Chapter 36

The battlefield was eerily quiet after the roar of battle had subsided. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the landscape bathed in the dim light of dusk. The air was heavy with the smell of blood and smoke, a grim reminder of the price that had been paid for the victory. Seraphina stood at the edge of the field, her armor streaked with blood and dirt, her body aching from the strain of the fight. But the physical exhaustion was nothing compared to the emotional weight she carried.

The soldiers of Verran moved slowly among the fallen, tending to the wounded, and collecting the bodies of the dead. There were no cheers of victory now, only the somber silence of those who had seen too much death, who knew the true cost of what they had achieved. Seraphina watched them work, her heart heavy with sorrow. They had won the battle, but the victory felt hollow in the face of so much loss.

General Thorne approached her, his face lined with exhaustion but his posture still strong. "Your Highness," he said quietly, "the wounded are being taken to the infirmary tents. We've lost many, but we've also saved many. The soldiers are preparing to move the bodies of the fallen back to Verran for proper burial."

Seraphina nodded, her gaze distant as she looked out over the battlefield. "Thank you, General. You've done well today. We couldn't have won this without you."

General Thorne shook his head slightly, his expression filled with a mix of pride and sorrow. "It was a team effort, Your Highness. We all fought for Verran, and we did what we had to do. But the losses... they're hard to bear."

"They are," Seraphina agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. "But we must honor them, and we must carry on. The war isn't over, and we need to be ready for what comes next."

General Thorne nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "We will be. The soldiers believe in you, Your Highness. You've given them hope, and that's something the Shadowborn can't take away."

Seraphina managed a small, tired smile. "Hope," she repeated softly. "Yes, we must hold onto that."

As General Thorne turned to oversee the preparations, Seraphina remained where she was, her thoughts heavy. The soldiers needed to see her strong, needed to know that their queen was still with them, still leading them. But inside, she felt a deep, gnawing emptiness, a sense of loss that went beyond the battlefield.

She couldn't help but think of Kael, of the distance that had grown between them. She had sent him away to protect Verran, to ensure that the kingdom was safe from the threat of betrayal. But now, in the aftermath of the battle, she felt the weight of that decision more acutely than ever. She had won a victory for Verran, but at what cost? The thought that she might have lost Kael, that she might never see him again, filled her with a sadness that she couldn't shake.

As the last of the wounded were carried away, and the soldiers began to gather the bodies of the fallen, Seraphina made her way back to the camp. The night was settling in, the sky a deep indigo, and the first stars were beginning to appear. The camp was quiet, the soldiers moving with a heavy sense of purpose as they prepared for the long journey back to Verran.

Seraphina entered her tent, the weight of the day's events pressing down on her. She removed her armor, setting it aside with care, and changed into more comfortable clothing. The fatigue of the battle was beginning to catch up with her, her body aching from the strain, but her mind was too restless to consider sleep.

She sat down at the small table in her tent, pulling out the parchment from Kael that had been her constant companion since receiving it. She read his words again, feeling a mixture of comfort and sorrow. Kael had promised to be there when she needed him, but now, in the quiet of the night, she wondered if she had already lost him. The thought of facing the future without him by her side was almost too much to bear.

A knock at the entrance of her tent pulled her from her thoughts. "Enter," she called, setting the parchment aside.

Lady Elara stepped inside, her expression concerned. "Your Highness, I wanted to check on you. It's been a long day, and I know you must be exhausted."

Seraphina nodded, though her thoughts were still distant. "I am, Elara. But there's so much to do, so much to think about. I don't know how to turn it off."

Lady Elara sat down across from her, her gaze gentle. "It's understandable, Seraphina. You've just led your people through a great battle, and the responsibility you carry is immense. But you can't shoulder it all alone. You need to rest, to recharge. There's still a long road ahead, and Verran needs you at your best."

Seraphina sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know. But it's hard to find peace when there's so much at stake. When so many lives have been lost."

Lady Elara reached out, placing a comforting hand on Seraphina's arm. "The losses are difficult, but they were not in vain. You saved Verran today, Seraphina. You gave your people hope, and that's something the Shadowborn can never take away."

Seraphina looked into Lady Elara's eyes, seeing the unwavering support there, and felt a flicker of gratitude. "Thank you, Elara. Your words mean more than you know."

Lady Elara smiled, a warm, comforting smile that eased some of the tension in Seraphina's chest. "You're not alone in this, Seraphina. We're all here to support you, to help you carry the burden. And you have Kael's promise as well. Remember that."

Seraphina's heart ached at the mention of Kael, but she nodded. "I do. And I hope... I hope that one day, we'll find our way back to each other."

Lady Elara squeezed her arm gently. "You will, Seraphina. But for now, take care of yourself. Rest, so that you can continue to lead us through the challenges ahead."

As Lady Elara left the tent, Seraphina remained at the table, her thoughts still heavy. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over. The Shadowborn would return, and when they did, she needed to be ready.

But for now, she allowed herself a moment of quiet, a moment to remember the lives that had been lost, the sacrifices that had been made. She thought of Kael, of the promise he had made, and held onto the hope that they would find their way back to each other.