3 A very bonny place

Well, that went well, Idril thought, walking back to her flat with her heels dangling from her fingers. She finally broke up with Jeet. And what a relief it is. What a tool he was.

He came clean finally. Apparently, he had first asked her out on a date because of a bet. Idril didn't know whether to feel flattered or annoyed to learn that the bet involved getting the hottest girl in the office, namely her, to bed. Jeet had tried, unsuccessfully of course, and now he didn't want to try anyone because he had met someone and was in love. Fancy that!

He had an air as if confessing was a great favor he was bestowing upon Idril. She was speechless when she realized that Jeet actually believed that just a confession would make everything alright. In the end, she had just thrown a disgusted look along with the contents of the glass she was drinking from at him and stalked out of the bar. She knew her reaction had been juvenile but had really enjoyed the surprised look on his and his friends' faces.

Frankly, she was tired of dating losers after her engagment broke off two years ago. She still felt humiliated just thinking about it. She was such a naïve little girl who still at the age of twenty four looked at the word through rose colored glasses an thought unicorns existed. Well, she was served right. That broken engagement has worked like a slap in her face, something she sorely needed. After all, she wasn't that innocent girl anymore who got impressed by flashy cars, tall promises, fake confessions of eternal love and fame. No, nothing impressed her anymore.

Now, that is problem, Idril allowed herself a mocking smile. Nothing impressed her anymore. No one impressed her anymore.

Maybe she was better off with celebrity crushes she thought to herself, turning her key in the door lock. At least you can imagine anything you want with them without putting up with the real life crap which inevitably results in a crash and burn.

Feanor started. "You know, I grew up in the countryside. It was a very bonny place, with rolling green meadows shrouded in mist, in the mountainside, the horses grazing peacefully about. A picture perfect village with picture perfect cottages and small shops. It was all very pretty, but with only one problem. The population was dangerously low. Especially, all the young people moved out to the big cities as soon as they could, making the populace mostly made up of the very young and very old. And so, there were very few of my own age.

The upshot of all this was that it was very lonely sometimes. I had only the company of my brother and parents and a couple of kids of my neighborhood. As a result, I spent a lot of time alone. And helped by a fertile imagination, I'd run about the countryside with a sword in my hand, pretending to be a dashing prince out to rescue his damsel in distress."

"Oh, haven't we all been there?" Harry quipped.

"Now, the problem was, I had a wooden sword and my farm had an old horse. So that was taken care of. The tower was there as well. There was a broch in the mountains; nobody knew how old it was. It was kind of creepy and people were afraid to go near it. But being naturally inquisitive, I often ventured into the nearby jungle and have on a number of occasions been inside it as well.

Anyways, so as you can see, I had everyone, but the damsel in distress. Now, being of an innocent mind," there was a loud hooting at this, "In those days, I mean, I imagined her and she always turned out to be exotic in my young mind's eyes. See, I figured, that as it's my imagination and the world being so big, so somewhere she is bound to exist. So, I'd stand at the foot of the broch, with my sword in my hand and imagine the face of my princess looking down at me, smiling sweetly. Her face would be in the shadows but I could still make out her features. She would have a heart shaped face, with dimples in her cheeks. She would be doe eyed, with liquid black irises. Her lips were a lush red and when she smiled, her eyes creased and she looked so beautiful. Her hair was long, very long, falling to her waist. And some of her locks would fall on her eyes. And she'd have a star in her hair and a silvery blue gown, as if she was descended from the stars. She was beautiful."

He stopped speaking, feeling strange. It was like remembering a half forgotten dream. Talking about it after so long made him relive those feelings of childhood. That sense of adventure hen he'd set out from his house with his wooden sword dangling at his side, the quickening of his heartbeat as the broch came into view slowly, the sweet anticipation of innocent belief that maybe by magic, one day he would really see her standing in the shadows, waiting for him to rescue her. She had seemed so real.

Harry let out a heavy sigh, "The innocence of childhood."

"Aye, too true." Feanor agreed silently.