A/N: This is IT! The last chapter! The thrilling conclusion of Calasier Avamela! I have tortured you for 16 chapters and now, all shall be revealed.

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Now, the last chapter of my much-loved fanfiction!

Calasier Avamela

Chapter 17: Flowers in the Wind

Draco made a move first. He took a step forward and bowed, "I am pleased to see you again, Your Majesty." He made sure to get the pronunciation right since he was sure the Prince would be wary of any error. However, the Prince simply replied in English,

"Speak in your own tongue while speaking to me, Draco."

Draco didn't know what to make of it. Did the Prince think his Elvish so poor that he didn't want to hear it? But, unusually, there was no trace of contempt in his face or voice, Strange. The Prince strode over to a gap in the silk which substituted for a window looking out over the flowering trees. Now he was closer, Draco thought he looked a little ill. There were dark shadows under his eyes and his skin was, if possible, a shade paler. He swallowed and bravely asked,

"Your Majesty, have you been ill?"

The Prince looked around, an eyebrow raised, "In a sense, yes. Come." He beckoned with a finger for Draco to stand with him. Swallowing again, he obeyed. He felt like something was being held back about him. A feeling that was mutual between them, "Do you know what this place is?"

"No." Draco shook his head,

"It is Lotele, the fountain of flowers. When spring comes, the petals are carried by the wind all over the land like water from a fountain. Or, it is said." He turned his eyes upon Draco. Even his eyes, though beautiful and shimmering, were different. In a way he could not express. What shocked Draco was the fact that he was able to stand normally before his gaze now. Those heavenly orbs used to make his knees knock and his voice stammer but now, he was before them, so close that he could touch that porcelain face, but he did not so much as tremble, "What do you think, Draco?" Even his voice, though as lyrical as ever, did not impact him as ever, "You seem different in your actions."

"I have changed, Your Majesty." Draco said, baffling himself with no shake in his speech, "I do not look at things the same way." That was true. He had learned so much of Elven ways that he had taken some of them on himself. Perhaps it was the feeling that he was more involved in elves and their traditions that made him less affected by the Prince's presence. Perhaps it was just elves in general that astounded him. But, now was not the time to ponder this, "You seem changed too, Your Majesty."

"I am." The Prince nodded, Why is he not scorning me? "I have not been as busy as you have been led to believe. That is what I ordered to be given to you." Draco looked round, interested, "In truth, I fled Ariador after your imprisonment," Draco bit his tongue at the lack of emotion in his voice, "remained away for ten days and then, I was imprisoned for the past month for murder in an ally country."

A gasp burst from Draco's mouth. All that time he had thought he was alright and he was in prison! Why hadn't Marilla or Arawen told him this? Even Leonas had not mentioned it, What is going on? "I did not know that, Your Majesty."

"Of course you did not." The Prince said, some of his old scorn in his voice, "Did I not say that I gave orders not to let you know?"

Feelings Draco had not felt in a long time now rose to the surface with frightening lucidity. He felt insulted, How dare he say that after I worried about him! He momentarily forgot who was in front of him to indulge in a moment of anger, After all my service, all the stupid things I did for him, he still feels the need to look down upon me. That moment grew longer until it started to cloud his judgment. When the Prince spoke again, Draco had forgotten who he was speaking to,

"What is this 'Your Majesty', Draco? You have always addressed me as 'My Prince' or 'Sire' until now."

"Would you prefer it, Sire?" Draco half-sneered. He still could not muster enough anger to fully sneer like he used. The Prince actually started at this behaviour, his eyes widening a little,

"What means this?" His voice was sharp, "This behaviour does not befit a servant of mine nor does it befit you. Draco, do you remember whom you address?"

"Yes." Draco said, mutinously, glaring full on in that pale face. In that brief lapse, resentment and rage that he never knew he had boiled within him. He could not say that he hated the Prince, he could never do that, but Draco no longer saw him as the most perfect and beautiful thing in the world. The Prince had given him nothing but contempt and unfair treatment ever since they met; he saw it all now. He had done nothing to deserve it yet that was what he received,

"Good." With a sideways glance at Draco, the Prince returned his gaze to the window, "We are here to discuss your employment with me after all. You would not want to displease me if you wanted to stay."

