He always comes

This had become their favorite spot over the years. It was a secret place just for them and their partner, peaceful and empty, safe from any cares or responsibilities for the moments they would visit. In silence they sat by the crystal lake, their usually stable form wavering ever so slightly, ebbing in and out of focus. In silence they waited.

He’ll be here any second, they thought to themself. He always comes.

They sat unmoving, a light flickering faintly against the jagged trees that surrounded them. The Winterlands always held a darkness to them, a stark contrast to the bright skies of the Summerlands that was their partner Brïs' home. With only crystals and starlight above to light the clearing, it was even darker in the large clearing than the much more populated place they called their own home. Even Albion’s dull light stood out like a bright flame.

As they sat attentively, their light flared suddenly at the smallest of changes. Sometimes there would be sounds, sometimes movement in the distance, but still he failed to show himself to them. No matter, it wouldn't be long. Eventually he would come, as he always did.

They shifted slightly in place. How long had it been since they’d come here? It could be minutes, or days. Possibly it had been years. Without any way to gauge the passage of time, it was impossible for them to know. Regardless of how long it had been, they did not care; they were willing to wait an eternity if it was required. They quickly stamped down the doubt that tried to force its way into their thoughts. They wouldn't allow that to take hold, they would not doubt. They refused. Of course he would come.

He always comes. Always.

Again, much louder and closer than any time previously, movement from across the clearing caught their attention and another sidhe revealed themself. Albion leapt up from where they sat, fully alight in both spirit as well as expression, but just as quickly froze in place as they realized that it wasn't Brïs. They wavered, uncertain, painfully trapped in the confused haze they now found themself in. They shouldn't be feeling like this and they knew it, but still they held on.

No, no you’re not him. But he'll come. He will.

The other sidhe stared at Albion, moving side to side awkwardly for a moment before sighing quietly as they made their approach. Albion did not move, stuck in place as if time had completely halted for them.

“Is... this where you would meet him?” They paused and stared out at the crystal lake, a quiet hum of awe. “It certainly is pretty.”

Albion did not reply to the other who now stood a stone’s throw away. Instead they stared right through them as if they were not even there.

The other sidhe returned a confused look. “Albion, why are you looking at me like that? It's Maeve. You know me.” They stopped and appeared to think for a moment before coming to a realization, expression falling. “Albion... You aren’t... waiting, are you?”

They refused to acknowledge Maeve, words like static electricity in their mind. A jumbled mess of sounds that may as well be complete nonsense. Everything felt loud and bright and they struggled to hold on to the little hope they had left.

You are not him. You’re not him.

Albion knew they were being spoken to, but they didn’t want to hear anything Maeve was saying. They refused, knowing that if they did it would only cause them pain, would only confirm the very thing that hurt the most to them. If they didn’t listen, they didn’t need to accept the truth. They didn’t need to acknowledge what they deep down knew was reality.

I can’t. I have to wait for him. He always comes.

“Albion."

Why was it you?

"Albion."

He wouldn't--

"Albion you know he isn’t coming back.”

Maeve raised their voice, cutting through Albion like a dagger. It wasn't by much, and it held no anger, or even frustration, it was just a plea. It was simply the worried plea of a friend to please, listen, and Albion did indeed listen, now appearing to actually see the one in front of them. Their expression, once full of hope, then pained confusion, now betrayed no emotion at all.

“He’s gone, Albion. He’s been reborn and is anew. He isn’t going to come.” 

“He always comes,” they denied harshly. They wavered violently as if wracked with a pain that spread like poison through their entire being.

Maeve sighed, suspicions confirmed now. They had truly wanted to hold out hope that maybe they were wrong about Albion's intensions, that perhaps they were wanting to revisit to get closure, but it seemed as though that was too much to wish for. “And then he died. You know he died. He doesn't remember this place to return to it. You're smart enough to know that I should surely hope.”

They visibly bristled, although their expression remained stoic. Although it wasn't said, they could grasp what was being implied and refused to accept that. “Stop it, Maeve.”

“Denying it changes nothing about what you know is true.” They took form as well, the light purple of their spirit much more stable than Albion’s now constantly shifting shape. There was a brief hesitance but only for a second, as they reached out and lightly touched Albion’s shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "You have duties to fulfil. You have to move on."

Albion pulled away the instant the contact was made and slowly lowered themself to the ground, sitting in silence. Maeve pulled back their hand and followed the other's lead, kneeling across from them.

“He was going to meet me here,” Albion said after the tension was too much for them to bare. They turned to stare at the crystal lake to their left, their reflection staring back at them. They looked away unable to meet their own gaze. “That was the last thing he asked me to do. It’s all I have left of him to hold on to. Even if...” A pause, they shuddered and then stabilized themself, then they continued, "At least here, I can... hope. I can hope he'll come, I have nothing else to remind me. Even if it's denial, I prefer this to..." They trailed off again, but were unable to find the words they wanted. Denial would only last so long, they knew that.

Maeve slowly replied, sensing their hesitance, “So you intend to wait. I understand that, even if I don't agree with it, but I won't fight you. But for how long? Are you planning on coming back, Albion?”

Silence fell between them and stayed for a long time, and when it never broke, they both knew what the answer was.

Maeve sighed, longer this time, eyes closing. They wanted to fully and completely understand what Albion felt, but this was beyond them. Of course they knew what pain was, but to this extent? No, absolutely not, and no pain was worth throwing everything away in their opinion. If Albion was anyone else they would call them absolutely stupid, but they would begrudgingly reserve slightly kinder words for them instead. “Please tell me that you do know what this means, right? The Court will be displeased that you ran away from your duties to sit in the forest the rest of your life."

They stared at the ground solemnly. "I told him I would wait. I hold to my word. They would understand that, I am certain."

Again, Maeve reached out a hand to Albion's shoulder, but this time they did not pull away. They returned the gesture, but could not meet Maeve's gaze.

"I will not be returning, and will respect your desire, as much as I wish you would change your mind. I hope in another life that we’ll be friends again, Albion.”

Although Albion didn't respond verbally, the words unsaid hung in the air, heavy with intent. They had known one another long enough that they understood perfectly.

Yes... In another life.