19. Aldric
19
ALDRIC
I watch Elowen storm away, her fiery hair whipping behind her like a battle flag. Fuck. I screwed up again. My fists clench at my sides, wings rustling with agitation.
"Dammit," I mutter, running a hand through my shorn hair. It's growing back, just not as fast as I'd like. The memory of dark elves cutting it still burns, but not as much as Elowen's anger.
I want to protect her. Every instinct screams at me to shield her from harm. But she's not some fragile flower - she's proven that time and again. Her strength, her fire, it's what drew me to her in the first place.
Pacing the training grounds, I struggle to sort through the tangle of emotions. Pride in her progress wars with fear for her safety. Respect for her determination clashes with the urge to coddle her.
"Having trouble?" Raziel's voice cuts through my brooding.
I grunt, not breaking stride. "She's going to get herself killed if she keeps pushing like this." I already know that if Raziel is talking to me, he watched it all go down. To pretend otherwise is pointless.
Raziel falls into step beside me. "And you think holding her back will help?"
"I'm not-" I start to protest, but the words die in my throat. Shit. That's exactly what I've been doing.
"Elowen's not fragile, Aldric," Raziel says gently. "She's survived more than most. Your job isn't to shelter her, it's to make her stronger."
I stop, wings drooping. "How do I do that when every fiber of my being wants to keep her safe?"
Raziel's hand lands on my shoulder. "By trusting her. By pushing her limits, not setting them. She needs your guidance, not your protection." He shrugged. "I've even dragged Selene out here, though it's difficult for me."
I nod slowly, taking in Raziel's words. He's right, of course. Elowen's proven herself time and again, and here I am, still treating her like she's made of glass.
"You're right," I admit, running a hand through my hair. "I've been an idiot."
"Not an idiot. Just…vrakken." Raziel chuckles. "Selene likes to tell me that we are all overprotective asses."
I snort. Sounds like something Elowen would say.
"Look," Raziel continues, his voice softening. "A true partnership isn't about protecting each other from the world. It's about facing it together, side by side."
I think about Elowen's fierce determination, the fire in her eyes when she fights. She doesn't need me to shield her - she needs me to stand with her.
"How do you do it?" I ask, genuinely curious. "With Selene, I mean. How do you balance the need to protect with the need to let her grow?"
Raziel's eyes grow distant, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's not easy," he admits. "But I've learned to trust in her strength, her resilience. I support her, I push her when she needs it, but I never underestimate her."
His words resonate deeply. Isn't that exactly what Elowen's been asking of me all along?
"You need to see Elowen as your equal," Raziel says, his gaze piercing. "Not someone to protect, but someone to fight alongside. Trust in her abilities, Aldric. Respect her choices, even when they scare you."
His words hit home. I've been so caught up in my own fears, I've been stifling the very strength I admire in her.
"I need to apologize," I mutter.
Raziel claps me on the back. "Good man. And remember, a strong partnership is built on mutual respect and understanding. You're both warriors - treat her like one."
"Overprotective vrakken is right," I mutter.
Raziel nods. "But you can make it up to her. And then you need to train her harder than ever. Show her - and yourself - what she's truly capable of."
I square my shoulders, a new resolve settling over me. It won't be easy to quash my protective instincts, but Elowen deserves nothing less. She's a warrior, not a damsel. It's time I treated her like one.
I make my way through the base, searching for Elowen. My mind races, replaying all the moments that led us here. Her fierce determination in our first sparring match, the way she pushed through grueling training sessions without complaint, her quick thinking in strategy meetings. How could I have been so blind?
I find her in one of the smaller training rooms, viciously attacking a practice dummy. Her movements are precise, each strike calculated for maximum damage. Even exhausted and angry, she's a force to be reckoned with.
"Elowen," I call out softly.
She whirls, eyes blazing. "Come to tell me I'm pushing too hard again?"
I hold up my hands. "I came to apologize. I was wrong."
That stops her short. She eyes me warily, chest heaving from exertion. "About what?"