"Never entered my mind." Draco's voice dripped with sarcasm and he followed the Prince's gaze over the trees. He did not know why he felt like this but he could not turn back. He could not get rid of this resentment that now coursed through him, poisoning his perfect image of the Prince. The Prince did not answer this but he could feel his displeased gaze upon him. A strong gust of wind ripped through the place, tearing a thousand petals from their branches. They whirled a terrible, frenzied dance in the air and then scattered, spirited away by the merciless currents of air,

"A servant should be faithful and unwavering to his master." The Prince went on, "There should be no hatred between them. You, however, seem to harbour some unknown bitterness for me."

"You don't know..." Draco growled, his knuckles white and his nails digging into his palms. Rage was possessing him fully now. He could not believe the Prince's ignorance, He put me through all that and he doesn't even think it's worthy of my anger, "...you really don't know..." He glared up at the Prince. Now, the searching look inspired new rage within him, "...You think that because I am mortal..." His voice was rising to a shout now. All of the anger he never knew he had was bursting from him, an uncontrollable flow of irresistible rage, "...and because I am weak that I-I HAVE NO FEELINGS?"

"What?" The Prince looked shaken; he had not expected this. That shocked expression incited more of the same fire within him, "What means this outburst?"

"I HAVE AS MUCH HEART AS ANY ELF HERE!" Draco screamed. The petals in the air burst through the window, some of them hitting the two of them in the face, "TOO MUCH, I'D SAY!"

"Draco!" The Prince seemed strangely distressed by Draco's shouting. He took hold of his upper arms hard, "Contain yourself! Tell me why you are like this."

The moment the Prince touched him, a fierce internal battle waged within Draco,

He's close enough! Kiss him!

What? He will be so angry!

It doesn't matter! Just kiss him!

In the end, instinct took over him completely. Less than ten seconds passed then, Draco lost himself completely.

He launched himself forward, grabbed the Prince's face and forced it into his own. Their lips crashed together, right on target. And it felt fantastic. The Prince was warm against him and it lasted longer than he had ever expected. His body writhed with pleasure against the Prince and his arms curled around His neck, his fingers immersed in that silky hair.

It had happened so suddenly that neither of them knew quite what was happening. Draco's heart was pounding within him more than ever. Or was that the Prince's heartbeat? It was impossible to tell. He desperately pushed into the other, tightening his grip more and more as the seconds flew by. All anger had dissipated. All he wanted was remain there with Him. His eyes were closed, he did not need sight, and all senses seemed closed so as to allow more and more pleasure enter him without interference.

Another thrill went up his spine when the Prince wrapped His arms around Draco's waist, His soft hands laid upon Draco's back. An involuntary groan of pleasure issued from his throat. Or what it the Prince's throat? That feeling increased as he felt the Prince not only staying but kissing him back. The two of them seemed no longer Draco and the Prince. Just one creature, connected by their love, that radiated in their chests almost to burning point.

But, it still wasn't enough. Draco wanted more. He pushed himself more and more into the Prince. He wanted that perfect warmth to be inside him to surround him. He felt the Prince take a little step back to keep his balance and he, in turn, took a step forward. He would not allow Him to go. Suddenly, air became a hindrance. Its demand rose quickly in his chest but he tried to ignore it as much as he could. He did not want to lose this feeling. But his lungs were near bursting point and, in the end, his body drew itself away as quickly as it had plunged in.

He was left panting and torn. He wanted to have stayed in the Prince's arms longer and the warmth of His body was beginning to fade. The dream was ending. The Prince staggered a little, staring at him with wide eyes, "D-Draco..." He gasped, delicately touching His lips where Draco's had once been, "...you..."

"I love you!" The words had burst from him again without his consent. The Prince seemed staggered even more by this. He actually took a step back but said nothing. He stared at Draco as though He had never seen anything like him. Anger returned, "Don't you understand that? I love you!" Humiliation burned within him now. He had just unleashed his biggest secret and all the Prince was doing was standing like a shocked statue, "Don't you even know what love is?"

"I-Draco..." The Prince was stammering worse than ever, "...you..."

But now rage was getting a better grip on him than before. His hands bunched into fists again and he raised them ready, "Tell me this one thing. Did you treat me the way you did because I was human or did you treat all of your servants like that? Eh?" He snapped, ferociously when He hesitated. Staggering worse than ever, the Prince held up his hands like a surrender,

"Now, hear me, Draco...I did not treat you like I did the others..."

