Anne would not have imagined Elentir living in such a small place. She knew that he was someone who craved nature and sunlight—the apartment building gave neither. She knocked softly on the door, the necklace in her free hand growing warm with an amazing life of its own. She was greeted by Gavin, who graciously welcomed her in for some of his famous coffee. "Elentir left in quite a hurry," he said while sitting on the couch he had folded. "But I promise he wasn't running from you."
"I wouldn't be surprised at all," Anne replied after a sip of the thick brew. "Gavin, I think I scared the living daylights out of him. The way…the way he looked at me when I…" She sighed and shook her head, eyes fluttering closed.
"There's nothing wrong with you," Gavin coaxed, "if that's what you're thinking. Elentir…he's got some flukes about him that just can't be dealt with. We both know he's from a different place, but I think I can say we both forgot that his culture is most likely different as well." Anne leaned forward in interest, the heavy aroma of the fumes clearing her mind.
"Are you talking about something in particular, Gav?" she asked.
"It's just…" He paused, holding a deep breath. "Well, he made an odd comment the other night."
"What sort of odd comment?" Anne pried.
"It was…it was after he found out one of his friends was coming to visit. He said it would be nice to see someone other than men, like you and me, for a change." Anne cleared her throat promptly and set her cup down on the replaced center table.
"What does that mean?" Gavin scowled, half-regretting he brought it up.
"I'm not sure, but I think we'll find out when his Elven friend arrives." Anne smiled again and sighed.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Gavin. You probably just misunderstood." Gavin shook his head in argument.
"No, I didn't misunderstand. I think his people look down on us. Whoever they are, they're somehow better than us, and Elentir just has been nice enough not to share it."
"Us?" Anne giggled. "Gavin, what are you talking about? Elentir is our friend, and a good one at that. I'm surprised you can even think such a thing, I mean, Gavin! He's letting you stay in his house! He's giving you a home and a meal every night." Gavin's head dropped.
"How terrible of me…" Anne reached across to his shoulder, smiling still.
"You're not terrible." He looked up and began to grin, Anne giggling again.
"It just struck me as odd that he would say such a thing. I understand he's nothing aside from loyal and true, as a friend, but…but something about his blood kept him…" Gavin's voice disappeared as he realized where it was going.
"Kept him from what?" Anne encouraged.
"Kept him from repeating all of those nice things you said to him back to you." Anne leaned back, stunned. Gavin saw what he had done and immediately wished he could take it back. "Oh, Anne, that came out all wrong…"
"No, no I get it," she muttered back. "I guess I just needed to hear it a bit more clearly." Her eyes had turned cold, and she was practically sneering. As if timing weren't any worse, the door opened and Elentir cheerfully slipped in.
"Well, they said the owner called again, and great stars, Gavin, you won't believe who…" He turned and saw that there was company. "Oh, hello Anne, I didn't know you were coming over."
"I should leave," she immediately snapped, and stood. The necklace was returned on the table.
"Oh, you brought the necklace, excellent," Elentir discovered. "I was afraid I might have to come get it." Anne jumped to her feet, her hands forming two tight knots. Elentir was caught off guard by how thin her lips were pulled.
"Heaven forbid you should have to see me, Elentir!" she cried. Gavin's face lowered to his hands. Elentir was hurt and almost backed at her words.
"Anne…what's wrong?" he asked worriedly. Gavin stood and walked to Elentir's room, closing the door behind him. The disturbance only delayed the confrontation. " Is…is this about the other night?"
"Yes, it's about the other night!" she answered, ignoring his low voice. "Is there something so wrong with me, Elly? I mean, I can't help who I am, and if you can't accept me, then maybe we shouldn't be friends either."
"There's nothing wrong with you, Anne. You're a wonderful person," Elentir replied coolly before sitting down. Anne refused to sit, but was so tense, she couldn't. "I…I just didn't want to be more than friends." He looked up to her with complete honesty. She relaxed, signaling a wave of tears.
"That's not what Gavin said," she said, calming. Elentir looked to the door with a determined glare. "No, don't blame him for anything. Just tell me the truth. Why didn't you want to…to be with me?" He gazed back to Anne, his shoulders falling. She slowly sat next to him, pleading for an answer.
"It's more complicated than you think," Elentir began, eyes downcast. "Here in the city…you can be whoever you want. Not everyone has to like it, but it's all right." Anne nodded, still listening, but not any less confused. If Elentir thought she was so wonderful, why shouldn't they be more than friends? "Back home, however, people don't…they don't mix this well. The races are separated, but…but for a good reason."
"I don't care about the color of your skin, Elly," Anne confessed, on the verge of tears. "All I care about is you."
"I care for you too, but it's not about skin. It's deeper than that, it's… it's blood." She sniffed and pushed back a strand of her hair.
"Is it money?"
"No," Elentir replied, growing more frustrated. "This is so hard to explain!" He stood and began to pace, as he had done many times before when upset. "I…I can't marry a mortal. It just doesn't work."
"I don't think I'm a mortal," Anne ignorantly replied.
"Yes, you are," Elentir chuckled, although the subject was not humorous. "You, Gavin, Mr. Wilson, the man at the bakery…you're all mortals. You're not Elven…the ears, the hair…" He hadn't ever needed to elaborate on such things before. The details of the difference between men and Elves were understood perfectly in Neverwinter.
"I've seen people with worse deformities than your ears, Elentir, and anyone can have long hair," Anne quickly rebutted. "What you're describing is only skin deep!"
"Aye, but it is not!" he exclaimed. "Anne, your blood will run thin and disappear. Your bones will break, and your soul will leave you…I…" He could see the confused fear in her eyes. "I was born with these ears, as my mother, and my father. Anne, my younger sister is over one thousand years old." Anne was understanding…her eyes scanned the ground as her mind slowly centered on all of these things. "We look like this because we are different from you. We are forever." The bedroom door opened and Gavin peered into the silence. Elentir looked at him with a defeated expression. He was not mad at his friend, only bewildered that he had doubted their friendship, and even his friendship with Anne.
"So…what are you saying?" Gavin asked quietly, passing by the bow and guitar. "You've got some fountain of youth in you?"
"If you want to call it that," Elentir replied. Gavin glanced to Anne, who was still in shock. "Please, don't let this change anything. I don't want to frighten either of you because you've been so nice to me." They would not look at his eyes. "All you need in the city is a good place and good friends…I can't be happy without the most important one." Anne glanced up and began to smile; she had heard the phrase before. She stood and wrapped her arms about his neck, a stretch, but still something that seemed too right. He sighed and returned the embrace, more than elated that she had forgiven him for his foolish babbling. As soon as they parted, Anne had the sensation of her stomach spinning in place. She knew part of her would always think of Elentir in a softer way, and still, she knew not why.
"Elentir, all I could ever want is to be your friend; I don't care where you come from, you're here now and that's all that matters." Gavin smiled also and rose.
"It's my fault, Elly, I shouldn't have thought anything of it."
"Nonsense. I won't have another word about it. Legolas is coming soon, and I won't even think of him not meeting my two friends that I've been telling him about for weeks." Anne, whose senses were still dancing from Elentir's mere touch, glanced to her wrist.
"It's late. If you guys need to clean this place up…" Elentir's expression fell.
"You…don't think it's clean?" Gavin's eyes dramatically spun as he let out a comic moan.
"Of course, it's clean, Elentir."
"What isn't clean about it, Anne?" She giggled and shook her head.
"I'll see you guys later." Elentir was already rummaging through everything again.
"What's not clean?" Gavin sighed and slowly fixed anything Elentir was upsetting. "I cleaned everything…"
"Elentir, it's fine."