POV: Amelia

"Kael, if you eat the last piece of bread, I swear I'll never cook for you again." Kael looked down at the bread in his hand, then at me. "You said that yesterday." "And you ate the last piece yesterday."

"And yet, here you are, threatening me while preparing breakfast." I stared at him. He smiled and took another bite. "Unbelievable."

"What?" he asked, pretending to be innocent. "I'm your husband. Surely I deserve a little extra food." "You deserve to make your own breakfast." "I tried that once."

"Yes, and you nearly burned down the kitchen." "That was one time, Amelia." "One time too many."

He laughed, and I turned back to the small pot sitting over the fire. I tried to look annoyed, but the smile on my face betrayed me.

This was how most of our mornings began. Kael would find something to tease me about, I would threaten to stop doing something for him, and neither of us would take the threat seriously.

We had been married for two years, and somehow, he still found new ways to irritate me. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing. Perhaps it was.

"Are you going to stand there all morning?" I asked when I noticed he was still watching me. "I'm admiring my wife." "Admire me while fetching the water."

His smile widened. "There she is." "Who?" "The woman I married. I was beginning to think the king had sent someone to replace you."

I picked up a wooden spoon and pointed it at him. "Go." Kael raised both hands in surrender, laughing as he stepped outside. I shook my head.

The truth was, I liked mornings like this. Our home wasn't large, and we had no servants to take care of the work. There were always things to mend, meals to prepare, and chores waiting to be done.

But it was ours. We had a wooden table near the window, two stools that didn't quite match, and a roof that leaked whenever the rain became too heavy.

Kael had promised to repair it before the next rainy season. He had made that promise three months ago. I had stopped reminding him. Mostly.

By the time he returned with the water, breakfast was ready. He placed the container beside the hearth and sat across from me. I served him a portion before taking mine.

He looked at his bowl. "That's all?" I narrowed my eyes. "Would you like me to take it back?" "No." "Then eat."

He obeyed, though not before giving me a look that made it clear he thought I was being unfair. For a while, we ate in comfortable silence.

Then Kael glanced toward the window. "I may have to leave early tomorrow." I looked up. "Where are you going?"

"The village near the western fields. One of the farmers asked me to help settle a disagreement over a piece of land." "You're going to settle another argument?"

"It's what happens when people discover that I can listen to both sides without throwing anyone into a river." "Is that what you did to the last man who argued with you?" "I considered it."

I laughed despite myself. Kael reached for his cup. "I shouldn't be gone long," he added. "I'll try to return before sunset."

"You said that last time." "And I returned before sunset." "After sunset." "Barely." "Kael." "All right. I'll come home earlier."

I studied his face, trying to decide whether he meant it. He reached across the table and touched my hand. "I'll be back before you start missing me."

I pulled my hand away, but I couldn't stop smiling. "Don't flatter yourself." "Of course not."

He finished his breakfast and stood, carrying both bowls toward the washing basin before I could tell him to leave them. I watched him for a moment.

It wasn't that Kael was perfect. He could be stubborn, careless with his belongings, and far too pleased with himself whenever he made me laugh. But he tried.

He helped when he could, listened when something troubled me, and never made me feel that being his wife meant I had to agree with everything he said. I hadn't understood how much those little things mattered until I married him.

"Amelia?" I looked up. Kael was standing by the doorway, waiting for me. "Are you coming to see me off, or are you planning to enjoy the peace and quiet while I'm gone?"

"I'm considering both options." "Cruel woman." "You married me." "My greatest achievement." "Your greatest mistake, you mean." He grinned. "That, too."

I followed him outside. The morning was already busy. A few villagers passed along the narrow road, carrying baskets and leading animals toward the fields.

Somewhere nearby, a child was crying while his mother tried to persuade him to keep walking. Kael stopped beside the gate and adjusted the strap across his shoulder.

"I shouldn't be long," he said again. "I heard you the first time." "Then why do you look as though you're preparing to mourn me?" "Because you talk too much."

He laughed. Then, before he left, he leaned down and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. It was a small gesture, so familiar that I barely thought about it.

Yet I caught myself watching him as he walked away. He turned once and lifted his hand. I waved him off.

"Don't forget the roof!" I called. "I won't!" "You said that three months ago!" "I heard you!"

