"Dark Eyes by toweringman"
By robblu (https://pastebin.com/u/robblu)

URL: https://pastebin.com/2q1Uu9Ej
Created on: Tuesday 24th of May 2016 08:39:28 PM CDT
Retrieved on: Saturday 31 of October 2020 03:35:59 AM UTC


Dark eyes

Wind flapped the hem of Elayna's tunic as she walked along the dirt road. She welcomed the wind, because it already carried the scent of summer. The past winter was something she wanted to forget. Not having enough money to afford a bed at nights was a real pain in the ribs, literally. But she had put something away every day so she could make the most of the summer. Maybe just walk south until she found a place where snow didn't fall in the winter, where she could work light and eat heavy.
The beech forests around here reminded her of home. Of how the sunlight slanted through the trees one saturday morning when she turned for a last look at the village. How the light framed the distant shapes of her mother and father, waving her goodbye, the small shape of her little sister beside their mother, waving her little hand too. Elayna wondered if she remembered her older sister anymore, the one that left and never came back.

It was strange how that memory was so strong and real, as if it were just a week ago. How many years had it been? Must be closer to ten than five. It had been a peaceful life, with a lot of love and care from her family and kin. Work at the fields, the smell of fresh bread when she came home, the like. A perfect living for some. Not for her. Not that she disliked peace and quiet, or fresh bread. That last, her stomach was quite dying to have right now. It was just that the familiar and easy-going routine was not enough. Maybe after ten more years of travelling the world, she would be satisfied with that kind of life. Still, she did find herself crying in the middle of the night sometimes, thinking of her long gone home when she shivered under a bush. But it was only in the dark hours after midnight, when the sad and frightening things were closest to the heart. She tugged a stalk of timothy from the side of the road and stuck it in her mouth, chewing on it. She should visit them sometime. She had thought of that every year.

The road turned down a slope, and a couple of whitewashed houses came to view. Elayna grinned. This was the life.

The village ahead looked like a good start to her summer. Not too big, but not too quiet either, maybe a hundred and twenty houses in all. There should be some good taverns there, with fine drink to be had and a soft bed to sleep on. Well toss that. If she had her way she wouldn't need the bed for sleeping. She had washed and combed her dark brown hair to a soft sheen this morning, and the top button of her tunic was left open to make the low neckline even more attractive. A thin silver chain circled ner neck snugly, matched by tinkling earrings. She had a touch of eyeshadow around her blue eyes and her lashes wore mascara. It was not in her style normally, but by god she had been so bored for half a year that she was willing to provoke a bit.

She walked down the road to the village, taking her time, her backpack feeling light as she weighed the choice of ale against cider and wine. She checked her breeches and the hem of her tunic to see they didn't display too much dirt, whistling a bit. She was going to put some snap into this place right now.

The road changed into the main street of the village. The shops lining the street were abustle with the good country folk running their trades, busy even this late in the evening. Cabinetmakers, seamstresses, weavers and barbers, even a herbalist's shop. It might be fun to visit a few of those tomorrow before walking on, but now she was looking for a place to throw her backpack in, get some food and catch some good dance music. A wooden sign hung ahead of her over a tavern door. Three Crowns. Elayna rolled her eyes. There must be a Three Crowns in every third village, or some other number of crowns in any case. She wanted something with a little punch.

Turning at a corner to scan the signs of the crossing street, she spotted one with two big brown birds prancing around each other. The Fighting Capercaillies. She smiled. Well that had some imagination to it. Maybe the food would be inspired, too. She set step towards the tavern, admiring the skillfully carved windowpanes as she came closer. It had an air of quality to it, just the sort she was looking to put some of her savings into. She swung open the heavy door and was met by a delicious smell of roasted potatoes and beef that made her mouth water.

"Welcome lass," a graying woman with a big smile called from the door to the common room. "Be right there."

Elayna walked past the sturdy reception desk to take a peek up the staircase. A woven tapestry hung on the wall along the stairs, another good sign. She smiled as the woman came to the front hall, wiping her hands with a cloth. "Hello there young mistress," the woman said. "Looking for accommodations?"

"And a good hot meal," Elayna said with a grin.

"Well you've found the right place," the lady said merrily. She put on reading glasses and thumbed open a book, then looked up at Elayna. "One?"

"Yeah," she said with a rueful smile. "For now."

The woman smiled fondly. "Four pounds for single room, meal and breakfast."

Elayna dug out her purse. It was not too bad at all.

Soon she was climbing the stairs with key in hand, feeling good about this place. She found her room and opened the door. The bed was really big, and there was even a comfortable-looking armchair. If not for her stomach grumbling she would have tried the bed. She set her backpack on the floor and eyed the bed again. Well, the food could wait for a few minutes more. She lay down on the soft mattress, careful to leave her dusty boots and hem outside, and sighed with pleasure. So soft. A bit too soft even, for some things she had in mind, but that could be lived with. She relaxed for a while and then sat up, smoothed her hair a bit in front of the mirror hanging on the wall, then headed downstairs.

The common room was big and stylish, with dark wooden beams across the low white-painted ceiling, and carved wooden panels along the walls. There was a good number of folk there already, some eating, some chatting over mugs of ale. She gathered approving smiles as soon as she stepped in.

"Hey miss," a fellow from a nearby table called with a winning smile. "Join us for a cider?"

Elayna beamed. "Later, ok?" He was fine-looking, with light brown hair and a slender body. Certainly someone to catch for a chat later, to start with. She waved her hand to him and his friends as she walked past their table. It was nice to be appreciated.

The innkeeper, Anne as she had told Elayna to call her, had a table ready for her in a cozy booth opposite the common door.

"There you are", Anne said. "Just in good time." She motioned for Elayna to sit down and poured ale into a green glass, then went to the kitchen and returned with an assortment of plates on a large wooden tray. "'A lot of everything', wasn't that it?", she said with a warm smile. "Oh, and be sure to catch the music and dance later in the evening."

Elayna's mouth watered at the array of food. Fresh rolls piled high next to a block of butter, roasted potatoes and meat pies, sliced ham, two kinds of salad and a dozen things Elayna didn't even know a name for. Oh, this was worth her four pounds twice over. She picked up knife and fork and happily lost herself in the feast.

Finally she took the last roll and spread the remaining butter on it, nibbling it in contentment. Her stomach was more than full, but she was not going to leave anything. The room held a lot more folk now. Her skin tingled from excitement as she ran her eyes across the people. This was what she was looking for. There was a nice bearded man a few tables from her, not much older than her, maybe twenty-six or so with strong arms and dark hair, laughing with his pals. Elayna watched him for a while, then smiled, stood up from her table and headed to where he was sitting. Her eyes caught a reddish-haired young woman sitting next to him, previously hidden from her view. The girl laughed with the rest of them and then ruffled the bearded fellow's hair. A girlfriend, then, probably. Elayna didn't mind. With a full stomach and an inn full of pleasant folk, she was not about to think twice over a man already taken, no matter how strong his arms were. She scanned the rest of his friends with mild interest as she passed the table, then picked out another table full of young men, this time with no girls. She walked to the table and leaned over the back of an unoccupied chair with a smile.

