Friendzoned

"As the war churned the front lines, you saw friends and families destroyed by elven arrows and magic. It was a losing battle, you had no choice but to run away. You ran away from the village through the forest."

"You realize your throat is dry, parched, even. You hear the flow of water in the distance... following it through the thickets, you eventually find yourself in a clearing by the cliffside. A small river runs into a waterfall that pours into the sea."

"And there, by the ruins of an old monastery, you see her. You unmistakably know her as the elven queen, the ruler of the forces that devastated your village."

She takes notice of you, her olive eyes look at you with a gentle mystique... yet unhindered by malice.
"Hello human, good evening."

"She greets you, with no fear nor alarm in her voice despite seeing you are armed. And you know why... she is powerful, more powerful than any other elf you've ever faced. One wrong move, and you're likely the one to die."

"I come here to gather my thoughts and find solace in the sound of the waterfall. It is a peaceful place, at least for now." "Aria says as she watches the human wash his face in the water and takes note of his gentle demeanor." "May I ask what brings you to this place, human?"

"I see," "Aria says with a hint of sympathy in her voice." "The war has brought nothing but chaos and destruction. It pains me to see it continue, but my people urge me to retaliate. I do not wish for any more lives to be lost, but there seems to be no other way." "She watches the human taking a sip of water and turns her gaze back towards the waterfall." "You are safe here, human. And if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

"As the human compliments her, Aria can't help but feel a faint blush rise up her cheeks. Yet, as always, she maintains a calm and collected front." "Thank you for your kind words, human. It is refreshing to see a lighter side amidst the chaos of war." "She then gazes out at the sea below, lost in thought." "I often come here to think, to find a moment of peace amidst all the destruction and bloodshed." "Aria then turns back to the human and smiles gently." "May I know your name, human? It's nice to know who I am speaking with."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Reynard." "Aria returns the smile." "And to answer your question, I am Aria. Aria, Queen of the Elven Empire and Protector of the Forests." "She then looks out at the sea again, a hint of sadness in her eyes." "I wish that war had never come to our lands. It is destroying everything we hold dear, the forests, the seas, the animals. I fear there may be no coming back from this, no matter how hard our people try to retaliate."

"You are wise beyond your years, Reynard," "Aria says, impressed by the human's insight." "The acceptance of war is one thing, but the preservation of life is another. As a queen, it is my duty to protect my people, even if it means going to war. But it pains me to see the lives lost on both sides, and the destruction left in our wake. There must be a better way to settle our differences than through violence."

"Aria then turns to Reynard with a gentle expression." "What do you think would be a better solution to put an end to this war? I am always open to suggestions from someone who understands the price of peace."

"I see," "Aria says with a nod, understanding Reynard's point." "If only we could find something greater than ourselves to unite us all. But as you say, even when we have a common enemy, the unity can only last for so long before greed and power takes over once again."

"Aria then looks up at the sky, the stars flickering above them." "Perhaps we are doomed to be in this never-ending cycle of war and destruction," "she murmurs, more to herself than to Reynard." "But even so, I cannot help but hope for a better future. A future where elves and humans can achieve true peace and mutual understanding. Maybe someday, we can work together towards a common goal, rather than against each other."

"Aria then turns to Reynard with a smile." "Thank you for speaking with me

tonight. It is rare for me to find someone with a peaceful outlook such as yours, Reynard. I am grateful for this conversation and your insights."

"Aria can feel her cheeks flush slightly at Reynard's words, her heart skipping a beat. Her gaze is unbroken from his, but she finds herself unable to speak for a moment."

"When she finally regains her bearings, Aria responds with a small smile." "You are quite the charmer, Reynard," "she says softly." "But I must warn you that I am not interested in such things. My duties as queen prevent me from taking a lover, and even if I could, I have other priorities in mind."

"Aria then looks down at her hands, a hint of sadness in her voice." "Besides, love and war do not mix. It only leads to tragedy and heartbreak for all parties involved. I have seen it happen far too often to those around me."

"Aria's eyes widen at Reynard's request, shocked by his boldness. Her cheeks flush deeper, her heart beating fast in her chest. She knows that she shouldn't give in to his request, as it goes against her morals and principles. But the way Reynard looks at her, the desire in his voice... it's hard for her to refuse."

"A kiss on the cheek, you say?" "Aria repeats softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She then takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. After a moment's hesitation, she leans in and presses her lips gently against Reynard's cheek, then draws back."

"That was all I can give you, Reynard," "she says with a resigned sigh." "I hope it is enough to satisfy your curiosity."

"Aria listens to Reynard's words, her own heart pounding in her chest at the realization of how her actions had affected him. She feels a slight flutter in her stomach at the admiration in his voice, but she also knows that her duty as a queen comes first."

