The elven woman and human held hands as they ran through the streets, laughing to themselves. Gwyn felt overjoyed, for some reason. The fact that not one, but two beautiful people were interested in her. She honestly couldn't believe it.
The café incident was almost a distant memory. All that lingered in her mind currently was that this fantastic, beautiful elf was holding her hand tightly. The anticipation was unbearable.
I can't wait to be alone with her.
It wasn't long until they were within the Gilded Towers, heading up to Elise's room. The initial excitement had suddenly faded, and Gwyn realized it was probably a good idea to say something.
"So… I have several questions."
"About my ex-boyfriend or that I'm royalty?"
Gwyn snickered.
"Both."
Elise sighed and thought of what to say.
"Well. I am indeed a princess. The man who showed up to…" she trailed off. The thought of her father helping people, especially those other than herself, sent a stinging sensation to her chest. "The man in the crown is my father. King Sylvian."
Gwyn noticed how Elise's face slightly shifted at the mention of the King.
"So your name is Elise Sylvian, then?"
She nodded.
"Yes, sorry for not being entirely honest about who I was when we first met."
"That you were a princess?" Gwyn stifled a laugh. "I knew something about you was different when we met."
"Yeah? Could you sense my daddy issues?"
Gwyn choked on her laughter.
"No, no. Just." Before Gwyn realized what she was doing, she was inside Elise's room, standing beside her bed. "Wow…"
"Yeah… I hope it's not too messy."
She said bashfully, rubbing her arm.
The Sylvian princess's room was the antithesis of Gwyn's. Gwyn's room felt like a hotel room you rented out and entered for the first time. Stale and untouched by man. However, it may appear luxurious at a glance.
Elise's room felt heavily lived in. It was decorated with different tomes, keepsakes, magic items, and runic circles on the ground, walls, and ceiling. Nothing had a rhyme or reason to it. Things just seemed to be everywhere. Chaotic and comforting. From the looks of this, Gwyn surmised that all Elise did in her free time was read, practice magic, and collect weird-looking items.
Elise could see how Gwyn was taking in her room, and felt a smidge of hesitance, for some reason. She then looked to her nightstand, saw her suspiciously penis shaped sex toy for all to see on display.
"Hey, look at this thing!"
Elise vaguely pointed in the opposite direction from where her toy lay.
Gwyn obliged her request, but she was not sure what she was supposed to be looking at when a particular small, blue item caught her eye.
Elise then dashed over to the phallic item and stuffed it into a drawer. She exhaled in relief. The panic reignited when she saw what Gwyn was holding.
"Wait! Don't touch that!"
Gwyn nearly dropped it in her panic, and Elise dove in, ripping the item from her hands and placing it back on the shelf, breathing a second sigh of relief.
"Okay, don't touch anything just yet. I am sorry I didn't mention that."
Gwyn looked at her fingers; she hadn't noticed, but they'd nearly turned purple.
"What was it?"
"That's an ice orb catalyst."
Both women then stared at the orb, alongside about thirty other small knick-knack items on the hanging shelf.
"It helps improve the quality and power of magic involving ice and frost magic. It's freezing to the touch, but your body would be unaware of that fact, considering your fingers."
Gwyn tried to blow warm air into her hands.
"Yeah…"
The ice orb catalyst was a round, blue orb that glowed faintly. It resembled the glass dome of a snow globe. Branches inside were covered with snow that seemed to shape into a snowflake.
Both of them were inches from the cold emitted by the orb. It tickled their faces.
"It's just so…" Gwyn's face traced from the catalyst to Elise. "Beautiful."
Simultaneously, Elise made eye contact with Gwyn. They stared at each other for the briefest of moments. Anticipation sent a flurry through them. Elise then involuntarily glanced her eyes towards Gwyn's lips.
Realization struck both of them like a rock. They turned away, turning a particularly vivid shade of crimson.
"Sorry! I uh…"
Gwyn's head was swimming.
Elise was no better.
"No, no… it's…"
It was a very awkward and silent moment. Both women felt as though their hearts were trying to leave their bodies.
"I-I… uh…"
More stammering from the Chosen One.
Elise faced the hanging shelf.
"Here! This is something you can touch."
Elise distracted Gwyn, trying to extinguish the dreadful feeling that she may have made a mistake bringing her here.
The Chosen One was happy to have anything to do with her hands other than nervously fidgeting with them.
"What is it?"
It appeared as a rather plain, unassuming brown box that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. It lacked any noticeable carving or magical properties.
"Think of your favorite animal."
Elise politely suggested.
The box felt light in her hands, and Gwyn closed her eyes. She thought of a pigeon. Immediately, the lid of the box opened, and a pigeon popped out. It flew around the room and landed back on the closed lid of the item.
