(Outtake from season 1, episode 3)
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Any onlooker would have thought that it was a very insignificant thing—but for Wil Ohmsford, it was a pretty big deal.
After they had entered the castle, Amberle had directed them to various guest chambers so that they could freshen up before meeting with the rest of the royal family. On a regular day, Wil would have refused and pressed on—but the thought of a few minutes alone to breathe, wash up, and put down his things was too hard to resist after their harrowing journey.
It was crazy how much his life had changed in just a few short weeks. He'd lost his mother, left his home, met a princess, been taken on a quest by a druid, and found out the truth about his fathers' family.
Apparently, he wasn't just a (part) elf. He was the last of a long line of elven royalty, and he had seen the look of awe and admiration in Amberle's eyes when she had learned this fact. He supposed it was ironic that the part of himself that he had always hated inspired astonishment and respect from other elves.
As a child, he had been so ashamed of what he was, and had been mercilessly ridiculed any time he had been exposed. But with Amberle, it was different. Even before she knew he was Shannara, she had been comfortable in his presence and there had been no hint of cruelty or disgust in her eyes.
He wasn't used to that sort of easy acceptance. In fact, no one his own age had ever accepted him and, despite the gravity of their situation, that had filled him with unmistakable happiness. For the first time in a long time, he had felt like he could be himself.
And that was probably why he found himself picking up the unassuming leather hair tie.
He had quickly wished up and was rolling up his sleeves in the exquisite guest bathroom when the tiny item had caught his eye.
The young man had never even considered tying his hair back before. He had never done it in private, let alone in public—and he knew he was about to walk out into the scrutinizing gaze of the elven court.
His hair had always been his shield. He had relied on it to cover up the feature which always threatened to give him away.
But so much had changed in such a short time, and he unexpectedly found himself drawn towards it. Holding the tie in one hand, he used the other to brush aside his shaggy blonde locks.
His ears were fully exposed now but, for the first time, Wil didn't cringe at the sight. In the past, he had always felt somewhat disconnected from the sight before him—in his mind he was just a regular human boy, but he was confronted with the unmistakable face of an elf whenever he looked in the mirror. That had always created a pit of sadness in his stomach.
Today, however, he simply saw himself.
He knew that the face starring back was his—ears and all.
And he accepted it.
With a slightly shaky breath, Wil pulled his hair to the back of his head and secured the tie around it. As he lowered his hands, the hair stayed in place.
His gaze remained locked on the mirror for a moment as he examined his new look. His ears were on clear display, and there was no doubt that anyone he came across now would instantly identify him as an elf. That was something that would have filled him with panic a few short weeks ago—but here, right now, he was oddly calm. He was in Aborlon and he had seen more elves in the last fifteen minutes than he had in his entire life.
None of them had seemed ashamed. Amberle was not ashamed.
And Wil found himself nodding at his reflection with newfound confidence.
"Wil, are you ready?" He heard his friend call form the hallway.
"Yeah, one second." He replied quickly as he turned and made his way out the door.
He was greeted by the princess' warm smile and he knew that— in her eyes at least— he belonged.
