Sallitia: Age of War

9

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, his instincts telling him not to trust so easily. But something in Faelyn's steady gaze reassured him. “Come with me.” she said softly, her eyes flickering with a hint of urgency. “I won’t hurt you. But my brother and his patrol might, if they find you here in our forest.”

When he still didn’t move, she tilted her head with a gentle smile, her expression softening. “I promise. You’ll be safe with me.”

Finally, he nodded, following her deeper into the heart of the forest. They wove through ancient trees whose branches formed a thick canopy overhead, the world around them growing more vibrant with each step. It wasn’t long before they reached a beautiful spring nestled in a small clearing. The water sparkled like crystal, surrounded by colorful flowers that painted the banks in brilliant hues. Birds flitted through the branches, singing their sweet songs, and a light breeze sent ripples across the water.

“No one will find us here.” Faelyn said, her voice filled with a warmth that matched the beauty of the place. She sat down on the soft green grass by the spring’s edge, gesturing for him to join her. “This is my secret place.”

Sebastian lowered himself beside her, gazing around in wonder. “Why would you need a place to hide?”

She looked down, absently twirling a strand of her fiery red hair between her fingers. “Sometimes, even in a world as vast as this, I feel… trapped.” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “My father—he’s strict because he cares for me, wants to protect me. But sometimes, it’s all too much. I just need to breathe… to be alone, if only for a moment.”

Sebastian nodded, his eyes fixed on the spring as he let her words sink in. “I understand. There’s a lot of pressure on me as well, being the future king of Rohan. Especially since…” His voice wavered, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “Since the orcs took my father.”

Faelyn’s expression softened, her gaze shifting to the rippling water. “I’m sorry. Loss… it’s a shadow that doesn’t fade easily.” She sighed, her tone filled with longing. “Sometimes, I wish my father could be the way he was before my mother passed. I want to see him smile, to hear his laughter… like he used to.”

Sebastian’s heart ached at the sadness in her voice, and he hesitated before speaking, choosing his words carefully. “I’m sorry for what happened to your family, Faelyn. I… I just want this war to end. When I become king, I swear, I’ll do everything in my power to bridge the gap between humans and magical creatures. To make peace.”

She turned to him, her eyes alight with surprise, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. “You know, I always thought a human should look better and act worse.” she said, a teasing glint in her eye.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a playful grin. “So I look bad and act good?”

Faelyn’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly covered her face with her hands. “No! That’s not what I meant,” she murmured, her voice muffled.

He chuckled, his laughter light and genuine, and he gently took her hands in his, pulling them away from her face. “You’re really cute when you’re shy, you know.” With a faint blush creeping onto his own cheeks, he reached up to tuck a stray lock of her red hair behind her ear.

Faelyn’s heart raced as his fingers brushed her skin, and she looked into his sky-blue eyes, caught off-guard by his gentle touch. “You… you’re not what I expected from a human.” she murmured. “All the stories I’ve heard about your kind say that humans are heartless, that they care only for themselves and despise those who are different. But… you’re nothing like that.”

He met her gaze, his voice soft and thoughtful. “And you’re nothing like the stories I’ve heard about elves. They say your kind lures humans to their deaths with your beauty, all because you despise us. But now… I realize those stories are just that—stories.”

Their eyes met, and in that moment, an undeniable spark ignited between them. For a fleeting second, the troubles of their world fell away, and they were simply two souls drawn to each other.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and a magnificent white horse stepped out, its coat shimmering like fresh snow under the soft light. Its mane flowed like silk, and its intelligent eyes gleamed as it approached them. Faelyn’s face brightened at the sight.

“That’s Tauriel, my mare.” she said, a hint of pride in her voice as she stroked the horse’s nose. “But I should be heading back before anyone notices I’m gone.”

Sebastian felt a pang of disappointment but kept his expression neutral. “Will I… see you again?”

She hesitated, looking at him thoughtfully. “If you want to, you can come here again at this same time.”

He nodded, smiling softly. “I’ll be here.”

Faelyn returned his smile, then leaned down from her horse, pressing a small roll of bread into his hand. “Take this. It’s lambas—a single roll can feed an entire village. May it keep your people strong.”

Sebastian’s gaze softened as he accepted the gift. “Thank you, Faelyn. For… everything.”

She gave him one last look, then nudged her horse forward, riding back toward Hisidore like a silver arrow cutting through the woods. Sebastian stood there, watching her until she vanished among the trees.

When he finally returned to the clearing, his gray stallion, Edek, was waiting for him. He mounted the horse, still thinking of Faelyn and the strange bond they had formed in that secret place.

But hidden among the trees nearby, a figure watched him intently. Valter, a tall, old wizard with piercing eyes, observed every movement, a wry smile on his lips. At his side, the doe Sebastian had tried to hunt approached him, nudging his hand.

“Leyla,” he murmured, touching the doe’s head with his staff. In a flash of light, she transformed into a sleek barn owl and perched on his shoulder, her keen eyes locked onto the distant human prince as he rode away.

“So, young prince.” Valter mused, stroking the owl’s feathers. “You’ve captured Faelyn’s attention. This will certainly be… interesting.” And with that, he slipped back into the shadows, plotting his next move.