Sunset ^beta

When she first finished her pilgrimage, Ophilia had believed that any desire to travel would be satisfied, and for a time, it was. She enjoyed her time with Lianna, who had begun to smile more, although they both still grieved for their father, and much to her surprise, Primrose decided to settle down in Flamesgrace, delighting tavern patrons with her dancing.

One day, Primrose had received a letter from Arianna, inviting her to come visit her in Stonegard.

"You should go with her, Phili," Lianna had encouraged Ophilia. "I'll be fine on my own. Just be sure to write me letters, all right?"

And thus with Lianna's blessing, Ophilia and Primrose set out for Stonegard.

As they traveled, they fell into a familiar routine. When they stopped at a town, Ophilia would offer a prayer to the church while Primrose would dance for adoring crowds. These days Primrose seemed more at peace, Ophilia couldn't help but notice, and her dazzling smile as she danced was a sight to behold. All the while, Ophilia was certain to send letters home to Lianna in Flamesgrace.

Weeks passed, and they eventually reached the Highlands. It had been a year since finishing the pilgrimage, and still these paths were familiar to Ophilia. Night began to fall, and she and Primrose set up camp. The fire was warm and comforting, and the two of them sat close beside each other.

"These past few weeks have been nice," Ophilia said finally, breaking the silence. "I didn't expect to miss traveling this much."

"I agree," Primrose replied, and her faint smile was beautiful in the moonlight. "Of course, I enjoy my time in Flamesgrace too, and the journey home will be pleasant too, I hope."

Home. Had Primrose come to think of Flamesgrace as home? Ophilia often worried that the Frostlands would prove too cold for one as passionate as Primrose, but she had truly said "home," hadn't she? Ophilia swallowed dryly; perhaps she was simply reading too much into Primrose's choice of words. Ophilia opened her mouth to speak, but found that she couldn't.

Primrose stretched her arms, and Ophilia blushed, her gaze fixated on that slender, lithe frame. A wishful look appeared in her eyes as she turned toward Ophilia, that faint smile still gracing her beautiful lips. "I'm glad you're with me," she said. "It's much preferred to traveling alone."

Ophilia briefly wondered if Primrose could see how her blush glowed in this darkness. "Y-Yes, I agree," she stammered. "I am glad of your company as well."

Carefully Primrose drew closer to Ophilia, their hands brushing and sending a spark down Ophilia's spine, and much to Ophilia's surprise, Primrose suddenly laid her head in Ophilia's lap. "I've traveled alone for too long," she whispered. "Thank you, Ophilia."

"Primrose…" was all Ophilia could say as she laid her hand on Primrose's hair, and her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. It was rare to see Primrose so vulnerable like this. Yet Ophilia understood; Primrose had been through so much, been guarded for so long, but now her painful journey for revenge was finished. Her father was avenged, and never again would the Obsidians harm another person.

A gentle chuckle fell from Primrose's lips. "You're warm, Ophilia."

Ophilia smiled. "May the Sacred Flame guide you always," she said, reciting the familiar prayer.

Ophilia and Primrose reached Stonegard by nightfall the following day. The town was much the same as Ophilia remembered, and a gentle fog lingered over the stony streets. The two of them kept close to one another as they followed the path to Natalia's home, and every time their hands touched, a certain warmth crept to Ophilia's cheeks. Since leaving Flamesgrace, she had become too acutely aware of the longing deep within herself.

No, not just then, she corrected herself. Ever since Primrose had chosen to settle in Flamesgrace, that longing had become too strong to ignore.

They soon reached Natalia's home, and Primrose knocked on the door. Ophilia worried about how late they would be intruding, but just as quickly the door opened, revealing Arianna, and her smile helped assuage Ophilia's worries. "Oh, Lady Primrose!" she exclaimed. "It is wonderful to see you again!"

"Yes, it is good to see you again too." Primrose smiled. "And you remember Ophilia, one of my traveling companions, right?"