"You mind if I sit here for a while?", she said.

"The longer a while, the less we mind," a brown-haired man said with a twinkle in his blue eyes. Elayna couldn't help but giggle. She liked people who had a way with words. His hair curled nicely around his ears, too. She sat down and waved her hand to a serving girl.

"A cider," she yelled over the din, then turned back to the table. There were four men in all, all seeming like jolly fellows.

"I'm Elayna, nice to meet you," she said with a smile.

"David," the blue-eyed man replied. "A pleasure."

"William," the dark-haired one sitting next to him said. He seemed a bit too flashy for Elayna's tastes, with a slick grin and his shirt unbuttoned at the top. Elayna suddenly realized she had her own tunic unbuttoned too. Ah well, she thought with a smile. Shouldn't be too quick to judge.

"Peter." The brown-haired man beside her in a striped shirt was a bit heavier, around the waist particularly. Not that it should matter really, but Elayna kind of liked the slender type more.

"Mathias," the last man said, his grey eyes kind as he smiled at her. He had long hair gathered in a ponytail at the neck and a nice white shirt with green embroidery. Close second after David.

The serving maid came to the table and set a mug of cider in front of Elayna with a smile that she directed at the men too. Elayna thanked her and sipped at the drink. Sweet and nice.

"So, you all from around here?", Elayna asked.

"Yes," Peter said, sounding like it was a bad thing.

"Peter here would like to travel, but he needs to finish his apprenticeship with the tailor first", David said with a grin.

"How long does that take?", Elayna asked.

"Two years at least," Peter said with a sigh. "It's not like I don't want to be a master as soon as possible, but it would be so nice to get around a bit."

"Despite his looks Peter is the hardest worker you'll ever meet," William said. "Puts higher standards for his work than his master ever has." He slapped Peter on the shoulder. The rest murmured in agreement. Good fellows.

Elayna immersed herself in the conversation and the good cider. They were all such nice men. As she chattered with them, telling tales of her travels, exaggerating just a bit, laughing and enjoying the cider, the inn slowly filled with people. The remaining chairs at her table filled too. She was having a hard time remembering the names of all the men around the table. It was not like there weren't a lot of other girls at the inn too, but a lot of the fellows seemed to prefer her over the local girls. She was feeling good, getting so much attention and having such a good time. She was looking forward to the dance, and to what might happened after that. She was beginning to choose who to dance with. The thought warmed her inside. She wanted to have some love tonight.

At a clamor near the common door she looked up and saw the musicians coming in, greeted with clapping and cheers. They threaded through the crowd to the raised platform at the side of the room. People pulled tables further away from the dancefloor facing the platform. The musicians, two men and a woman in white shirts and trousers, waved at the people as they set their instrument cases on the side of the platform and sat on stools. The taller, blond-haired man took a zither out of his case and plucked it softly for a while with his fingers, adjusting the tuning, then pulled out two slender hammers and started playing a beautiful melody. The crowd quieted down and listened to the elaborate notes he twined together with his instrument. The other musicians went to fetch water and ale as he continued playing, then returned and picked up their instruments, a goblet-shaped clay drum and a long flute. The first man let the notes of his instrument turn slowly into a quiet stream of melodies that ended in a intricate chord. The crowd was silent as the last note fell. As the sound faded, the man suddenly continued with a bright and fast variation of the melody, and the drum started a catchy rhythm with lots of intricate rolls and snaps. Elayna's foot began to tap on the floor.

"Dance with me?", she asked David.

"With pleasure." David rose and took her hand as they headed to the dancefloor. People were already dancing, but there was plenty of room. Elayna let herself be carried away by the slightly exotic rhythms and melodies, by the haunting voice of the flute.

After five tunes or so she stopped to take a deep breath. David danced well.

"Let's take a break for a while," she said.

They walked back to the table through the milling mass of people. Elayna ordered another cider and lay back with a happy sigh. Some people had left the table to dance or maybe to see their friends in other tables, but as soon as she returned, many nearby men turned back to her table or returned from elsewhere. She couldn't help smiling.

Suddenly she noticed many of her table companions' heads turning to the common door, and she sat a bit straighter to see for herself. More musicians, maybe? Following the gaze of the people by the door her eyes met a young woman who was walking in. Her dark hair reached to her dark brown eyes, with two long slender braids that hung at her cheeks and the rest cut short at the back. Younger than Elayna, she wore a white shirt and a short brown skirt. Elayna didn't need the men's reactions to see that she was very pretty. Some of the men standing beside Elayna with their mugs of ale in hand started towards the door at sight of the new girl. Elayna gritted her teeth. All of them really didn't need to crane their necks so much to see her. Maybe she could just turn around when she saw how full the room was and go somewhere else?

No chance of that, though. The dark-eyed girl walked through the crowd followed by interested eyes, and sat down at a table. Immediately a crowd gathered around her and the chairs of her table filled in a blink. Elayna tried to loosen her jaws a bit.

"Is she from around?", she managed with a smile.

"No," William said slowly, turning his head back. "Never seen her before."

"Right," Elayna muttered under her breath. So she would have to share that advantage with the girl. There was no reason to hate her for it, but Elayna found it easier to just try to forget her. Which would have been a great deal easier had the girl not sat in her view.

As the evening changed into night, she did not quite forget about the girl but she did accept her, in a way. Glancing at her every now and then, Elayna began to feel that the girl was a lot like her, out in the world wanting to enjoy the company of others, trying to find nice people to talk with and be happy with. To find someone special, perhaps. But Elayna saw it in her eyes as the girl watched her own table companions, the same feelings she had. She looked just a little bit sad and alone, even here with so many happy people.

The thing was, Elayna liked the men in her table, liked most of them a lot. They were good honest fellows. Just... not what she was looking for. Up to this morning she had thought she just wanted to let herself loose and have fun, to have sex with someone to make up for all the boring months. She had thought that anyone could do as long as he was nice and fun and reasonably good-looking. It was just that now that she had a good selection of those, it seemed like the world's notion of "anyone" was not the same as hers. Or maybe she just wasn't as wild and easy-going as she liked to think. The better she got to know them, the more she felt like being friends with them, not kissing them. Some were too nice and kind to think of in that way. Some were too rough with their talk. Some were enjoying the ale a bit too much. Mathias was all but sleeping, his far-between comments getting nonsensical. Elayna didn't want to be too picky, but being with a drunk just didn't hold any interest at all. All of her thoughts she could see reflected at the other girl's table. She too seemed to be enjoying the attention and her company, but the way her eyes wandered off from her table and into the crowd told Elayna that she, neither, had found what she wanted the most.


