#ilhen

Epilogue Version 1 Decided to play with a few options. This would be the most “true” ending.

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Birds sang of the spring that settled into the hills and trees of Kaia Mountain’s range. Small woodland flowers had begun to bloom and cover the underbrush with whites, yellows, and pinks. A gentle breeze tousled their petals and the few loose leaves that hadn’t fallen the previous fall. Veil pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders as she trudged on. Years ago this scene might have lifted her heart but now all she could feel was the knot in her gut. Four years was a long time… but she had to try.

Adiri had told where to find the cabin once but the years had made her question the memory. If this didn’t work, Veil didn’t know if she could find the strength to try again. She just had to trust that she remembered her words right. Just a little east of Phionel’s cabin. She was still on the path, she thought.

Just when she was about to give up and turn around she heard the joyful shrieks of a child at play and her heart leapt into her throat. It was now or never.

The small cabin peeked out through the trees as she rounded a corner on the dirt path that led in its direction. A small food garden to the side. A smoke house in the back by a hunting shed. Cords and cords of wood stacked alongside to supply many winters worth of warmth. And right in front, settled onto the small covered porch, was Onris twirling a young boy of a few years.

Anxiety made Veil stop as she saw them. They were happy here together. If she made herself known it would only complicate things. Either he would remember, and probably be upset, or he wouldn’t… and she would just be a stranger intruding on his peace. She just watched as the laughter faded and the two of them sat together on the steps to joke, or talk, or do whatever they would for those bright smiles to be on their faces.

A few hesitant steps forward and her confidence broke. She turned on her toe to hide back in the woods where he trees would keep her out of sight. 

“Uh, hello? Who are you?”

Too late. Veil stopped, hands pulling her light travel cloak tight around her body. He didn’t know her… How she wished she had her old armor where she could hide her face in a shroud of darkness. There was no hiding in the dress and cloak she wore. Forcing a smile back onto her face, she turned to look her pain in the eyes. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I seem to have gotten a little lost.”

Onris had gotten up from where he stood and walked closer. “Please… stay. You seem so familiar and you’ve come all this way. I’d love to talk.”

The pain was too much. Veil looked past Onris to the porch where she saw his son sitting, wide eyed and curious, and so much like him. “I should really be going… I’m sorry. Forget I was here.”

That itch that he knew this woman did not leave Onris as he watched her turn away. Like a word stuck on the tip of his tongue he scrambled for the memory. Every second he tried to remember she drifted farther away with the memory that he could not place. He glanced back towards the porch, wondering what she saw that would make her turn away like that. His son met his eyes and suddenly he was staring into hers. 

Everything that had happened, everything they had been, everything she was, snapped back into his mind as he stared into those eyes. So much like hers. “Wait… Veil…?” By the time he looked back she was already so far away.

There was no time for hesitation or explanation as his feet tore through the dirt. His body hadn’t forgotten what it was like to run with such desperation. The only time he ever did was because of her. Onris caught that flash of pain in her face when he grabbed her arm. There wasn’t even a chance for her to pull away before he wrapped her in an embrace. So many years had been lost, years where they could have been a family, and he was not about to let her slip away again.

“O-Onris…?” Hesitation still laced her voice.

“You’re actually here.”

Veil leaned out of his arms to look him in the eye. Her hands cupped either side of his face, taking in his words for a moment, as it all settled in. “You… remember? You really remember?”

Emotions overwhelmed both of them as he nodded. “I do now.” A hand covered her quivering lips as the tears welled up. The years had not been kind to her regrets. Onris pulled her back in for another tight embrace so she could bury those emotions under the relief of knowing it would be alright now.

“Daddy?” the small voice from the porch grabbed both of their attention.

With a little tug, Onris managed to coax Veil to follow him towards the house. Towards their son. “Remember when I told you Mommy would come back? Once all her important stuff was done? Well…” he glanced back towards her again with a smile, “she came back. Ilhen, this is your mother.”

Still holding back so many emotions, Veil knelt down to be on level with her son. The last time she had seen him he had been so small… swaddled in a blanket as she gave him to Adiri… never knowing if she’d ever see him again. “My name is Adessa, and I’m so… so happy to see you, Ilhen.”

The boy did not hesitate as he nearly jumped off the steps and threw his arms around her. Veil sat motionless for the moment it took to comprehend. This was her son, in her arms, and he did not hate her. And in that realization she poured all of her love into that hug. To let him feel the love of so many years missed.

Veil looked up to Onris and caught the curious look that questioned the name she had given him. “A new name, for a new life.”

His lips twitched into a coy smile. “Welcome home, Adessa.”

In the years that passed, things got easier. It took some time but eventually pain turned into acceptance. With acceptance joy could be found again. Little things started to bring smiles. It was easier to go back to familiar places and face the memories there. However, it didn’t stop Adessa from seeing ghosts.

Every so often she would think she saw him while rounding a corner, or through a crowd. Every time her heart started to beat faster only to have the hope dashed away. She was getting better though. Realizing the chances of bumping into him halfway across the world were slim to none. He wasn’t the same Onris she knew before, and he would likely have built a home for himself in one place now.

Now, though, she and Ira were back in Calpheon for the first time in a few years. It was a passing stop on their way through to Kamasylvia to get supplies. The last time Adessa was here she did not remember who she was. Now that she was back… she almost wished she still didn’t remember. There were too many memories in this city. Ira caught on to her shift in demeanor and stayed close by her side.

The market was busy which made it easier to ignore the dull ache in her chest. The noise quieted her mind and the people provided a visual distraction. Enough so that Adessa decided to sit outside the inn while Ira did their shopping, just so she could watch the people going by. Every odd stranger she would try to describe their life in her own way until a smile tugged at her lips.

Then she saw a dark haired man at the jeweler across the street with a child of about two on his hip. Adessa’s heart stopped in her chest. “Onris…?” She stood, about to run to them, but she hesitated. It wasn’t her place. It wasn’t her life, it was his. He wouldn’t even know who she was.

In her mind’s eye she saw herself cross the street anyway. Tap his shoulder. See the recognition in his eyes. She could feel the touch of his hand and the warmth of his body as he embraced her.

Across the way, the man she had been watching turned around after purchasing his trinket. It wasn’t Onris. No, this was some stranger, just going about his day with his son. Swallowing the renewed pain in her heart she fell heavy into her chair and put a hand to her forehead. The day she left she knew there was a chance they wouldn’t come back. Her heart was just taking its time catching up.

“Hey, you alright?” Ira came up from the side to sit with her and noticed her agonizing.

“Yeah, just… a headache.”

He didn’t buy the lie. “I know you better than that. You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” There was no point in denying it. A stiff nod confirmed it. “You know we could go and find him, right? You don’t have to keep forcing yourself to suffer like this.”

Adessa lifted her head again to watch the father and son walk down the street away from them. “No. It’s not my time yet. I’ll be alright.” Forcing a smile onto her face she patted his hand and stood from the table. “Did you get everything we need?”

“Yeah, we should be set for the week or so it’ll take us to get to Grana.”

“Let’s get going then. Still plenty of daylight to burn.”

The pair retrieved their horses and exited the city to the south. Before mounting up, Adessa glanced back into the crowds. She saw the ghost of the man she had wished to find, and the child at his side, fade before her eyes.