The Dark One

Leaving

The moon is almost full and shines upon the valley below. In that valley, the kingdom is bustling with excitement. Music is playing on fiddles and guitars and the people dance and rejoice for the following day would be a day to remember. The princess was to be married. A royal feast takes place in the castle that overlooks the town, an elegant structure with balconies looking down on the kingdom. It was a magnificent sight to behold.

On one of the balconies, a young fair maiden walks to the railing, striding with grace and elegance. Her hair is as dark as the night time sky that tumbled in dark waves down her back, almost reaching to where her legs began. Her skin is fair and smooth and the light of the moon makes her deep blue eyes seem to glow. She wears a blue dress to match her eyes and a crown sits upon her head. She is the princess; Princess Zirra of Arsta. A tear trickles down her cheek as she gazes down upon her kingdom. She removes her crown only to set it on the railing of the balcony. Zirra had left the feast early for the event of her marriage was not something she wanted to celebrate. She then looked up at the moon with sad longing eyes and sighed.

"Why must I go through this when my heart belongs to another?" she asked the moon.

"Because you are the princess..." said a voice behind her, "...and it is expected of you by your people."

Zirra's recognized the voice that she heard behind her. She slowly turned around and she saw him standing there at the entrance of the balcony. His hair was as pale as the moon and his eyes were silver like stars. He was the captain of the guard and he had just returned from a long journey. She walked with purpose in her step to him.

"Thalin!" she exclaimed as she was walking to him.

"Zirra!" he said opening his arms to embrace her, but instead of running into his arms as he expected, Zirra smacked him across the face.

"What was that for?" he asked taking a few steps back and putting his hand on his cheek where she had smacked him.

"It's been so long!" she said, "I didn't know if you were dead or alive! I didn't hear any word of it!"

"I sent a messenger back to you... to tell you that I was alright and on my way back!" Thaenor said, "He must not have gotten to you."

"Well I suppose you have a matter to discuss with him then! He did not complete the task you assigned him," Zirra said. Her arms were crossed now.

"No matter... we'll discuss that later," he said looking at her with desire in his eyes, "Can you forgive me?"

"Yes," she said uncrossing her arms. She then put her arms around his neck and let him take her in his arms, "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you to! I thought of you every day I was gone," he said smiling down at her. Thalin looked into Zirra's eyes and then he kissed her passionately. After some time, Zirra pulled away and stepped back. Clearly, she was troubled by something.

"What's wrong now?" he asked her.

"I'm sorry..." she replied sadly, "I just... can't! I... I am to be married tomorrow."

Thalin looked down at the ground, "So I heard," he said and then continued with, "While I was on my adventures, I was thinking that... well... maybe if we didn't get caught that... well we could run away from here... together."

"And elope?" Zirra exclaimed.

"Well... yes if you wanted to," he said, "Do you? I mean you don't seem to be very happy."