Elayna turned her eyes to David. He was witty, handsome and was still acting fresh. What more did she want? Yet after chatting and dancing with him for a few hours, Elayna didn't feel like doing it with him. She just didn't. She cursed herself in her mind. She had specifically decided to pick a cute fellow and trip him into bed, and never mind if it didn't become the love story of the century. But that kind of thing was really easy to decide when you were caged in a boring little village all winter, waiting for the snows to clear off the roads. Here and now, after everything, it was not something she could make herself do.

"Well, boys and charming Elayna," David said as he rose. Elayna blinked. "Unfortunately I have work at sunrise, and as much as I would want to stay here all night in this wonderful company, I fear I would run the real risk of losing my job. So." Elayna's heart jumped to her throat. This was her chance. If she really wanted to do it, now was the last opportunity. She had wanted this for four months, every night.

"I hope to meet you again, if you stay in this town longer," he said to Elayna.

"Sure." Elayna felt her heart pounding. She did want it, wanted to have someone tonight. But not him.

"See you," William said, slapping David on the back. "And show them how it's done." The rest wished him a good night, and Elayna waved her hand as her turned away. She felt like hitting her head against the wall. What the hell did she think was wrong with David, after all? She was never going to get anyone this way. She almost felt like crying.

With him gone, she couldn't even start considering any of the rest. How easy it was to find someone's good points after they turned their back. She looked to the table with the dark-eyed girl. She was smiling and laughing. Elayna turned her face away, then rose.

"I think I'll go see if a friend of mine is here," she said to her companions. "I'll be back in a while." They nodded and turned back to their conversation.

Elayna wove between the tables, lost in thought as she scanned the people. She needed to learn something now. She had to stop waiting for something miraculous to happen and just live out her dreams. Forget David. There were other nice men here. She could pick the cutest and trip him into bed just like she had hoped to. And he would probably be better than David. She remembered the slender fellow from earlier, who had noticed her when she came to eat, and headed where he had sat. Arriving at the table, she saw that he still sat there. Only drunk beyond even noticing her. She walked past. So much for that, another one to forget. She picked another table at random and headed there.

By the time Elayna returned to her original table, the musicians had given room to another group playing accordeons and keyed fiddles. William and Peter greeted her with smiles. Elayna smiled back.

"Anyone like to dance?", she said.

"Sure thing," Peter said. Elayna didn't mind at all that it was him, she wanted to rest her thoughts a bit and get caught in the spinning steps of the polska the band was playing. And to her surprise, Peter danced like a prince. So much for appearances. For a long while, Elayna drowned her worries in laughter and dance.

As she tried to keep from tripping over her feet in the intricate steps of the mazurka, Elayna looked up to see the dark-eyed girl in front of her. Up close she was beautiful, with slightly tilted eyes and dark eyebrows, and nicely round cheeks. Elayna was surprised to see that the girl was shorter than her, and younger than she had thought. Her elegant stance just made her look older. Elayna turned her eyes away as she spun with Peter into the dancing crowd, her mind on the steps again. As they traveled around the floor, she caught more glimpses of the girl. She danced beautifully. Her partner, a tall man with dark hair, danced reasonably well too, and seemed to be enjoying it a lot. The way the girl looked at him, though, told Elayna her speculations had been true. The girl was enjoying the dance, but she did not look at the man in the way the man looked at her. Elayna didn't dislike her at all any more. More than anything, she felt sorry for her.

After a couple of tunes Elayna and Peter returned to their table. The dancing had made her feel good again. And thirsty. She called for a pint of water and joined the conversation, although she participated only half-heartedly. She was going to do it. She set to eyeing the people around her table, trying to imagine who would be nice. She should make this simple to herself. Who was the one who sparked her sensuality the most? Someone who was pleasant but not too bland, with a bit of style, who made her feel liked. Someone she would like to hug.

She wondered where that last had came from. But maybe that was what she was looking for, to start with before getting all hot and intimate.

She noticed the other girl had returned to her table too. Again she looked the same as Elayna felt. Enjoying herself but desperately longing for something more, the way she gazed into the distance. Poor thing. Elayna turned her eyes to her own table, then back to the girl. If there was someone in this room Elayna wanted to hug, it was the dark-eyed girl.

She started at her own thoughts. That was not the kind of hug she had had in mind a moment ago. She scratched her hair, then noticed what she was doing and picked up her mug instead, drinking deeply. She lay the mug down and caught the end of the joke William was telling, laughing with the others for a while. She raised her eyes back to the young woman, suddenly feeling like an idiot for being so self-conscious. She let herself look openly at her. After a while the girl turned and met her eyes for a moment, blinking away soon. Elayna continued to rest her gaze on her. The girl did have more elegance than anyone else in this room. She glanced at Elayna again and quickly turned her eyes away as she saw her still looking at her, her expression taking on a slightly flustered tone. Really cute.

The night darkened outside the windows. Elayna went to walk around the room a few times more, danced a bit more. She tried to list in her mind the people that made her feel sensual and loving. People who felt special. And then put them in order. Because that was the only way she would ever get herself to take the iniative with anyone. Who was the one she would choose, if she could take anyone? Who was the most special, the one that made her imagination soar? Nice jolly fellows they were, but they just didn't strike that kind of inspiration in her. And she didn't know whether she was just being sensible or simply the biggest selfish fool in the world for thinking that way. She lifted her eyes from her mug to the girl once more. Turn it in her head as much as she would, the dark-eyed girl was the one that made her feel the best. So beautiful and charming. Elegant and special beyond anyone else, like a lonely little angel among the common folk. If Elayna really could choose anyone to have, she would take the girl. The thought made her skin tingle, even as it confused her. But she was special, even if all that was special about her was in Elayna's mind.

She shook her head. She would never go into that if not for the countless hours of trying to direct her desire at something that wasn't there, but still this was the most pleasant thought in hours. She let herself imagine the girl without clothes, or maybe with just a bit on. Covering herself with her hands. Eyes closed for a kiss. Accept it or not, that made Elayna feel more breathless than anything else she had had in mind today. Imagining what it would be like with her.

