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He shook his head. “No, I am still learning.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And what have you learned so far?”
He smiled a sad, bittersweet smile. “That love isn’t always enough. You see people who have been married for years and they still look at each other with the same love and desire as when they were first married. And you wonder what their secret is.”
That an Elf thought about love in such a way was surprising to me. We didn’t think about love the same way Elves did. For us, love was more of a concept than just an emotion. It was something that you did, not something that you only felt.
“And what is their secret?” I asked, curious despite myself.
“The answer is simple.” He looked away. “They have learned to nurture their love, to care for it, and to cherish it. You realize that they have been through hard times and they have stuck together through thick and thin. That’s what love is,” he said.
I smiled nostalgically, thinking of my parents. Married for over 30 years and they were still madly in love with each other. “I think you’re right. My mother always said that love is not a feeling, but a choice. If you want it to last, you must work at it every day.”
“I agree with her.”
I was talking with my future husband about love. Somehow, during our conversation, my anger faded, and I felt more understanding toward him. And that paused me.
From what I observed, Prince Maedras did nothing without cause. This conversation was leading somewhere. He wanted me to think well of him. But I was sure it wasn’t only because I was his future wife or because of the Elvish fertility issue. He wanted something from me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “For what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have judged you.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry too. I should have been more honest with you from the beginning.”
I nodded my head. I couldn’t fault him for that. After all, I hadn’t been completely honest with him either. Neither was I planning to be completely honest.
“There are other things in life besides love. There is duty and responsibility. Everyone has a role to play.”
Like I thought. He sought me out for a reason.
Was everything a game to him? Was that how he saw life? As one big chessboard where everyone had their place and their role to play?
“And what is my role in all of this?” I asked, half-joking and half-serious.
He looked at me for a long time, his gold eyes piercing into mine. “You are my partner,” he said. “And that is all I need you to be.”
“I suppose that’s true.” I risked it. “But I feel like there’s more to it than that.”
Prince Maedras half-smiled at me. A twinkle appeared in his eyes. “About what?”
I paused for a moment, thinking about my answer. “I think,” I said slowly. “That you do nothing without a purpose. You sought me out for a reason. And it’s not to talk about love.”
“Love is all there is.”
Love was a game to him. A strategy. I wondered how many hearts he had broken in the name of love. A bright smile, a few kind words, and they were all putty in his hands. Good looks and charm were a dangerous combination.
He was a master of the game, and I was nothing more than a pawn. A pawn with brains, admittedly, but a pawn nonetheless.
I shook my head. “No, there is something more.”
He bit his lip as he observed me. “Maybe I just wanted someone to share this place with,” he said as he looked outside. “Someone who understands what it’s like to be alone.”
Hook, line, and sinker.
I was tempted to roll my eyes. How could anyone be alone in a palace full of people? A palace where he was the one in charge?
“Then I’m glad I can be that person for you,” I said. “But that’s not the complete truth.”
He was silent for a long time, contemplating my words. Then he finally spoke. “You are a very observant person.” He smiled at me. “It is the thing I like about you.”