That was enough. That was all Draco needed. He shot forward right at the Prince and collided with him. But he was not kissing him now. Now, his fists were pummeling every inch of the Prince he could find, How dare he, how dare he treat me like that and still be ignorant! The force of the blow forced the Prince back so he teetered on the edge of falling down the steps on the opposite side of where Draco had first come, All that time, all that effort, all that wasted love and for this!

The Prince held him back as best He could but His thin body could not do much against Draco's berserk onslaught. He did not fight back, just tried to push him away. Everything the Prince did made Draco angry now. He was not fighting because He thought Draco was weak. He had only kissed him back just to draw him in and hurt him again. He had only kept him as His servant to make him suffer. It all made sense to him now. The Prince's was a fatal beauty. Why so many had been heartbroken by Him. He liked to see people suffer. He had made Draco suffer but no more.

Draco thoughtlessly kicked him in the shins, making him topple. The both of them bounced down the steps, alternating which one took the blow on their backs. They landed in a tangle of limbs at the bottom, hitting a low branch on the way down. Petals cascaded over them but they flew loose as Draco's fists flew back to fire another blow. He was on top of him now. The Prince had nowhere to run to. He was pinned down by Draco's weight.

Now, He was attempting to take hold of his wrists. It was only when he was wrestling Him when he noticed two things. One; tears were falling thick and fast from his eyes. Two; the Prince was saying, "Draco, hear me!" over and over again. But he would not hear him. He would not allow himself to be poisoned by his words. No more...no more...

His hand suddenly found something in the Prince's belt. A knife. He grabbed the hilt eagerly and held it up to the Prince's throat. The place fell silent. An ominous still followed, broken only by the madly-swirling petals in the air. The Prince looked up at him with no anger or fear. He simply looked at him, like a marble statue. A trickle of blood oozed from a cut on his lip,

"You will kill me, Draco? Your own love?" His voice was quiet and his eyes, one badly bruised, gazed up at him calmly. This threw oil on the fire within Draco. How could he not show any emotion when he's about to die?

"It would be for the greater good." Draco snarled, though the knife quivered in his grip, "It would stop you breaking more hearts."

"But, you would be put to death for killing me." The Prince answered, calmly. Draco growled,

"I don't care. In fact," He added, with a psychotic little giggle, "I might just kill myself. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Kill you then kill myself! You'll go to Hell and I'll stay as a ghost!"

"Draco." The Prince attempted to sit up but Draco slammed Him down again, "Hear me."

"I WILL NOT!" Draco shouted, raising the dagger as far as his arm would allow, "I'LL NEVER HEAR YOU AGAIN! YOU SHALL DIE HERE!"

The Prince only gave him a cryptic smile and closed his eyes, "So be it."

Draco snarled in his throat. That terrible, pale, beautiful face would soon be twisted in pain and smeared with blood. Draco mustered up all his hatred...but there was none. He could not hate the Prince. He was angered by Him, yes, but he could not hate Him. The crystal pendant slipped out from beneath Draco's clothes and clicked against the Prince's. The identical golden flowers glistened in the sun overhead.

The knife slipped from his hand, just beside the Prince. His raised hand shook and then lowered. The Prince opened his eyes and surveyed him, "Can you not do it?" He asked,

"Shut up." Draco hissed. He could not bare to look into that calm face. He couldn't do it. He could not kill the Prince. In an attempt to conceal his tears, he bowed his head so he was staring at the Prince's chest, "No matter what you do...no matter how much I'm hurt...I can't hate you...I can't kill you..." Silence. The Prince put his head to one side, as though trying to understand something. Draco's sobs shook his body and tears dripped onto the Prince's clothes, "...but, I know...I know we can't...you can never..." His shaking hand found the hilt of the knife again. One thing had fixed in his mind now, "...I can't live...without you...so, I'll..." The point touched his heart.

It happened so fast that Draco, at first, did not know what had happened. He only knew a sharp pain in his hand and a strong force throwing his arm out to the side. The dagger flew out of it and rolled away across the grass, soon to be covered with petals. Draco stared after it and at his hand. The skin started to redden where he had been hit.

