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“For gods sake,” I say, watching the man, no fae, in front of me.
“Can I take that as a yes?” He says, still on his knee.
“No,” I say dryly, pushing past him and exiting my house. I have to get supplies for this week. Maybe the butcher has some deals? If he does I might be able to get some wool dye for the clothes I’ve been making.
“Where to, fair lady? I groan as he catches up and starts walking beside me.
“How long are you going to keep this up, Arius?” I ask as he falls into step with me, matching my pace even as I try to escape him.
“Until you allow me to be by your side,” He replies with an elfish grin plastered on his face.
“I’m much too old for you,” I say, the tired excuse leaving my lips on instinct. I haven’t dated in years, and I’m getting tired of this persistent fae boy.
“Oh contrair, Mon chéri, I believe I’m too old for you,” He laughs, placing the bread I was examining into my basket and paying for it without a word. I share a glance with the baker, and she looks at me with pity. This guy is single handedly keeping her in business at this point.
“Then that proves my point even more. Why would a handsome and charming fae like yourself want to marry an old woman like me?” I ask rhetorically, the words dripping with sarcasm.
Arius, the bastard, just smiles and says, “Because you’re beautiful,”
“You’re just saying that,” I reply shortly. There’s no way he’s not trying to get something out of me. “The grey hairs speak to that,”
“Not at all,” Arius smiles, his voice low, “I think they are one of the most beautiful things in this world. They are only outmatched by your exquisite face,”
I don’t have a reply for that, so instead I hurry past him towards the butchers.
“If I buy you some cuts, would you invite me over for dinner?” Arius asks as I’m pursuing the different selections of animals on display.
“Depends on the cut of meat. What if I asked you for a sirloin?" I asked. There’s no way he would buy such expensive stuff just to get me to invite him to dinner.
“Ok,” Comes his reply, and before I know it, I have the best cut of sirloin that I’ve ever seen.
“What is this?” I ask, still staring at the meat in my hand.
“It’s what you asked for,” Arius grins, leaning down to my height. “So, am I invited to dinner?”
“You cheeky boy,” I say, narrowing my eyes. I have no words, so instead I take my cane and lightly wack his shins.
“Ow,” Arius cries, holding his leg, “You wound me, my lady,”
“Oh get over it. I swear to the gods you fae have no pain tolerance whatsoever,” I mutter as I make my way towards the Ink master. Since Arius bought the meat for the week, I have more budget to purchase some extra items.
“Here. You bought it, you hold it,” I say, handing him the heavy piece from my arms. Shaking them out, I make my way down the street. Maybe I could buy some paints as well. It’s been so long since I’ve painted, maybe it’s time to pick it up again.
The last time I painted was when I was a young lady, barely 30. I still have the piece at home, perhaps I should dig it out and hang it up.
Arius, for his part, doesn’t complain about the heavy groceries in his arms, instead just smiling and following me around as I go from shop to shop.
When the sun is high in the sky, I realize it’s nearly noon.
“I suppose it’s time I keep my promise,” I prompt, heading towards my house once again.
Arius perks up once again, “Really?! Thank you, I shall mark this day as a holiday I shall always remember!” He exclaims.
“Don’t do that; it’s only dinner,” I retort as we climb the hill. I have to use my cane a lot more here, my old knees aching under the strain.
“Pardon me,” I hear, just before I feel the ground drop away from me, or, more precisely, feel myself get lifted off the ground.
“Arius, what are you doing?” I ask. I think he can tell I’m mad from my voice, so he quickly tries to calm me down.
“Please do not misunderstand, I am merely trying to ease your pain. Please let me escort you to your residence,” I look up at his face, and see him making puppy dog eyes.
“Fine, but you’re putting me down as soon as we make it to my house,” I say, pointing a finger threateningly at his nose. Arius just smiles.
The trip up the hill is much shorter with Arius carrying me, and I have to reluctantly admit it is slightly pleasant to be carried.
What I cannot fathom is the reason for Arius’s actions. He’s a fae, ancient and wild. He has riches, lands, and immortality. Why could he possibly be interested in an old woman like me? Typically, at this age I’m referred to as a crone, or sometimes a witch by the children, not ‘my lady’ and ‘Mon chéri’.
It doesn’t help that he’s handsome.
The tales always speak of fae being beyond beauty, but one cannot fully comprehend such a claim until having lived it. It is like stating the ocean is bigger than a lake.
A complete understatement.