Arianna bowed her head. "Hello, Miss Ophilia. Please, the both of you, come inside."

As Ophilia and Primrose followed Arianna into the house, Arianna explained that Natalia was currently out with Oren on a sudden errand and that they would return shortly. She bade Ophilia and Primrose to sit at the table, and then began preparing tea.

"She's so much happier now," Primrose said softly. "I'm glad to see that."

Ophilia could only nod in response. In Stillsnow, she hadn't the chance to speak to Arianna, and Primrose had seemed reluctant to speak of her life before her father's death, but it was still clear how much Primrose and Arianna cared for each other. Ophilia found her voice again, and said, "She is very kind."

The tea was soon finished, and Arianna poured cups for Ophilia and Primrose before sitting across the table from them and with her own cup of tea. As they drank, Primrose and Arianna spoke of small, simple things while Ophilia listened carefully. Arianna spoke of her time with Natalia and Oren and how she was adjusting to Stonegard, especially compared to the cold village of Stillsnow, and Primrose spoke of the days she spent in Flamesgrace.

"Yes, it can be rather cold," Primrose said as she took a sip of her tea. "But that makes the warmth of its people all the more precious." She cast a knowing look at Ophilia, who couldn't help but blush, as she often did whenever Primrose looked at her like that.

"You are a cleric, right?" Arianna asked carefully.

Ophilia nodded. "And so is my sister Lianna."

"I never imagined Lady Primrose settling down in the Frostlands." Arianna smiled. "She must care for you very much, Miss Ophilia."

Ophilia stole a glance at Primrose, who now blushed despite her smile. With a silent chuckle, she replied, "I care for her as well, and I am grateful for her company."

By now Natalia had returned with Oren, and she was excited to see both Primrose and Ophilia. She inquired about H'aanit and Z'aanta, and they told her what they had learned from H'aanit's letters to them. Unlike letters from Cyrus or Tressa, H'aanit's letters tended to be short and blunt, much like Therion's letters, but Ophilia appreciated them all the same.

"It's gotten rather late," Ophilia said as she and Primrose stood. "We shouldn't impose any longer."

"Oh, nonsense!" Natalia exclaimed with a wave of her hand. "I've got a guest bedroom for ye to use! Though it might be a tight squeeze…"

"Are you sure?" Primrose asked.

"Of course! Any friend of sweet Arianna here is always welcomed in this house!"

Ophilia and Primrose saw no reason to refuse, and Arianna led them to the guests' quarters. The room was well-furnished, although Ophilia found herself blushing upon realizing what Natalia had meant by a "tight squeeze": there was only one bed.

"That Natalia is a rather forceful one, hm?" Primrose said as she sat on the edge of the bed. "But her generosity is appreciated."

"Y-Yes, it is…" Ophilia muttered, her heart racing. During their travels, they had often spent many nights close together underneath the stars, so sharing a bed wasn't that much different, she tried to tell herself.

Primrose looked up at Ophilia, an unreadable yet expectant expression on her beautiful face, as if she wanted to say something more, but instead only smiled wishfully. "It has been a long day, so perhaps we should retire for the night."

It didn't take either of them long to prepare for bed, and for a while they lay together in silence, letting the dark settle over them. Ophilia hoped Primrose couldn't hear her racing heartbeat; why was she so flustered now of all times? This wasn't even the first time she had shared a bed with Primrose. They had often done so to save on inn costs during their travels, after all.

But things had changed between since the end of their journeys together, since defeating Galdera. Primrose was no longer haunted by the fires of revenge and had finally made peace with her father's death. Though she was uncertain now of what she wanted to do with her life, she had once confessed to Ophilia, these days her eyes held a warmth that Ophilia found herself drawn to. Revenge itself could not bring happiness, but with the end of revenge came the chance to start anew.

"Ophilia, are you still awake?" came Primrose's quiet voice, breaking the gentle silence.

