Weeks pass before I realise the hidden spring is no longer the reason I keep returning.
It is Eryn.
Our meetings become almost routine.
Some days we spend the afternoon beside the spring with our feet in the cool water, talking about everything and nothing until the sun begins to sink behind the trees.
Other days he drags me through the village market, insisting I try foods I have never heard of while pretending not to notice that half the merchants have recognised me despite my poor attempts at dressing like an ordinary traveller.
I even begin visiting the temple.
Not because I have any interest in the ceremonies.
Simply because Eryn is there.
He always pretends to be surprised to see me.
"Prince Kael," he says with a smile that tells me he had been expecting me all along. "What a remarkable coincidence."
"Indeed," I reply. "I happened to be passing through."
"For the fifth time this week?"
"A remarkable coincidence."
He laughs every single time.
Today feels different.
I am standing beneath our favourite willow tree beside the spring, rehearsing the words in my head for what must be the hundredth time.
I have faced generals without fear.
I have negotiated treaties between rival kingdoms.
I have addressed thousands of people without stumbling over a single sentence.
Yet asking one gentle priest in training if he would allow me to court him suddenly feels like the most difficult thing I have ever attempted.
I hear footsteps approaching.
I look up.
Eryn smiles the moment our eyes meet.
And every carefully rehearsed word disappears from my mind.
******
Several days after Eryn agrees to be mine, I decide it is time to tell him the truth.
We are sitting beside the spring with our feet dangling in the water when I clear my throat.
"Eryn."
"Hm?"
"There is something I have not told you."
He looks up from the flower he has been absent-mindedly twirling between his fingers.
"You sound nervous."
"I am."
His smile softens.
"Go on."
"I am not merely Kael."
"No?"
"I am Prince Kael of the Azure Tide."
His eyes widen.
"You're a prince?"
"Yes."
Before he can say another word, I continue.
"I am also a naga."
For a moment, he simply blinks.
"A naga?, Really, wow "
"You know of us?"
He lets out a small laugh.
"Of course I do. We learned about the elder races at the temple."
"...You did?"
"I knew nagas existed." He smiles teasingly. "I just didn't expect to fall in love with one."
"Nor did I expect to fall in love with a priest."
He reaches over and takes my hand.
"Does being a prince change anything?"
"Only if you wish it to."
Eryn shakes his head.
"You're still the man who got lost in the forest."
"I was not lost."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Your Highness."
I groan.
He laughs.
And somehow, hearing him laugh makes every worry I carried disappear.
******
Not long after, I decide there is one more person Eryn must meet.
"You're smiling," Eryn says as we walk through the forest.
"Am I?"
"It usually means you're planning something."
"Only a little."
We stop at the edge of the hidden spring.
"Arith," I call. "If you are lurking about, kindly stop eavesdropping and show yourself."
A laugh echoes across the water.
"I wasn't eavesdropping," Arith's voice replies. "I was waiting for you to finish talking."
The surface of the spring ripples gently before Arith rises from the water, translucent at first before her form becomes solid. She smiles the moment she sees me.
"Kael."
Then her eyes drift to Eryn.
A knowing smile spreads across her face.
"Oh..." she says, drawing out the word. "So this is why you've been disappearing every week."
"Arith," I say evenly, "this is Eryn."
Eryn bows politely.
"It's an honour to meet you, Lady Arith."
"None of that," she says with a wave of her hand. "Anyone who can keep this stubborn prince under control is already a friend of mine."
Eryn laughs.
I sigh.
"You are enjoying this far too much."
"Immensely," Arith replies.
She links her arm through Eryn's as though they have known each other for years.
"Now tell me everything about how you managed to tame him."
"I did not tame him," Eryn says, smiling.
"He justvknows when to listen."
Arith bursts into laughter.
"Oh, I like you already."
**********
The memory slowly dissolved, and with it came the familiar hum of the tyres against the road.
Kael opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, he simply stared through the windscreen. The forest, the spring and Eryn's laughter faded away, replaced by the long stretch of highway disappearing into the distance.
The silence inside the car was gentle.
Aiden hadn't interrupted him once.
When Kael turned his head, he found Aiden watching the road with both hands resting lightly on the steering wheel. His expression was thoughtful, as though he were still piecing together the memories he had just been entrusted with.
"You've been quiet," Kael observed.
Aiden smiled faintly.
"I didn't want to interrupt."
Kael looked out of the side window.
"I had forgotten how happy I was."
His voice was softer than it had been all day.
"For a time... everything was exactly as I wanted it to be."
Aiden waited.
"We spent every spare moment together. Arith adored him, he adored Arith, and I..." Kael let out a quiet laugh. "I believed nothing could take that life away from me."
His smile lingered for only a moment before it became tinged with sadness.
"Then I made the mistake of taking him home."
Aiden's grip tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
"To your kingdom?"
Kael nodded once.
"I wanted him to meet my family."
He fell silent again.
The weight of those words settled heavily between them.
After a while, Aiden spoke.
"What happened?"
Kael did not answer.
Instead, he watched the sun sinking towards the horizon, its golden light spilling across the fields in long ribbons of amber.
"A lot happened," he said quietly.
Aiden glanced at him.
"And?"
Kael looked back at him with a small, apologetic smile.
"I think... that story can wait until another day."
Aiden frowned.
"You're leaving me there?"
"I am."
"That's cruel."
"No one asked you to be nosy."
"So leaving me hanging is the punishment?."
"I assure you It is not."
"Yeah right."
"I just can't continue right now. We can pick it up later."
Aiden studied him for a moment before giving a small nod.
"I'll hold you to that."
"Thank you."
They fell into another comfortable silence.
Outside, the daylight continued to fade until the sky was painted in shades of orange, pink and deep violet.
It was only when the first road signs for nearby services appeared that Kael spoke again.
"I believe," he said, glancing at the now-empty paper bag that had once held their sandwiches, "I am genuinely hungry this time."
Aiden laughed.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
"There is a diner ahead." Aiden smiled as he flicked on his indicator.
"Excellent." Kael settled back into his seat. "You may stop there."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Kael gave him a sidelong look.
"I believe you've become rather bold."
Aiden's grin widened.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Kael shook his head, unable to hide the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The car left the motorway and followed the narrow exit road towards the warm lights of the roadside diner, glowing invitingly against the gathering dusk.