Chapter 15- Unexpected

Sylvia took her leave early not feeling well tonight. Leaving Fraren to escort me back to my rooms alone. He followed from a distance matching his footsteps to mine. When I slowed, he slowed. When I sped up so did he. I giggled at his silliness.

"Fraren!" I yelled back, "Catch me if you can!" Haha

I lifted my skirts and took off down the cobblestone path leading out into the woods. I would race him, for good old times, back to our hidden fort. With the stars lighting the way I expertly charged towards my 'castle'. I quickly climbed our tree to enter my hidden 'tower'. After reaching the very top I kept quiet as I looked down. I didn't see him below and half expected I had lost him. As I began to let out a breath Fraren dropped down beside me from a higher branch.

"Ahhhh!" I yelled with excitement "how did you...?"

"Did you really think I forgot our hideout? I knew the moment you headed this direction what you were up to Fanariel." He said petting my head. His smile reminded me of when he was a young boy. Of times when he was less serious and confusing.

I smiled looking down at my feet. "I missed this," I said. Swinging my legs back and forth.

"Me too." He agreed.

We sat there in silence for a moment before he spoke up.

"Fanariel, there's something I've been meaning to tell you." He began.

"Yes?" I questioned looking up to meet his gaze. His sharp blue eyes stared back at mine. A contrast to his waist long black hair. He always braided a small strand from either side of his face to meet in the back of his head. His lips were full and pink like mine. His skin as smooth and clear as porcelain. He looked perfect. Reminding me of why I had a crush on him before.

I waited for a minute in silence, he had not yet said whatever it was that was bothering him.

"Fraren, whatever it is, you can tell me." I reassured as I placed my hand atop of his.

He looked down at our hands together before looking back up to say, "I think it's too hard to find the words to tell you..."

"What's going on," I urged him. "Come on the suspense is killing me haha." I said joking with him as I playfully slapped his chest. He grabbed my hand and held it above his heart. I could feel it beating quickly. This made me worried, maybe he was trying to tell me he was sick!

"Fraren, are you okay? Are you trying to tell me that you're sick? Quickly let's go back, we can find you help." I started blabbing now worried.

He closed his eyes and started to laugh. "Here I am facing my biggest fear, trying to show you how I feel about you. But only you Fanariel would take a confession of love and turn it into a sickness." He chuckled lowly to himself.

Did he just say a confession of love?

Before my mind could wrap itself fully around his words something truly unexpected happened.

"Forgive me," he said before leaning forward, his hand placed on the back of my neck pulled my face to his. Our lips touched briefly in a quick kiss. He pulled back looking me in my eyes. I could see the worry, hope, and love swirl through his gaze.

I felt astonished at first then felt comfort and desire. He must have seen that too because he quickly moved into a deeper more meaningful kiss. We kissed for what felt like minutes. I finally had to use my hand against his chest to press us apart. My breathing was heavy, I felt as if I had ran the 4 mile course myself just now.

"Fraren," I said.

"Fanariel," he interjected, "I love you, I've loved you since the first day we met as kids. I never thought I would find the courage to tell you, thinking you may not return my feelings. Thus I didn't say anything in fear of ruining our friendship. But seeing you now, each day with new suitors for your hand in marriage. My feelings have got the best of me and made me realize something. I would rather put everything in the open with you and have you reject me then to not tell you and live the rest of my life wondering if we could... ever be...something." He finished slowly.

I could see the deep emotion he had for me in his look and hear it in his voice. A hidden sadness thinking I didn't hold the same feelings for him.

"Fraren, did you truly not know my feelings for you when we were kids? I literally had the biggest crush on you. It was me that thought you had no reciprocating feelings. I concealed my feelings for you to maintain our friendship. If I had only known..." I trailed off thinking on how things could have been if he had only told me sooner.

"Fanariel, the joy your words bring to my ears. To know you feel the way I do too. I know I may be too late, but that alone is enough for me..." he said not wanting to dwell on it further. We both decided to live in the moment that we had. Fraren kissed me again more passionately and I returned with equal desire. We laid in our tree house fort in each other's embrace until my eyelids closed and I fell into a deep slumber. I dreamt of Fraren's lips on mine and his many loving touches.

I would later deal with the chaos in my heart.