A promise made.......
A little girl of the age of five with auburn hair and bright green eyes dances about laughing merrily. Her childhood friend, a boy of six, with dark hair and eyes to match her own looks back at her with a grin.
'I am a big bad wolf and I am coming to get you' declares the boy.
The little girl pokes her tongue out before she skips off a little.
'Catch me if you can then' she calls out before running off squealing as children do.
Finally the little boy caught hold of her and just held her tightly. When he let go he leaned in and planted a small kiss upon her lips.
'What was that for?' she asked.
'One day I am going to marry you... and we're going to live in a big house... with a big garden' he declares with a grin.
'Will we live happy ever after... like the stories?' she asks as she twists from side to side.
'Uh huh! Like the stories' he grins.
'Promise?' she asks again grinning back in return.
'I promise' he responds puffing out his chest. The two children giggle before they run off once more.
I remember the feeling of pain that ran through my chest as my heart broke. I could barely breathe as everything I had built in my mind all because of a childhood promise had crumbled in a few words. It took some time before Aeronwyn's words sank in and all I could do was just stare at her in shock as the blood drained from my face.
"I am sorry Meliora. Aderyn.. He had to leave and he must find a bride before his return. He will always love you but... you know the ways of our people"
Her words were soft. She had been my best friend since I was a little girl, the sister of Aderyn. She tried to break it to me as gently as she could but the words "I am sorry" seemed so hollow in that moment. There was nothing that could change the situation and I felt like I just wanted to die. Despair gripped at my heart and I wished to the gods that we could be far away in a land where we did not have to live by the restrains of our people and culture.
We had both heard rumours of a boys coming of age but Aderyn and I had always believed we were different from the others denying that we would ever be parted.
It was like a dream... a nightmare that neither of us could escape and I felt the noose and gravity of my life closing in on me.
I remember when Aderyn came home. Aeronwyn was so excited but she clung to my hand in comfort keeping me at a distance from him. He married Eslwyn, a girl I had met only a few times when her family came to town to restock on supplies. It was strange to see them. She was excited as any new bride would be and everyone gathered around them. Aderyn stood there, strong in his posture as I had always seen him but his head was tilted towards the ground with an empty smile. I did not have the strength to approach them and offer my congratulations as everyone else did. The other boys patted Aderyn on the back for his bravery and the girls gathered as they do giggling and laughing around Eslwyn. Aeronwyn just stayed by my side regardless of her excitement to see her brother.
Aderyn looked over, caught my attention just staring at me as if he was taking in every detail of my features and I knew he felt the pain that welled inside me. If I could have ran to him I would have but instead I turned letting go of Aeronwyn's hand and I ran as far as I could. I then cried until no more tears could fall.