Elise admired the animal closely.
"Wow! I haven't seen a bird like that before."
Gwyn was astonished. She didn't know how that just happened. It looked just like a real pigeon, just far smaller.
"Whoa…"
Gwyn inspected the bird; it looked exactly like a pigeon. Its neck moved back and forth as it paced on the surface of the tiny, brown box.
"It's a cute little thing…" The pigeon cocked its head at Elise, its eye bulging slightly. "And a little… silly looking."
Elise wiggled her finger at the little bird, who lovingly rubbed its tiny head against her.
"It's called a pigeon." Gwyn also held out her hand, and it hopped into it, lightly pecking at her fingers. "I don't think it's my favorite animal, but I do admire them."
"Why do you admire them?"
The tiny bird cooed in approval as Elise provided pets from the side.
"We've had many wars where I'm from. Before we could communicate great distances consistently, we used these little guys."
Gwyn pet the bird, which then rolled over like a dog. She laughed and continued.
"Sadly, we abandoned them after they were no longer needed. They still gather around major cities because we domesticated them. They hang around our species, waiting to be accepted as they once were."
Elise looked at the bird that frantically chased Gwyn's finger. Its head bobbed in a quick, consistent manner as it strode.
"Poor little bird…"
Elise felt genuine sorrow for the creature, even though it wasn't a real pigeon.
"Yeah, that's why I like them. They are a funny little bird and loyal to a fault."
The bird disappeared as suddenly as it arrived.
"Time's up, I guess. That item is used for practicing the summoning of familiars, which are little creatures that follow you around and help you with whatever you need them for."
"Amazing! "
Gwyn set the box on a nearby shelf and pushed aside some other items to make room for it.
After a moment, Elise had prepared another item she wanted Gwyn to experience.
"You have to check out this thing!"
Elise eagerly handed Gwyn a stick-shaped item.
"Wait a moment," Gwyn said hesitantly. The item was placed awkwardly in her hands. She had no clue what to do with it. "Between earlier and now…" Gwyn glanced out of Elise's window, thinking of the right words. The view revealed was mainly blocked by one of the five golden spires of the Gilded Towers. "I don't know how to say this, Elise… but is everything alright?"
Elise's excitement faded, and Gwyn immediately understood. Elise had lacked meaningful connection; she recognized this because it was prevalent in her own life. Elise had found something she's never had before, or at least for a long time—a genuine friend.
"People don't talk to me, let alone interact with me." A sullen look appeared on the young elf's face. "You would think being royalty would make you popular, make people admire you. In my case…" Her jaw worked on itself. "It's done the opposite."
"Why? You're so kind and beautiffffffffffffffff—" Gwyn stopped midsentence as though she had a stroke.
Whoops, almost called her beautiful.
Gwyn hoped Elise wouldn't notice.
She did, and her frown faltered for a moment.
"I was kind to you, but even I struggle to recognize the meaning in my actions." Elise had trouble maintaining eye contact with anything other than the floor. "Yet, as great as you may think I am, I am nothing compared to my siblings." A grimace and a trembling lip. "You'd forget all about me if you met them."
"Oh, Elise." The sadness was now contagious. "How could I forget the person who saved me?" She paused for dramatic effect. "Twice at that."
Gwyn closed the space between them.
Suddenly, Elise's ears flushed pink; her breathing became irregular.
"I suppose you're—"
Gwyn's hand reached for Elise's.
When their hands touched, it was lightning between them. The goosebumps crawled up both their arms. Elise raised her head, and Gwyn was closer than ever before; she could feel her breath.
Elise closed her eyes. Anticipation was building by the second; it felt like she would be set aflame at any moment—the desire growing to a breaking point. A soft press against her lips, it was cold and stiff.
"And that's what you get for teasing me before."
Elise opened her eyes, and the rod she had handed Gwyn earlier pressed up against her mouth. Elise backed away momentarily, then laughed. The tension evaporated and didn't return.
"Alright, I suppose I deserve that, Gwynevere."
Gwyn couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"You absolutely do."
A superpower Elise seemed to possess was the ability to make the name "Gwynevere" sound like a symphony of want and anticipation. Gwyn swallowed hard.
I want her to say my name more… and maybe a little closer.
Elise felt herself finally letting go of her guilt. She unabashedly shared her interests with someone who finally took the time to care.
"Want to see some of the other items I have?"
A rush of fear returned to Elise. However, when Gwyn smiled, it faded again.
"Show me everything you have. What's this fancy stick do?"
Elise smiled and pressed the rod to her lips, wishing it were Gwyn's lips pressed up against hers instead.