There he was again. That fair and tall man. He felt the distance between them close, beards brushing against each other as their lips collide.
Who are you? Why do you haunt my dreams?
The mysterious man smiled, pulling Glandaron closer. He spoke no words, but there was so much written in his eyes, unspoken and not needing to be spoken. Whoever this man was, he lit Glandaron on fire, his heart and body burning up.
Glandaron woke up with a start, the heat from his dreams being replaced with the cold winter's chill. He sighs softly, glancing at his wife sleeping peacefully beside him. He sits up, gently kissing her cheek before rising up, careful not to disturb her sleep.
He walks out into the kitchen, stoking and feeding the fire. He stands still and looks around. A war raged within his heart and head. He finally moved, going to light a candle. He finds a piece of parchment and a quill, sitting down to write.
Dear Aniel.
It pains me to write this letter. I will be direct and be plain with you. I have fallen out of love. I still care for you, and love you, though not as a husband. I still love our children dearly. I am going South, perhaps to find myself or someone who reignites my heart, I do not know. I do not want you to wait around and pine for me. I am begging you to remarry. For you, for our sweet children. I will let you decide if and when you tell them where I went. I will send regular letters with coin. I am not cruel enough to abandon you without support. I do not desire to be estranged, but it pains me for an unknown reason to stay here.
With love,
Glandaron.
He fans the page, letting the ink dry. He folds it and leaves it on the table and stood up. He bustled around quietly, putting on his armour and packing some provisions as quietly as he could before he could change his mind.
A soft voice made him freeze, "Ada, what are you doing?" Glandaron spun around, facing their youngest son, a boy of five years. Galndaron walked over and quickly picked the boy up, "Hush, hush. Ada is going for guard duty. Go back to sleep now."
The boy accepts this answer, snuggling down in his father's arms, "Okay, I love you, ada. Nini." Glandaron swallowed a lump in his throat, laying the boy gently down in bed, kissing his head, "I love you too, my boy." He went to go kiss his other two children as well, tears welling in his eyes.
The third child's bed was empty, the bed of their daughter. He shakes his head, "Mother's daughter." He steps out into the kitchen, nearly yelping as he comes face to face with said daughter, "Why are you leaving, Ada?"
Glandaron shakes his head, whispering firmly, "Guard duty." He glances at the table, realizing the letter was disturbed. He looks at his daughter, his shoulders slumping, "You... read that?"
She nods and bites her lip, throwing her arms around her fathers neck, crying into his cloak. "I don't want you to leave, Ada. But I want you to be happy. Please come back some time? I need my Ada."
Glandaron held her tight, pressing his face into her hair, "I will, I promise. I will." They cried in silence and held onto each other for a while longer before Glandaron stepped away, "I should leave before Dawn." He kissed her forehead and gave her one last hug, "Look after your mother and brothers." She nods and rubs her face, a fierce and determined look as she squares her shoulders and nods, "Yes Ada! I will."
He nods at her, "Good girl, now hurry back to bed before we get caught!" He hesitates before handing her his sword. She bites her lip, hesitating to take the sword as she tries not to cry, running back to her room with it.
Glandaron closed the door softly behind him, walking to where his horse was stabled. He swiftly saddled up the stallion, swinging himself up in the saddle. He cast one last glance at his home, his final chance to turn back. He grabbed the reins and turned, galloping off into the night, not looking back. No guard stopped him, used to the man's night time rides when he was restless. Tonight, however, he would not return.