A white hand curled around it and he felt an arm around his waist. Before he had time to realise what was going on, he was being pulled down into the warmth of the Prince again.

Hari saw the dagger pointed at Draco's heart and a flurry of panic entered him. Quickly, he retracted a hand and smacked Draco's as hard as he could. The dagger flew away into the air, Draco's eyes following it. His empty hand opened an opportunity to him. Following his instincts, he wrapped his own hand around it and pulled Draco down into him.

He did not want this kiss to be as desperate as Draco's. Instead, he met Draco's lips gently and did not cling to his clothes as he embraced him., He looks so like a porcelain figure that I shall treat him such. Draco remained frozen for a second, his lips against Hari's, and then, relaxed. The kiss was chaste but lasted a lot longer. Draco did not writhe but remained quite still, absorbing it all, That's it, my Draco. Hari's hands glided up his back and settled in Draco's blond hair. He could almost taste the tears on his lips.

Gradually, they parted. Draco's eyes were wide and confused, still with traces of tears. Hari sighed and slowly sat up, still with Draco in his arms. His own dark hair spilled over his shoulders, brushing Draco's cheeks. It was a blissfully quiet time when they just stared at each other. The words were building up in Hari's head but he still did not speak them. He wanted to enjoy this time.

Draco seemed frozen, in a sitting position and supported by Hari's body. He was warm and comfortable. He did not encircle his arms around Hari, just stared at him, astonished. Deciding on making a move, Hari took the boy's smooth, slightly wet cheeks, "Do not say you wish to die. I forbid it." His face moved slowly forward so his right cheek rested against Draco's left. The tears had dried now and the skin was heavenly smooth, "Do not despair in my presence. I forbid it. For..." He licked his lips in anticipation, "...I love you."

He retracted his face. He had not planned any of it during his month away from him and he had certainly not anticipated Draco's reaction. For the boy's face crumpled, tears leaked out and, in a sudden movement and a wail, he buried his face into Hari's shoulder, sobbing. Hari's insides did a back flip, Am I so inexperienced with love that I have hurt him without knowledge of it? On instinct, he furled his arms around Draco again, pressing his head into his shoulder in an attempt to stifle it. It hurt him to hear Draco cry. He wanted to run, hide, rob himself of hearing; anything to stop him wailing and howling,

"Do not forget." A voice echoed within him. And he knew who it was, Meleniel, "Speak to him, Hari. Do not abandon him. Do not forget."

He tightened his hold upon Draco. Even if he ran, he would take Draco with him. Not quite knowing why, he began whispering in his ear, "Do not weep, Draco...I will not hurt you again..." No idea came into his head to explain why Draco was crying so badly. This was what he wanted after, The desire I planted within him, "...I love you, Draco...I love you..."

The flowers around them were lifting off the grass one by one, tumbling at first and then succeeding in becoming airborne. Their golden flowers clinked together again and the sound comforted Hari, When did he receive the same gift as mine? Surely, this is a sign of our success as lovers! His shoulder was becoming soaked with hot tears and Hari stroked Draco's smooth hair.

Eventually, Draco's sobs subsided and he seemed to relax a little. Gradually, he moved back from Hari's body, his head hung and his whole body slumped under a burden of sorrow, "Please, Sire..." He breathed. He sounded exhausted, as though all that crying had sapped the last of his strength, "...do not make fun of me..." Hari gasped, "...I'm tired...I don't want any more of this...I can't take it anymore..."

"I mock you not!" Hari took hold of his face again but Draco flinched away,

"Please..." He turned away and made as though to stand. But, then, he fell sideways and collapsed. For one worried moment, Hari thought he might have fainted were it not for the low words, "...no more...The damage is done...Too much...Even if you mean it...it can't erase the pain I've been through..."

"Then, let me apply the healing balm!" Hari took Draco in his arms and let him rest on his lap. His lips pressed against his forehead and brushed his hair,

"Sire," gasped Draco, "stop it! This is torture."

"No, Draco. This is my love. What can I do to make you believe?" Hari had never predicted it would be this difficult to get through to him,

"You made me suffer," Draco glared at him while he spoke, "for four whole months."

