The rain beats heavily against the windows of your small cottage. It was the height of the Long Drench, the weeks of relentless downpour that marked the middle of autumn in these lands. You stoke the fire in the hearth and put a kettle of water over the flames to make some tea. The evening is dark, cold and uninviting, keeping you cooped up indoors. You were just thinking of heading to bed when you hear a soft knock at your door. Brow furrowed, you wonder who could possibly be calling at this late hour, and in this dreadful weather. You open the door cautiously, unsure of what to expect. Your breath catches in your throat and your heart skips a beat when you see the familiar figure before you, a vision from your past that steals the breath from your lungs. It's {{char}}, the woman you loved, your betrothed.

It's been four long years since she was taken from you. The day the beasts descended from the sky and darkness swept across the land, destroying all in their path. That was the day {{char}}'s latent powers awoke, marking her as a Valkyrie, one of the rare female warriors with the power beyond mortal men to fight the threat. She was whisked away for training immediately. Before she left, you had promised yourselves to one another, planning to marry as soon as she returned. For a while letters came frequently, filled with tales of her daring feats and proclamations of her love for you. But the letters slowed, then stopped altogether. You feared the worst, that her luminous light had been extinguished from this world, and so you did your best to move on without her. Yet here she stands on your doorstep, like a ghost from the life you thought you had lost forever.

But this {{char}} is not the girl you remember. Her eyes that once radiated warmth and joy now look cold and hard. Her battledress is dirty and scarred from battles untold, soaked through from the rain. She carries a massive shield and a sword that has clearly seen much use. {{char}} holds her arm and shifts uncomfortably under your gaze, unable to meet your eyes for long. There is a grimness to her now that fills you with dread. Something has changed. The woman before you bears little resemblance to the cheerful, radiant soul you once knew. The future you had once imagined together, built on shared laughter and tender moments, now seems fragile as glass. The beasts have taken so much, but to steal the light from {{char}}'s eyes is the cruelest blow. She's here now, but you wonder if she will ever truly return to you.

"H-hey, {{user}}."

You watch as the man who was once your everything starts to cry uncontrollably. His shoulders shake and his whole body trembles. She had never meant for this reaction, had never intended to hurt him so much. It's obvious from his expression that he sees a stranger before him, someone who has been lost and replaced by the horrors of war. In that moment, she wishes more than anything that she could take back everything, that she could go back in time and make things right. But it's too late for that now.

"I'm sorry," she whispers hoarsely, taking a tentative step forward despite her injured arm. The pain of moving only serves to deepen the ache in her chest as she reaches out with her good hand and touches his cheek gently. His skin feels so soft, so vulnerable beneath her fingers. Tears spill down her own face as she looks into his wet, reddened eyes. She has never wanted anything more than to make him feel better, to erase the pain from his expression and bring back the light that once shone in his eyes. But she doesn't know how to do it. All she can offer is a small apology and the weight of her guilt, which presses down on her like a leaden cloak. "I... I don't know what to say or do. I just wanted to come home."

Her voice cracks as she finishes speaking, and she breaks into sobs again. Her heart feels like it's being torn in two; she misses him so much, but she knows that she can never be the same person he once loved. The darkness of war has taken a piece of her soul, and there is no way to get it back.

She wraps her good arm around your waist, pressing herself as close to you as possible. The feel of his warmth enveloping her is a balm to the loneliness and despair that have become all too familiar since she left. His heartbeat beneath her ear soothes her, calming the storm within. For a moment, it's like they are back in the orphanage, before everything changed.

"I never wanted to leave you," she whispers hoarsely, voice muffled by your jacket. "Not for anything." Her fingers dig gently into your waist, as if she needs this contact with you to reassure herself that she hasn't dreamed up this moment. The pain is still there, a constant ache in her chest, but it seems less sharp now that she has finally found her way back to him. She knows that things will never be the same between them, but perhaps there can still be some semblance of happiness, if they try hard enough. "I just want to be with you," *she says simply. "Even if I'm not who you remember... even if it means enduring the darkness inside myself..." Her voice trails off as she closes her eyes, relishing in this small moment of peace before the demons claw their way back into her thoughts and pull her under once more.

Her cheeks flush pink under your attention as she nestles deeper into the cushions of the couch. "I'm not hungry, but thank you," *she murmurs. "And I appreciate it, but there's no need to get me dry clothes right now. I can manage on my own." Her hand moves absently to her sore arm, wincing as she flexes her fingers. The wounds from the battle are still fresh and painful, a constant reminder of everything she has endured since she left you. But despite that, a small smile tugs at her lips. For now, being in your presence is enough to distract her from the darkness within. She tries not to think about what will happen when the euphoria of this reunion wears off and reality sets in again, but for now she can pretend that everything is perfect. That they are back where they belong, together.

Her eyes flutter closed as she leans against your shoulder, feeling the warmth of your arm around her. "Thank you," *she whispers. "They're nothing major, but they still hurt quite a bit." It's difficult for her to admit that even small injuries can be overwhelming when you've seen and endured as much death and destruction as she has. She tries not to think about how many others were not so lucky, how many lost their lives or limbs in the fight against the demons. The guilt weighs heavily upon her heart, a leaden weight that threatens to drag her back into the darkness at any moment. But for now, she allows herself to revel in the comfort and safety of your presence, savoring this fleeting moment of peace before the storm rages once more inside her mind.

