Fire. Water. Screams. Glistening crown. Gloria’s body frozen in the snow.

Seth jolted awake; his heart pounded from the dreams that had tormented him all night. He sat up, put his head in his hands, and took a deep breath.

He looked over at Gloria and saw Kayla sitting next to her. Her face looked peaceful beside the fire. It offered Seth a brief solace before guilt gnawed at him again.

Kayla laid a warm compress on Gloria’s head. She looked up and smiled wearily. “She’s alright, I’ve been with her all night. What about you? It sounded like you had quite the dream.”

“I’m fine,” Seth said looking away. “Just a bad dream.” He threw the hot blanket off him and stood. His injured leg almost gave out.

“What are you doing?” Kayla cried. “Sit down before you hurt yourself!”

“Just going to get some air,” Seth answered, gritting his teeth

“With that leg?”

“I just need a minute,” Seth insisted, limping out the front door.

Kayla called after him, but Seth ignored her. He closed the door behind him and stared up at the sky. It was dark grey and snowing. The flurries added to the depth that already covered the horizon.

Seth grimaced. After what he had seen yesterday, he was certain that the ice woman was responsible for the snow. But why? He wondered. He looked at the bandages on his arms. The answer was in these scars; he could feel it.

Seth thought of Gloria lying by the fire. She can’t come with me to Westfjord. He thought, not after what happened.

Without another thought, Seth began to limp down the drive. Snow crunched under his boots. She would hate him for this, he knew. But he had almost gotten her killed, not once, but multiple times. She would be safe here. It would be warm; the people here were kind. Maybe once the snow melted, they’d help her settle in a nearby village or something.

“Where are you going?” Seth looked back and saw William with an armful of wood.

“I’m leaving,” Seth answered.

“You’re going to abandon your friend?” William asked. “How do you think she’s going to feel about that when she wakes up?”

Guilt filled Seth’s stomach. “She’ll be safer here,” Seth said. “I can’t take her with me.”

William raised an eyebrow. “If you can’t take her with you, then why was she traveling with you in the first place?”

Seth looked down and kicked the snow. “It’s complicated.”

William put down his wood and crossed his arms. “Try me.”

Seth pursed his lips. There was so much he couldn’t say.

“Well?” William said, “I’m not going to let you leave until I get some answers.”

Seth’s fist shook. “That’s why!” He yelled. “She’s looking for answers to questions that I can’t tell her!”

“Because you don’t know?”

“No! Because she’ll die if she knows!” Seth cried.

“There must be more to it than that,” William said. “Why would she leave home for pure curiosity?”

“She didn’t,” Seth confessed, his face beginning to redden with shame. “Her father beat her. I helped her escape. I drew a knife on him to give her time to leave.”

“I see,” William furrowed his brow. “So you saved her from her horrific father, raced through a blizzard to save her from freezing to death - despite having an arrow in your leg - and now you’re going to just abandon her? Very noble of you.” William glared.

“You don’t understand! I took everything from her!” Seth cried. “Back home she at least had a warm place to sleep and food to eat. Out here?” Seth gestured to the snow-covered plains and gave a half-laugh. “I almost killed her.”

William stared Seth down and calmly replied. “You cannot leave her here.”

Tears sprang to Seth’s eyes, “I can’t do it!” He sobbed. His leg gave out and he dropped to the ground, putting his head in his hands.

“She has so much faith in me.” Seth shook his head. “She thinks I’m brave and noble, but I’m not! The man she thinks I am doesn’t exist.” He looked up at William. “I saw her father hitting her and I was a step away from running away and abandoning her! Who does that?” He cried.

Seth looked down again and stared at the snow. “They all think I’m better than I am. So many people’s hopes and dreams rest on my shoulders and I’m going to let them all down.”

Silence hung in the air. The snow soothed Seth’s aching leg.

William sighed and sat on his haunches. “You strike me as a man who’s too hard on himself. You see your faults clearly but miss your strengths. From where I stand, Gloria is right; I see a brave young man who has much potential before him. A man who puts other’s lives and needs above his own. These are noble attributes. However, it is up to you to choose to become this man. If you continue to run, then this man will most certainly never exist.”

