She had just opened her heart to him, painting a vivid picture of her childhood in the ancient forest, of her wise grandmother Sylvara, and the shocking truth of her lineage—a heritage that tied her to both the enigmatic dark elves and the noble royal family.
It was a tale of a girl who had once known only the whispers of leaves and the songs of birds—a life far removed from the suffocating burdens of royalty and politics, a life that to her had been the very definition of ho.
"So you were living in the forest all those years," Mikhailis said softly, his voice tinged with wonder. "And your grandmother, she was a retired druid?" He shook his head, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.
In his mind's eye, he could almost see a young Elowen darting between ancient trees, her laughter echoing through the woods as her grandmother watched over her with loving eyes, teaching her the old ways.
Elowen nodded, her slender fingers absently brushing a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze dropped to her lap, her voice a mixture of wistful nostalgia and lingering regret.
"Yes, she was a druid… My parents entrusted to her because of how I looked—they knew I would face... challenges if I stayed in the castle." She paused, her golden eyes growing misty. "You see, it had been generations since a dark elf was born into the royal line, and when I ca into this world..." Her voice faltered.
"I was the spitting image of those old portraits—dark skin, golden eyes, like a ghost from the past co to life. My parents... they understood what it ant—the power I might one day wield. But they also knew the danger it put in. So they hid away with my grandmother, in the heart of the forest."
Mikhailis watched her closely, noticing the slight tremor in her hands. She was fighting to maintain her composure, but the cracks were showing. The ntion of her parents had clearly reopened old wounds—reminding her of the loss she'd endured, how her simple life had been shattered by their deaths.
Her grandmother had raised her with love, yet fate had cruelly thrust her into a role she'd never asked for.
"And then they died," she whispered, her voice breaking. "The great war took them from . They were... assassinated. I was brought back to the castle, expected to beco a queen overnight." Her eyes closed, and she took a shuddering breath before eting his gaze again, vulnerability shining in their golden depths.
"For five long years, I learned what it ant to be a ruler. But even then, I always longed to return to my forest—to Grandma. To the life we had." She paused, her voice trembling. "But I couldn't. Word reached that she had... passed away peacefully.
But I never got the chance to say goodbye."
The carriage rattled gently as they moved, but inside, there was only the heavy silence of a heart laying itself bare.
Mikhailis felt his chest tighten, and without thinking, his hand found hers, squeezing gently. Elowen's eyes widened at the touch, tears threatening to spill over, her emotions raw and exposed.
"She was everything to ," she whispered, the first tears finally rolling down her cheeks. "And I couldn't be there..."
"Elowen..." Mikhailis said softly, his hand tightening around hers. He could see the pain etched in every line of her face, the crushing loneliness of losing soone so dear and being unable to share those final monts.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "It's all okay now. You're here, and you're safe. And your grandmother... she's at peace. She's watching over you, I'm sure of it."
A small sob escaped her lips, and she leaned forward, burying her face against his chest.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Thank you, Mikhailis."
He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, holding her as she cried—not saying anything more, just offering his presence. Mikhailis knew he wasn't always good with words, but he understood that sotis, words weren't what a person needed. Sotis, all they needed was soone to be there—a steady anchor in the storm of their emotions.
They stayed like that for a while, the rhythmic sound of carriage wheels blending with her quiet sobs. Eventually, Elowen pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She offered him a small, grateful smile that made his heart skip a beat.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice still a little shaky. "I didn't an to get so emotional..."
Mikhailis shook his head, smiling gently. "Don't apologize. You have every right to feel what you're feeling." He paused, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze. "And I'm honored that you trusted enough to share your story."
Elowen looked at him, her eyes searching his face, and for a mont, it felt as if the air between them shifted—sothing deepening, sothing changing. She took a deep breath, her lips trembling slightly as she smiled.
"Thank you," she whispered again, the words carrying a weight beyond their simplicity.
Suddenly, a soft chi interrupted the mont, and Rodion's robotic voice echoed in Mikhailis's ear.
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