Elyan nodded to Allora.
"Nice work, it's a good thing we have those friends of yours around."
He then took out his bow looked at Valeria and Allora.
"Keep your guard up. The king might have let us go, but that's no reason to start thinking that he'll keep his promise for very long."
His memory from when he had Awakened started to become clearer, and for just a moment he had a vacant look in his eyes.
"That shadow...we have to do something about that, too..."
He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand again.
"Scratch that last part. Let's get moving."

Valeria turned and looked at Elyan, with a puzzled expression on her face. "Shadow?" She repeated. "What shadow?" He asked him, as she stepped closer towards him.

Valeria looked at Allora and smiled gently, then looked at Elyan. "We should get Mathureil into one of the other beds first." She suggested, as she pulled on her gloves onto her hands. "But," she paused for a moment, trying to think of how to word her question; "what happened back there, with the King...I'm sorry." She looked down slightly. "I can't help feeling like the things he said provoked you in a way I didn't want.." she paused again. Then shook her head, and started to walk into the room with the larger bed.

"Hold on."
Elyan put his hand on Valeria's shoulder as she was about to leave the room.
"Look, what you did back there...you made the right choice. No doubt about it. I wasn't myself, that's for sure; if I actually did manage to use enough of that power to stop the king...who knows how long it would've taken me to come back. I might've done something I would regret by the time I came back to my senses. It would have consumed me..."
He stopped for a moment and laughed derisively to himself.
"...Just like the old man said all along. You helped me out when I needed it the most, just like we promised. I can't thank you enough for that."
He then looked over to Allora.
"Actually, there's something that's been on my mind. Do you think you could give us a few minutes in private? And, uh...take him with you, just in case he starts waking up?"
He motioned to the unconscious Mathuriel on Spirit's back.

Elyan nodded as Allora left the room.
"Thanks."
When he was sure that everyone else was out of earshot, he took a deep breath and looked at Valeria.
"I wanted to talk to you some more about what happened back there. Because of everything that happened, I had a hard time remembering it all but it's been coming back to me piece by piece and...by the time we made it here, everything had cleared up in my mind."
He averted his eyes, seeming a little nervous. The idea that this was very unlike him came to his mind, but he couldn't help it.
"This might sound like a stupid question, but...did you really mean all that stuff you said back there?"
Of course he knew the answer. He saw her tear-soaked face and heard the way she desperately called to him, but he had to ask anyways.

Valeria looked at Elyan, before answering him, she walked up to Elyan, and turned his head to look at her. "Of course I meant what I said." She replied in a soft tone. "As much as I hate the King for what he said, and what he's done to so many other people...at that very moment, the only person I cared about and feared for, was you."

For just a quick moment, Elyan's face flashed red and he stumbled on his words, unsure of what to say next.
"Valeria...I, uh...I mean, what I mean to say is..."
His heartbeat sped up and he had to take a second and force himself to calm down.
"...I feel the same way. That's kinda new for me, since...I've never felt that way for anyone as far as I can remember. But I do. Right now, you're the most important person in the world to me."
He sighed, feeling frustrated at how poorly he was able to express himself.
"How can I say this without sounding like an idiot? Before I met you, I was used to feeling alone. It bothered me at first but after a while, it became...natural. Maybe even comfortable. At that point, I wasn't even trying to get close to anyone at all. But somehow, you went and changed all of that. Now I can't even imagine going back to how I used to be."
He choked back his emotions one last time and spoke in what was almost a whisper.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Valeria. I won't lose everyone I care about again."

Valeria's cheeks flushed, as Elyan spoke. The only thing she could think to do, was to wrap her arms around him, and rest her head on his chest. "It's a new feeling for me as well." She whispered. "After so many years of only family members, distant and closer to home trying to kill me for my power and mana...I never thought I would ever feel comfortable around anyone without wondering if they were going to try to kill me." She looked up into Elyan's eyes, her own eyes shinning, as she smiled gently.

Mathuriel sat bolt upright, eyes wide and screaming at the top of his lungs.
"I'M NOT GIVING YOU THAT FUCKING SCROLL AGAIN!!!"
Then he threw back his head, eyes glazed and out of focus and made a noise like a wounded cow, long and protracted, deep and sad, but most importantly it was VERY LOUD.

OOT: Way to be that guy, bro. Total moment killer.


Seeing Valeria's smile, Elyan felt himself starting to relax. His feelings of discomfort and awkwardness faded away and he smiled gently back at her as he held her in his arms.
"Valeria..."
He whispered softly and closed his eyes, losing himself in her warm embrace. When suddenly...

"I'M NOT GIVING YOU THAT FUCKING SCROLL AGAIN!!!"

Elyan's eyes shot open when he heard a very familiar voice coming from another room. He let out a small sigh and muttered under his breath.
"Yep. I'm definitely hitting him."
Slowly and reluctantly, he pulled himself away from Valeria, his expression going back to its usual serious look.
"I guess, uh...we'll have to pick this up later. Duty calls and all that."
He glanced over to the other room.
"We should probably see if he's okay."

OOT: Take it from someone who's been there. Sexual and romantic tension is pretty enticing by itself, but PENT-UP sexual and romantic tension goes off like an orgasmic bomb after a while. You'll be thanking me later.

Mathuriel's pupils were dilating, rapidly, growing to coat his eyes in darkness then shrinking to pinpricks. His entire form was shaking, starting to fade in and out of focus, and he was making groaning bellows as he thrashed in the bed he'd been placed in. "STOP IT!!" he begged an invisible something or someone. "FOR HELL'S SAKE I'LL DO ANYTHING JUST PLEASE FUCKING STOP IT! I DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT ANY MORE! I DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT ANY MORE!!"

Valeria nodded her head. "If not to hit him, to make sure he remains silent and not attract any unwanted attention." She spoke calmly, as she walked towards the hallway.

Mathuriel seemed oblivious to the world, thrashing and yelling like he was possessed.

Kiss looked up at Ella. "You don't remember? They must have done something to you, sis - that's a shame."
She looked saddened by this. "You used to be so happy... you were a maid here with me in the castle, and the king was so kind and sweet to us that one day you told him you loved him. Then he took you for his consort and you were so happy that day... then they took you. His enemies, who wanted to turn you against him, by filling your head with lies!"
Kiss squeezed her tighter. "They won't get you again sis. I won't let them, I promise!"

"They must have taken it from you," Kiss said, annoyed. "I'm sure he'll get you a new one, sis! And you must not remember because they messed around with your head. You remember me though, right?" she asked anxiously.

Mathuriel blinked.
"Er... hey, Allora. What are you doing on top of me?"
Then,
"WHY DOES MY CHEEK HURT LIKE HELL?! Ow..." he winced as he rubbed it.