Ophilia rolled onto her side to face Primrose, and even in this darkness Primrose's beauty was radiant. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice equally quiet.

"No, nothing's wrong," Primrose replied with a shake of her head. "I was just thinking of how nice it is to sleep in a bed like this instead of outdoors or at an inn."

"This is the home of a friend, after all," Ophilia said with a chuckle. "It's clear how happy you were to see Arianna again."

Carefully Primrose raised a hand to Ophilia's cheek, her fingertips brushing against strands of blonde hair. Ophilia's breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering against her chest, and Primrose drew closer to her, or maybe Ophilia did. Yet they both froze, and Primrose may have been blushing, but it was too dark for Ophilia to tell.

"Thank you, Ophilia," Primrose whispered as she took her hand from Ophilia's cheek, and her breath was warm on Ophilia's lips. "And goodnight."

"Goodnight, Primrose," Ophilia said softly, and a strange sense of emptiness settled into her heart.

The next day, Ophilia, wanting to give Primrose time alone with Arianna, declared that she wanted to visit the church in Stonegard, and although Primrose seemed uncertain, she ultimately did not argue.

The church was near the edge of town, and while it was some distance from Natalia's house, Ophilia recalled the path there from her previous visits in town with H'aanit and Cyrus. However, the amount of stairs was just as startling as before. "Goodness," she muttered to herself, "one must be quite robust in health to consider living here."

As with the previous day, a gentle haze lingered over the town, as befitting the Highlands. Ophilia took her time on her way to the church, and greeted everyone she passed with a smile. Some, recognizing her cleric's robes, asked for a brief prayer, and she was more than happy to oblige. Since her pilgrimage, Lianna often told her it seemed as if she carried part of the Sacred Flame itself within her now. Ophilia wasn't quite sure she understood, but she appreciated Lianna's warm words all the same.

She soon reached the church. It was rather rustic and much smaller than the church of Flamesgrace, but she could still sense the sanctity of these hallowed grounds. She pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside, and the only other person in the church was an older cleric at the altar.

"Welcome, sister," she greeted Ophilia.

Ophilia bowed her head. "My name is Ophilia. I have traveled here from Flamesgrace."

"I am Anna. It is an honor to meet you."

Ophilia chuckled quietly to herself as she sat upon a pew. Not only did this cleric have a similar name to Lianna, she looked much like what Ophilia imagined an older Lianna would look like, and she welcomed the reminders of her beloved sister. She clasped her hands together in prayer; they both still grieved for their father, but slowly but surely their hearts healed.

Another cleric entered the church, and he carried an armful of books. He too greeted Ophilia with a nod and smile, and she returned that smile in kind. As the two older clerics conversed quietly among themselves, Ophilia stared up at the stained glass window above the altar.

Though she had often doubted herself, she had never doubted her role in the church. As a cleric, she was meant to guide all those who sought the Sacred Flame. Through her pilgrimage she had seen the darkest parts of humanity, those who turned away from the light, and even before her journey, she had been too aware of that darkness, having lost her home and birth parents to the ravages of war. If not for the archbishop and Lianna, that grief would've consumed her completely. She shut her eyes tightly; perhaps her only regret was not calling the archbishop "Father" before his passing.

"Faith shall be your shield," Ophilia whispered, recalling Primrose's words. Primrose's father had given her those words, and Ophilia was beginning to understand the strength behind them. She felt her cheeks flush; she had always admired Primrose's strength.

Laying her hand over her heart, she stood and bid farewell to the two clerics as she left the church. These days her thoughts always turned to Primrose one way or another. Lianna liked Primrose too, saying she enjoyed having a friend of Ophilia's around. Primrose too had seen some of the worst darkness humanity had to offer, but her smile had grown more sincere, and Ophilia found herself longing for more.

What that "more" was, she didn't quite understand yet.

