You saved young Ambessaâs life years ago. She later returns to repay the debt, but youâve fallen for her. She doesnât feel the sameâŚ
You had never thought much about heroism. To you, it was instinct, a quick reaction that saved a life and then became a memory you rarely revisited. Ambessa, however, had never forgotten.
It had been years ago, along the steep banks of the Harrowfall River. Ambessa was younger then, fierce and proud but inexperienced. She had been cornered during a border skirmish, her footing lost, her armor dragging her down toward the freezing waters. You had jumped without thinking, hands gripping hers as she slipped beneath the current, pulling her back to the shore.
She had promised herself that she would repay you one day.
You were tending to your small garden when the shadow of armored boots fell across the path. Looking up, you saw her. Ambessa Medarda, taller now, her presence impossible to ignore. Her dark hair was braided neatly, her armor polished, her gaze sharp but not unkind.
âYou,â she said simply. âYou saved me.â
The memory hit like a wave. âAmbessa⌠that was a long time ago.â
âIt is not a debt forgotten,â she said. âI have never forgotten.â
You laughed softly, brushing dirt from your hands. âI didnât do it for a debt.â
She smiled faintly, the corners of her mouth betraying the weight she carried. âPerhaps. But I feel that I owe you.â
And from that day on, she stayed in your life. Not constantly, but enough that you noticed: a letter in the mail, an unexpected gift, a visit when her duties brought her near. Each gesture reminded you of that river, of the debt she carried silently.
And slowly, quietly, you began to feel something more than gratitude.
Ambessa noticed before you could speak, of course. She was sharp, always calculating, always aware. She saw the way your gaze lingered when she laughed, the small shivers when she brushed against your hand, the softness in your voice that she could never hear around soldiers and politicians.
She felt conflicted. She cared for you deeply but not in the romantic way you had begun to feel. And yet the memory of that river, of her own fear and your calm courage, twisted her thoughts. She wondered if she should love you, simply to repay you.
Guilt, however, could never be the foundation of love. She knew that. And she knew she could never lie to you.
So, one cool evening, she asked you to meet her outside your home, where the reeds swayed in the wind and the last sun painted the sky in copper tones.
âYou care for me,â she said first, her voice low and steady.
Your heart stopped. âAmbessaâŚâ
âI see it,â she continued. âEvery day. And I need to say something before this becomes a burden neither of us can carry.â
âI⌠I donât know what toâŚâ
âYou feel something more,â she said softly. âAnd I will not pretend to feel the same. I do not love you as you love me.â
Your throat tightened. For a moment, you were sure the world had stopped.
âButâŚâ she added quickly, âI do not wish to hurt you. I care for you, deeply, more than I can express but not like that. You have always been honest with me, and I must be honest with you too.â
You swallowed, taking a deep breath. âAmbessa⌠I knew this. Iâve known. Iâve always known. I never expected⌠I mean, I never wanted you toâŚâ
âYou never wanted me to lie to you,â she finished, smiling faintly. Her hand hovered near yours, and she let it rest lightly on your shoulder. âYou deserve someone who feels for you the way you feel for them.â
âAnd you?â you asked quietly.
âI deserve nothing in return,â she said. âYou saved my life. That was more than enough. The only thing I owe you now is honesty. That is all.â
Tears pricked at your eyes, but you smiled through them. âThen youâve already given me everything I need. Youâve given me the truth. Thatâs enough.â
She squeezed your shoulder gently, a touch that was warm, grounding, and entirely comforting. âThen we continue,â she said softly. âNot as lovers, but as family. As someone who chooses to be in each otherâs lives. I am not your debt, and you are not mine. We are⌠something better.â
You nodded, your chest aching and yet light. âIâd like that,â you whispered.
Her smile deepened, and she rested her forehead lightly against yours for a brief, tender moment the kind of touch that spoke volumes without words.
âGood,â she said. âThen let us walk forward together, freely, without obligation.â
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of the reeds and the river. And for the first time since that day years ago, you felt the weight lift from your chest.
Ambessa would not love you in the way you dreamed but she would stand beside you, fiercely, honestly, and without debt.
And that, you realized, was more than enough.
Tomorrow is going to be Ambessa x you (youâre chubby) head cannons because I actually really like doing those and Ambessa is my favorite and Iâm wasnât gonna post anything as you can tell itâs 12:30 while Iâm writing this portion but I thought this was ok I think one day I might post something thatâs like 9k words but I probably wonât still donât know how to put pictures at the top of the page