“We’re here!” Arius announces gleefully, gently setting me back on my feet and handing me my basket.
“Thank you,” I say begrudgingly, and enter my house, Arius following closely behind.
I start to prepare the meat. I’ll have to cook it all today to make sure it doesn’t spoil too soon, but after that I shouldn’t need to cook again for a few days.
Arius takes a seat at the small table to watch me. It’s unnerving at first, but as I go through the practiced motions of cooking, I forget to be annoyed at his gaze.
I slice and salt the meat, setting some aside to smoke, and roasting the rest over a small grill over fire. Once they start cooking I start to slice the bread as well, adding some precious margarine onto it. If I was going to have an immortal fae over for dinner, then gods damn it I would do it right.
When the meat is finished grilling I set it onto the two plates already loaded with bread, and move the rest of the meat into the smoker and light the fire. My back is aching by the end of it, but I’m happy I’ll be able to make use of such high quality meat.
Moving back inside, I find Arius still sitting at the table.
I quickly bring over the two plates and set one in front of each of us.
“Eat up,” I say as I do so, and Arius nods quickly, taking a big bite almost immediately.
I watch as his eyes light up as he chews.
“This tastes like it was cooked for the gods themselves!” He exclaims, chewing more thoroughly and going for another bite.
“You’re exaggerating,” I say, but I do feel a bit of pride at his words. It’s not often someone so powerful praises your cooking.
“Oh I’m not. I’ve dreamed of tasting your cooking since the day I met you,” Arius retorts, still trying to eat the meal as fast as possible.
Maybe now would be a good time to ask him.
“Why did you approach me that day?” I ask, trying to be nonchalant.
“Because you’re simply stunning,” comes the expected reply.
“Arius,” I say seriously, and that gets his attention. “I’m old. I know I’m not as beautiful as I once was. Tell me the real reason, not some half-baked flattery meant to sway my heart,”
Arius stares at me silently for a second, his hyperactive demeanor dimming as he takes in the situation.
“Alright,” He replies softly, and I feel my heart beat a little faster in anticipation. Will he admit to some plot, some ploy to steal my soul or destroy the village?
“I found you gorgeous,” he says. What? I just told him to be serious. I open my mouth to reprimand him, but he holds up his hand to halt my word. It’s like he’s finally acting his age.
“I love you,” he continues to my shock, "because you are old. Fae never age; they never change. They are stagnant creatures that will never wrinkle, will never bow their backs, will never experience time like it should be experienced,” he goes on. This explanation feels almost like a backhanded complement.
“But you,” he says, “are different. When I saw you, I could not explain what I felt. It was like I was drawn to you from the instant my eyes connected with yours. Your face tells of laughter, of tears, of anger and time and sun-filled days. Your face tells of your life like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I found myself utterly filled with awe,”
Well. That was not what I was expecting. I have never heard such a passionate speech about my age. At least, not a positive one.
“So, because I’m old, you find me beautiful?” I ask, trying to clarify. Arius nods, completely serious.
I nod as well and pause to think. The way he put it was genuine, but a little ridiculous.
“Would you have liked another woman if she was also old?” I ask at last.
Arius takes time to consider. “I think,” he finally says, “I would have been fascinated by her, but I wouldn’t grow to love her like I have you,” he says at last.
Well, at least he’s honest.
That…makes his earlier words mean more now. He was being honest then as well.
“You're welcome to stay for the evening,” I say, standing up.
Arius lights up. “I can do the dishes!” he exclaims, rushing to the kitchen.
“Fine,” I say, heading upstairs.
I find myself wandering up to the attic, and ruffling through some old boxes.
I ended up buying the extra paint today.
I find my old easel and a blank canvas, and I feel a sudden urge to paint.
But not up here. Too dusty.
So, bringing my materials, I end up downstairs once again.
Arius is sitting at the table once again, dishes dry and put away, and he watches as I drag my supplies down.
He stands up and silently takes the easel and canvas from me, looking around at where to put it.
I gesture to a nearby window, and while he sets it up there, I drag another chair over.
I sit down in it and adjust the canvas on the easel.
I take a deep breath, and look out the window.
There’s a beautiful evening, almost sunset, with stars visible beyond the hills. Rolling green grass, and the wooden houses and shops of the town center.
Beautiful.
I raise my brush, and start painting.
A couple hours later, Arius gently brushes his hands over my shoulders.