Not that it would ever happen. And that was why it felt so good. Because she didn't have to be afraid of actually trying to make it true. She took a sip from her cider and turned the mug in her hands as she gazed at the girl, having her way with her in her thoughts. The girl looked at her then, catching something in her eyes. She did look away, but not as quickly as before, and now she was definitely at the point of blushing from Elayna's direct look of appreciation. Elayna wondered if she had had too much drink already, but she knew she had only had three ciders. She could only blame her thought games, and just generally being an undecisive idiot. She turned her gaze to her companions, feeling good for the pleasant thoughts and the warmth in her body, but at the same time feeling lost in this world. Why did she have to live out fantasies in her mind instead of living her life to the fullest? All that was going to happen tonight was that she went to her bed alone and cried herself to sleep. No. Better to dance till morning and then travel on. She slapped Peter on the shoulder.

"You going to stay the whole night?", she asked him.

"Sorry", the round fellow said. "Can't, really. Too much to do tomorrow."

"Too bad. William?"

"I'd love to, but I guess I gotta drag Mathias out soon, and get some sleep myself too."

Elayna grimaced. So. Everyone was going to leave sooner or later. Maybe she should sleep too. She would just feel even worse tomorrow if she put it off.

"But not quite yet. Couple of pints more," William said with a grin. Elayna smiled. She wondered if there had been something in her expression. They were good fellows who deserved the love of someone equally nice.

"Great! I don't mind staying a bit more either." After all, having a good time and good cider was, if not what she had been hoping for the most, certainly the second best thing to it. And the evening was not over. Who was to say that the perfect man would not walk in any moment now. She grinned. And waiting for that, she could enjoy her newfound fantasy some more. She had only gotten so far yet. She turned her eyes to the girl's table and noticed she wasn't there anymore. Scanning the dancefloor, she still couldn't spot her. Maybe she was in the crowd, maybe gone. Which, she noted with a rueful smile, was what she had hoped for when she first saw her. So much for that then. Maybe she should visit her table to see her collection of men. Still, her mind lingered on the girl. After the thought of her naked she could not well change her into a man without a certain discontinuity. Damn her vivid mind. Any hairy man, no matter how fine, just didn't compare well with her. She shook her head again. This was getting out of hand. Forget the girl now. It should be easier than forgetting David. If she was going to get something tonight, she should focus on what could actually happen and act to make it so.

She took her mug and emptied the last of the cider into her mouth, then rose.

"Be right back," she said to her friends, then headed to the common door. Turning left along the hallway and into a smaller corridor she entered the ladies' restroom and stopped to look at herself in the mirror. Washing her face might clear her mind up a bit. She felt angry at herself for her foolish thought games. It was just like with David. Focus on something minor until your chances were gone, and then regret it. There was a room full of men there. She should do what she had had in mind all along. She splashed cold water on her face and dried it on the fresh towel hanging on the wall. Now. Go back and grab your chance as soon as you get it. She arranged her hair a bit and took a deep breath, then opened the door to the corridor, cheering herself on.



As she stepped out of the restroom her eyes met the dark-eyed girl in front of her. She looked as surprised as Elayna. In the back of her mind Elayna noted that she had opened the door with a bit of force. She slowed her step a bit to avoid bumping into the girl, then moved to pass by her, but her eyes stayed on the girl's eyes. Dark beautiful eyes, a bit wide with surprise. After everything Elayna had gone through in her mind this was plenty to make her a bit breathless. She could almost laugh at herself for tangling such a fine knot in her mind from nothing at all, and maybe later she would. She tried to make her steps regain some speed, but looking at the girl's eyes her feet just stopped in place. She had just cheered herself on to go and make her life the way she wanted it. She did nothing to stop herself as her arms went around the girl and her lips met hers. Her body felt even better than in her imagination. She had said she liked the slender ones more after all. She pressed the girl gently against the wall as she slipped her tongue into her mouth. So much softer than any kiss she had ever had.

Only now did she notice the hands tightly holding onto her shoulders. Her heart beat hard as she kissed the girl a while more and then parted their lips, touching the tip of girl's nose with her own. The girl opened her eyes slowly and looked at her. Elayna's heart leaped at the look on her face. There was the blush she had dreamed of, the breathlessness, the wet lips and something even better than she had imagined. A look of defiance that made her want to give her everything to have this girl.

"I want you," Elayna said quietly, stunned at her own words.

"Then take me." Her voice was beautiful too, high and soft with an accent that reminded Elayna of home, and with the same defiance as her expression.

Elayna gently brushed the girl's cheek with her fingers, finding her lips with hers again. Her knees felt so weak she might buckle on the floor if she didn't hold on to the girl. The girl who had just told her to take her. Her head spun.

She pulled herself away from the heavenly soft lips with main effort. Remotely she thought that she should get her feet moving or she would collapse after all from the surprise that was still pounding at her head like a hammer.

She took the girl's hand and looked her in the eyes. She seemed to have as hard a time accepting what she was doing as Elayna did, but she had that glint in her eye that seemed to challenge Elayna to show the depth of her passion. Elayna pulled the girl with her as she started towards the hallway, determined to keep up her pace so she didn't have time to lose her courage. The hand in hers was so warm and soft, with a firm grip that made Elayna's heart beat even harder as she walked up the stairs, trying not to rush. She rounded the corner down the corridor and reached her door, then turned to look at the girl beside her. She wasn't afraid of losing her courage any more. Looking at her like this, imagining what they would be doing in ten minutes, made her feel like her head was stuffed with sweet warm clouds of disbelief and ecstasy.

She dug the key from her pocket and turned it in the lock, then opened the door and let the other girl go in first, watching her as she passed beside her, admiring her slim waist as the girl looked around the room. Elayna stepped inside after her and closed the door silently while the girl turned back to her. Her skin tingled as she gently took the girl in her arms, then brushed the dark hair from her cheek and kissed her, savouring her soft lips and tongue.

Minutes passed as they got to know each other's favourite kisses, their hands twining in each other's hair, holding each other. The way the younger woman touched Elayna was so different from what she had ever felt from anyone before. Such loving and tender hands that Elayna would let the her do anything she wanted with her. She felt none of the reservedness she did when with a man. She slid her hands softly to the girl's neckline and undid the top button of her shirt, then bent to kiss her on the soft skin of her neck, on her collar, on her chest. The girl's hands caressed Elayna's hair, sliding around her neck as Elayna undid another button to reveal her lovely cleavage, brushing her lips along the line of the girl's bra before pressing a few kisses on her breasts. She was shivering from wanting the girl so much. She straightened and took her into a deep kiss, then let her hands follow the shape of the girl's waist down to her thighs and back up, under her shirt to unbutton her short skirt.

"Would you like to take mine off, too?", she whispered and kissed the shorter girl's ear. The girl breathed in pleasure and found her way under Elayna's tunic to open the buttons of her breeches and slide them off. The feel of her soft hands at her hips was enough to make Elayna wet. For one last time she wondered how in the world all her plans had come to this, and whether she would regret it enormously later, then she silenced the thought by taking the girl's hand as she stepped out of her breeches, walking her to the bed, and gently pressing her down onto the soft mattress. She could die for that look on the girl's face as she twined their hands and slipped into bed with her, snuggling their bodies together and kissing, the dark-eyed girl's sweet perfume teasing and caressing her. She was just too soft to be true.

