Ch.12

They made their way up the tower stairs, laughing and talking in light conversation. They stood close to one another, yet it wasn't at all awkward or uncomfortable. One might think that she could never feel this way again, but there was something different about Evander. He had saved her life and cared for her. She would have died at Celene"s hands, and he had come back to rescue her.

When they arrived at the top floor, Vivienne let Evander lead her to one of the smaller rooms. She laid a hand on the doorframe as she stared at the place where they were standing, as though she could see through time and space and watch herself as she went through the motions. Was this truly real? Could this be happening to her?

They joined one another under the covers, holding hands tightly as their lips came together. For a long moment, it felt as if the world had come to a halt. She listened to his heartbeat, the pulse of his blood, the gentle inhale and exhale of his breath. She smelled the scent of him, of clean soap and sunlight. It reminded her of a happier time, one where she had fallen in love with the knight who rescued her from the Dark Irons.

Evander wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her closer. His face was pressed against hers, and her eyes were closed. She could feel the warmth radiating off of him, the soothing sensation of his skin pressed up against hers. She could feel every inch of him—every muscle, each ridge, his kisses, her softness . ..

After a few moments, Evander gently opened her eyelids, making sure she was still aware. "I want to make love to you," he murmured not to scare her.

"Then do so," she whispered.

***

There were times when Ivi almost forgot what she was doing as if everything was just a dream. This wasn't that moment, however. The fire burned bright in the hearth, illuminating her pale skin and dark hair. She stood alone by the fire, gazing into the flames as she brushed them with a silver brush. She couldn't get over how similar the cave in the woods looked to the tower, the way its walls glittered like the inside of a dragon"s mouth. She remembered the first time she had stepped foot in the tower, the magic pouring out from it like waves of liquid metal.

"Good morning, my lady."

She turned, startled, and saw the elf. He smiled down at her, raising one eyebrow. He remained standing, but she had expected him to kneel before her or otherwise lower himself to her level.

"What can I do for you today?" she asked.

He lowered his head slightly, keeping his hands clasped in front of him. "I came here to help you prepare your speech if you will have me. And, should you wish me to, to learn any words you might need."

"Thank you," she replied. "You know, it is a wonder how quickly you learned to speak the common tongue."

He raised an eyebrow. "We elves are all taught languages, be they human or even, when e begin our studies in the tower. We are also taught our history and culture from the beginning, so there has never been a time in my life without it being a part of me."

"Well, I suppose that makes sense. But in such a short time, you could have managed more than simple sentences."

"It takes time to master such things. Your tongue is much more complex than my own, after all." He paused for a moment, then added, "Of course, my tongue might not have been as versatile to begin,n with. It was quite long ago."

She shook her head slightly, confused. The elf did look young, yet the elven towers didn't seem like a good place to live for that many years. She imagined if he was willing to do this for her, that it must have taken decades to prepare. Still, she knew enough about the world outside of the tower to understand what he meant when he said they had been taught languages from the beginning. That's why she understood him.

She cleared her throat, getting back to work, pretending not to have heard the exchange. "Would you please stand aside?" she asked, gesturing with a hand toward a large wooden chair. "This will just take a second."

***

They ate together, talking about every topic under the sun. Most of their conversation revolved around the food and the beautiful scenery of Celene—the food was particularly good, she might add.

Evander confessed to her how excited he had been when the mages sent word ahead to the city that his gift had arrived safely, and that she would be pleased to hear of it. Her heart had raced as he described her reaction, and she had felt a pang in her chest at the memory. At first, she could barely believe he had thought such a thing, but as he continued to speak, the words echoed in her head, over and over again. She smiled, recalling their journey to Celene. How wonderful it would have been if she had been there for his birthday instead of being stuck on that boat.

He spoke of all the places he hoped to visit once he"d finished his task in Celene. He had only a few more weeks before they sailed across the ocean to Denerim. After that, he would go into hiding and await word on his next assignment. With such a long trip ahead, however, Evander didn't care what it was—as long as it took him far away from here.

When their meal was finished, she walked him to the door. He stopped her before she made it out into the hallway.

"If I don't see you tonight," he asked softly, "will you keep your promise? Will you join me tomorrow?"

She didn't reply right away. She tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind. Nothing came to her lips . ..

Ivi stared at her hands, held up in front of her face, examining them for some hint of emotions. The moment had come and gone, leaving her feeling hollow. There had never been an expression, to begin with. All she could do was shake her head. She couldn't do this. Not now. Not in front of everyone. She didn't want to hurt them. She couldn't let them down.

She shook her head again, but this time she could tell Evander read more into the gesture. He frowned at her in confusion.

"My lady, are you alright? You"re not ill, I hope."

The words were so sincere. Her heart ached. She hated herself. Perhaps he hadn't meant any harm by what he said—the elves didn't lie to one another. They simply pretended to love those who weren't important enough to them. Why should she have expected more?

His shoulders slumped. He looked confused, but soon he straightened his back. His gaze met hers, and they spoke of different matters.