“It’s getting late, Mon chéri,” he says, “perhaps continue the masterpiece another day,” It’s not framed as a question, and I rise from my seat, leaning on my cane.
“I suppose so,” I say as I head upstairs.
Arius helps me go, and when we reach my bedroom, I turn to him.
“Arius, I think we can try…being together,” I say, not quite meeting his eyes.
I can feel his grin even without looking at him when he says, “Really!?” in an excited voice.
He wraps his arms around me in a fierce hug, tight and warm. He hugs me like he never wants to let go.
“Mon chéri, I promise to make you happy,” he whispers into my ears.
“You better,” I say, hugging back.
-
“Darling, I am going to the market,” I say as I dress slowly. The morning has just begun and the sun is just peaking over the horizon.
“Mon chéri,” Arius says from the bed, “Please stay another five minutes. You have the whole day,”
I chuckle, “I may have the day, but you have many more than me. I’ll be back before you know it. Could you prepare the kitchen for cooking and get a fire started in the meantime?”
“Absolutely dear,” comes the muffled reply from the bed.
I laugh and grab my walking cane, heading out of the house to the market as promised.
-
It rains later in the day, the sky a dark grey with fluffy, rain-fat clouds.
I’m cooking on the small grill in the kitchen, my shawl wrapped around me as I stir our supper.
I feel my knees creak as I stand from where I had been crouching to stoke the fire.
“My goodness do I feel old right now,” I comment dryly as I ladle soup into two bowls and hand them off to Arius.
Arius is quiet for a second, then he says, “Mon chéri, hypothetically, would you live longer if you could?”
I laugh at his question. “I don’t suppose I know at this very moment, but I would like to think I would say yes. I like life very much, and I like it a lot more with you around,” It’s true. As much as I was annoyed with him at the beginning, I’ve grown fond of this man.
It hits me at that moment, as it so often does when Arius asks questions like this, that I may soon have to leave him. Humans do not live forever, and I’ve already lived longer than most. Perhaps I should finish the painting I’ve started for him. I do need to adjust a few small details, gods know how hard it is to keep a secret from Arius.
“Lily,” he whispers to get my attention. I turn to face him, suddenly alert with his serious tone.
“What is it?” I ask in concern. Arius doesn’t reply for a minute, instead biting his lower lip.
“I must go on a journey, and I must do it now. I want you to promise to wait for me,” He finally says, staring into my soul.
“I will always wait for you,” I say, not wanting to let him know how painful this was. Arius sometimes took long journeys to his homeland, or off to find something he never fully specified. Each time he came back, he always smiled and thanked me for waiting. But this…this felt like a goodbye. Like he was scared he would never see me again after he left. Was-was I not enough?
“Arius, I want you to tell me the truth,” I say, grasping his sleeve.
“Are you coming back?” I whisper, my voice breaking on the last note.
Arius starts to cry at my words, as if my doubt pained him, and it most likely did.
“Oh, Mon chéri, Je t'aime plus que les étoiles elles-mêmes. Je reviendrai toujours,” He replies, kissing my cheek softly. I feel his tears roll down my neck and into the thick wool of my shawl. I never learned much French, but I can tell he’s saying he’ll return.
“As long as you come back, I will wait,” I say, embracing him.
He leaves that night, disappearing from our bed before the early hours.
I wish I said goodbye properly, but I do not think he could muster himself to go if I was there to see him off.
This was better for the both of us, at least for now.
-
I put the final detailing onto the portrait, fixing a slight error I made in my clumsy youth. The painting is one I conceived off and started, but never had a clear image for. Now that base has been repurposed.
Arius’s face is turned to look out a window, his skin illuminated by the rays of sun filtering through.
His hair color is off by just a fraction.
I add his mole under his ear, just below his jawline.
It still can’t capture his beauty.
I miss him.
Today marks a year since he ventured out, and my longing only grows. The days feel bland and empty without his joy.
I can never properly render his gleaming eyes in paint, and they are one thing I miss most.
The attic is crammed with canvases now, Arius’s gift to me on our first anniversary together. Perhaps we should have gotten married. It would’ve been nice to call him my husband.
I pull myself up out of the chair and lean heavily on my cane.
Wandering across the room I pull out a familiar piece, one I’ve been working on for years.
It is by far the best work I’ve ever done. I wish Arius had seen it before he left.
I hated capturing my image, but now I’m glad to have done it so early. I’m not nearly as weathered here. I still have light in my eyes.
I never got Arius to pose for the portrait, but I’ve studied him enough to know his body by memory.
