Nariel

Liandra couldn't help wonder how beautiful the elf was. During the day, at the tavern, the elf had a mere roguish charm, but under the moonlight when his heritage shimmered like starts, when his delicate features truly carried the weight of all his years, then Liandra could recognize why so many Bards sang of elvish perfection, and why they hoped to emulate them.

"Is something wrong, Princess?" The look out asks Liandra, after she stares at him for almost a minute.

"N-no" with the broken glamor, Liandra focus on what she came to do "I came to talk... if that wouldn't be too much of a bother?"

"Not at all, I welcome the conversation. It makes it easier not to fall asleep" His smile reminds the princess of snow flakes in a cold spring day, but she knew in his case the beauty wouldn't melt with the first sun rays.

Liandra was curious about many things, how Nariel became an adventurer, what was it like in the kingdom of the elves, what kind of dangers he faced. The rogue, typical of rakes, spoke much without really answering anything, and left the naive girl in a state of bewilderment.

"And how about past loves?" He danced around the subject, saying his honor as a gentleman forbade him of disclosing their identities, but eventually admitted there were several "I find little joy in my own kind, I tired of them centuries ago" he said with a smile, and Liandra didn't know if she should believe him.

"How about royalty? were you ever enraptured by a Queen, or princess." It wasn't a well disguised question, her mother would be ashamed at her lack of subtlety "Not often... perhaps ten or so"

Liandra was infuriated, but before she could start a diatribe he quieted her lips with a fingertip. "Once, and only once, Princess Liandra. She was much like yourself, charming and headstrong, gentle and witty. She enraptured my heart for fifty years, and I mourned her for twice that long. It pains me to look at you because you remind me so much of her" Liandra couldn't tell how easily the rake lied, but she felt her heart flutter for him.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to cause you distress" The princess was ashamed, she fantasized but didn't really believe this fey adventurer really saw her as anything but a spoiled child.

"You do nothing but fill my heart with joy, princess" He held her arm firmly, and she felt her knees melt as he bough her to his lips. It was an age old dance for the rogue, and one that he mastered.

The princess was lingering languid, every touch of the elf brought shivers down her spine, even when it was just places the princess though common, like a caress behind her ear, or the nape of her neck. She was walking in clouds, and barely registered when Rodrik came to replace Nariel.

The elf rogue took her in his arms, and boldly declared "Gaze upon the moon for the last time with your virgin eyes". Rodrik´s eyes flared with rage, but the princess shielded served as a stalwart shield to the disrespectful rogue. Not that Liandra noticed.