The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of the city outside. Merlin leaned forward, elbows on his knees, trying to slow his thoughts. He wasn't used to quiet like this, not after everything. And yet, with her here, the silence wasn't heavy. It was… grounding.
Elara's violet eyes stayed fixed on him. He felt the weight of that gaze, steady, unshaken, until finally, finally, she broke it.
"Merlin." Her voice was softer than usual, stripped of its usual steel.
He looked up. "…What is it?"
For once, she hesitated. A pause so small it would have gone unnoticed from anyone else, but not her. Not Elara. Her fingers twisted faintly against the fabric of her sleeve, betraying a flicker of nerves.
"I will not play at riddles," she said at last. "I like you."
The words landed like an arrow, straight and true.
Merlin blinked, stunned. His chest tightened. "You…?"
