"Ren, what are you doing?!"
"Shh, keep your voice down." Algren whispered. "Do you really want all Nisel to know I'm here?"
Emma and Algren just looked at each other for a moment. Emma sighed and closed the door to her room as quietly as possible. "I was wondering where you were… It's not like you to miss something like this."
Algren shrugged. "Your family's thugs weren't exactly keen to let me in the front door to see you." What Algren didn't mention was how it had been a bit more than "not keen", and the insults they had hurled at him still burned in his heart. Human Bastard. Worthless. Pet. Not like I hadn't heard them before…
"So you decided that this was the best solution?" Emma looked at him, a small smile coming to her face as she watched him, her formal dress perfectly bringing out the beauty of her eyes, her hair in an intricate bun at the top of her head and her skin glittering with gold dust.
"Well, I can't miss the chance to see you on your birthday! What kind of man would I be if I let that happen." Algren smiled, knowing how he must look in comparison to her. Sure, his mother was important, but he had never really been one to indulge in all the finery the elves loved so much. But tonight was the exception. Tonight he sat there in full elven finery, black of course, but next to her… I may as well be a pebble next to a diamond.
"What kind of man indeed. And what kind of man sneaks into a woman's bedroom the first night she is considered an adult?" Emma returned his smile, walking over to the large vanity against one wall, removing her heels as she did so. "Such scandalous behavior. I should call some of those 'thugs' to escort you out, ruffian that you are."
"Ruffian? Have you been reading old romance novels again?"
Algren saw Emma blush in the mirror. "A-a-anyway, you um… look… nice…"
Algren raised an eyebrow and, taking that as permission to enter, hopped off the windowsill into the room proper. "Nice? Well I would hope so. Mother did make me wear this for my own coming of age celebration after all. Not that anybody was there."
Emma turned to meet his eyes. "You know I would have if-"
Algren waved away her words. "That wasn't meant as a rebuke Em. I know why you weren't there. I would just hope that Mother's personal tailor, tailor to the great Elva, would prepare me more than 'nice' clothing. Perhaps I should find a different one. Yours, perhaps? After all, you look… stunning. Breathtaking. Beautiful…"
"Alright, alright enough. You can stop charming me now, I've already let you in." Emma's face had gotten even more red, and she pulled the clip from her hair, allowing it to fall out of its intricate bun and obscure her face.
"Impossible. Charming you is one of the few things I seem to be good at." Algren smiled, knowing that even with her hair between them, Emma was still watching him.
Turning, Algren took in the room around him, sitting casually in a chair by the window. Emma turned fully to him, and for a moment their eyes met, and Algren's mind froze as what he was doing finally caught up to him. After a moment he stood again, crossing to Emma.
"Algren… What are you planning?" Emma whispered, a smile small playing across her face.
"You should know by now. I never have a plan." Algren replied.
After a moment, Emma wrapped her arms around Algren's neck, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Kissing her, Algren felt light headed in the bliss of the moment. He knew he shouldn't be here. Knew what would happen if they were caught. But he didn't care. For the longest time he had had to be careful, had to not let others know how he loved her. But tonight it didn't matter to him anymore. As Emma slipped out of his embrace, she took his hands in hers, guiding him with her to her bed. He knew in that moment that he wouldn't be leaving that room that night. Whatever else came of this, this moment of bliss was worth it all.
Hours later, as they lay together, covers draped over them, Algren trailed his finger up and down Emma's spine, causing her to shiver.
"Will you stop that?" She smiled at him.
"Sorry." He laughed. "Wasn't thinking."
"When do you ever?" She replied, laying her head back down on his chest, breathing a sigh of comfort.
"If I did, I wouldn't exactly be here right now you know."
"That's true…" Emma sat up again, holding the covers against her. "Ren… You need to talk to my father."
Algren sighed. "Not this again… Em, you know that man hates me."
"I do. And while it was shameless kisses hidden in the rain I didn't care but… I…" Emma sat, her face clearly showing her struggle to find the courage to say the words she wanted to.
Algren sat up with a smile, running a finger across her cheek. "I love you too Em. Always have. Always will."
For a moment, Emma's eyes lit up with happiness. Then she pouted at him. "Oh, come on! Couldn't you have just waited ten seconds so I could be the first to say it!"
"Ten seconds? Em, I'm pretty sure you've tried saying it for years!" Algren laughed, with Emma blushing in response. Taking her hand, Algren watched the sun start to rise through her window. "Alright. If it makes you happy, I'll try again to speak to your Father."