S.A 2035 Summertime
"Ah, there you are!" Orneth looked up and a smile spread across her face, causing her to feel warm and flustered. It was Falchon, donning his shiny black boots and impressive armor, who had arrived. He sat down next to her and offered her a white rose. "Here. I've been meaning to give you one sooner," he said. Orneth swallowed, feeling a flutter in her chest, and asked, "Thank you. But why me?" Falchon smiled, and Orneth couldn't help but adore his warm, melancholic eyes. He replied, "Who else? I was afraid you would expect me to dance with you, though." Orneth laughed and responded, "No, I'm not really a great dancer." Falchon smiled back at her, his eyes examining her warmly, as if it were the first time he had looked at her. "I just couldn't get away from Lord Mannamo and his companions," he explained. "I also seem to be an interesting subject among Simawens' friends." Orneth grinned. "Well, you are his long lost grandson, and I'm sure many are curious about you. You do look impressive, though, so it doesn't surprise me that the female attendees were hoping for a rose."
alchon cast his gaze downward and spoke in a hushed tone. "Simawen's companions hold no allure for me. My focus was on you, Lady Orneth. This evening, you are simply breathtaking." An instant wave of warmth swept over Orneth, and she asked, "Truly?" Falchon seemed a bit perplexed by her reaction and responded, "Yes, why do you find that odd?" Orneth's smile beamed radiantly as she replied, "I had assumed your preferences lay elsewhere, and you had kept a certain distance from me." But Falchon interrupted her mid-sentence, gently taking her hand in his. "Did we not agree to leave the past behind us and not speak of it again?" Orneth smiled warmly and looked away. "I simply require time to come to terms with it." Falchon's expression became more earnest as he spoke again. "I have always adored you, Lady Orneth. That is why I sought your company in the stonehouse where we were held captive. I yearned to discover more about the person you are." He cast his gaze downward once more. "Your inquiry was intense, and I realized your intentions were pure. Nevertheless, reliving the past is difficult, and there are many things I prefer not to revisit." He gazed directly at Orneth. "Furthermore, I do not believe it would be wise for me to involve myself with you. You are pure of heart, and there are aspects of myself that I cannot be accountable for." Orneth gazed back at Falchon and posed a question. "We have never discussed this before. Are you implying that you avoid becoming too close to anyone?"
Falchon looked at her, his tone heavy with resignation. "It's not that I want to distance myself from others, Orneth. It's just that I've never felt like I had a choice. My father's shadow has loomed over me for as long as I can remember.
I've always felt unworthy of love, incapable of giving it. The army is the only place where I feel like I can truly belong." He looked up at Orneth, his eyes intense. "And then there's you. You shine so brightly, like a rare light that I'm drawn to. But I fear that I'm not deserving of it. Tonight was a stark reminder that you might slip through my fingers at any moment." Orneth gazed at him, her breath caught in her throat. "Falchon," she said softly, "you speak as though your fate is already written. But it's not. You're Mannamo's grandson, a warrior like him. He believes in you and loves you already." She paused, gazing out at the vista before them. "Your father may be broken, a slave to darkness. But you have a choice in who you want to be." Falchon turned to her, eyes widening in disbelief. "Orneth, it's not that simple. I'm still haunted by my past, chased by my father's legacy." Orneth's response was swift. "I know how you struggle, Falchon. I don't mean to diminish your pain. But I want to help you shift your focus, to see that there's more to life than just the army." With a gentle smile, she spoke, "The few times I have loved or admired someone, it has not been reciprocated. I have grown accustomed to it over time. They have never been close to me, yet I still hold a deep affection for them. It seems to be a recurring pattern for me, perhaps because it feels safer to remain in the background and simply dream. It's less complicated that way."
Her laughter echoed in the air, and Falchon couldn't help but smile and tilt his head in admiration. "You don't deserve that kind of love, Lady Orneth," he said earnestly. "You deserve everything wonderful that life has to offer." As she looked at Falchon and gently stroked his face, she replied, "It's too late, Falchon. I've already fallen for you, just a little." He stared at her in speechless wonder, his eyes studying hers as he trembled slightly. "There's not much joy in my life, Orneth," he murmured. "You're like a pure white rose, meant to be free and happy. I don't want to bring darkness and difficulty into your life." With a calm and assured voice, Orneth replied, "I'm no rose, Falchon. I've experienced loss and hardship too. You think I'm untouched and fragile, but I'm fearless and drawn to challenges. I've witnessed darkness firsthand. I come from the first age and have seen my homes destroyed by greed, anger, and hate. I've watched Doriath go up in flames and Beleriand destroyed. I've seen friends change and it's given me nightmares that still haunt me. You might think I'm ignorant and naive about many things in life, but I'm just choosing my battles to live as normally as I can. I've longed for your friendship for so long, and I've missed you terribly. I'm not scared." With those words, Falchon leaned in and kissed her softly, sealing their love in a moment of pure bliss. As they parted, his eyes locked onto hers, and a warmth spread across his features as he smiled.
Picture AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