As Elayna parted their lips to have the first good breath of air for what could have been minutes, the shorter girl took the chance to turn herself on top and sit determinedly on Elayna. She too was panting for air as she caressed the other woman's hips and sides with her hands, tracing over the curves of Elayna's breasts to the buttons of her tunic. The look of concentration on her face as her delicate fingers worked to open the buttons gracefully was so adorable, Elayna could only barely keep herself from grabbing the girl back into her arms already. The dark-eyed girl got the buttons opened and circled Elayna's breasts with a look of wonder and delight, then lowered herself slowly onto her. The last Elayna saw was the girl brushing back her slim braid from her cheek, then she set to kissing Elayna's breasts softly and passionately. Elayna arched back her head with a moan and tangled her hands in the other girl's deliciously short hair.

After giving a thorough kissing and sucking to what was visible of Elayna's breasts under her bra, the girl pulled at the soft fabric just enough not to reveal her nipples, and continued her heavenly licking. Elayna lifted her knee and pressed her thigh softly between the girl's legs, earning the loveliest little squeak of pleasure and surprise. The girl started to lightly rub against her thigh, and Elayna shivered at the feeling of the girl's muscles working to give her pleasure. While the short-haired girl continued her loving attention on her breasts, Elayna slid her hands under her shirt to caress her smooth back. Her fingers met the clasp of her bra and she undid it with a single twist, then slipped her hands around the girl's sides to hold her breasts. This time the gasp of surprise turned midway into a moan as Elayna started to massage the lovely little breasts, kneading them gently against her palms, pressing them together and tracing her fingertips just short of her nipples, like the girl was doing to her. She trembled in ecstasy at the wetness of the soft cotton against her thigh.

Finally Elayna had enough of the soft lips teasing her breasts. She sat up, pushing the girl with her, and kissed her deeply while she gathered the hem of the girl's shirt in her hands. Moving away from her mouth Elayna pulled the shirt and bra over the girl's slim shoulders and off her arms, and tossed them on the side of the bed. She couldn't keep from admiring her pale soft skin for a few panting breaths, holding the girl under the arms, then she slid her hands to the girl's hips and pulled her closer to take a pink nipple in her mouth. Her arm went around the girl to hold her tight while the girl squirmed in pleasure. The firm pubic mound rubbing against Elayna's stomach felt too good to ignore, so she slipped her other hand into the girl's panties from the back, caressing lightly between the firm round cheeks of her bottom to finally slide her fingertips across her lovely wet lips. The girl moaned and gripped her hard as Elayna fondled her slit, gently moving her finger along the soft wet line, teasing her, never going deeper than to very slightly brush over her clitoris. She pressed a little bit firmer, her finger meeting the opening of the girl's vagina, all the while sucking firmly on her nipple. The sound of the girl's breath catching was just so satisfying. Elayna pulled her finger gently away to give a last caress over her clitoris and took her hand out of the girl's panties, letting her nipple go as well to take a look at the outraged expression on her face. She only had a short moment to enjoy it before her own tunic and bra were pulled off with determination and force that belied the girl's slim arms, and she soon found herself nude, watching in trembling pleasure and anticipation as the girl pulled down her own panties, revealing her beautiful dark pubic hair and the heavenly curves of her hips.

Then the girl lowered herself down to press her breasts on Elayna's and take her mouth into a wet kiss, finding her tongue with her own while her legs spread Elayna's thighs and her arms squeezed the two of them together in a passionate embrace. Their bodies were slippery with sweat and the girl soon found that helped in moving herself smoothly back and forth, making their breasts massage each other while she pressed her pubic mound firmly between Elayna's legs again and again. Elayna hung on to the girl, moaning to the subtle but growing sensations. This was so much further than she had gone in her imagination. She was so turned on, if the dark-haired girl continued like this she would very soon have the honor of being the first girl to have had her. The notion made a streak of pleasure shoot through her body, barely to be suppressed enough to keep her from coming right there, to last even a bit more.

The girl sensed something and got off her, brushing her lips across Elayna's breast with a dripping wet kiss on her nipple, then dropped on her side beside Elayna. Her lips met Elayna's again as her fingers traced the curves of the taller girl's body, while Elayna shivered in anticipation. The gentle small fingers found their way between Elayna's thighs and drew the line of her lips while the long-haired girl arched her back in pleasure, then she dipped her middle finger gently between Elayna's lips and pushed it in slowly, enjoying every bit until her hand was firmly against the other girl's pubic mound. It was all Elayna could do to squeeze her eyes shut in a silent wail of rapture as the slim finger slid all the way inside her, all she could do not to come. Her muscles tightened and gripped the finger, but she fought it desperately to feel these sensations for as long as possible, preferably forever.

The girl wrestled Elayna's half-heartedly resisting tongue with ease as she pulled the finger out just as slowly as it had gone in, giving a small teasing sound of delight as the tip slipped out from between Elayna's lips, then put it back and pushed it in again, even more slowly if it was possible.

Elayna's grip on the girl's hair tightened as her muscles started to spasm around the soft finger moving inside her, squeezing it so hard a dim thought was worried she would hurt the girl. She wailed and gritted her teeth in release as her hips worked to reward the girl for the loving she had given, her muscles pumping in hopelessly agonizing pleasure, warm love fluid flowing out to spill around the finger and onto the bedsheet.

After clinging to the girl for a long moment in tingling aftershock, her mind feeling like in a foggy dreamland, she opened her eyes to look at the younger girl, into her dark beautiful eyes. Her stomach fluttered with the feeling that this night would be all about blazing passion set free. She eased herself into position to lick the short-haired girl's lips lightly with her tongue and answered that insatiably provocative gaze by cupping the girl's pubic mound lovingly with her free hand, slipping her fingers down between her soft thighs enough to get them all nice and wet, and proceeding to massage the girl's nicely slippery clitoris with her fingers. In no time she had the charming girl moaning and wriggling about, kissing her in ecstasy. She took the girl's hand and put it between her own legs, joining in her moans as the girl started to pleasure her again.

As the girl started sounding like she was going to lose soon, Elayna got on top of her, keeping her hand massaging her clitoris while the girl wrapped her hands around her. Her kisses tasted so sweet as she started to pant and tighten her body, and finally she cried as she came hard, Elayna's fingers continuing to stroke her gently until she relaxed and let out a deep breath of pleasure. She was beautiful. Her heaving chest, her round soft shoulders, her small pretty teeth. In a man, there were certain parts Elayna was interested in, and many she would rather leave be without closer inspection. But this lovely little treasure trying to catch her cute breath back again was so pretty. Everything about her was so pretty.

