Riania sat on the edge of her seat, sweat slowly forming drops on her
forehead, her hands shaking and clammy. Sriosno wanted to what? To MARRY
her? But how… Why… She couldn't think straight. Miroros lay searching
her face, and then realized.
"It's true, then," he murmured, looking grieved. "You never would tell me if you loved another Elf. You think that you must stay here." He looked up at her shocked face, and she read his eyes, as the Elves sometimes do, when words cannot describe.
*Why would you do that?* the eyes pleaded her silently. *I love you far more than to have you be chained here in Rivendell with me. I saved you for a reason; so that your life could go on as it should. Fate has led us here, so please keep following it.* Riania stared down at her trembling hands.
"Riania," Miroros told her. "When your parents and friend were killed by orcs, you were able to somehow move on. Now, when I am only crippled and not yet dead, and it's been so long… Can you not move on from this?" Riania broke down in a fit of sobs.
"Miroros, I can barely remember my parents and friend anymore," she wept. "But you are still here, and I am reminded of my stupidity and how I couldn't run from the dragon. I could have saved you by running, but instead I stood petrified and you were forced to give up EVERTHING you had! And I live on normally, pretty and ignorant…"
"You're not ignorant," interrupted Miroros softly. But she dragged on.
"I keep forgetting how it COULD have been, and then I fall in love! But how would I ever get to see you when Sriosno is the King of Mirkwood? I would have to move away and…"
"Riania," soothed Miroros. "You have done nothing wrong. I chose to save you because I love you as I would a sister. How can you not see that? I had given up grieving over my body long ago and learned to accept it-as you should. Please… Stop crying…" She looked into his eyes, but he kept his emotions to himself. She wiped the tears away from her swollen eyes.
"Now," Miroros continued, smiling, "I believe Sriosnio wishes to propose?" Riania laughed weakly.
"I guess," she replied. She leaned down and they embraced.
"Now go," ordered Miroros playfully. "Sriosno will be awaiting you in the gardens."
"It's true, then," he murmured, looking grieved. "You never would tell me if you loved another Elf. You think that you must stay here." He looked up at her shocked face, and she read his eyes, as the Elves sometimes do, when words cannot describe.
*Why would you do that?* the eyes pleaded her silently. *I love you far more than to have you be chained here in Rivendell with me. I saved you for a reason; so that your life could go on as it should. Fate has led us here, so please keep following it.* Riania stared down at her trembling hands.
"Riania," Miroros told her. "When your parents and friend were killed by orcs, you were able to somehow move on. Now, when I am only crippled and not yet dead, and it's been so long… Can you not move on from this?" Riania broke down in a fit of sobs.
"Miroros, I can barely remember my parents and friend anymore," she wept. "But you are still here, and I am reminded of my stupidity and how I couldn't run from the dragon. I could have saved you by running, but instead I stood petrified and you were forced to give up EVERTHING you had! And I live on normally, pretty and ignorant…"
"You're not ignorant," interrupted Miroros softly. But she dragged on.
"I keep forgetting how it COULD have been, and then I fall in love! But how would I ever get to see you when Sriosno is the King of Mirkwood? I would have to move away and…"
"Riania," soothed Miroros. "You have done nothing wrong. I chose to save you because I love you as I would a sister. How can you not see that? I had given up grieving over my body long ago and learned to accept it-as you should. Please… Stop crying…" She looked into his eyes, but he kept his emotions to himself. She wiped the tears away from her swollen eyes.
"Now," Miroros continued, smiling, "I believe Sriosnio wishes to propose?" Riania laughed weakly.
"I guess," she replied. She leaned down and they embraced.
"Now go," ordered Miroros playfully. "Sriosno will be awaiting you in the gardens."