Tam confesses to Dunea

Something inside Tam drove her. She couldn't stand it any more as she turned around and walked back to the embracing couple. "I can't take this any more Dunea" she cried out.

Dunea broke free of Caeden's embrace. She looked into Tam's eyes, and she could see genuine confusion and pain. "Tam, what's wrong?"

"I just have to come out and say it" she answered as tears started to flow down her cheeks. "Please, both of you forgive me, but ever since that kiss at the party things haven't been right. I think about you all the time Dunea. I feel so lost without you, and I want to be with you always. I think I love you." She braced herself for the humiliating impact that never came. Instead, Dunea stood before her, smiling, her eyes aglow. She took Tam's hands in hers and held them. "You're not mad at me?" asked Tam.

Dunea smiled even more, and looked lovingly into Tam's eyes. "Why should I be mad at you? I've felt the same way about you since the first day we met. I never thought you'd feel the same way, and that an Elf could never love a Drow. I've always felt beneath everyone else, especially you."

Tam smiled as tears of joy now streamed down her cheeks. "You silly girl!" she exclaimed. "I never once thought of you as being beneath me. You were always my friend when no one else was. I always thought of you as being special. It scared me at times just how much you really mean to me, and it always made me afraid to tell you."

Dunea took Tam into her arms, and pulled her close. "You don't ever have to be afraid to tell me anything." She giggled lightly. "I also promise from now on not to be afraid to tell you anything." She gingerly lifted up Tam's chin, and looked her in the eyes. "I love you, too, Tam."

Meanwhile, Caeden stood just behind them, arms folded, wondering exactly where that left him. He wasn't sure if he should stay, or go. But the part that wanted to stay, just out of curiosity if nothing else, won out as he watched the two girls wraps each other up in one of the steamiest kisses he had ever seen. He found himself suddenly and strangely drawn to both girls. He stood there, puzzled by his own reaction. Shouldn't he be mad at Tam? At Dunea? Yet he didn't feel mad at either one. He actually felt quite happy for them. He also wanted to be a part of that happiness. He shook his head as if shaking dust out of a mop. "I guess I should leave you two alone. I should be going back."

Tam and Dunea both looked at Caeden, and smiled after breaking their kiss. He had always been a friend to both of them as well, even when his parents forbid him to be around them.

Dunea started to speak...