Beginnings
It’s been three days since the storm had started, and it had finally passed. Aedan Alexander Hawthorne, the son of Lord Charles and Lady Gwen. At twenty years of age, the black-haired, blue-eyed Hawthorne reminded his father much of himself as a young man, with very little care for titles or responsibilities. Aedan has spent much of the last two years, daydreaming under an old Varsin tree on the Desert Coast.
Walking outside the halls of Hawthorne Castle. Aedan looked around, the smell of the rain still in the air, the feel of the wet grass beneath his boots. Aedan loved it. He made his way to the Desert Coast, though Aedan’s been coming here since he was little, it always amazed him. He loved watching the blue waves crash against the shoreline, how the sea appeared to be infinite. The music made by the waves, made him feel at peace. The overarching cliff faces behind the 50-foot stone statue of Aedan’s great-great-grandfather, down on one knee, head bowed against his sword, that stands in the water as if to say the coast was protected. Aedan could feel the tips of the shells peek through holes made by tiny creatures. The Coast was his happy place, whenever he needed a break or when things got tough.
Aedan remembers being eight years old, running away from Hawthorne Castle, so that he could spend two days on the beach before being found by his parents and ever since then, he’s made sure to return at least once a week.
Underneath the cliff was a cave. The cave was round, the smooth rock walls forming into hexagonal columns, which made the area feel larger then it was; the sound of water trickling down the walls, the rushing waterfall that filled the space to the far right wall, the clear pool finding its way into the rock pool enclosed by the roots of an old Varsin tree, allowing its roots to grow throughout the cave. The water led out in the ocean through small holes in the wall. Small gaps in the ceiling rays of sunshine would creep through lighting up the cave.
As Aedan entered the cave, he slipped off his sandals, taken but a moment to relish in the feeling of the moist stone floor beneath his feet. He walks over to the rock pool and peered down into it, taking notice of how the rock bed fell away into a much deeper and wider pool. Aedan reached down to the hem of his shirt, his arms crossing his torso as he lifted the fabric over his head and tossed it absentmindedly to the floor, revealing a thin, tanned, muscular body that had been defined from years of training. The outline of a six-pack graced his abdomen and prominent veins ran down the lengths of his forearms, which bulged showcasing his muscles. Stripping down to his underwear, Aedan took a deep breath before crouching down in front of the clear blue rock pool, his knees pressed together and drawn to his chest, before slipping effortlessly into the water, leaving only a small splash.
The water was cold due to the storm that had passed. It only took Aedan a few moments to adjust to the temperature. Aedan quickly began to enjoy the way the water enveloped him and the feeling of the weightlessness that came with swimming. Aedan glides through the water with powerful rhythmic strokes as he sends himself toward the bottom.
It was intoxicating, the feeling of freedom he felt when swimming… even more so than spending a night out at the tavern with the boys. It was days like these were moments would turn to hours outside the castle. He did his best to show his disinterest in titles and responsibilities but when his father appointed him Commander of the Arkenvale Guards on his eighteenth birthday, he knew he was being tested for Lordship. Aedan had thought many times about packing up and running away, much like his father did at his age. A life of adventure was Aedan’s dream, but his parents always had other plans for him. He despised it.
There was so much life in the pool, it always felt like being in a completely different world-a place so breathtakingly beautiful and full of colour, a world only found in dreams. From the diverse, brightly coloured coral and starfish that had found homes on the rock walls, to the small schools of hued fish and strange sea flowers that decorated the walls and floors. Aedan glanced at the surface, briefly taking a moment to admire the way the sunlight danced on the calm surface of the water, before pushing himself up for oxygen. His eyes are closed as he breaks through the water and runs his left hand through his hair. Combing the excess water from it.
As Aedan brushes, his hand over his face to clear away any water, he notices a beautiful blonde woman in a lovely silk dress. He hesitates before swimming to the edge of the rock pool and places his palms against the smooth rock edge before pushing down hard and pulling himself from the pool. The water rushes of his body and onto the ground like a river downhill and for a moment then he notices the blonde admiring his body. Aedan retrieves his clothing and redresses before turning to face the Blonde properly.
“What are you doing here, Delilah?” he asks, making his way over to the Varsin tree.
“I knew you’d be here.” She stated, following him, “You’re always here right after a storm.” Aedan smiles slightly, unable to argue her point.
His father doesn’t care too much, his mother, however, isn’t afraid to show her distaste for his outdoor activities.
He turns back to Delilah, “That may be true, but it doesn’t answer my question, why are you here?”
“Aedan, you know exactly, why I’m here.” She says, her sweet voice echoing slightly off the stone walls.
“Your father’s proposal!” Aedan says frustrated.
He already knew her answer. Delilah nods delicately, smiling and ignoring Aedan’s obvious frustrations.
‘How many times does a man have to say no?’ Aedan mumbles to himself.
“I’ve said it a hundred times, so maybe a hundred and one will do, no, I will not be marrying you!” He states firmly.
“But why, Aedan!” Pleads Delilah.
“Because…” Aedan pauses for a moment before ending on, “Just No.”
“That’s not an answer, Aedan!” She cries.
Aedan sighs, “Because I do not love you, Delilah. Not like the way you love me and I refuse to marry for the sake of a bloodline, regardless if it’s mine or yours.”
A tear runs down Delilah’s cheek. Aedan realizes how much his words hurt Delilah, he takes a deep breath, walks over to her and places a thumb under her chin and gently lifts her face, so that she looks him in the eye. Her green eyes sparkled up at him.
“You’re an amazing woman, Delilah. You deserve a man who loves you for you and not because your father bullied him into a marriage. You deserve something… real.” Aedan says gently. “I truly am, sorry.” He leans in and gently kisses her forehead, dropping his arm to his side.
Glancing past her shoulder, through the opening in the cave, the same black clouds that had tainted the sky for three days seemed to be rolling in again. He smiles realising they were in the eye of the storm, it had never really passed. He also noticed a familiar silhouette standing by the entrance.
Aedan was knocked back into reality, when Delilah enveloped him in a tight hug, taking him by surprise. Aedan hugs her back. He somewhat understood what the hug signifies, while she was hurt by the fact that Aedan didn’t want to pursue a marriage with her, she was in some ways thankful, that Aedan refused to be locked in a loveless relationship. After releasing Aedan, Delilah bowed her head and walked away, leaving Aedan to watch as she disappeared beyond the cave entrance.
