Watching Over

Rylan's eyes fluttered open, the dim light of the room casting shadows on the ceiling. For a moment, everything seemed still, the silence almost comforting. But as he glanced around the unfamiliar space, the memories came rushing back like a flood breaking through a dam.

He remembered the hands on him, the voices mocking him, and Aldric standing by, allowing it to happen. His chest tightened, and his breathing grew ragged. Tears began streaming down his face as he clutched his head, his fingers digging into his scalp.

"No… no…" he whispered, the pain overwhelming him. The whispers turned into sobs, and soon, he was crying out loud, his voice breaking. "Why? Why did this happen to me?" He covered his face with trembling hands, his body shaking violently. "I want to die! I don't want to live like this!"

Hearing the anguished cries, Aelor ran into the room, his heart racing. He hurried to Rylan's side and grabbed his hand gently but firmly. "Rylan, stop!" Aelor pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm here. You're not alone!"

But Rylan shook his head violently, pulling his hand away. "No! You don't understand!" he screamed, his tears falling like rain. "I can't live with this! I can't… after what they did to me! After he let them!"

Aelor's own tears welled up as he knelt by the bed, clutching Rylan's arm. "You're stronger than this, Rylan," he said softly, his voice trembling. "I know you're hurting, but you have us—Kaelen, me, Aldric. We'll protect you. We'll make sure this never happens again."

At the mention of Aldric, Rylan froze, his sobs catching in his throat. "Aldric…" he whispered bitterly, his voice dripping with pain. "He let them do it. He stood there and let them destroy me. How could you even say his name?"

Aelor bit his lip, unsure of how to respond. He knew Rylan's pain was justified, and he couldn't defend Aldric's actions, no matter how much the man regretted them. Instead, he placed a hand over Rylan's trembling one and squeezed it gently. "Rylan, I'm not asking you to forgive him. I'm asking you to stay—for yourself. You deserve to heal. You deserve to live, not for anyone else but for you."

Rylan's lips quivered as more tears escaped, his voice breaking again. "I don't know if I can… I don't know how."

"You can" Aelor said softly, leaning closer. "And you won't have to do it alone. We'll be here, step by step."

Rylan finally met Aelor's gaze, his expression a mixture of despair and fragile hope. The room fell into silence except for his quiet sobs, and Aelor stayed by his side, holding his hand tightly as if grounding him to the present.

Outside the room, Kaelen leaned against the wall, having overheard everything. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened. The guilt of what Rylan had endured weighed heavily on him, but he knew this moment wasn't his to intrude on. He silently vowed to make things right—not just for Rylan but for everyone who had suffered because of the king's cruelty.

Aldric ascended the creaking stairs, his heavy boots echoing in the silence of the house. He hadn't intended to come up, but something about the broken sobs coming from Rylan's room drew him closer. When he reached the top, he stopped, frozen in place. Rylan's cries pierced his heart like a blade, and for a moment, he couldn't move.

Kaelen stood nearby, his arms crossed and his gaze stern. "Go in" he said in a low voice. "Don't run away from the problem, Aldric."

Aldric turned his head slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if he doesn't want to see me? What if my presence only makes it worse?"

Kaelen sighed, his expression softening just a little. "Then there's probably no hope for you two to ever reconcile. But if you keep running, you'll never know. It's your choice, Aldric—face the pain or live with regret."

The weight of Kaelen's words settled heavily on Aldric's shoulders. He took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly, and nodded. "I'll go" he said, though his voice lacked confidence.

Pushing the door open, Aldric stepped inside the room. The sight before him made his stomach twist in guilt and shame. Rylan was curled into Aelor's chest, his body trembling as Aelor held him tightly, whispering soft reassurances into his ear. The room was filled with the sound of Rylan's muffled sobs, and the air felt thick with sorrow.

Aldric stood by the door, his hands clenched at his sides. He couldn't bring himself to take another step forward. The sight of Rylan like this—broken, vulnerable—was unbearable, and he hated himself for being part of the reason for it.

Aelor noticed Aldric first, his sharp eyes darting toward the door. He didn't say anything, but his expression grew guarded. Rylan, however, hadn't noticed yet, his face still buried in Aelor's chest.

Aldric finally managed to speak, his voice hoarse and trembling. "Rylan…"

The sound of his voice made Rylan stiffen immediately. He pulled back slightly from Aelor's embrace, his tear-streaked face turning toward the door. When his eyes met Aldric's, they filled with a mix of rage and despair.

"What are you doing here?" Rylan's voice was shaky but sharp, cutting through the room like a whip.

