As summer slid into autumn, Leonidas found himself spending every free moment at Elysia's side. The depths of feeling that had grown between them could no longer be denied, though in quieter moments a shadow of doubt still crept in. One evening, as they sat watching the harvest moon rise over the hills, Leonidas turned to her and said softly, "Elysia, you have come to mean more to me than I can say. But our peoples are still at war. How can we pursue this further without endangering you, or compromising my duty?"

Elysia took his hands in hers. "I do not have the answers, my friend. All I know is that when I am with you, I feel more whole than I have in my whole life. If this is forbidden, then the gods themselves will have to part us. For now I choose to live for love, not fear of what may come." She leaned in and kissed him then, slow and sweet, pouring all her heart into the gesture. Leonidas responded in kind, holding her close as if he might never let her go.

In that moment, doubts were swept away by the tide of emotion they had kept dammed up for so long. But as passion threatened to overtake them both, Leonidas drew back, resting his forehead against hers as he struggled to regain control. "You tempt me as no other, Elysia. But this cannot be—not here, not like this. I must think on how to do right by you."

Reluctantly they parted ways for the night, hearts and minds in tumult. The next day, Leonidas knew he must unburden himself to the one person he had always been able to trust—his childhood friend Alcestis. She had been like a sister to him since they were children, and her keen counsel had aided him more than once over the years.

When he found Alcestis in the village, working in her family's vineyard as ever, the concern on her face at his distress told Leonidas all he needed to know—he had never been able to hide anything from her perceptive gaze. Without a word she led him to sit beneath the grape arbor, pressing a skin of wine into his hands as she waited patiently for him to speak.

And so Leonidas told her everything—of how he had come to care for Elysia, the depth of feelings that now bound them, but also his fears of how such a union could tear them and her family apart should their secret be discovered. When he was done, Alcestis was silent a long while before responding. "You always did follow your heart more than was wise, my friend," she said with a gentle smile. "And this Elysia seems to have captured it thoroughly. I cannot say I am surprised."

Her smile faded as she grew serious. "You know as well as I how such a match would be seen—an act of betrayal by your people, a strike against hers. And yet..." She reached out to lay a hand on his arm. "War has cost us all much already. If two people can find solace in each other despite its ravages, that is no small thing. I say follow where your heart leads you, Leonidas—but do so with care and wisdom. The times are too uncertain for rash actions. Have hope that when the last sword is laid down, people may judge such matches differently."

Leonidas embraced his oldest friend gratefully. Her words gave him heart—that though the road was unclear, as long as he and Elysia walked it together with open eyes, they need not lose hope. And from that day, in Alcestis' blessing he took comfort, braving each new challenge their forbidden love might bring with renewed courage and care.