She drew a sharp breath, whiskers twitching as she fought to regain her composure. His presence was a chaotic disruption, an infuriating anomaly. She, a seasoned warrior, revered for her strength, had trampled countless enemies for the King. Hesitation was alien to her nature. Yet now, exposed and vulnerable on the wind-swept shore, she felt adrift in a tempest she couldn't control.

A shiver traced its way down her spine as her bright blue eyes locked with his dark gaze. He spoke of Enver, of their herd nestled further inland. The mention of their son sent a bittersweet ache through her heart, a painful reminder of lost time, of missed moments. She strained to hear his promise of seeing Enver, his assurance that their child would be overjoyed at her return.

Another gust of wind buffeted them. She searched his eyes for any hint of deceit as he vowed he would never demand her submission. A wave of calm washed over her at the prospect of seeing her son again. As much as she loathed to admit it, he was right. A frozen corpse would be of no use to Enver. With a numb nod, she agreed to follow. The warmth radiating from his side eased the relentless shivering.

"Show me the way," she said, her teeth chattering. "What keeps you here? I’ve only ever known scorching deserts and burning winds. This bone-chilling cold is…unfamiliar."

Pressing close to his side, she stumbled through the deep snow. Without his guidance, she would surely be lost in the swirling whiteout. As they entered the clearing, the wind seemed to dissipate, as if held at bay. Though the storm still raged around them, they found shelter, safety within the thicket's embrace.

She could feel her body gradually thawing, the warmth of his presence penetrating her skin. She let the silence stretch between them until, with a nervous clearing of her throat, she finally met his gaze. She found herself admiring the handsome curve of his nose, the sharp angles of his cheekbones, the way his thick forelock cascaded over his eye. Heat crept into her cheeks as she realized she had been staring for far too long. She cleared her throat awkwardly and drew a breath.

"I didn't mean to leave for so long," she confessed into the narrow space between them, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. She had been driven by fear, but never in battle had she experienced such crippling, complex emotions. They were difficult to articulate, almost impossible to fully explain.