Aldric flinched but didn't move. "I… I came to see you," he said quietly, his voice thick with regret. "I needed to. I need to tell you—"

"You need to leave," Rylan snapped, his voice rising. He pushed away from Aelor, sitting up straighter. "I don't want to see you! I don't want to hear anything you have to say!"

Aelor placed a gentle hand on Rylan's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Rylan, please. Maybe you should hear him out."

Rylan shook his head, his tears falling again. "Why should I? He stood there and let it happen! He betrayed me in the worst way possible! How could I ever forgive that?"

Aldric's knees buckled slightly, and he sank to the floor, his head bowed. "You're right," he said, his voice barely audible. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't deserve anything from you. But I can't live with myself if I don't at least say how sorry I am. Rylan, I hate myself for what I did. I hate myself every second of every day."

Rylan stared at him, his chest heaving with heavy breaths. His lips trembled as his emotions waged war within him. A part of him wanted to scream at Aldric, to throw him out and never see him again. But another part of him—small and fragile—ached at the sight of Aldric's broken expression.

"Get out" Rylan finally said, his voice a whisper this time. "Just… go."

Aldric hesitated but nodded. He pushed himself to his feet, his shoulders slumped in defeat. As he turned to leave, he glanced back one last time, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right," he said softly. "Even if it means staying away from you forever."

He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Aelor wrapped his arms around Rylan again, holding him tightly as fresh tears fell. Outside, Aldric leaned against the wall, his head in his hands, silently vowing to prove himself worthy of Rylan's forgiveness—even if it took the rest of his life.

Kaelen stepped out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him. He immediately spotted Aldric leaning against the wall, his head down, his shoulders hunched in a posture of defeat. The sight made Kaelen narrow his eyes in confusion.

"I thought Rylan told you to leave," Kaelen said flatly, crossing his arms as he approached.

Aldric didn't look up right away. He ran a hand through his hair, the exhaustion evident in his expression when he finally met Kaelen's gaze. "He did," Aldric admitted, his voice raw and low. "But I'm not going anywhere."

Kaelen arched a brow, his tone slightly cold. "If he doesn't want to see you, then what's the point of staying? You're only making it harder for both of you."

Aldric shook his head, a faint, humorless chuckle escaping his lips. "Running away would be easier. For both of us. But if I run now, what kind of man does that make me?" He straightened up slightly, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. "Even if there's no hope for me—if he never forgives me or even speaks to me again—I'll stay. I'll stay close enough to watch over him, make sure he's safe."

Kaelen tilted his head, studying Aldric's expression. "So you're content with just... standing on the sidelines? Watching from afar like some tragic figure in a story?"

Aldric's lips twisted into a small, bitter smile. "If that's what it takes, yes. I owe him that much. I don't deserve his forgiveness. But that doesn't mean I'm going to abandon him. Not now. Not after everything I've done."

For a moment, Kaelen didn't say anything. He simply stared at Aldric, his sharp eyes seeming to search for any trace of insincerity. When he found none, he sighed and leaned back against the wall beside him.

"You're a complicated man, Aldric," Kaelen said after a moment. "But I'll admit, you're not as much of a lost cause as I thought."

Aldric let out a dry laugh. "That's high praise coming from you, Kaelen."

Kaelen smirked faintly but didn't respond. Instead, he glanced back at the door, his expression softening slightly. "Rylan has a long road ahead of him. If you really mean what you say, you'd better be ready to prove it."

Aldric nodded, his gaze firm. "I will. Even if he never sees it, I'll prove it."

Kaelen gave him one last look before turning to leave. "You'd better. For his sake—and yours."

Kaelen stopped in his tracks, hearing Aldric's voice break the silence behind him.

"I won't be staying with you," Aldric said, his tone soft but resolute. "I'll keep watch, but only from afar. It's better this way—for him and for all of you."

Kaelen turned back to respond, but Aldric was already gone. The faint rustling of leaves in the distance and the empty space where Aldric had been standing were all that remained.

Kaelen stared at the spot for a moment before letting out a faint chuckle, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Always dramatic, aren't you?" he muttered under his breath.

Shaking his head slightly, Kaelen glanced back toward the door of the room where Aelor and Rylan were. His smile faded into something softer—half thoughtful, half sad—as he turned and walked away.

Aldric's words lingered in his mind, and though Kaelen didn't say it out loud, he understood. Sometimes, redemption didn't mean staying close. Sometimes, it meant stepping back and letting others heal, even if it meant you had to suffer alone.

Kaelen sighed and whispered to himself, "Good luck, Aldric. I hope you find your peace someday."