Melinir Wants the Wager to Begin After they Leave the Woods

Nystar wiped away tears from his eyes as he looked at Melinir, trying to catch his breath.

"This isn't fair," Melinir said. "There's no way I can win our wager if you have such a head start. You heard what the girl said; none of the girls around here will touch me."

"Come now, Meli," he said between gasps, "don't be a stick in the mud. The girl's right, we shouldn't be taking any risks. Besides, my skills are unmatched in these forests anyway."

"I propose a delay to our wager, until we leave the woods. What do you say?"

Nystar stared at him for a moment, a smirk on his lips. "You don't think you'd be able to catch up? What about the honour of your word?"

Melinir hesitated. Nystar was right, their agreement was a necessary part of their journey. He couldn't deny the pull of Nystar's charm, the allure of the unknown.

"Alright," Melinir finally conceded, "I'll let you take the lead, for now. But remember, this is just for the journey."

Nystar's eyes lit up with triumph, and he wrapped an arm around Melinir's shoulders. "I knew you'd come around, my friend. I'll think about this moment when I'm ploughing Ardella from behind.”

Melinir glared at him for a moment, but Nystar merely smiled.

"You see Melinir, that little girl was with one of the guys up in the treehouses earlier, playing tag. She's got quite the mouth on her!" He pushed his tongue into his cheek suggestively.

Melinir groaned and shoved his friend. "How would you know?"

"I've spent my fair share of time in the treehouses during my youth, remember? Plus, she was almost as big-eyed as Ardella when she looked at us."

As they continued on their way, Melinir couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for Meilind. He knew the rumours that circulated among the elven villages were crueller than the ones that spread about him. Still, he couldn't deny the excitement that surged through him at the thought of the journey ahead and the potential for adventure.

They spoke to the leader of the village, and were given a treehouse to sleep in for the night.