"About underestimating you." I step closer, wings rustling nervously. "I've been so focused on protecting you that I failed to see how capable you truly are."
Elowen's stance relaxes slightly, but her gaze remains guarded. "Go on."
I take a deep breath. "You're not just surviving our training, you're thriving. You've faced every challenge head-on and come out stronger. I realize now that my desire to keep you safe was holding you back."
As we stand there, silence stretches between us. I find myself noticing little details about her - the way her hair falls across her forehead, the set of her jaw, the strength in her stance. Something shifts inside me, a realization I'm not quite ready to face.
"Look," Elowen says, breaking the silence. "I know you meant well. But I'm not some fragile thing that needs protecting. I've survived more shit than you think already. I can handle whatever comes next."
Her words hit me hard. I've been so focused on keeping her safe, I've overlooked her resilience. "You're right," I admit. "You're one of the strongest people I know, Elowen. I should have seen that sooner."
A flicker of surprise crosses her face. "You're not just saying this to placate me?"
"No," I say firmly. "I mean every word. You're a warrior, Elowen. Your strength complements my own. We're stronger together, as equals."
The tension drains from her shoulders. "That's all I wanted. To be seen as your equal, not someone who needs coddling."
I nod, a newfound respect blooming in my chest. "I see it now. And I promise to push you harder, to help you reach your full potential."
A slow smile spreads across Elowen's face. She crosses her arms, green eyes still burning with determination. "I'll hold you to that, Aldric."
I nod. "You got it, Red," I say, hoping the nickname lightens her up. "I'll prove it to you in our training sessions. No more holding back."
She raises an eyebrow. "And no more trying to coddle me?"
"No more coddling," I agree, feeling a twinge of guilt for my past behavior. "You've more than earned your place here, Elowen. I see that now."
A small smile tugs at her lips. "Well, better late than never, I suppose."
As we talk, I feel the tension between us easing. We're not completely back to normal, but it's a start. And as I look at her, really look at her, I'm struck by how much I care about her. It's more than just attraction or admiration. This fierce, determined woman has become important to me in ways I never expected.
The realization is both exhilarating and terrifying. I push it aside for now, focusing on the present moment.
"So," I say, "ready to show me what you've got?"
Elowen's grin turns predatory. "Always. Try to keep up, old man."
I nod, settling into a fighting stance. Elowen mirrors me, her green eyes blazing with determination. We circle each other, muscles tense, waiting for the right moment to strike.
And this time, I have no intention of holding back.
Elowen moves first, a swift jab aimed at my ribs. I block, countering with a sweep of my leg. She jumps, nimble and impressive, and we're off.
The fight is a blur of motion. Elowen's attacks are relentless, each move flowing seamlessly into the next. I find myself working harder than ever to keep up.
Gone is the hesitation I saw in her early training days. This Elowen is confident, precise, and dangerous.
"Getting tired?" she taunts, ducking under a punch.
I grin, wings flaring for balance as I dodge her counterattack. "Just warming up, Red."
We move across the training room in a deadly dance. I'm struck by how in sync we are, anticipating each other's moves, reacting instinctively. It's exhilarating.
Elowen feints left, then strikes right. I barely block in time, impressed by her strategy. She's not just strong, she's smart.
"Nice move," I grunt, launching a series of quick jabs.
She weaves through them, a fierce smile on her face. "Learned from the best."
The compliment catches me off guard. In that split second of distraction, Elowen strikes. She sweeps my legs out from under me, following me down. Before I can recover, she's pinned me, her face inches from mine.
"Gotcha," she breathes, triumph shining in her eyes.
I'm suddenly very aware of how close we are, her body pressed against mine. Without thinking, I lean up and capture her lips in a kiss. She responds immediately, the heat of our sparring transforming into a different kind of fire.
When we break apart, I can't help but smirk. "So, Red, fancy some company in the showers?"
Elowen laughs, climbing off me and offering a hand up. "You can make it up to me in there."
I take her hand, letting her pull me to my feet. "Looking forward to it."