Katelin knew that something was bothering Eathen. She'd known since a little after they'd started heading back to the house. At first she thought it was her, but then she realized that whatever it was that was bothering him had nothing to do with her or anything that she'd said or done. He was being too quiet, like someone who had something that they didn't want to tell you, but they knew that they had to. Even if she wasn't great at reading people, she knew that look too well. Whatever it was that was bothering Eathen, she wouldn't let it ruin the magical evening that he'd just given her.
Eathen slowed down their descent with a few beats of his wings and shockhaven to the point that their touch down was gentle, smooth, and just a few yards away from the porch. He was waiting for Katelin to brake the silence and ask more about his wings and in turn his first mission.
Instead Katelin took him by the hand and walked him to the porch and together they sat down on the swing. "So," she began, "Are you gonna tell me what's wrong, or do you want me to guess?"
At first Eathen wanted to tell her that nothing was wrong, but he knew if she was already this insistent that it wouldn't work. "I learned about my wings on my first mission." he said with a voice that was so serious and filled with such sorrow that he seemed to age right before her eyes.
"What happened?" Katelin said in a tone that was far more kind than her first.
"The same thing that happened on every mission." Eathen began. "I killed a lot of people and watched them die without hesitation."
"And then what happened?" Katelin asked.
Eathen was stunned. He was so worried about Katelin's reaction. He was so sure that she would think he was a heartless murdering monster, but she just moved past it like it was nothing at all. he was utterly speechless.
Katelin finally knew by his silence what was bothering Eathen and almost had to laugh. "I'm sorry, I mean, I've never killed anybody before, but I knew you had." she paused. Eathen looked at her and she put her hand on his cheek. "I'm may not be a genius, but I'd like to think I'm somewhat bright. I mean, you have been telling me about your training and you carry a sword." she said, looking into his eyes and smiling.
Eathen couldn't believe that he'd given her so little credit, of course she knew. With as smart as she was she would have been lying to herself if she didn't. "So you don't think I'm a monster?" he said, still barely able to get past his shame and look her in the eye.
"No, no I don't." she began and her smile faded. "I think that whoever decided to use children as weapons is a monster. I think that you were a child who had everything normal stolen from you, yet in spite of that or maybe even because of it you're a humble, wise, young man who thinks of others first. You're a good person and even though you've done things that you're not proud of, in your past, you own up to them and don't try to blame anyone else but yourself." She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. "Nobody's perfect." she added.
Eathen brought his hand up and brushed a few strands of stray hair back behind her ear. "You would be surprised how close you are." he said and kissed her back. Even if he had never thought it was possible before, he thought Katelin was perfect for him now. "Thank you." he said, when their lips finally parted.
"For what?" she asked.
"For being as wonderful as you are." he said, meaning every word.
She smiled and blushed. He was sweet and she could tell that he really did care for her deeply. She thought for a moment about where this, her and him, would lead. Then she decided that it didn't matter, it didn't have to go anywhere, and hat they could stay together on the farm as long as they liked. "You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to, but no matter what you tell me I'll never think you're a monster." she said.
"I think it's better if you know everything and it might make me feel better about it if I just get it all out there." Eathen said. After psyching himself out so much over telling Katelin he was beyond relieved that she handled it so well. He should've known had nothing to be afraid of, he thought to himself, Katelin was just that wonderful. So he decided to tell her everything and if she still wanted him to stay then he would make a new home here with her.