Elayna edged closer to her and kissed her on the ear, then under her chin on her slim neck, on her collar, on her shoulder. Every part of her was so kissable. Elayna lifted the girl's slim arm and kissed it on the inside, then licked the curve on the side of her armpit, tracing the lovely form from her arm to the side of her breast, returning to kiss her armpit gently, licking and admiring it, her clitoris throbbing from desire. The girl turned to look at Elayna, her own expression reflecting the fiery longing Elayna felt. She lifted her head to climb onto the girl and looked her in the eyes, then flicked her tongue along the girl's lower lip and gave her a light kiss before diving back down to lick her other armpit. As the girl started to breathe in pleasure Elayna kissed her new favourite spot passionately while her hand fondled the girl's hips and her thighs.

She soon had the girl moaning as she teased her, drawing lines on her thighs with a feather-light touch while she kissed her thoroughly under her arm. She rose from the lovely place with a last kiss, then moved herself down to get her head between the girl's legs. The dark-eyed beauty was panting and squirming in pleasure without Elayna even touching her. If she had thought the girl beautiful before, looking at her from here made Elayna dripping wet. She kissed the girl's thighs softly and then slid her hand down the girl's pubic hair to gently part her lips with her fingers. So beautiful. Every little detail of the lovely red folds of her most intimate part, the slippery wet opening of her vagina, her beautiful clitoris. She smelled so clean and lovely, she must have washed herself just before she came here.

Elayna lie looking at the girl's enticing private places, wanting to kiss her everywhere. There wasn't a part of her Elayna didn't want to love. She wet a finger of her other hand with her tongue and gently put it inside the girl's lips, circling the opening of her vagina gently. She realized she hadn't put it inside the girl earlier. She must be dying to have it already. Elayna pressed it inside just a little, then returned to caressing the outer parts while the girl gripped Elayna's hair. Elayna quickened her movements, holding the girl's lips apart with her other hand, then slipped her wet finger over to the girl's anus instead. Again the sound of the girl's cute voice catching midway in a moan made Elayna tremble. The hands in her hair held her hard as she caressed and probed the new lovely place, enjoying the slippery wetness that flowed over from her vagina. Elayna pressed her finger gently against the tight hole and held it there until the girl's muscled relaxed, then pushed it inside a fraction of an inch, her own breath heavy from desire. The girl's anus tightened around her finger and then relaxed a bit, and Elayna continued to push, making her way to the second tight ring, and suddenly penetrated freely into the warm tightness. She stopped her finger halfway in and lifted her dreamy-feeling eyes to look at the girl. She had her eyes closed and her mouth half open in a charmingly cute look of pleasure and anticipation. Elayna pulled her finger out just a little, earning a lovely surprised gasp, then pushed it in again, rocking it back and forth with the tiniest movement, enjoying the sight of the girl's throbbing sex.

Finally she thought the girl deserved some release, and took her clitoris between her lips, licking on it softly with her tongue. The fingers in her hair tightened almost painfully, and the girl's anus squeezed hard on her finger as she cried in pleasure. Elayna continued her attention on both sides, forgetting herself in the taste of the girl's sex. She was beginning to feel so good down between her legs that she couldn't stand it any more. She moved away from the girl's thighs and turned around, then pulled the panting girl onto her so that she had her lovely hips over Elayna's head, her sex nicely exposed to receive more licking and kissing. Elayna continued her attention on the girl's clitoris while she found her anus with her finger and slipped it inside again, then had to stop to throw her head back in pleasure as the girl fumbled her way around between Elayna's legs to get at her clitoris. She lifted her thighs to give the girl more room and then continued her own activity, sweet warm fluid flowing down her cheeks as she sucked at the girl's sex, her finger tightly inside her anus.

Elayna was starting to feel like she was going to come, but she wanted to focus on the girl first. She pulled her fingers gently out and moved the girl's hips off her, then sat up straight on the bed and motioned for the heavily breathing girl to come into her lap. She took the dark-eyed beauty into a passionate kiss as their breasts pressed together again, finding the girl's clitoris. She slid her finger inside the girl's smooth soft vagina, then pulled it out and added another finger. The girl cried and squirmed against her, holding her arms tightly around her as Elayna slid her fingers all the way in and back out again, then sideways across the firm shape of the front side of her vagina. Her other hand caressed the girl's firm bottom and found the sweet familiar place once more, pushing inside without resistance.

The girl panted in ecstasy and bit on Elayna's lip as she worked her hips against her. Elayna pushed her fingers in and out steadily, all the way into her vagina, while the other finger gave her that little extra sensation that was making her throw her head around in rapture. By the sound of it Elayna didn't have much time, so she gave the girl her all, pressing hard on the front wall of the girl's vagina. The pressure almost hurt her fingers, but by the sound of the girl she wanted all Elayna could give her, so she crushed her fingers even harder against the short-haired angel's smooth wet vagina, taking a good grip on her pubic mound with her thumb to get more strength.

Suddenly the girl cried out and her sex tightened around Elayna's fingers with her blazing orgasm. Elayna distantly thought that it was no longer a question of whether someone heard what they were doing, it was more like whether there was anybody in the inn that didn't hear. She bit the girl on the shoulder hard enough to bruise her while her fingers stroked in and out of her pulsing vagina. Her trembling hand wet with hot fluid that flowed down her forearm and onto her stomach to trickle between her legs. She shivered in satisfaction and fulfillment as the girl's love liquid met her own sex, dripping along her lips.

Elayna lowered herself to her back with the whimpering girl and gently slipped her fingers out of her vagina, then put her hand to her own sex and pushed the soaking wet fingers inside herself as far as they would go, to get the girl's fluid deep inside her. She relaxed, imagining how it flowed down her vagina into her, and wrapped her arms around the girl in bliss. In a few minutes more, she would be the one crying her lungs out in blinding pleasure again. The soft slender arms around her made her feel safe, and the little breasts pressing onto her, the slim thighs twined with hers, the smell of the girl's hair and the sound of her breath so close made Elayna tremble in happiness. She was in heaven.

Elayna woke to the sunlight that shone into her face through the window. Blinking, she tried to orient herself into one of the countless rooms she had slept in during the past few weeks. Then she felt the warm body pressed against hers. Turning her head slowly she looked at the short-haired girl's sleeping face. A wave of happiness surged through her as she watched the girl breathing peacefully. She lifted her hand to gently brush the half unraveled braid from the adorable girl's cheek, smiling. Memories of last night came to her, and she blushed fiercely even as her body warmed with delight. She turned to her side to watch the girl, careful not to disturb her sleep, and lay there while she listened to the morning birds singing.

