There days after the battle, Azrael was in his study when Adrian brought him the letter.
"Your Majesty. There’s a letter from Valdris."
Azrael’s heart, which had felt dead for three days, suddenly began to beat again.
"From her?"
"Yes."
Azrael imdiately took the letter and broke the seal with trembling hands. He read it thrice.
"What does it say?" Adrian asked.
"She is coming here in three days to say goodbye. She is coming to the end of our relationship." He put the letter down. "She is coming to give us closure."
"What? How will you convince her to change her decision? What will you say?" Adrian asked in panic.
"I don’t know. Is there anything left for to say?" He chuckled.
"You could tell her how much you love her." Adrian suggested.
"She knows I love her. Love was never the problem. The problem is we love each other and still hurt each other."
"Then what will you do?"
"I’ll let her go. I’ll listen to whatever she wants to say. I’ll apologize for the terrible things I said, and I’ll let her walk away without hurting her again."
For the next three days, Azrael was unnervingly calm. He had her chambers prepared in case she wished to stay. He inford the council she was coming for a private eting and shouldn’t be disturbed and cleared his schedule.
Lyanna arrived at Thornfield three days later. Her carriage stopped at the Thornfield’s gates and her stomach clenched at the sight of the castle.
This had been her ho for a year. The place where she had rebuilt herself after losing everything. She had grown, loved and suffered here.
Adrian was already waiting in the courtyard.
"Your Majesty. Welco back."
"Adrian!" Lyanna greeted him with a smile. "How are you?"
"I’m doing fine, Your Majesty. But this castle and His Majesty..." He hesitated.
"Where is he?"
"In his study. He has been waiting for you. He asked to offer you so ti to rest first, only if you want."
Shw was surprised. She had expected him to et her imdiately.
"I don’t need to rest. I’ll just talk and leave."
"As you wish." Adrian bowed. "I’ll let him know you’ve arrived."
"Adrian, how is he?" She asked before he turned away.
"Destroyed. He thinks you’re coming to the end of your relationship and he has decided to let you go gracefully."
"That’s..." She didn’t know what to say.
"His Majesty??" Adrian said, surprised.
She turned and saw Azrael standing a few steps away from her. He looked worse than he had during their last eting. He looked exhausted and empty.
"Lyanna, thank you for coming." He sounded defeated. "Should we..." He gestured towards the castle. "Talk inside or would you prefer sowhere neutral...the gardens, perhaps?"
He was letting her choose.
"The study." She replied.
They walked inside in silence. The halls felt both familiar and foreign to her. The study looked the sa. Books and maps were everywhere. He gestured towards the sitting area.
"Please. Sit if you’d like or stand. Whatever makes you comfortable."
Lyanna almost laughed at how careful he was being.
She sat and Azrael sat opposite her. The silence stretched between them, both not knowing where to begin.
"I’m sorry." Azrael broke the silence.
Lyanna had expected him to wait for her to speak first.
"For what I said at the abandoned castle. There’s no justification for it. I’m sorry."
"Why?" Lyanna asked.
"Why what?"
"Why do you do that? Why do you beco cruel when you’re hurt? Why is your instinct to wound the people you love?"
"Because maybe hurting soone makes feel powerful when I feel powerless. Because maybe I still haven’t learned that lashing out only causes more damage."
His honesty surprised her again.
"Lyanna, I love you. But you were right. We’re incompatible. We bring out the worst in each other."
Lyanna had expected him to fight, to argue, to try one more ti to convince her they could work it out. She hadn’t expected acceptance or resignation.
"So what now?" She asked.
"Now you say what you ca here to say, and I’ll listen. Then we both can move on with our lives."
"You’re just... accepting it? You’re not going to fight? Not ask for one more chance? Not promise to change?"
"What would be the point?" He asked. "I already did everything and then imdiately proved myself wrong. Fighting for you now would be selfish. The kindest thing I can do for you is accept your decision and let you go."
"I don’t know what to say."
"Say whatever you want to say. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To close the Chapter properly?"
Lyanna took a deep breath. She had planned what to say. But now, she forgot everything.
"I ca here to tell you that I’m choosing myself. That I’m tired of being hurt and that love isn’t enough."
"You’re right."
"I ca to tell you a lot of things. But it doesn’t matter anymore." She smiled with teary eyes.
"Lyanna, your every word matters to . This is probably the last ti we’re talking to each other. So don’t hesitate. Say whatever you want. I promise I won’t talk back." He was crying too.
"Why aren’t you fighting for ?" Lyanna asked suddenly.
"Because I’ve realized fighting for you ans making promises I can’t keep."
"So you’re just giving up?"
"No. Giving up would an I don’t care. But I’m letting you go. I’m choosing your over myself. I love you so much. I want you to be happy, it doesn’t matter if I’m not a part of it."
He stood up.
"You’re free, Lyanna. You’re free to live your life the way you want without ."
Lyanna stared at him, her heart breaking in a way it hadn’t before. Because she had expected him to give her a reason to stay. And he was giving her permission to leave.
I ca here for this closure only. Then why does it feel worse than before? Why am I so upset and mad? Why can’t I stop my tears? Why do I feel like dying???
Fight for , Azrael. Please... fight for us!!!
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