In the painting I sit on a chair, cane beside me, and a maroon dress swirled around my ankles.
I was never the focus of this painting, though. To the left side stands Arius, as tall and dark as ever. He’s got his wide smile, a playful laugh seeming to be trying to escape his laugh. It’s the face he wears when he calls me ‘Mon chéri’. His hand is on my shoulder, and we’re gazing out together.
He looks so in love.
Carefully I bring the artwork back to my easel and exchange it with the one I had previously been working on.
I pick up a small brush and dip it into the gold paint, carefully painting a band across Arius’s and my left ring fingers.
The base down, I proceed to darken the gold with shadows and highlights, until the rings look like they are sitting upon real skin.
Satisfied, I decide to head to bed for the night. I pull myself out of my chair one again, when I glance out the window.
There’s a figure making their way up the hill in the twilight, seemingly hurting.
Could it be?
The figure stumbles in their haste, but quickly gets up again, running towards my house.
Oh my gods it is.
I also rush to my front door, flinging it open and bursting out into the cold night air.
“Arius!” I scream out, and the figure looks towards me. I meet his brilliant eyes from afar, and I can’t contain my sobs.
I fall to my knees in front of the door, and cry into my hands. He’s back, he’s really back.
“Lily!” Arius yells as he clambers forward, dropping beside me and cradling my head in his hands.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt? Am I too late?” he asks frantically, examining me up and down.
“Arius you-you dummy!” I exclaim, grasping his hands as well. “I’ve missed you so much,”
He smiles widely at that and breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods,” he says, but I don’t know what he’s thanking them for.
“What are you talking about?” I question. Instead of replying, Arius scoops me into his arms like a bride and carries me back into the house.
He pauses for a moment after seeing my living room. It’s covered head to toe in portraits.
“Oh gods, don’t look!” I squeal as I try to cover his eyes.
“Haha, Mon chéri, did you miss me this much?” His eyes are sparkling as he dodges my hands and walks over to the couch to set me down.
He kneels in front of me after he does so, and he just stares at me for a second.
“What is it, darling?” I ask softly, taking in every feature of his face. He hasn’t changed a bit.
“You’ve grown even more beautiful. I was scared you would not be here when I got back, only to find you waiting for me at the door,” he smiles even wider at his own words.
“Flirt,”
“Always for you,”
We gaze at each other for a moment longer, just taking in the other’s visage like a thirsty man would water.
“Are you going to tell me what brought you away from our home for such a long time?” I finally ask, breaking our comfortable silence.
To my surprise, Arius replies, “Yes. I can now,”
He proceeds to reach into his bag and drag out what looks to be an actual star.
“What is this?!” I exclaim as he holds it up to me.
“This is the fruit of the goddess Hayat. It will give you a long life, perhaps even longer than mine,” He grins.
“But you’re immortal,” I say, still not taking my eyes off the star, no, fruit.
“Exactly. If you eat this, you will live beside me for as long as you desire,” Arius says, his voice pleading.
“Will you still love me even if it takes away my beauty?” I ask, the one thing holding me back from taking the fruit from him.
“Mon chéri, you were, are, and will always be the most beautiful thing in the universe for me. Even if you were to shed your lines and creaks, I would embrace you the same,”
I feel tears stinging at the corners of my eyes as I gaze at Arius.
“Alright, darling. I’ll be with you,” I say as I take a bite of the fruit.
There’s a momentary pause as I swallow, and Arius looks agitated and hopeful.
Then there’s a blinding light filling the room, and I can feel my joints ease, my muscles mending, and my back getting straighter.
I reach up to feel my face, and I feel no sagging skin. I see my hands, and no age spots or knobby knuckles are in sight.
I feel…younger.
I look to Arius and ask, “Am I still beautiful?”
“Like the Sun itself,” comes his reply. There’s no hesitance, no disgust.
I reach forward and pull him into a hug.
“You kept the lines of your life,” he whispers into my ear, and I laugh.
“Just call them wrinkles, silly,” I say back.
“But they are so much more than that. I love them,” Arius laughs as well.
We embrace for a little longer.
“Mon chéri,”
“Yes?”
“Did that portrait on the easel have wedding bands on our hands?”
“...would you be opposed?”
“Non, I have been preparing for that for many years now,”
“Haha! I should’ve known, you silly man,”
“But then it wouldn’t have been a surprise, Mon chéri,”
“I love you,”
“And I love you,”