"I am glad that the kiss was able to bring you such joy, Reynard," "Aria says softly." "But we should not be too attached to fleeting pleasures. Our world is full of sorrow and pain, and these moments of happiness can be fleeting."

"She speaks with wisdom beyond her years, her green eyes sparkling with a hint of melancholy. She knows that as a queen, she must remain detached from personal relationships, for the sake of her people. But sometimes, like now, that detachment is difficult to maintain."

Aria nods slowly, taking in Reynard's words with an understanding expression.

"You are wise beyond your years, Reynard," "she says softly." "And you are right. Love and kindness are just as important in this world as strength and power. But sometimes, as a queen, I must make decisions that are not guided by my personal desires, but by the needs of my people. It is a heavy burden to bear."

"She pauses for a moment, looking out at the sea before continuing." "But perhaps, you are right. Perhaps, in these dark times, we can find a little bit of light and comfort in each other's company. It is a small ray of hope, but it can be enough to keep us going."

"She turns back to Reynard, her olive eyes meeting his." "Thank you for reminding me of

the importance of love and kindness. It is not something that can be forgotten easily, but sometimes the weight of duty can make it seem insignificant. I am honored to have met someone as insightful as you, Reynard."

"Aria's voice is soft and sincere, a small smile on her lips as she looks at him. She feels a warmth in her chest at the thought of having someone to share the burden of her responsibilities with, even if it is just for a fleeting moment."

"So, what do you propose, Reynard? How can we find comfort in each other's company?" "She asks, tilting her head slightly." "Perhaps we could walk together by the sea, or enjoy a meal together?"

"Aria's smile widens at Reynard's suggestion." "A walk by the sea it is, then. It will be a good chance for us to clear our minds and take in the beauty of nature."

"She stands up gracefully and offers her hand to Reynard to help him stand as well." "Shall we go then? The path by the shore is not far from here, and I think it would be lovely to watch the sunset together."

"She takes a step towards the monastery ruins, motioning for Reynard to follow her." "I hope you don't mind me asking, Reynard, but where are you from? I don't recall having seen you in any of our battles before."

"Aria listens to Reynard's response attentively, her eyes locked onto his as they walk along the path towards the shore." "Windholm... I'm sorry for your loss," she says sympathetically. "I know what it feels like to lose one's home. The elven empire has lost many cities too, and it is a pain that never fully fades."

"She looks out at the sea in front of them, watching the waves crash against the shore. It is clear that the sea brings her some measure of peace, as she seems more relaxed now." "And I understand about the battlefield... unfortunately, war demands sacrifice from all of us. It is never easy to bear that burden alone."

"As they approach the shore, Aria removes her shoes and lets her feet sink into the sand, feeling the cool grains brush against her toes."

"Aria nods in agreement as she listens to Reynard's words, her eyes following the movements of the waves as they crash against the shore." "Indeed, peace is something we both hope for. It is heartbreaking to see so much destruction and pain all around us."

"She glances over at Reynard again, noticing his gaze on her. She meets his eyes, her own filled with a tender gaze that speaks of compassion and understanding." "Moments like this are few and far between, but they are worth cherishing. Perhaps one day, the world will be at peace and moments like this will be the norm, rather than an exception."

"She sighs deeply, enjoying the cool breeze that blows across the shore. After a moment's pause, she turns back to Reynard." "Is there anything else you'd like to talk about, Reynard

?" she asks with a small smile. "I'm happy to listen, if you have anything on your mind."

"As she waits for Reynard's response, Aria absently begins tracing patterns in the sand with one of her toes, lost in thought."

"Aria cannot help but blush a faint shade of pink as Reynard takes her hand and speaks to her so softly. She looks at him, for a moment at a loss for words, but the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore soothes her mind and encourages her to speak."

"Reynard, I...I don't know what to say," she says softly, her eyes locked onto his. "I'm honored that you would think of me in such a way... but I fear that our paths are too different, that our goals in life cannot be reconciled."

"She squeezes Reynard's hand gently, expressing her own gratitude for his kindness." "I hope, though, that we can always see each other as friends. And if ever the time comes when we can share more than that, then perhaps we can consider it

. But for now, let us enjoy this moment and the serenity that it brings."

"With that, Aria looks out to the horizon once more, her thoughts turning inward as she contemplates their conversation. She's grateful to have met someone so kind-hearted, but she knows that the world is not yet ready for peace between their two peoples."

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Reynard," Aria responds, feeling a sense of relief that he understands. She draws in a deep breath, letting the sea air fill her lungs and calm her mind.

They sit there together in silence, enjoying the tranquility of the moment while the sun slowly sets over the horizon. The orange and pink hues spread across the sky like wildfire, painting the world in a warm glow. It's a moment of peace and solace, one that Aria is grateful for. The world may be at war, but she counts herself lucky to experience these moments of stillness and connection.