Chapter Text
Assassin training was a time consuming work most of the time. There was weapons training for different weapons, unarmed combat training, general fitness training and target practice with the bow. Additionally, they learned a lot about geography and politics – they needed to know as much as possible about the countries they would be working in, as well as the ramifications of their missions.
They had to learn a lot about humans, as they posed the greatest threat, ever since they had been banished to the western parts of the land. Their mages would cross into Xadia to hunt magical creatures and plants for their atrocious black magic, their greedy nature driving them to take from Xadia what they had already hunted to extinction in their own kingdoms. Their armies had not attacked in Runaan’s time, but everyone in Xadia was expecting that to change, soon. Their populations grew, and the way they handled their lands, they would need to expand to provide for all the people.
The Sunfire elves were closest to the border, and Avizandum guarded the border, but it fell upon the Moonshadow elves to do missions deep into the enemy lands. They had the moon magic to craft the necessary illusions. And since the Moon Nexus was in human territory, someone had to check up there every once in a while. So, learning how the human Kingdoms were organized was important, learning how their military trained their people and what kinds of weapons they would encounter. Also, of course, who was in charge of what part of the human lands, who posed what kind of threat.
But with all of that to learn and practice, leisure time was a very rare thing for the assassin trainees. They tended to spend little time with other during their training years, simply because you could easily keep in touch with the people you were seeing every day to spar and train, but not so much with others who dd not take part in your training.
Runaan had formed a friendship with Tiadrin easily, and through her with Lain as well, but now he found that he really really wanted to have the time to spend with Ethari. But it wasn't that easy.
Within the week after the festival, he had not even had the time to catch a single glimpse of the blacksmith's apprentice. And he was very aware that he was starting to pine after the other. It was completely irrational that one night at the festival should have that much of an impact on him, but he was self-aware enough to accept that it had. So, he faced the dilemma of wanting to see the other elf, but having insufficient leisure time to do so.
Also, he did not have the slightest clue if Ethari had any leisure time. How much did a blacksmith's apprentice have to work?
And, the most important question, after all - he did absolutely not know if any advance he wanted to make would be welcome. Whenever he thought of figuring out how to spend time with Ethari, his thoughts circled back to this: would Ethari want to spend time with him? What if he didn't?
His hope basically hung on Ethari's half-muttered comment that day in the smithy, but that was absolutely no guarantee, and Ethari hadn't wanted him to hear. He had talked with Runaan willingly enough at the festival, but that had been with Tiadrin and Lain as well, and Ethari knew Tiadrin all his life. It didn't mean he would still want to talk to Runaan without Tiadrin present…
"Runaan."
One of his instructors said his name, impatiently. Oh no, he was supposed to be focusing on his lessons, not daydreaming of Ethari!
"Yes, Kurali?" Runaan knew better than to not reply to his instructor when asked.
"Glad to have your attention again, Runaan. Now if you would care to continue taking notes instead of staring into the air…"
"Of course, Kurali. I'm sorry for being inattentive."
Kurali raised his eyebrows at Runaan but didn't comment further and continued his lesson on the known military centers of the Kingdom of Katolis.
Runaan diligently tried to pay attention for the rest of the lesson, but he still caught himself thinking of Ethari twice.
He seriously had to change something. Either meet with Ethari, or get him out of his head for good!
—
Runaan knew that asking Tiadrin about Ethari was an invitation to be questioned and possibly made fun of for his crush, but he was willing to suffer a few jokes at his own expense if he could at least get a chance at seeing Ethari again.
So, when they had their next sparring session, he approached her while they were still warming up.
"Tiadrin, can I ask you something… private?"
She looked up at him from her stretching, taking in his slightly nervous form and the formal way he had asked her.
"Uhm… of course." Her voice sounded a little hesitating, however.
Runaan motioned her over to a place in front of a building a little off from the other trainees. Before he could even get his first question in, Tiadrin already started herself:
"Runaan, I know I haven't told anyone, but if this is going where I think it is going, you should know: I'm with Lain. I'm sorry if that hurts you, but he and I just… work."
Runaan let out a short nervous laugh.
"Calm down, Tiadrin. I know you like Lain. This is not about you or him."
"Oh, okay. But then why did you want to talk to me privately?"
"I wanted to ask about Ethari. You know him. Do you think… he might want to meet me?"
"Ethari? Why… Oh! Oh. I really should have seen this coming. You two got along awfully well at the festival!"
"Please, just tell me - do you think he would agree if I asked him to meet with me? And… would you maybe give him a message from me?"
"Huh. I think he would certainly consider your message. He's kind and honest, but I don't know if he would be interested. But yes, I'll take a message for him."
"Thank you." Runaan was relieved at her answer. As long as Ethari would at least consider it, he had a chance of persuading him.
"But really, Runaan, you are into boys? Couldn't you have said something earlier? There were so many girls who were at me because I was your friend… I never wanted to be too mean to them because what If you actually ended up with one of them? It would have made everything so much easier!"
"I… never thought about it? Ethari is the first one that I was ever… interested in?" Runaan felt stupid for admitting it, but he didn't want to evade or lie to Tiadrin.
