A Prologue Fit For Royalty

Ruehnar's "A Love Mightier Than Any Army"

As the sole heir of the Eladrin throne, Rune had little time to himself. He took advantage of every single second. Most of it was spent as far away from the palace as he could get, which meant that he spent a lot of time trying to get lost. However, he had an impeccable internal compass, which meant that he never did. On one such occasion, he stumbled across a small village. It was there that he met, and fell head over heels for a Spring Eladrin.

The village was on the Spring and Summer border, a place where he had never been. It was vibrant, and full of color, just as the seasons promised. In the middle of the village was a tiny market. There was music playing, and it was just enough to pique his interest. On a whim, Rune made his way further into town. Vendors lined the cobblestone streets, selling bundles of colorful flowers and fresh-baked pastries. Much to his dismay, his stomach began to grumble. He found his body pulling him to one of the stalls and purchasing a sweet roll with a few gold pieces. Ruehnar took his roll gratefully, and whisked himself away to find a quieter spot to eat it. It was there, with his back against the wall of a nearby shop, that he saw her.

Rune had always been a man who preferred to stay behind the scenes. As he ate his sweet roll, he watched the villagers. The music was loud and cheerful, with highs and lows that made his heart soar. In the middle of the square, he spotted a young woman. She was blonde, and beautiful, and so lively that he couldn't pull his eyes away. He watched her long after he finished his roll as she danced through several songs, with a happiness so concentrated that it was contagious. As one song ended and another began, his body carried him into the square as if it had a mind of its own. Rune stopped a few feet away from the Eladrin woman, and extended a hand hesitantly.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked, his voice silvery and small. If she had been any court woman, he would've been much more forward... but here, in another world, he felt almost uncertain. The woman's smile was instantaneous, and as vibrant as the village she resided in had promised. As she took his hand, he couldn't help but notice how small her hands were. Her fingers were dainty, long and thin, but the tips were callused. A musician, he thought, smiling. As the music swelled into a brilliant crescendo, he whisked her back into a dance, and the troubles of the Kingdom disappeared from his mind in a tide of blue eyes and blonde hair. 

Ruehnar would later find out her name was Alyana, and the day would fall into night much quicker than any other day of his life. As he left the village to begin the hike back to the palace, he would buy her a bundle of periwinkles, and make her a promise to return. 

Several days later, Ruehnar would find himself trekking through the forest with his sister as his shadow. His favorite bow was strapped across his back. The bow had been given to him for his birthday, and it was his prized possession. He kept a small carving tool on him, and when he had spare time, he would carve his favorite memories into the wood, so he would remember them forever. His father, the King, would berate him for ruining the pristine condition of his new bow, but to Rune, it was just added character. He would make it his own, just like he intended to do with every aspect of his life. 

When they arrived at the clearing where Ruehnar did most of his sister's training, he checked that the target was in good condition, and then faced his sister. "Whenever you're ready, Wynnie." His sister just gave him a nod, looking less than thrilled. Their weeks of training had led to little improvement. Rune was trying not to take it personally. As his sister picked up the bow, he sat down several feet away with his carving tool. Ruehnar watched out of the corner of his eye as his sister made shot after shot, missing every single one. She was getting closer,  though. Maybe. 

The Eladrin woman was the only thing on his mind, and she had been for days. He hadn't been able to return, but he was still giddy with the thought of seeing her again. While Rowyn practiced, he carved a single periwinkle flower into the upper limb of his bow. That day, Rowyn made her first bullseye. As he swept his sister into his arms, he realized that for the first time in a long time, what he felt was unbridled happiness. Things were finally starting to look up for the prince after all.