It'd been a week since I had last publically been seen with my husband, since then I hadn't really left my home other than to go to the market to get food. Every other moment in the last week I had spent cleaning, although I had cleaned too much, there wasn't much left to do. Women here didn't have much to do, they'd become Mothers, so they would care for their children but that didn't seem like a likelihood.

Recently my hatred for my husband had completely diminished. Although I didn't hate the man, I wasn't in love with him, but I cared dearly. We still argued quite a bit, but not the scale we did. It was different now. Good different.

Bard was doing something downstairs. I didn't know what, and I didn't plan to pry, it was better for me to not to.

There wasn't much to do in the house but out of it there was much more to see. Outside of the bedroom was a small balcony, there wasn't much to it really, but the peak of the roof missed it, meaning if I looked up I was able could see the sky.

It had already became dark, the night surrounding us, and the stars shimmered above.

Rather than simply standing on the balcony, I decided to lie down on the wood. I wanted to spend some time out here, looking at the stars.

Growing up, I had spent a lot of my time out of Laketown, later moving elsewhere. Whilst I was there, I had created new friends, new relations. I met one person, we became close. He gave me good reason to change who I was, to not be the self-centred rich woman, my Mother desired me to be, I did not wish to follow in her footsteps.

Although we bickered, as most friends did, and the age difference may have strained it slightly, seen as we met when I was a mere toddler and he was an adult, he taught me one thing.

As a child I was afraid of being away from home, I did not like it. My Father would be with me, having taken me there due to him doing trade. But he would be busy most of the time, working, doing whatever he seemed to do with his time, so I would be left to myself.

Due to these fears, I would spend many nights awake, unsettled, but he helped me. He would take me away from the restraints that were inside the palace we were staying in, taking me outside. Even there most evenings were cold, but not uncomfortable.

He would wrap a blanket around me, whilst we'd lie on the grass, staring up to the sky. He had learnt of the stars, the different constellations and taught me all he knew.

I do not know how I remembered it all. I was interested I guess. It took me away from the world I knew, it took me to a universe of possibilities, a universe of anything.

The stars gave me freedom, the stars gave me hope.

Now just looking at them lifted any pain from my chest, set me free from all the restraints of this world, and took me to the next.

It wasn't the same though. The grass was generally crisp and dry, and the soft blanket would keep the cold air from biting at my skin.

Here I was on damp wood, that combined with the autumn breeze, left me shivering, but I didn't mind. I didn't want to think about the cold, although it did keep coming back to my thoughts, but I did my best to simply focus on the stars above.

I lay there for a while before footsteps came closer. I didn't falter my staring at the stars, I simply allowed myself to look at any constellations I could see.

"Aila, are you okay? Why are you lying on the floor?" Bard questioned.

"I am perfectly fine. I'm looking at the sky," I simply stated.

He let out a sigh, "come in Ailish, you'll catch a chill out here, it is likely to snow in the next few days, you can feel it in the air."

"I do not plan to stay out here until it snows. Just for an hour or two."

Although I didn't look up at him, I could tell he had begun to frown. I didn't appreciate it but I wasn't going to argue with him over the matter, I wanted to look at the stars, I didn't mind if I caught a chill, I would just have to clean the house whilst sneezing.

Bard walked away from the balcony, going back into our home. A few moments later he came back, sitting down on the balcony.

"Move over," he muttered.

I furrowed my eyebrows, shuffling over so there was room for the both of us to lie down on the balcony. As he lay next to me, he put one of his thick coats over the top of me. I turned my head slightly, but smiled at him. Maybe he did care.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Couldn't let my wife die of cold, it'd be quite a hassle to find a new one," he smirked, imitating my tone from a week prior.

I rolled my eyes, going back to look at the dots in the sky.

"So why are you lying out here, looking at the sky?" he questioned.

"I like the stars. I like the sky really, it is much more than it seems," I shrugged.

He turned to me, looking slightly confused.

"What do you mean?"

I let out a laugh.

"The sky is practically infinite. The sky we see is the same as those on the other side of Middle Earth see. It is a connection. Think of it. You and everyone you care for sees the same thing, we are all under the same stars, the same sky. It is the only thing we all have in common. No matter your race or status, when you bring where we all are in context, we are equals. We all have this privilege, but some don't use it. Some just see darkness, others see hope," I whispered.

His face still showed his confused, but a smile played at his lips.

"You truly care for seeing stars?" he asked.

"Yes. They are familiar to us all. I do not particularly understand why they are there, but nevertheless I do not understand a lot of things but I wish to have the freedom of my thoughts to allow me to make up fantasies of what they entail. They somehow cause me comfort. They make me happy, make me feel safe," I sighed, "It must sound bizarre. But as a child, I spent many lonely nights fearing for my life travelling to and fro, but the stars were always there to protect me."

I expected him to laugh, him to pity my tale of wishing upon a star, but he didn't. One of his arms laced under my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. I hoped it was for the comfort being close brought, the slight intimacy of him holding me slightly in his arms, but it was probably for heat, to stop the cold being the death of us both.

"I do not find it stupid Aila. It makes you seem human. I have never thought of them as much more as light at night, but I understand what you mean. Our lives were very different growing up, you didn't have the life I had," he stated.

"That is very true. You have never left Laketown, I can barely claim it as my home. But between here and there, I can feel connected by seeing stars above me. There is nowhere in Middle Earth you can't see them. Granted they aren't the same constellations as the sky we see now is only a mere fragment of what there is, but they are everywhere," I smiled softly.

He smiled also.

"Although it is pleasant to see you happy. I know you may find it hard to believe but I do not enjoy our arguments. May we please go inside? It is very cold, but I do not wish to go indoors without you, as I do know you shall not come in until morning if I leave you out here," he chuckled.

I nodded softly, "of course, we can go in. But maybe we can stargaze tomorrow as well?"

My words were hopeful, I planned to stargaze nevertheless but with his coat and him, it was a bit more pleasant, not simply for the warmth.

"Of course," he smiled.