365

may.2.22

"I had doubted you."

The sound of his voice startled her; she turned around to greet the elf king. He had found her outside, near a small stream behind the kingdom itself. His son had left her, much to his displeasure, for a mission, leaving the human girl to occupy her time herself.

The elf king noticed how attached his son had become to the human girl; he didn't want to tell his son what he didn't want to hear, which was that the relationship was ludicrous and irrational. He kept his wits about him, and his words to himself.

The girl stood up; her bare feet were in the streams water, and she held a few smooth stones in her hands. The elf king rose an eyebrow at the sight. "You doubted me?" she asked him.

"I had, yes. You were struck by a goblin arrow, pulled from freezing river rapids. An elf is a miracle to survive such an ordeal; humans are much weaker than elves, so I did doubt your recovery." The elf watched, as the girl averted her eyes to the smoothe stones in her hands.

"If it wasn't for your son, I don't believe I would have made it," she admitted. "As I drifted in and out of consciousness, his face was the one I would always see. His voice was the one guiding me through it." She looked up then. "He believed in me when nobody else did. Even if you believe it to be a foolish act."

The elf king was silent a long moment. "His stubbornness is his most outstanding flaw."

"Or his act of courage," she suggested. Padding through the water, the girl came over to the king. Taking his hand, she set one of the smooth stones in his palm.

With his hand open, the king looked at the rock; it gad been smoothed down by the water, nearly becoming completely round. It seemed to glow orange in his hand. He held it up toward the sun, and placing it gently between his thumb and forefinger, he admired the daylight shining through the rock.

"I know you do not approve of me," the girl said then. "I'm a mortal, a human, a pathetic creature by comparison of you and your kin. And I respect your ways. I understand why you see me as such. If you wish me to leave, I will. I will no longer speak to your son, if you wish it."

The elf king's fingers wrapped around the stone. "I do not wish that." His eyes met hers. "He is stubborn, yes. He is too passionate, and does not see logic, yes. But if it were not for his stubborn passion, you would not be alive. He did save your life, when even I would not; I did not believe you would survive. He believed in you so passionately." He looked down to the stone in his hand. "If I were to wish you away, that would break his heart." He held the stone out to her. "You may stay here. With him."

The girl smiled. Gently, she pushed the elf king's hand back toward him. As the king looked at her, confused, she said, "Thank you. You can keep the stone, though."

Again, the King looked toward the rock in his hands. "You are indeed an interesting creature." He met her eyes. "I believe in you, now."