They met in the slums of Nevassa, just as any of their kind were likely to do. Their kind didn't go traipsing around the better quarters of the capital and still worked to keep a low profile in the slums. Informants were everywhere in all parts of the city and you never knew who was one. It was best to remain insignificant. That was simply the way of the world.

(In his mind, this is how their story starts.)

Because their kind never wandered in the better parts of town and never went undisguised in the slums, it was almost a rare occurrence that they should meet. She wore long, tight sleeves after a long outdated fashion and a pair of old gloves to hide her Mark and a kerchief to hide as much of her silver hair as possible. She couldn't hide her golden eyes; instead, she kept her gaze downward, rarely making eye-contract with anyone. Anyone might sell her out. It was best to be on guard.

She is small and slim. She's the perfect type for a spy if she disguises herself well enough, but their kind likes to keep low profiles and entering the spy profession is not the best way to accomplish that. No, instead she's a fortune teller. He's seen her in the streets many times, telling the fortunes of the beggars in town. She always moves, never returning to the same spot one day after the next. It's not good to earn a reputation.

(He likes to imagine her like this.)

One day, she is hurrying around a corner and bumps right into him. He is much taller than she is and his muscles are toned to make him strong. He might live in the slums but that doesn't mean he's never trained with a weapon. He's so much older than he looks, so it isn't really that unthinkable. He doesn't wear outdated fashions because the Mark on his back is so easily hidden by simply wearing a shirt (and no one would be foolish enough to wander Nevassa without one). No, he wears normal clothes of coarse black fabric and a thin brown cloak with a plain steel sword at his side. He hides by putting up a front of a poor, lone swordsman. They aren't uncommon in Nevassa's slums. The slum taverns have better ale to suit the tastes of such a man.

The fortune teller looks up and excuses herself. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she says, "I wasn't paying attention." And then she pauses and she looks right into his eyes and she knows. They have a connection through their mixed blood, and in close quarters, it is easy to tell when that's the case. Even so, most Branded would even then avoid each other; they would draw too much attention if they stuck together. Better to be alone and unknown.

(That's true in reality, too, unfortunately.)

He shakes his head then. "You have no reason to apologize to me. Accidents happen." He smiles, because he's just a swordsman who's probably only looking for a good tavern to have a mug of hot ale and share stories and news with others like him. He's a regular man, not tied to anyone, master of his own life. It's a wonderful feeling to be in charge of one's own destiny. She doesn't need to read his fortune to tell him that.

"I should be going," she replies. "It's dangerous to remain together too long."

He shrugs. "No one knows about us," he says, "To everyone else, we're just a couple of Nevassa's poor citizens. No one can tell what we are just by looking at us."

She opens her mouth to disagree but the words become caught in her throat. He's right and she knows this. She smiles. She has a lovely smile. She nods then. "What's your name? I don't think I've seen you before."

"I am Zelgius."

(He wishes their real first meeting could have been like this.)

She sticks out her hand (so much smaller than his) and shakes his gently. "I'm Micaiah," she says by way of reply. "It's wonderful to meet you. I haven't met another...like me, before." She drops her hand back to her side. She doesn't elaborate. That could be dangerous. He doesn't think there is anyone around, listening to their whispered conversation. Even so, he is skilled enough to kill any eavesdroppers quickly and silently.

"We tend to avoid cities," he says mildly. "It is surprising to find you have taken up a permanent residence here."

"Not permanent," she says, "I need to leave soon. Within a few weeks, at the latest." Her reputation, probably, is the reason for that. It's not good to have a reputation, and he has the distinct impression now that she has been here long enough to create one, even with her precautions of moving her fortune-telling location so frequently. Her old-fashioned clothing probably stood out too much anyway.

(Everything is temporary.)

"I am leaving tonight," he says, "I've been in town too long. People notice me a swordsman like me, after a while." He pauses and even though he's only just met her, he impulsively continues. "You could leave now, with me. Mages are easy prey. I could protect you."

(And because this is his dream, she says 'yes'.)

She thinks for a moment. "I love Nevassa," she murmurs, "But I cannot stay here much longer. I...will come with you, Zelgius. You are very kind to offer me protection. Thank you."

And he feels like adding that he would always protect her, so long as he is able, even though they've only just met. It feels like they've known each other for many years, centuries even. He takes her hand again, as if they were any poor couple, and he knows she is well aware that he won't let her go, not ever. He doesn't care if they stand out together, because love doesn't care about that. If they're together, what does it matter if they're Branded? They can still have a 'happily ever after'.

But this is just his fantasy, his dream. This can't happen, it never could have happened. But when he goes to sleep at night, this is what he dreams of and it's the only dream he isn't willing to let go of, even though it's the only dream that was impossible from the start. There is no normal meeting for them in the alleys of Nevassa, no romance between two poor, Branded citizens, and there is certainly no 'happily ever after' awaiting them.

As Zelgius straps Alondite to his side, he wishes that this dream was his reality.

A/N: It's almost impossible to write something happy for these two. Unless it's AU, which I'm not opposed to but I have no ideas for it yet. So angst will work for now. This was fun though. I haven't written a Zelgius viewpoint in a while.