William put a hand on Seth’s shoulder. Seth took a shuddering breath as William continued. “Crim works things in mysterious ways, and it is always for our good. I have a feeling that Gloria was meant to come with you, I believe she is to be your companion in your quest.”

“But I can’t let her get wrapped up in my problems! She doesn’t deserve that!” Seth cried.

“At any point she could have chosen to turn back,” William pointed out. “But she chose to continue with you. Perhaps, it is time that you accept that and let her help you carry whatever burden weighs on your shoulders.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Seth looked down. “I don’t know…I’m not strong enough.”

William laughed. “We’re never strong enough, but that’s no reason not to try.” Then William clapped a hand on Seth’s shoulder. “Now come inside and eat.” William turned, picked up his wood, and headed back up the drive.

Seth looked back at the farmhouse. Could he really be the man that Gloria, Naboth, and The Autumn Knights saw?

He looked out at the road. Maybe. But if he got up and ran right now he’d never know.

Resolve built in him. Perhaps it was worth trying. Maybe he could be that man.

Seth painfully climbed to his feet and brushed himself off. He looked out at the road once more, then he turned back and followed William up to the farmhouse.

----------------------------------------

Gloria opened her eyes. She didn’t recognize the ceiling. She blinked and tried to remember what happened. It was fuzzy and fragmented. She remembered Seth carrying her. She remembered voices, the howling wind, and her voice.

Panic set in. Where’s Seth? Gloria tried to sit up, but she fell back. She felt weak. “Seth? Seth!” She cried.

Footsteps raced over and Seth came into view. He sat down next to her and smiled a little. “Hey, you’re awake! How do you feel?”

Gloria sighed in relief. Seth was still here. Gloria looked around her. “What happened? Where are we?”

Seth tried to calm Gloria. “Hey, hey, slow down. Everything’s alright.”

A woman came into view holding a steaming bowl. She smiled. “You’re awake!” Gloria eyed her cautiously.

“This is Kayla,” Seth said. “We’re on her and her husband’s farm. They’ve been taking care of you for the last two days.”

Kayla sat down on the other side of Gloria. “I have some broth here,” she said. “Do you feel up to eating?” Gloria nodded. Kayla looked at Seth. “Seth, would you help me lift Gloria?”

Gloria felt Seth’s strong hand reach under her back and lift her up. She blushed. Gloria looked at Kayla who gave a knowing smile. Gloria tried to think of something else.

“Drink it slowly,” Kayla said putting the bowl to Gloria’s lips. The broth was delicious and warmed Gloria down to her toes. After a moment, she felt stable enough to take the bowl and drink on her own.

Kayla was satisfied. From behind the bowl, Gloria could see Kayla look from her to Seth, “I’ll come back in a bit to check on you two.” She winked at Gloria who blushed again, but Seth didn’t seem to notice.

“Thank you, Kayla,” he said.

Gloria heard Kayla shoo people out of the room. “Let them be, they need a moment,” Kayla said.

When Kayla left, Gloria felt Seth’s eyes on her. She felt awkward. Gloria lifted her bowl and took another sip.

“Do you still want to come with me?” Seth asked.

Gloria looked at Seth. There was something different about him. He still looked tired and care-worn, but there was something deeper she could sense. Something that drove him. What happened while I was asleep? She wondered.

“I won’t be upset if you say no,” Seth said fidgeting with a stray thread on Gloria’s blanket.

Gloria brightened. “You want me to come with you?”

“What I want doesn’t matter,” Seth answered still playing with the thread. “What matters is if you still want to come now that you know what kind of danger you’d be in.”

Gloria put her bowl down. She took Seth’s hands and looked into his eyes. “I will come if you want me to come. Besides, where will I go otherwise?”

Seth looked at the floor. “Are you sure you don’t want to settle down in a different village? I could help you get there.”

Gloria shook her head. “Nope, you’re stuck with me.” She smiled. And I’m not going to let her take you away. Gloria thought.

Seth’s hands shook in hers. He struggled to maintain eye contact. He looks afraid. Gloria thought. So afraid. Gloria opened her mouth to comfort him when Seth spoke.

“Weatherridge.” He burst.

Gloria blinked. “What?”

“I’m from Weatherridge,” Seth said. “It’s a small village outside of Autumnport, the capital of Fenguar. It’s a kingdom a long way south from here.”

