One was expected to rival the other. That was fact and final, a necessary key to keep the troubles of generations ablaze. Decades of destruction and ruin plague the valley that lies in between the two kingdoms, so close they almost touch, and yet still so distinctly different it was as if they were worlds apart.

I met him many times before I knew who he was.

The first was when I was ten. Father was in a way worse mood then normal, pushing to continue my swordsmanship and combat lessons four hours after the time I was supposed to stop. He didn’t care that I was young or more on the smaller size for my age or even how I felt. He only cared for shaping me into the warrior capable of overcoming the other kingdom.

My body was battered and bruised, so sore it hurt with every little twinge of rotation from my joints. I snuck out of my room that night and walked to the lakeside west of the castle, close to the valley between the kingdoms. I lay in the soft grass, limbs splayed out over the ground. The stars lit the sky in an array of shining brightness. The moon’s glow sent light across the lake causing a reaction that almost looked as if the water was illuminated.

He was there. I remember it well, the first time I laid my eyes on him. It was right as clouds covered the moon and stars, resulting in the sky losing the painting it once displayed. He stood by the waters edge, softly swaying as if he was one with the small breeze that sent the broken leaves of fall to dance in the air. I remained where I was, simply frozen laying in the grass. I like to believe he just felt that I was there. He spoke to me for the first time still facing the water. It was rather random, but I remember it often.

“Does the reflection of the lake allow for the sky to see the beauty it gives to everything else?”

He spoke softly, almost in a whisper. I stared at his back, not moving. He turned to face me, still shifting back and forth with the wind. His blond hair framing a picture of his boyish face, still soft without the sharp, handsome features he gained as he got older. That’s when I noticed his eyes for the first time. It was too dark from the clouds covering the moon to tell the color of his eyes, which I later found to be a husky golden blue that suited him perfectly, but they shone as glowingly as the stars once were in the sky. He looked bright and radiant, even if it was dark from the night. I didn’t think when I answered him, if you could call what I spoke an answer.

“You look as bright as the sun.”

He smiled.

The second time I met him was when I was fourteen. Yet again, it was at the lake. A great weeping willow grew twisted at the waters shore, half leaning over the water. I used to sit at the base of the tree and stare across the glass surface of the lake. I had done it many times before but he was never there. Until that day at dusk.

I had taken my usual position at roots of the tree when I heard his voice from above, “Rather a pretty view, huh?”

I startled. I turned my head upwards, and there he was, perched on a low branch of the willow. He was looking at me as he spoke. Although I assumed that it was the sunset over the lake at dusk that he was talking about, I couldn’t help but feel as if he was talking to me, the way his eyes never left me as he spoke.

In one solid movement he leaped from the willow, gracefully landing on the ground without a single sound. He was taller than he used to be, but not as tall as he would be. Although he still had a boyish look to his face, he did look older. He leaned down over me, hands behind his back, small smile on his face.

“Hello.” he said, blocking the lake from my view. “Pleasure seeing you here again.”

I glance up at him, “You remember me?”

He leaned further down, hair falling before his face as he looked at me through golden locks. “Of course, a little thing like you, how could I forget?”

His eyes twinkled as he shrugged. He stood upright, stretching slightly before he plopped down next to me at the base of the tree. We sat like that in silence for awhile, simply staring out across the water.

“You know,” he says, “ this isn’t exactly the safest place to be. What are you doing here?”

I scoff lightly, “I could ask you the same thing.”

He huffs a small laugh, no sound escaping his lips. His eyes sparkle with amusement. He stretches his legs out before him, turning back to where the water ripples slightly across the glass surface. It pushed back and forth against the shore near our feet.

After awhile of sitting in silence, I turn to him, “What’s your name?”

He shifts as if uncomfortable. It takes some time before he answers, “I can’t say. My name is something I’m not allowed to share with others.”

He frowns slightly, still looking out at the view. I turn my head facing in his direction, “That’s fine. I can’t say mine either under the same circumstances.”

He meets my gaze, his striking blue eyes finding mine. He’s smiling again.

He smirks crookedly. “Give me a nickname?” he asks.

I send him a glare but I don’t refuse. I turn back to the water staring at the vast way the water glistens long and wide, the opposite shore far and blurring, almost unrecognizable. The sun sets far on the sky, not quite passed below the horizon on the far end of the lake. A great array of colors spread and bloom across the sky, the sun’s painting of colors and awe on a blue canvas. Light brightens the lake in a colorful hue. The dusk allows for day and night to mix slightly, shadows and light dancing together, causing a beautiful display as the sun dips even lower. The sunsets at the lake were always a wondrous sight to see.