His laughter carried back to me before he disappeared around the bend. I stood there for another moment, then returned inside.

There was washing to do, vegetables to prepare, and a loose section of the roof that still needed attention. Our life wasn't extraordinary.

We weren't nobles living behind palace walls or wealthy landowners with servants at our command. We were simply two people who had built a home together and were learning how to share it.

At the time, I thought we had plenty of years ahead of us. I thought there would be more mornings filled with arguments over bread, more evenings spent listening to Kael complain about stubborn villagers, and more promises about fixing things around the house.

I had no reason to believe otherwise.

By midday, I had finished most of my chores. I was sitting near the window, repairing a tear in one of Kael's tunics, when someone knocked on the door.

I expected a neighbour. Instead, I found Mara, the woman who lived two houses away, standing outside with an empty basket in her hand. "Amelia, have you heard?"

I lowered the tunic. "Heard what?" She glanced toward the road before stepping closer. "Merchants came through the village this morning. They said soldiers have been seen near the northern roads."

I frowned. "Soldiers from where?" "They weren't sure. Some believe they're from the neighbouring kingdom."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The two kingdoms had never been particularly friendly, but neither had we heard of anything serious happening recently.

"Perhaps it's nothing," I said. "I hope so." Mara tightened her grip on the basket. "My husband says we shouldn't worry until there's something certain."

"That sounds sensible." "Still, I thought you should know. Kael spends time with the king's men. If anyone hears anything, it might be him."

I nodded slowly. "Thank you for telling me."

After Mara left, I remained by the doorway, looking down the road Kael had taken that morning. Soldiers near the northern roads.

Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps the merchants had misunderstood what they had seen. I told myself there was no reason to worry.

Kael had enough to deal with without me imagining trouble where there might be none. I returned to my sewing, but I found myself making the same stitch twice before noticing my mistake.

By evening, Kael still hadn't returned. I tried not to think about the rumours. He had said he might be late. That was all.

I placed his portion of dinner beside mine and waited a little longer. When the light outside began to fade, I heard footsteps approaching.

I rose so quickly that the stool scraped against the floor. The door opened, and Kael stepped inside. "You're late," I said.

He looked at me, then at the food on the table. "I know." "Did you settle the disagreement?" "Eventually." "And?" "The farmer was right."

I folded my arms. "You spent the entire day settling an argument only to discover that one man was right?" "People don't always accept that they're wrong just because someone tells them."

I wanted to laugh, but something about his expression stopped me. He looked tired. Not the ordinary tiredness that came from walking all day, either.

There was a tension in his face that hadn't been there that morning. "What happened?" I asked. Kael set his belongings down. "Nothing that concerns you."

I stared at him. "Try that again." He sighed and pulled out a stool. "Some of the king's men have been sent north. There are reports of unfamiliar soldiers moving close to our territory."

My stomach tightened. "Mara heard something similar from the merchants." "Then the rumours are spreading faster than the truth." "Do you think they'll attack?" "I don't know."

It was the uncertainty in his answer that frightened me more than anything else. Kael reached for my hand. "Don't start worrying over something that hasn't happened."

"And what am I supposed to do if it does happen?" He was quiet for a moment. Then he squeezed my hand. "We'll face whatever comes when it comes."

I wanted to believe him. So I sat beside him, and we ate our dinner together. He told me about the farmer who had nearly thrown a shovel at his neighbour, and I laughed at the way Kael described their argument.

For a little while, our home felt ordinary again. Later, as we prepared for bed, I asked him one more question. "Will you have to go north if the king calls for you?"

Kael paused while removing his belt. "If the king orders me to defend our land, I will go." I looked down at my hands. He came closer and gently lifted my chin. "Amelia."

I met his eyes. "I won't leave because I want to," he said. "But if our people are in danger, I cannot pretend it isn't my responsibility."

I understood that. That didn't mean I liked it. "I know," I whispered. He kissed my forehead and drew me into his arms. "Come on. We have a long day tomorrow."

I rested my head against his chest, listening to his steady breathing. Outside, the village slowly settled into silence. I closed my eyes, believing that tomorrow would be another ordinary day.

I didn't know that the rumours coming from the northern roads would soon change the course of our lives. And I didn't know that the man holding me that night would one day leave our home for a war he would never return from.