It's time

I was waiting under the large oak tree, the one we had chosen as our rendezvous point. The sun was high in the sky, casting dappled shadows across the ground. I paced back and forth, my anxiety growing with each passing minute.

Lydia should have been here by now. My mind raced with worry—had something happened to her? I couldn't bear the thought of losing her again, not after everything we had been through.

Just as I was about to head towards the castle to find her, I saw her approaching. Relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Lydia's face was lit up with a bright smile, and she was holding a bundle of documents tightly against her chest. She looked triumphant, and I couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Lydia!" I called out, rushing to meet her. "You're okay!"

She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Of course I am. You didn't think I'd let a little sneaking around get the best of me, did you?"