Eventually she made her way back to Natalia's house, and much to her surprise, a crowd had gathered outside. She rushed forward, coming up beside Arianna, and saw Primrose dancing before the crowd. Spotting Ophilia, Arianna smiled and let out a faint chuckle. "Welcome back, Miss Ophilia," she greeted. "Lady Primrose thought you'd be back soon, so she decided to put on a dance."

"For me?" Ophilia forced out, her throat suddenly dry.

"She has always loved to dance, ever since she was a little girl," Arianna went on. "That she can dance like this again, for love and joy, instead of as a means to an end, is truly a sight to behold."

Ophilia could not take her eyes from Primrose. She danced with the elegance and grace Ophilia had come to expect of her, and her smile was radiant and her eyes sparkling. Ophilia had never seen her so happy, and that longing for something more grew even stronger. Unconsciously she took a step forward, and her heart felt as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

"You make her very happy," Arianna said to Ophilia, her voice soft.

"I… only wish to be with her…" Ophilia whispered, and she couldn't be certain if Arianna had heard her.

Primrose soon finished her dance, and the crowd erupted into cheer and applause as she took a bow. Still smiling, she approached Ophilia and Arianna as the crowd began to thin, and Ariana rushed forward to take Primrose's hands into hers. "That was beautiful, Lady Primrose!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, it truly was," Ophilia said, and the warmth of that dance still lingered in her heart.

"Why, thank you," Primrose replied, laying a hand on her hip.

To Ophilia, Arianna said, "Lady Primrose couldn't stop talking about you." She bowed her head. "You have my eternal gratitude."

Ophilia felt her cheeks redden, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Primrose blushing too. "Primrose is very dear to me too," she found herself saying.

Arianna chuckled. "Now, I'll leave the both of you to each other. I need to prepare the next meal, so if you'll excuse me…"

Ophilia and Primrose bid Arianna farewell, and Arianna left to return to Natalia's house, leaving the other two women alone together. "Goodness, she's certainly grown bolder," Primrose said with a sigh. "But I can't say I mind."

"Let's take a walk around town while we wait for the meal to be finished," Ophilia said.

Primrose nodded, and for a while the two of them walked in gentle silence. Every so often their hands brushed together, sending a jolt down Ophilia's spine. Soon Primrose's fingers curled around Ophilia's, cautiously but surely, and Ophilia felt her entire body grow warm. She gave Primrose's hand a brief squeeze, and Primrose drew closer to her.

They soon came to the highest level of the town. Primrose leaned against the stone railing, staring at the buildings below as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know I've said this before, but traveling with you again really has been nice," she said suddenly.

Ophilia came beside Primrose, a smile tugging at her lips. The breeze gently tussled Primrose's hair, and she looked so regal now. "Yes, it has," was all Ophilia trusted herself to say.

Primrose let out a quiet laugh. "Before, I thought only of revenge. I had no plans for afterwards. I still don't, but now, I feel… lighter."

"You're strong, Primrose," Ophilia said, laying her hand over Primrose's.

"If you say so, it must be true." Again Primrose laughed, a pleasant sound. Her fingers curled around Ophilia, and Ophilia couldn't help but notice how soft and warm they were. "But there is one thing that I'm certain of, and it's that I want to be with you."

In that moment, Ophilia finally understood. She raised her other hand to Primrose's cheek, and closed the distance between them to press her lips to Primrose's.

That kiss might have lasted only a moment, or an eternity. When their lips parted, Primrose cradled Ophilia's hand on her cheek. "You're rather bold yourself," she said with a playful wink.

Ophilia wondered if the blush on her cheeks would become permanent. "I want to be with you too," she said carefully. "When you said you wanted to stay in Flamesgrace, I was so happy."

Primrose's expression grew somber. "You know how I've dirtied my hands for the sake of my goals, and the blood I've shed…"

"We all have light and darkness within us." Ophilia let her fingers lace with Primrose's. "And I think the light inside you is very beautiful."

