Nystar Goes in Search of the Girl they Saw Earlier

While Melinir slept, Nystar headed out in search of the beauty they’d seen earlier that day. The night was cool and quiet, a small bird fluttered as it flew from one tree to the next, landing on top of one of the treehouses.

The houses were nice, not as lavish as Hallinir, but they had a beauty of their own. They were spherical, with small circular windows.

He didn’t have to go far before he saw the girl from earlier that day. She sat on a thick branch on the next tree over, leaning back with her legs dangling down, looking up at the night sky. Nystar walked over gracefully, and sat beside her.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” said Nystar. “I am Nystar, Commander of the Fourth Cavalry. And who might you be?”

"I'm Aryna, daughter of Riverwood's chief," she said. She didn’t turn her head or even her eyes to look at him. It seemed she’d seen men like him and Melinir before.

“Mind if I sit beside you.”

“Be my guest.”

Even seated, Nystar was a full head and shoulders taller than Aryna.

“Cavalry, hmm? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an elf as tall as you.” Nystar caught her eyes as they wandered past his crotch on the way up to finally making eye contact with him. "I'm sure you've had many adventures, Commander Nystar.”

"Oh, so many. Let me tell you my favourite story," Nystar began. "Once, there was a battle so fierce, it seemed as though our whole army would be defeated by orcs. But I rallied with a wise old mage, and we cast a powerful fire spell that sent the orcs fleeing in terror. It was a great victory, and our prince, Prince Melinir, was there to witness it all."

Aryna listened to Nystar's tale with rapt attention, her eyes widening with each detail.

As Nystar continued to spin tales of his exploits, he felt the warmth spreading through Aryna, and her nerves seemed to ease.

Nystar sensed her changing demeaner and leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You know, Aryna, I've been wanting to ask you something since the moment I first laid eyes on your beautiful face. Would you like to come watch the stars with me later tonight? I'd be honoured to show you the constellations and share my knowledge of their legends."

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "I would like that very much."

And so, under the moonlit sky, Aryna and Nystar ventured out of the village and into a clearing, as he showed her the beauty of the stars and the secrets they held.

“You see up there,” Nystar pointed to the right, where the stars curved into a semi-circle. “That’s the hunter.”

The pointed and showed her various other constellations that we impossible to see in the light of the larger cities.

She leant against him; her face snuggled up against his broad shoulder.