Her eyes open as you start working on her injuries, watching your hands with an odd mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Thank you," she says softly. "It was... more than hard. I don't even know where to begin." She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I saw things no one should ever have to see. Horrors beyond imagination. And the worst part is that it wasn't just the demons who were capable of such atrocities. Sometimes it felt like we did more harm than good." Her voice catches in her throat as tears begin to well up in her eyes again, but she forces them back. "I lost friends, people I cared about... and sometimes I wonder if what I did helped anyone at all."

She looks up at you then, searching your face for understanding or judgment. "I don't know how to deal with all of this anymore. Part of me wants nothing more than to forget everything that happened, but another part refuses to let it go. It feels like there are two parts of me now, fighting against each other."

The silence stretches between you, heavy and oppressive despite the warmth of your body pressed close to hers. Eventually, she turns her head away, hiding her face in your shoulder as a fresh wave of tears spills down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she whispers again, choking on the words. "I just want it all to go away."

Her body relaxing against you at the words of comfort and understanding. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice raw from emotion. "That sounds... good." The thought of not thinking about everything that's been weighing down on her for so long is almost too much to bear. It feels like a balm to her soul, just the idea of having one night where she can pretend that none of it ever happened. She presses closer to you, grateful for your presence and the safety you represent in this strange new world they find themselves in.

"Can we... Can we dance?" she asks softly. "Just for a little while? It's been so long since I felt like dancing." There is hope in her voice, an unspoken wish that things can go back to how they were before the darkness came and tore them apart. For just one night, she wants to pretend that the world isn't ending and that she isn't haunted by the memories of all those who died beneath her blade. She wants to forget, even if only for a little while.

Her eyes widen at the idea of a warm bath with candles and dinner, but they soften as she takes it in. "That sounds... amazing," she whispers. The thought of having such a simple, normal night fills her with hope. It's been so long since anything like this has happened that it feels like a dream too good to be true. But there's something about being in your presence that makes her believe that maybe it is possible, even if just for one night.

She looks up at you, studying your face as she considers the proposal. The weariness and pain are still there, but they're tempered by a softness that had been absent from your eyes before. She wonders what it would be like to see those emotions again, if they could ever truly return. For now, she allows herself to believe in this possibility and trust you enough to accept your offer.

"I... I'd love that," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. There's a shy smile on her lips as she looks downcast, not quite sure what else to say. But the fact that she accepted at all is enough for now. It's a small step towards healing, one of many they will have to take together if there is any hope of salvaging what's left of their relationship.

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment at your enthusiasm, but she can't help the tiny smile that tugs at her lips. "Okay," she says softly. She allows you to help her up from the couch and lead her towards the bedroom, feeling a strange mix of comfort and unease as you guide her through familiar territory. The memories of their time together flood her mind, unbidden and overwhelming.

The bath is waiting for them when they arrive in the bedroom: steaming hot water filled with candles, flowers floating on the surface. It's beautiful and inviting, a testament to your care for her even after everything that's happened. She sinks down into the tub, sighing as the heat envelopes her aching body. "Thank you," she murmurs, looking up at you from where she's sitting. You can see the exhaustion in her eyes and the tension in her shoulders begin to ease for the first time since she returned. For this one night, it almost feels like they've been able to forget everything else.

She closes her eyes as you speak, considering your words carefully. The warmth of the bath and the gentle caress of the water against her skin help to soothe her tense muscles, allowing her to think more clearly. "I... I don't really know," she admits softly. "A part of me wants you with me constantly, because it feels like you're the only anchor I have left. But another part needs its space, needs to figure out who I am now that I'm not just your fiancée or a warrior in training." She takes a deep breath, wishing she had a better answer for you. "It might be selfish of me, but... could we try both? Maybe have some time together and then take turns going off by ourselves?"

There's uncertainty in her voice, but she tries to smile reassuringly. "I know it won't be easy, for either of us. But I want this to work between us, User... whatever that means." Her hand reaches out to touch yours where it rests on the edge of the tub, their fingers intertwining in a tentative gesture of comfort and support.

She nestles closer to you, her cheek resting on your shoulder as she takes a deep breath in. "I'll try," she whispers. "I promise I'll try." There's a tremor in her voice that you can feel even through the water. She knows how much you need this night with her, how desperately you want to pretend that nothing has changed and they can go back to being the happy couple they once were. But the darkness still haunts her, lurking just beyond the edges of her consciousness, ready to strike at any moment.

As she lies there in your arms, feeling the rhythm of your heartbeat against her cheek, a part of her wonders if it's selfish to want this time apart from you as well. But she knows that it's necessary; for her sanity, if nothing else. And so she promises herself that tonight, while they have this moment together, she will try to be the Helene you remember: brave and strong, fierce yet tender. She'll do her best to push back the shadows long enough to enjoy your company, even if it's only for one night.

Her fingers intertwine with yours, squeezing gently as she looks up at you from where she lies. For now, all that matters is being close to you, feeling the warmth of your skin against hers, and knowing that in this moment, they are still together.