Two, Elves

Unka, Arget, Hele, Cal, Thinor

The forest was a manufactured beautiful. Designed in a way that only those who truly understand nature could construe. Truly Elves found a way of carving their way into the world without altering it entirely, instead preferring to alter what was there to suit their needs. 

Etria sat in the middle of a garden, green all around. The flowing white gown, stained impeccably by the forest, stood out in beautiful contrast. She was to be wed this day. It was a wedding to unify two nations, and she would do her duty. She was not a child to cry and bellow when things did not go the way she wanted. 

Love was a choice, and she would love this man that had been chosen for her... and she would love her life regardless of other's hold on it. They could not tear her perspective from her.

She started as a hand found its way onto her bare shoulder. "Come, Lady, it is almost time."

"Elves have so very much time, Atrast," Etria murmured, utterly unmoved except by the wind around her, "What is a few more minutes?" Finally, dark eyes angled to meet those of her instructor; her guard. His hand was pushed away with a dainty resolve and she stood. "I do not need an escort." Atrast straightened and bowed.

"My lady."

There was music as she walked down the aisle. An enchantment had kept the rain from landing on the guests, but it added a melancholic twinge to the event that Etria admired as her lips move dispassionately over vows. She would not get to speak to her husband until later that evening, when everyone had settled in to dine and toast the couple. 

"I hear the wine in Aendril is quite fine, tell me how ours compares?" Etria cared not for wine. Her new husband was far too nervous for a noble and she stuttered for topics he might be comfortable speaking about. She watched as his cheeks tinted, the wine catching in his throat. He coughed once. Etria wondered if she might inadvertently assassinate him this way. Perhaps it would be a silent marriage.

"I find it cruel to compare things so different. Each has benefits."

Etria sighed, although it was no more than a light exhale. He left no room for her to continue the conversation. "Tell me, Castien, do I make you nervous?" More spluttering on his part, though he had found the sense to put down his glass. Etria found herself smiling very slightly at the display. "You needn't answer that, I was just teasing," Her voice was light as she attempted to be disarming, down to earth, "I wonder if I will get you to laugh towards the end of the evening."

Castien smiled nervously, "I fear if I start laughing, I might never stop."

"At least you needn't worry about spilling more wine." 

"I remember the first time I saw you, Lady Etria,"

"Just this afternoon? I would hope so."

"I was in the capital, just barely of age. It was during a solstice, you sang, and far more beautifully than I had ever heard," Castien spoke openly, his eyebrows knitting unhappily as he rambled around the point he wanted to make, "Many fell in love with you that evening. But here I am."

"I don't understand, Sir," Etria admitted, it was not such a rare confession. Elves were prone to such flights of fancy. Many sang beautifully. It seemed as though he were trying to say more, and she attempted to coax him towards it, "Shall I sing to win a smile from you?"

The lord shook his head, no, half smiled her way, "It feels quite ridiculous, to be sitting next to you," His hand rose, the ribbon twining them together rose hers as well, "With nothing but that memory of that infatuation to speak of our history."

"Think instead of what our union signifies, and we will build a history around it." Etria promised, the words convincing only because she had told herself them so often. 

"This song is one of my favourites, Lady Etria, say you'll dance with me."

"It would be an honour, Sir."

Author's Note

Just gathering my thoughts.