#remulos

She didn’t press him further but he seemed itching to continue the tale. He moved his arms around her. They surrounded her like a halo. She relaxed back into his chest. His heartbeat steady yet firm against her back. She felt compelled to touch his tree-like fingers protruding out from his left hand as he unraveled her braid with his right. The texture was rough like bark yet they were slightly malleable like flesh. He took a deep breath, pressing his nose into the top of her head.

It was silent until he lifted his head. She felt sleepy. He was warm and she felt comfort like this. “Does that sate your curiosity?” His voice sounded distant. “Yes,” she replied. Her posture sunk in guilt. Perhaps it was wrong to ask. “How about you?” The question was abrupt but she felt she needed to answer. “No. Not really. Nothing serious, at least.” Her fingers fiddled with the tips of her unraveled hair. “Really?” He teased. She was sure he was curious about their current state. But even she was unsure how she felt about the druid. It hadn’t been very long. They found each other beautiful and enjoyed the company of the other but that was the extent of it.

“Do you have children?”

“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?” He laughed. “Yes. I have a son and many daughters.” He said it like it was normal for him. Perhaps it was for his kind. Immortal. She remembered when she was like that. It had been gone for some years now. Part of her missed it but she adjusted. A mortal life was more beautiful in concept but she didn’t know when she would die. She frowned at the thought.

“Are you upset?” He asked. She shook her head. “Not at that. I was thinking of how it used to be.” Galadriel reached her hand out, looking at it. She had still kept her youth yet time wore on her more than it had before. “Immortality.”

“You are lucky to be mortal. I would never wish it to return to your kind.”

The statement seemed harsh but she understood him. His chest pressed into her back, pushing her forward until he could position his hands well enough away from her. She slouched down slightly, gazing at the magic forming in his palms. A variety of flowers bloomed within them. They were fresh yet had no root to hold onto the soil. In moments, they started to wither. “Everything beautiful has an end but it will always have purpose and a new beginning.” His voice was soft, nearly a whisper. The flowers rapidly decayed into a glittering soil that spilled out onto the ground beneath them which grew new flowers around them.

As he addressed her, she nearly dropped her bow. She hardly knew what to do with herself. Her heart felt like it was going to burst. Words couldn’t form upon her lips. She stumbled out into the open, hiding her bow behind her. She felt ashamed she was about to fire at something like him. His head turned towards her. His beauty caused her cheeks to flush a soft violet against her cool, cerulean skin.

“A hunter? Mistook me for prey, have you?”

He chuckled with a warm smile on his face. She didn’t know what to say. “Ye- I mean, no. Not at all.” Her embarrassment was clearer than glass and shown all over her face. The centaur let out a hearty laugh as he began to approach her. She stepped back a bit and he stopped.

“Are you afraid? I can assure you I am no threat.”

He frowned, crossing his arms over his bear chest. His hair was long and rough in texture similar to a horses. Leaves, flowers, and vines wrapped sparsely around his frame as if it was natural for them to grow there. If she knew better, he was definitely a druid. “I’m not afraid. Just… I’ve never encountered anyone of your kind before. My apologies.” She felt bad for feeling uneasy. If she were to be honest, he was intimidating. His sheer size alone was twice her own. He smiled at her once more and it made her stomach flutter.

“Don’t apologize, it is alright. Would you like to walk with me?”

As a hunter, she had a sole responsibility. It was to bring food back to her village before sundown. Unable to resist the request of the magnificent man before her, she neglected this duty. She could only nod in response. “Excellent,” he said, “Let us walk.” His movements were slower than before. It was as if he was consciously doing so to allow her to keep up. “I am curious, what is your name?” His hands returned to his sides as he looked back at her. “My name?” She hesitated to answer. “Galadriel. Though some call me Gala. If you would prefer that. It’s just a shortening of my name. I know it can be a mouthful.”