The sunlight moved, enough to have been at least half an hour, and the girl lay sleeping, sometimes moving her hand to rub at her cheek. Elayna wondered if she should just let her sleep. She looked so lovely, it was hard to believe what they had done. Elayna moved their blanket enough to reveal a pale, soft beautiful breast. She felt a tinge of pleasure down between her legs. She pulled the blanket more, uncovering the naked girl down to her knees. Too beautiful. She put her hand gently to the pretty dark hair covering the girl's pubic mound, then slid hed fingers down to where her thighs met. Let's give you some sweet dreams, she thought as she started to caress the girl's soft lips a little below where they parted.

The girl continued to breathe peacefully as Elayna softly massaged her, but after a while she opened her mouth and moaned softly, then turned to open her legs a little. Elayna moved her fingers down to her clitoris and continued her caressing, wondering what kind of dreams the girl was seeing. Clouds passed the window as the girl's breathing got heavier. Elayna wanted to wake her up and kiss her already, but the thought of making her come in her sleep was too delicious, so she continued, resting her head on her arm as she watched the sweet dark-haired girl squirm in her sleep. Suddenly the girl twitched, turned a bit and then opened her eyes. Elayna continued pleasuring her a little less intensely. The girl blinked and looked at Elayna in mild realization.

"Good morning," Elayna said, tilting her head and smiling while she pressed harder again and continued to caress the dark-eyed girl's clitoris faster. The girl closed her eyes in a sudden surge of pleasure and then cried out as Elayna took her over the edge, flicking her clitoris as the girl ground her hips against her hand in orgasm.

As the girl's breathing slowly relaxed Elayna pulled her hand away and put her arms under her head to watch her. The girl had her eyes closed as she lay naked on the bed, her chest heaving. Then she opened her eyes slowly and turned to Elayna, and the taller girl found herself getting kissed fiercely and passionately. After a while she finally got to take a breath and feel the bite on the side of her lip with her fingers.

"Just what do you think you're doing," the short-haired girl said, looking dangerous.

"I thought you liked it," Elayna said with a teasing smile.

"Just you wait," the dark-haired girl told her.

There was a knock at the door, and Elayna hurriedly got up to put on her panties and tunic, then went to open the door a crack. Anne was standing in the hallway with a cart full of breakfast trays, beaming happily.

"Good morning," the graying innkeeper said. "Feeling ready for breakfast?"

"Certainly," Elayna said with a smile. She glanced back at the girl sitting on the bed with her shirt and skirt on, and then opened the door. Anne smiled heartily as she saw the girl, and the girl smiled back with a blush.

"For two?", Anne asked with a wink.

"Please," Elayna said, feeling red in the face too. Everyone must have heard them, so it's not like she needed to blush about it now.

The innkeeper stepped in with two trays piled with steaming breakfast, and set them on the table. The dark-eyed girl rose from the bed with a delighted look on her face.

"Ring the bell if you need anything more, okay?", Anne said with a smile and closed the door.

The girls looked at each other and attacked their breakfast. Now that she had it in front of her, Elayna felt like she was going to collapse from not getting it in her stomach fast enough. For a long while the clatter of spoons, forks and glasses filled the room.

Elayna finished her slice of rye bread and took a long sip from her glass. She was beginning to feel alive again. Her eyes scanned the tray for the next delicious treat as she suddenly felt a soft hand gently brush her cheek. She looked up to see the dark-eyed girl looking at her with a small lovely smile. Then the girl took her piece of cake from her tray and offered it to Elayna with a gentle smile. Elayna bit at the delicious cake while her gaze stayed on the girl. Her eyes suddenly stung and she had to fight back a tear. She had never felt this way. She had never been treated so well afterwards, felt so loved as she did when the girl looked at her like that. The dark-eyed girl took a bite from the same cake and smiled at Elayna. The taller girl smiled back, feeling warm and safe inside.

After they had finished every last bit of the meal, the shorter girl rose and came around the table to Elayna's side.

"There's no hurry, you must rest a bit after a meal like that," she said softly, then slipped her hands inside Elayna's tunic and kissed her on the ear. "But I am going to have you next." She took Elayna's breasts in her hands and started caressing them, squeezing on her nipples as she stood behind the sitting girl. Elayna turned her head back until she could see the girl, and they locked their lips in a kiss while the shorter girl pleasured Elayna's breasts.

After a long while, Elayna found herself sitting in the the girl's lap in the armchair, her hair matted with sweat and her pounding heart slowing down a little after a fiery orgasm. Her nipples were tender from being sucked hard and bit a little. She looked weakly at the girl and spotted the bite mark she had given her last night. She did seem to like to pay her back.

After a while more of kissing and cuddling Elayna got off the girl to try to put her clothes on again. The dark-eyed girl was collecting her clothes from the floor, too. As Elayna watched her the shorter girl pulled on her panties, then felt at her crotch with a little wince. Elayna was feeling a bit sore herself, but the way the adorable girl stood there in nothing but her panties and fingered herself like that...

"Stop touching yourself there unless you want to end up on your back again," Elayna said. The dark-eyed girl glanced at her in surprise and took her hand away, seeing the genuine threat in Elayna's eyes.

In a while the girls were properly in their clothes for the first time in a long while, sitting on the bed side by side.

"Was this your first time with a woman?", Elayna asked her finally, smiling. The girl glanced at her, then turned down her gaze, blushing. So cute.

"Mine, too," Elayna said gently. The girl looked at her, disbelief in her eyes. Come to think of it, Elayna realized she must have seemed quite... straightforward... from the beginning. But it was all due to the girl's charm. The dark-eyed girl's thoughts must have followed the same paths judging by her sudden smile and the way she turned her eyes down again.

"So," the younger girl said after a minute, sitting on the side of the bed with her slender legs resting on the floor and her ankles crossed, "where are you headed from here?"

Elayna turned to look at her. She felt a sudden painful tinge in her chest, a feeling of loss. She hadn't thought about this yet, hadn't thought about anything after this morning. "Clenshire," she said as her thoughts spun. "Or that direction, anyway. And you?" She didn't know if it was right to want to stay with the girl, but she did.

"Anyplace where the sun shines," the short-haired girl said, gazing into the distance, her voice gentle and beautiful. Elayna's heart raced just listening to her. "And where there's lots of nice soft haystacks to make love to you in when it gets too hot to walk."

Elayna blushed fiercely. She was being shown how soft she was, and she loved all of it. It was all she could do not to cry.

"Yesterday, I guess I kind of didn't want to know, but...", Elayna said, her body filled with warm and soft happiness. "What's your name?"

The girl smiled. She was the most beautiful thing in the world. "Saga."

"Beautiful name," Elayna said. Saga. She felt so happy inside. "Although it's going to take a bit of getting used to," she said ruefully. The girl tilted her head quizzically, her dark hair swaying in an enticing way.

