She couldn't tell you when it began, not exactly. It started as a flicker. A tiny ember of excitement; first whispering in her heart and then growing until it engulfed her. What was the feeling? Until recently she hadn't been sure. She hadn't been sure right up until the meeting.
Then she knew.
She had been indulging in her favourite past time, finding a clearing, dappled by morning sunlight - and lying in it. Contemplating the skies through the tops of the trees and dreaming of what lay beyond this forest. Soft Autumn winds were nudging her long dark hair, spread in a tangle on the grass about her. She was thinking many thoughts, skipping like a stone on a lake from one to the next. Suddenly a change in the stillness interrupted her reverie, her ears twitched to the sides, instantly alert -she had melted into the shadows before the rider entered the clearing. She heard a sigh of frustration.
"Santiel, please I do not have the time to play this game with you, not today. We must make haste. Your parents were expecting you several hours ago and of course, I am at fault in your absence" the male voice was a combination of frustration and pleading.
Hearing the latter in his voice, Santiel stepped out from behind the tree, deciding today was not the day to test the patience of her betrothed.
"Hush Beri, you pay too much heed to the demands of my parents" she chided gently.
"Must I continue to insist that you use my proper name when we are not alone? And must I also remind you that your parents are not just ordinary parents?" His impatience was increasing.
"My apologies Beriadan, I did not realise the trees were in the habit of reporting idle gossip" she cast her eyes up to the tree tops in her sarcasm "and no, please refrain from continuing to remind me of my parentage, but as it agitates you so, I will come" she swayed away, her long legged, swinging gait irritating him even further as he realised that yet again she had disregarded the dress he had the maids lay out for her this morning and had instead donned her usual riding clothes, making her look from a distance like any other male Elf in hunting garb, and not the Lady of the forest that she truly was.
Torn between his affection for her stubbornness and frustration at her lack of care, he leaped back on his horse and rode after her, his blonde hair streaming behind him as he reached down and pulled her up without breaking his speed.
Resignedly she sat astride, allowing him to keep her steady as she closed her eyes, ready for the dull day ahead of her.