I glanced back at him. He continued to look out at the sky. The rays of sun cast shadows and warm light onto his body. His hair looked golden and glowed slightly like a halo. He eyes looked like they held the stars again, sparkling and bright.

“Ray.” I say.

He turns toward me. “Ray?” he asks, a questioning look on his face.

“Like a ray of sunshine.” I explain, slightly embarrassed with the explanation.

I focus my eyes away from him, waiting for an answer. It doesn’t come. I wouldn’t say I became impatient but i faced toward him again, needing a reaction of some kind.

It caught me off guard. He was smiling widely. A real smile. The kind that causes the eyes to krinkle shut. Dimples formed on his cheeks as he smiled wider, if that was possible. I hadn’t noticed that before until now. They suited him. It was almost blinding. My face felt hot.

A laugh bubbles out of him, this time audible. It was radiant and bright just like the rest of him. His eyes twinkle again, “You’d be surprised to know how close that is to my true name.”

I flush again, “Well, are you going to give me a nickname?”

Ray’s eyes dance with amusement, “Oh, I already have.”

I raise my eyebrows at him, and I know he knew exactly what I was asking. All he did was laugh again.

“You know,” he says. “I can’t help but feel as if i’ve known you for years. I can’t explain it.”

“Like a connection.” I state. “I get what you mean.”

And I did know what he meant. It felt as if my body was pulsing every time he was near. I felt it sitting at the lakeside with him in that moment and I had felt it the first time I met him four years prior. I just couldn’t make sense of it.

We sat there for a long time, until the stars made their way above us, spreading out along the skyline. Ray rose and reached out to help me up. I hesitated slightly before grabbing his hand, tingles shooting through every place where his fingers and palm touched.

“I have to go.” Ray said softly.

I nodded, “Okay.”

He turned to go, pausing slightly before continuing on his way.

I called after him, “Will I see you again?”

“Of course, Nyx.” He turned and started walking backwards. “Nyx as in night.”

I laugh, “That pretty close to my name too, you know.”

He smiles broadly, “That’s what I was aiming for.”

I watched as he left before going and continuing back to the castle.

It was true though. We saw each other multiple times after that, almost every night at the lake beneath the tree. We grew closer. Then we slowly became more than friends. He was like my everything. Ray was my everything. By the time I turned eighteen, we had almost been together for three years. I knew he was from the other kingdom, but I really believed that it didn’t matter. But he still didn’t know I was a royal.

One night he didn’t show up at the lake. I thought it was nothing, it happened sometimes. But this wasn’t like that. Ray didn’t show for a week. I knew something was wrong.

On the eighth day, Father came and told me we were preparing for another war. I knew I was expected to fight. I was the heir to our kingdoms throne. From the day I was born I was trained to protect it. So that’s what I did. I marched in the frontlines with Father to the valley between the Kingdoms.

Across the valley the other Kingdom approached. Their King in the frontlines with the heir to his throne at his side. All I was hoping in the moment was for Ray to be okay.

We began to move forward, Father and I on our horses and the other King and his heir on theirs. We meet in the middle. My stomach sank. I knew I was going to duel the other heir. The other heir was taller and stronger than me, not to mention probably weighed twice as much as me.

Father and the other King exchanged angry words, hostile and provoking. Before I knew it I was off my horse and stepping up to the Prince, in position to fight, my sword held high.

“State your names!” Father and the other King boomed. “Start the duel!”

The Prince points his sword to the sky, “Helios of the Kingdom Vukaro!” His confidence radiates off him in waves. The guys name literally mean sun.

I then point my sword to the sky, “Selene of the Kingdom Aethera!”

“Remove your helmets!” the King of Vukaro hollers.

We remove our helmets and all I see is golden hair and striking eyes and Ray. All and only Ray. He drops his sword and rushes forward, his Father and mine yelling. I drop my sword too, but mostly out of shock. Ray, or Helios, and I think the name suits him, crashes into me. He hugs me, pulling me closer to him, burying his face in my hair.

I grab his armer and pull him close to me. He kisses me softly, “I love you forever, whether Nyx or Selene.” he states against my mouth, “Not even our kingdoms will keep us apart.”

I smile wide, and in that moment all I see is him.