Riania entered the bright room solemnly. With her head bowed in respect,
she approached the bedside of the occupant. But then she heard his jovial
voice.
"Riania!" Miroros, her cousin, exclaimed happily. "Come over here and give me a-" Suddenly he started with a hacking cough, shaking violently. When he was finished, Riania lifted her head.
Miroros's once beautiful blonde hair was black and kinky, growing only about an inch. The skin on his face and arms was mutated-wrinkly and hard. His eyes rested deep into the folds of melted skin. But he always had had a smile on his face, though his body be frail. He had such a wonderful future awaiting him, but when the dragon had attacked… His body eased as he settled into the bed after the cough.
Riania almost smacked herself across the face when she cringed. Miroros would be where she stood, handsome as ever, and she would be lying crippled in the bed if he hadn't saved her. Mentally she pinched herself; HARD.
"How is your day going?" Miroros asked her in a raspy voice.
"Oh, nothing new," she replied.
"Have you yet to meet your future husband? With a pretty face like that-" He paused, smiling weakly, "I though for sure you'd meet someone." Riania could not meet his eyes. Of course she had met Elves over all the years. There was Firnios, Gahnsia, Wurfunia, Brounisci, and of course her TRUE love, Sriosno. But again, to make Miroros feel unforgotten, she had to lie.
"No, not yet." He nodded sadly.
"Too bad. I'm looking forward to your wedding day." He winked and grinned at her. "And the birth of your first son/daughter." She could only laugh.
"Oh yes, I can't wait." The two cousins smiled at each other. Finally Riania leaned down over then bed and embraced Miroros.
"I love you," she murmured to her older cousin.
*******
Sriosno watched this scene carefully. What had just happened? His love had denied him to her relative. He had been eavesdropping and spying through the window, but now realized what was going on. Did Riania feel obligated to stay with Miroros forever because he had once saved her life? Sriosno had known Miroros before—before the accident. He had been the best archer Rivendell had ever seen. He had also been very handsome and excellent with the ladies. ( ;) ) But now he would never again walk, let alone wed. He could have saved himself from this future. But no, he had decided to save his cousin, the one whom Sriosno so loved.
Turning, he strolled sadly away. Riania would never wed him and return with him to Mirkwood. She would forever want to live here. Sriosno would gladly stay to live with her, to marry and cherish her… But alas, he could not, for he was the heir of Mirkwood, and could not give up the crown. What would he do? Could they ever be together?
"Riania!" Miroros, her cousin, exclaimed happily. "Come over here and give me a-" Suddenly he started with a hacking cough, shaking violently. When he was finished, Riania lifted her head.
Miroros's once beautiful blonde hair was black and kinky, growing only about an inch. The skin on his face and arms was mutated-wrinkly and hard. His eyes rested deep into the folds of melted skin. But he always had had a smile on his face, though his body be frail. He had such a wonderful future awaiting him, but when the dragon had attacked… His body eased as he settled into the bed after the cough.
Riania almost smacked herself across the face when she cringed. Miroros would be where she stood, handsome as ever, and she would be lying crippled in the bed if he hadn't saved her. Mentally she pinched herself; HARD.
"How is your day going?" Miroros asked her in a raspy voice.
"Oh, nothing new," she replied.
"Have you yet to meet your future husband? With a pretty face like that-" He paused, smiling weakly, "I though for sure you'd meet someone." Riania could not meet his eyes. Of course she had met Elves over all the years. There was Firnios, Gahnsia, Wurfunia, Brounisci, and of course her TRUE love, Sriosno. But again, to make Miroros feel unforgotten, she had to lie.
"No, not yet." He nodded sadly.
"Too bad. I'm looking forward to your wedding day." He winked and grinned at her. "And the birth of your first son/daughter." She could only laugh.
"Oh yes, I can't wait." The two cousins smiled at each other. Finally Riania leaned down over then bed and embraced Miroros.
"I love you," she murmured to her older cousin.
*******
Sriosno watched this scene carefully. What had just happened? His love had denied him to her relative. He had been eavesdropping and spying through the window, but now realized what was going on. Did Riania feel obligated to stay with Miroros forever because he had once saved her life? Sriosno had known Miroros before—before the accident. He had been the best archer Rivendell had ever seen. He had also been very handsome and excellent with the ladies. ( ;) ) But now he would never again walk, let alone wed. He could have saved himself from this future. But no, he had decided to save his cousin, the one whom Sriosno so loved.
Turning, he strolled sadly away. Riania would never wed him and return with him to Mirkwood. She would forever want to live here. Sriosno would gladly stay to live with her, to marry and cherish her… But alas, he could not, for he was the heir of Mirkwood, and could not give up the crown. What would he do? Could they ever be together?