blood mixing with dirt. "I promised… forever… and I always will."
The wind rustled through the trees. Somewhere, distant but certain, the king's soldiers continued their hunt.
Alaric's eyes drifted to the sky, silver moonlight falling on his blood-stained armor. He held Elara's hands tightly.
"Whatever happens… our story doesn't end here," he said.
And in that moment, beneath the stars they had always loved, their hearts beat together—unbroken, undying.
To Be Continued…