She sighed and sat down on the bench near the water. She stared down at the ripples made from the night bugs and let herself be hypnotized by the sparkles the moonlight made on the almost still water.
She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching, nor was she ready for the hand on her shoulder. She whipped her head around and took an intake of startled breath. It was Dain. He frowned when he realized he scared her and removed his hand from her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Melenthia, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She took a moment to regain her breath and said, “It’s alright Dain, I know you meant no harm.”
“I went to your room to talk to you and you were gone. I figured this is where you might be. What are you doing out here this time of night?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I thought the fresh air would calm my restless spirit. What are you doing up?”
“Same as you. I too could not sleep.”
“What’s bothering you?”
He flopped down on the bench beside her. “The same thing. I don’t know what to think about all of this, and I don’t know what to do next. I’m trying to grasp the fact that you are the one that’s supposed to save us all.”
“You don’t have to make it sound completely ridiculous.”
He looked at her and smiled slightly. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”
“It’s alright. I have the same thoughts. I too am finding it hard to grasp. I didn’t get any feelings of malice from the elf, and I know that they keep to themselves and only interfere with the world if something is amiss. The fact that he traveled here tells me what he says is true.”
“I know what you mean, but his words are true. When I said it’s hard for me to believe the prophecy is true and that you’re the one, I in no way mean to say that it’s you that makes it unbelievable. I have no doubt you have it in you to do great things. I just find the whole scenario a bit unnerving.”
She was looking at him as he spoke, and he felt her eyes on him. He faced her, his blue eyes not noticeable in the moonlight, but the shadows created on his face by the muted light made his features softer, more chiseled. He was so handsome. The more she had gotten to know him, the more she realized he was not like all the others. He was kind and allowed her to do what was comfortable for her and seemed to genuinely like her for herself. He never expected her to be someone else, in his company or anyone else’s, and he always made her feel like her opinion mattered. She decided that she had better just face it. She wanted him for her own. The kiss she had given him was only a small token of that fact. She wanted to give him more.
He stared at her for a moment, then moved his eyes over her, but not in a leering way. He appeared to be trying to memorize every part of her. He could see the outline of her through the thin ma-terial of her nightdress and was suddenly swept up by passion. He leaned over and kissed her. He expected her to push him away, or pull back from such a bold move, but to his surprise she did not. Instead she let him.
She felt the heat rise from her ears and run down her spine, her heart was racing and her palms were sweaty. His urgency told her he wanted more, but he did nothing inappropriate. She leaned in closer and his arms reached for her. Soon, they were entwined on the bench.
Several moments passed and he finally, slowly, pulled away and gazed into her eyes. He brushed back her thick red curls, and his touch caused a shiver. She blushed slightly when she felt the heat rise through her.
He spoke, “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I find myself completely lost when I look into your eyes. Since the first time I saw you, I have found myself drawn in by your beauty, then I was drawn more by your spirit. Now I can’t control myself any longer. I want to protect you, to wrap my arms around you and keep you from harm. I know you don’t need or want it, but I can’t help it. I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Her ears were warm again and her cheeks flushed. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I can’t go another night without you knowing what I’ve been feeling. All my life I have been cavalier in my pursuits. I never thought about being in love, I just spent my days and nights wrapped up with anyone whom I took the time to pursue but never got to know. I never thought about wanting or needing someone I cared about. But in the last few months since I met you, I can no longer lie to myself about what I want. I want someone, need someone in my life to love. I want someone who has passion about life and who can have passion for me, not because I’m king, but because they truly see me. Melenthia, when I said I would stand with you, I meant it. I will fight beside you and will do it because I love you, not because I have a duty to.”