"My little sister's name is Saga, too," Elayna said with a smile.

The girl gave a blushing smile at that, lowering her eyes and looking as happy as Elayna. Come to think of it, that she was treasuring a girl's name in the first place was enough to make her world spin upside down. Suddenly Saga raised her eyes back to Elayna, a disbelieving expression on her face. "Elayna?", she said, the tone of her voice unreadable.

Elayna gazed at her, her thoughts frozen. The sound of the wind outside filled the silence. She watched, stunned, as Saga quietly turned her head away to look at the floor, her eyes hidden by her hair. Elayna's body felt numb, her mind unable to gather a single thought. Her eyes stung and her throat clenched. She rose, stumbling in her steps, and walked to the door, then opened it and stepped outside, closing the door quietly with trembling fingers, and headed down the hall with feet that felt like someone else's. She walked down the stairs and out the front door to the street, her strides getting faster. The only thing she knew was that if she slowed down now, she would collapse right there and cry her heart out in the middle of the street. She forced her legs to move, to take her away from here.

Images of the girl flashed through her mind. Saga looking at her in the hallway when she slammed the door open. Saga looking at her after she kissed her. Saga lying naked in bed. Saga clutching the mattress as she cried in pleasure. Saga smiling at her. The street ended in a dirt path that rose up the hill between a few last houses. Elayna scrambled up the hill, almost running. Saga offering her the slice of cake. Elayna reached the edge of the forest. Saga sleeping next to her. Elayna stopped into a clearing where pretty blue flowers grew among the lush grass. She had never been so happy in her life as this morning. She picked up a stick from the ground and slashed at the flowers, sending them flying, tears streaming down her face. She lashed and cut until her arm tinged in pain, then struck the stick across a tree. She sunk to her knees, sobbing and wailing as her body lost its strength, and fell in the grass, holding onto herself, shaking uncontrollably as she cried.

After a long while she drew herself up to sit against the tree, her breathing calmer now even as tears still wet her eyes. She remembered playing with Saga when she was little, laughing with her, teaching her to do chores. She must be seventeen now.

But if Elayna had ever fallen in love with someone, it was this morning when Saga smiled and offered her the cake. She couldn't make herself wish it had never happened. She closed her eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks onto the already wet collar of her tunic, and covered her face with her hands, sobbing. She should leave this place and never come back, never go home, and forget about the dark-eyed girl she had loved for one night, forget her name. She looked up at the broken flowers sadly scattered on the ground, and stumbled onto her feet, trembling. She had left her good companions at the table last night to wait for her too, and never even remembered them until now. What right did she have to feel so betrayed? She drew a deep ragged breath and turned to walk into the forest. If she stayed here, she would just cry until the sun set.

The sun was high by the time Elayna walked back down the slope to the village. She had got her thoughts collected, but she didn't feel like she knew anything. All she wanted was to see her, to see Saga and talk to her. No matter how much she turned things around in her head, it wasn't something she could find an answer to alone. She found her way to the inn and walked up the staircase with a heavy heart. She had come up with a dozen good things to say to Saga. She didn't remember any of them any more. Her heart pounded. She turned the key in the lock and opened the door, then felt her heart sink and lose hope as she looked at the room. Her own things still lay around the floor and chairs, but Saga wasn't there.

Elayna gathered her things in a hurry and put them in her backpack, then skipped down the stairs to the front desk. Anne looked up at her with a smile.

"Leaving already?", the kind woman asked.

"Anne," Elayna said, "did you see... the girl who was with me?"

The innkeeper caught some of her distress. "Yes, she paid earlier and left," she said with a worried look.

"Did she leave any message for me?", Elayna asked her, her heart breaking quietly.

"No... I'm sorry." Anne looked at her in concern. "Would you like to leave one for her?"

"Thank you, no. I don't think she's coming this way anymore." Elayna felt like crying, but she would have all night to cry.

After thanking Anne, Elayna put on her backpack and headed down the street, her feet feeling leaden. The colourful shops lining the street passed by without catching her interest.

As the village disappeared behind a hill, a tear rolled down Elayna's face. The trees were so beautiful with their young green leaves, the scent of the forest flowers magical, the sun warm on the back. And all she could think of was the feel of Saga's short hair brushing her thighs, the look in Saga's dark eyes when they kissed, the feel of Saga's slim angel's body embracing her.

She should be happy to have gotten more last night than she had ever hoped for. Happy that the summer had only just started, and countless new places were waiting for her. If only she didn't feel that she had already had the best any summer could offer. The best her life would ever hold.

Swallows wheeled in the afternoon sky as Elayna stopped to examine a signpost. The dinner she had eaten at the last village had made her feel good enough to walk another ten miles at least. She had considered scrapping all her plans and taking another route south, but Clenshire held such glory in traveller's tales she had to see it after all.

Her mood had picked up a little and she even caught herself humming some tunes as she walked. The bees visiting the colourful flowers by the side of the road made her feel less lonely. She sighed.

A voice suddenly called her from the side of the road. "Elayna."

She turned to look up the slope and across a gently slanting meadow to a copse of trees. Under the trees, sitting on the grass was a girl with short dark hair, her backpack on the ground by her side. Elayna's heart leaped to her throat.

Saga motioned her to come and sit by her. Elayna walked up the meadow, her heart pounding. Just looking at her, she knew what she felt. She knew now what she hadn't been able to decide earlier. But it didn't mean anything. It didn't mean she knew what to say. It didn't mean she could have what she needed.

Elayna set her own pack on the ground and sat down, eyeing the other girl uncertainly. Saga was looking over the road to the valley beyond, quiet as she idly fingered the grass on the ground.

Finally Saga drew a breath and sat a bit straighter, twirling a blade of grass in her fingers. "Look", she said. "I made love to my... To you, half the night and twice the morning after." Elayna's stomach tingled. She hadn't realized. She would have felt light-headed from the notion if her chest wasn't so tight with anxiety. She glanced at the other girl to see even a hint of her feelings.

"It's not like I'll ever stop being embarrassed," Saga continued, lowering her eyes. Elayna felt hollow. Her hands trembled.

Saga turned to her then, her dark eyes serious. And so beautiful that they took Elayna's breath away. She had thought she was getting over what had happened already, but after this she knew she would just cry until she didn't have tears left in her. Her eyes stung already.

"But if I let you go now... I know I would regret it for the rest of my life," Saga said. She looked into Elayna's stunned eyes for a while more, then turned her gaze down, uncertainty painted on her face. "So," she said, glancing up again, "Do you want to try it with me?"

Elayna wiped a tear from her eye, a warm soft feeling washing over her. "You've already won me..."

The younger girl moved closer to her and looked her in the eyes, and they kissed, softly and gently as if starting from the beginning.