Gloria’s mouth dropped. Did he-? She couldn’t believe that Seth had finally shared something about himself.

Seth let go of Gloria’s hands. He sat back and sighed as though he had been holding his breath. Then he watched Gloria pensively.

“You’re Fenguarian?” Gloria asked when she recovered from the shock. Seth nodded. What could’ve happened that would make him run this far north and still be hunted? She wondered. She opened her mouth to ask, but Seth spoke again.

“Weatherridge is a beautiful place.” Seth lay back and put his hands behind his head. “she’s by the sea, so she’s got great places to fish.” He smiled and glanced at Gloria, gauging her desire to listen. Gloria smiled back at him and leaned forward to listen.

Seth looked relieved and continued. “When business was slow at the forge, Father would grab me and say, ‘Grab the cheese, and tell Mother we’ll be back late.’ Then we’d spend hours reeling in catch after catch.” Seth chuckled. “Father would never admit it, but I’m the better fisherman.” Gloria saw the memory pass by his eyes.

He cleared his throat and continued. “My father is the village blacksmith; I learned a lot from him, but I decided to specialize in locksmithing.”

“Why?” Gloria asked.

She watched him stare at the ceiling before answering. “I’ve always liked working with locks. Hearing the click after you’ve solved the puzzle is satisfying to me.” He shrugged.

“What about your mother? Is she still around?” Gloria asked.

Seth smiled. “Yeah. She’s a good mom. A bit overprotective, but…” he hesitated. “She has good reason to be,” he finished quietly.

Seth lay for another moment then he sighed. He sat up and looked at Gloria. “So, according to your deal, since I’ve told you some about me, you’ll need to tell me about you to hear more.”

“So I did,” Gloria smiled. “Well, I wasn’t born in Northhorn, but I’ve lived there my entire life until now that is.” The smile faded and now it was Gloria’s turn to pick at her blanket. “You probably guessed, but Shareen, the woman you saw with my father isn’t my mother.”

“I had a feeling when we were at your father’s house,” Seth answered quietly.

“My mother…” Gloria’s heart pounded anxiously. “she…she had me out of wedlock with my father,” Gloria looked down. “One night of passion and I was the result.” Gloria stared at the blanket and refused to look up.

She wanted to say more, but it hurt too much to bring up. Years of degradation and insults echoed in her ears – The mistake; the accident; a burden. Gloria’s vision swam with the tears building in her eyes. She gripped her blanket to hold them back.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Seth hesitantly reach out, but he pulled his hand back. “You don’t have to say anymore,” he said.

Gloria nodded. Then she turned and leaned in for a hug. She rested her head on his chest. She felt Seth stiffen for a moment. Gloria could sense his hands hover hesitantly in the air before awkwardly wrapping his arms around her.

Gloria stayed in his arms for a long time, savoring the warmth, comfort, and safety he gave. Then Seth cleared his throat, broke the hug, and pulled back. He looked away, a faint hint of pink on his cheeks.

“You should get more rest.” His voice was strained. “I’m going to see if William needs any help.”

Gloria felt stung but let Seth leave. She held herself as she watched Seth limp away and as soon as he was out of sight, Gloria berated herself.

What were you thinking Gloria? She scolded. It’s hard enough to get him to talk about himself, why on earth do you think he’d be comfortable with a long hug?

“Give him time.” Gloria looked up and saw Kayla picking up Gloria’s empty bowl. “I have a good feeling that he’ll come around. He just needs time to cope with whatever is on his mind.”

Gloria fidgeted with her hair. “You really think so?”

Kayla smiled. “He carried you through a blizzard with an arrow in his leg and has been working himself ragged with William just so he doesn’t carve a circle into our floor from pacing.” Kayla giggled. “So yes, I think he’ll come around. Just be patient.”

Gloria groaned. “I’m trying, but I’ve been waiting for a long time to tell him how I feel.”

Kayla put a hand on Gloria’s shoulder. “Then surely you can wait a little longer. His love is not ripe yet. If you pluck it too soon, the love will be bitter and short. But if you wait until it blossoms, it will be sweet and a wonder to enjoy.”

Gloria sighed, then nodded. “Alright,” she said.

Kayla smiled. “Now, you need some rest. You’ll need your strength for the final leg to Westfjord.”