Across Eternities

The palace grounds buzzed with life as the harvest festival sprang into full swing. Lanterns flickered against the fading twilight, their golden glow dancing off polished silver and embroidered silks. The hum of stringed instruments and the rhythmic clap of dancers filled the air, blending with the hearty laughter of nobles and commoners alike.

Solenara stood atop the grand dais, flanked by advisors and courtiers, her bearing graceful and regal. The festival was one of the kingdom's most cherished traditions, a celebration of abundance and unity. It also served as a stage where political allegiances were forged and tested.

For Solenara, however, it felt more like another weight to bear.

"You're doing splendidly, my lady," Mireth whispered as she adjusted the folds of Solenara's emerald gown.

"If by splendid you mean I haven't fled yet, then yes, I suppose I am," Solenara replied under her breath, earning a muffled laugh from her maid.

"Steady now," came Lira's teasing voice as she appeared at Solenara's side. "The eyes of every hopeful prince and scheming diplomat are on you tonight. How very fortunate you are."

"Fortunate, indeed," Solenara muttered, scanning the crowd below.

Her gaze faltered when it landed on a familiar figure—Kaelen. He stood among a group of warriors on the edge of the festivities, his broad frame cloaked in a dark mantle. Unlike the nobles in their gilded finery, he wore a simple tunic and leather bracers, his hair loose and wild. Despite his unassuming garb, he held himself with the quiet confidence of someone who belonged, yet didn't care if others thought otherwise.

Their eyes met briefly, and for a heartbeat, Solenara forgot the festival, the crowd, the expectations. There was something electric in his gaze—a pull she couldn't explain.

Lira's voice brought her back. "That's an odd choice for entertainment, don't you think?"

Solenara cleared her throat, pulling her attention back to the event. "Just one of the warriors invited by the royal guard. Surely nothing to concern yourself with."

"Hmm." Lira's gaze lingered on Kaelen before she shrugged. "If you say so."

---

The evening stretched on with the festival in full swing. Solenara performed her duties with practiced ease—greeting dignitaries, raising toasts, and bestowing awards on those honored for their contributions to the harvest. All the while, she felt Kaelen's presence like a spark in the background, a silent question waiting to be answered.

At last, the formalities waned, and Solenara slipped away under the guise of "checking on the arrangements." Mireth cast her a knowing glance but said nothing as Solenara descended from the dais and merged with the crowd.

Kaelen found her before she found him.

"You're far from the dais, Your Highness," he said, his voice low and edged with mischief.

Solenara turned to find him leaning against a stone pillar, the faint lantern light softening the sharp angles of his face. She folded her arms, pretending to be unimpressed. "And you, warrior, are far from the training grounds."

"Just admiring the festival," he said lightly. "But now I find myself admiring something else entirely."

A blush crept up her neck, but she refused to let it show. "You shouldn't speak to me like that," she said, though her tone lacked conviction.

"And yet, you're not walking away."

---

They wandered away from the main festivities, weaving through the palace gardens until the noise of the crowd faded into a distant hum. Solenara led Kaelen to one of her favorite spots—a quiet clearing surrounded by tall oaks, where the sky stretched wide and uninterrupted above them.

"The stars are brilliant tonight," she said, looking up as she settled onto the grass.

Kaelen sat a careful distance away, his gaze following hers. "I don't often get the chance to see the sky like this."

"Then you've been missing out."

She began pointing out constellations, her voice animated as she shared the myths and stories tied to each one. Kaelen listened intently, his expression thoughtful.

"You're passionate about the stars," he said when she finished.

"They remind me that there's more to life than what we see," she replied. "A vast, endless expanse waiting to be discovered."

He smirked. "And yet the Earth has plenty to offer too."

She laughed, the sound light and musical. "That's a very grounded perspective, I must admit."

Kaelen leaned back on his elbows, plucking a stalk of grass and twirling it between his fingers. "There's beauty in simplicity. You just have to look for it."

---

As the night deepened, Kaelen surprised her by weaving a crown from stalks and wildflowers he plucked from the ground. He worked with surprising deftness, his calloused hands gentle as he shaped the makeshift circlet.

When he finished, he held it out to her. "For the queen of the stars," he said, his tone half-mocking but his eyes sincere.

Solenara hesitated before taking it, her cheeks flushing as she placed it on her head. "You realize how improper this is, don't you?"

He grinned. "Probably more improper than sneaking off with a princess."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're insufferable."

"And yet you're still here."

Their eyes met again, and the air between them shifted—lighthearted teasing giving way to something deeper. For a moment, it felt as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them, the stars above bearing silent witness.

"Do you ever think about what lies beyond this life?" Solenara asked, breaking the silence.

Kaelen's expression grew pensive. "Sometimes. I dream of golden light. It feels… familiar, but I don't know why."

Solenara's breath caught. "I dream of light too," she admitted softly.

Neither of them said more, but the connection between them was undeniable.

---

As they returned to the festival grounds, Kaelen walked just behind her, the invisible barriers of rank and status settling back into place. But when they reached the edge of the crowd, he paused.

"Thank you for tonight," he said quietly.

Solenara turned back to him, her gaze lingering. "And thank you… for reminding me to look closer at the Earth."

Without another word, she rejoined the nobles, her heart lighter than it had been in quite some time.

Kaelen watched her go, his thoughts swirling with questions he couldn't yet put into words.