For just a moment, Ophilia saw Primrose's eyes water, and then Primrose pressed her lips against Ophilia's for another kiss, one that Ophilia was more than happy to accept.

In the dim light of the guest bedroom, Primrose's nude body was beautiful, and her unbound hair fell over her shoulders. Her hands cupped Ophilia's breasts, and she came forward for a kiss. Their bodies bared to one another, Ophilia wanted to savor Primrose's warmth for as long as possible.

Primrose's hands were teasing, giving Ophilia's breasts a gentle squeeze. Ophilia's own fingers grew entangled in Primrose's soft hair as she deepened the kiss, and she moaned into Primrose's mouth as Primrose pinched her hardening nipples. Squirming beneath Primrose's body, arousal began to ache deep within her.

"You're very beautiful, Ophilia," Primrose murmured as she brushed her lips against Ophilia's throat. "I never imagined your cleric robes would be hiding such cute breasts…"

"P-Prim…" Ophilia stammered, wanting to say that hers were nothing compared to Primrose's ample breasts, but when Primrose took a pert nipple between her lips, her words were swallowed by soft moans. She threw her head back, her body arching against Primrose's.

Such simple touches, but the intimacy made them all the stronger. Watching Primrose dance, the strength of her shapely thighs, the curves of her large breasts, the grace of her slender frame - Ophilia had always been transfixed by her. Primrose inched ever closer to Ophilia's arousal, and her lips left a trail of kisses across Ophilia's breasts. She was gentle yet thorough, murmuring words of love against Ophilia's skin.

When Ophilia came, Primrose's fingers filling her with an ecstasy she had scarcely imagined possible, she could think of nothing but how much she loved Primrose.

Eventually Ophilia took Primrose into her arms, threading her fingers through Primrose's hair, and Primrose wound her arms around Ophilia's back, her head resting on Ophilia's chest. For a while, neither spoke, simply enjoying the warmth of each other. Ophilia felt Primrose's soft breasts pressed against her, and in her arms Primrose's body soon began to relax.

"Sex is… nothing new to me," Primrose said finally, breaking the silence. "But sharing it with you was nice, truly."

"You were wonderful," Ophilia whispered, brushing her lips against Primrose's hair.

Primrose raised her gaze, a mischievous smile on her lips. "Although I hope your moans didn't wake the others."

Ophilia blushed and slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. She knew she hadn't been that loud, even if Primrose had tested the limits of her willpower.

"Here, let me help you with that," Primrose said in a heated voice, and she pressed her lips to Ophilia's.

Ophilia and Primrose stayed in Stonegard a few days longer, and seeing both Primrose and Arianna smile so sincerely put Ophilia's heart at ease. The night before their departure, Ophilia wrote another letter to Lianna, detailing her time in Stonegard with Primrose, and sent it off at the crack of dawn.

Once their supplies were packed, Ophilia and Primrose stood at the entrance of Stonegard while Natalia, Arianna, and Oren saw them off. "It was nice having ye both visit," Natalia said with a bright smile. "I'd never seen Arianna so happy."

Oren, still a man of few words, only nodded in response.

"Miss Ophilia, it was a pleasure to see you again," Arianna said. She took a step closer, and much to Ophilia's surprise, pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thank you for everything you've done for Lady Primrose," she whispered into Ophilia's ear.

Ophilia put her arms around Arianna's back. "I will care for her always, I promise," she said, her voice also a whisper.

Arianna released Ophilia, a soft smile on her lips, and she then embraced Primrose. What they whispered to each other, Ophilia couldn't hear, but she saw Arianna's cheeks grow pink.

They exchanged their final farewells, and Ophilia and Primrose headed down the steps of Stonegard. "What did you say to Arianna?" Ophilia asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.

Primrose gave Ophilia a playful smile. "Oh, I just told her to be certain to wash those bed sheets thoroughly."

Ophilia both blushed and laughed, and she took Primrose's hand into hers, their fingers intertwining, and they set forth together to continue their journey.