"He's your first crush ever? Oh my, now I'm quite obligated to help you. Can't let you finish training without having some real experience first, and that includes a first love! So, yes, I will definitely take any message to Ethari for you."
"Thank you, Tiadrin."
"Don't worry about it, Runaan. But now, let's start training. You'll be my partner, as everyone else will already have teamed up. Get ready to be finished!"
They returned to the sparring field, and Runaan had a hard time standing his ground against Tiadrin, she was very, very good. And his thoughts weren't quite where they were supposed to be - as he was thinking of what exactly he wanted to say in a message to Ethari.
—
Runaan scratched out another line on his parchment in frustration. That line had sounded too flowery, and Ethari wasn't flowery. Runaan wasn't flowery. It didn't fit.
Which left him no closer to knowing how to start his message to Ethari than the previous 12 tries. He knew he was starting to act ridiculous, but he also couldn't stop. He needed to write that message to Ethari, and it needed to be just right.
It was already late at night, but since Tiadrin had agreed to taking a message to Ethari, Runaan wanted to have that message ready, so that Ethari would get it as soon as possible. He would have a free afternoon in two days, and he wanted to ask Ethari if they could spend at least a part of it together. Talking, taking a stroll in the forest, something like that. Gettin to know more about each other, to see if this could maybe go beyond an infatuation.
But now Runaan was stuck at wording the message. He didn't want to be too forward, Ethari was such a soft-spoken elf, he might be taken aback if Runaan spoke too frankly. But sugarcoating would not be honest, and Runaan wanted to be honest, because in his mind, Ethari might just be the one elf to spend his life with, and that could not be based on lies or half-truths.
Dear Ethari,
When we met in the smithy, I really saw you for the first time. Ever since, you have drawn my gaze and you arely leave my thoughts. But it is only a half-picture of you, from the glimpses I gained of you. I wish to gain a more complete picture of you, of your thoughts and likes and dreams. I wish to speak to you, to get to know you. Would you consider allowing me?
On Thorsday, I do not have training in the afternoon and can spend time at leisure until the evening. If you also can make the time, would you consider spending it with me? Maybe for a walk in the woods, or an hour by the fountain?
Please tell Tiadrin your answer. If you would rather set a different date, I will do my utmost to make it possible.
With admiring regards,
Runaan.
It felt stilted to Runaan, but stilted still felt more like himself than flowery romance.
He copied the draft to another parchment, taking extra care to write neatly. His teachers had often complimented his handwriting, but he still wanted to make sure Ethari saw that this was no hastily scribbled note. He was satisfied with the outcome, so he folded the parchment and pocketed it. We would hand it to Tiadrin right at the beginning of their next shared lesson.
—
When Runaan finally met Tiadrin the next time, it was far later than he had anticipated. He had gotten assignments from their trainers that didn't leave him any room to talk to Tiadrin for half the day, and now it was their lunch break. That of course meant that Lain was sitting with Tiadrin.
Runaan straightened his shoulders, walking over to the table where Tiadrin was obviously telling a joke to Lain, who laughed as soon as she stopped talking.
"Hallo, Tiadrin, hallo Lain", Runaan greeted them, and they greeted him in return as he sat down across from them.
"They kept you working hard today, Runaan. Did you do something to anger the instructors?", Lain said with a smile. He knew Runaan was a most dedicated student, and did not habitually get into the kind of trouble that would make the instructors hand out punishments.
"If I did, I can't recall. But I needed to talk to you, Tiadrin, I have something I'd like you to give to Ethari."
Lain smirked at that. "Ohhhh, did you now?"
Tiadrin probably kicked him under the table, as he flinched and pouted a moment later.
"Of course, Runaan, I'll give your message to Ethari. Don't bother with Lain, he's too stupid to remember how much trouble he went to to get me a first letter."
"Hey, I was just teasing Runaan a little bit! Ouch! No, don't kick me again Tiadrin, that's mean!"
Runaan ignored their squabble as he reached into his bag and got out the letter. He'd been careful all day to not get any creases in it.
Tiadrin took it when he handed it to her, while Lain only followed the exchange with his eyes, an exaggerated pout on his lips. When Tiadrin didn't react to him even after she had tucked the letter away, Lain turned his attention on Runaan again.
"So, a letter for Ethari, huh? What did you write him, eh? A poem?"
Runaan thought back to that failed attempt and answered: "No!"
Lain laughed at that. "Not the poetic type, are you? Well, I don't think Ethari is, either. So, don't worry, Runaan. Ethari is nice, if he lets you down, it'll be gentle."
Runaan was a little miffed by Lain's interference, so he answered stiffly: "I'd rather not think about whether he'll let me down. I'd rather he at least gives us chance to get to know each other better."
Lain laughed again, but he flinched halfway through, obviously from another kick Tiadrin had pointed at his shin under the table.
"Okay, okay. I'll stop teasing you. But no matter how he responds, you can talk to both of us, ok? I promise not to be mean? Really, I'm just excited to see you falling in love, Runaan."
Runaan pretended to be busy with his food to avoid answering, but when he looked up, he couldn't but smile at Lain. The other elf nodded, and that was all that was needed.
Now, only to hope that Ethari would answer his message. Favourably.