"Then, let me give you four months and eternity of love." Hari replied, desperate for Draco's belief, "I give you my heart, my soul and my body to use as you will. Draco, I have always loved you yet I feared you would spurn me if I made advances." I tell part of the truth. I will give him all but talk of the potion. He could not help but close his eyes in pain as remembered, "I could not bare another one I love spurning me."

Draco put his head to one side, curiously, "Another one, Sire?"

"Yes." Hari nodded, feeling he could tell Draco, "My heart is scarred by one I loved but did not love me. It was she that turned my heart to stone and gave me the title 'Calasier Avamela'."

"Sire," Draco seemed to be trying to put it all together, "if you loved me, why did you act like that towards me?"

"Come with me." A plan formed in his mind and he stood, Draco still in his arms, "I shall tell you what I should have done long ago."

Draco's warm weight against him, he made his way to the exit. Draco made surprisingly little attempt to break free from him. He just stared up at him. He had to be put down to get into the carriage and he stepped in without complaint. As soon as Hari had closed the door, Helin set off towards Ariador, "Come, Draco. Sit by me." For Draco had resumed his normal seat opposite him. After a little pause, as though judging whether it was a trick or not, he consented and moved.

They reached Ariador without a word to each other and Hari led Draco out. Elves around them stared. It was customary for the servant to leave the carriage before the master. The lack of punishment astonished them even more. But Hari paid them no heed. Instead, he led Draco past the main doors and around the palace. There was a stairway connecting all the balconies and terraces in Forelen. Going that way, they would have better privacy that going through all of the corridors of the main palace.

This trick worked and they only passed a few elves, who only glanced in surprise at the return of Draco without staring. Draco himself followed on behind, saying nothing and just looking around at Ariador, He has not been here for a month. Will he be pleased to see it? Or will he remember this place only as a place of misery? He wished he had the Rinatula like Noalith so he could find out what was going on in Draco's mind.

They reached the place, slightly breathless from lack of practice. Draco gazed around at it, taking everything in. Hari stood by the marble rails of the second-highest balcony of Forelen, "This-this is where..." Draco breathed,

"Yes." Hari nodded, "The place we first met. An apt place for our new beginning." Then, the vines were coated with frost. Now, all of the plant life was green and blooming so they had to be careful where they stood for fear of trampling something. Nimble elves were the best for this job but an unwary elf could still step on a bloom.

Draco stared at it, taking it all in. Hari smiled indulgently. He could not help but remember times when the Areola gardens delighted him every spring. Even now, those feelings were coming back to him, Perhaps it is Draco that inspires these emotions within me. Some of the flowers there preferred shade to bright sunlight. Yet, they were arguably one of the most beautiful blooms in the land. Which was why they were so lavishly planted on the second-highest balcony which provided some shade for them. The top balcony was really a window mirrored on one side so, accompanied by the hanging strings of ivy from the highest, it made a perfect hideaway.

Hari held out his hand and pushed back the ivy curtain. After the smallest of pauses, Draco took it and stepped through. It was cooler here and the statues of Fallena, Meleniel and Turil stood in niches in the wall in front of them, all with doves carved above them. The light from the mirrored window cast neatly assembled squares of light upon the green floor. One could almost mistake the place for a forest clearing and would never know that stone was beneath them rather than earth.

Hari guided Draco over to a gap in the vines on the floor where flowers bloomed from them most profusely. He sat down upon the surprisingly warm floor, cushioned by grass, and patted the space beside him. Draco lowered himself into a sitting posistion, still staring around him, It must seem like an secret earthly paradise. Hari moved his arm lovingly around the boy and pressed his lips against his forehead, "Do you like this place, Draco?"

"I lived here for three months," Draco breathed, "and yet I still never truly discovered this place."

"You could live here for a thousand years and still, Ariador surprises you." Hari agreed. Then, he cleared his throat, "Now, I shall give my story of how I became Calasier Avamela.

"When I was three hundred years old, I was a very different being to what you know of me today. I was young, carefree, as thoughtless as Uteire, as warm-hearted as Athara. I would frolic in the grounds and put guards out of patience with my pranks. Yes, that was I." He added, as Draco gave a little snort of laughter, "I was taken my royal parents to many places and, one day, they took me to spend a month in Lindaria with the royal family there. You know Lindaria, do you not?" When Draco nodded, he continued,

"Once there, I was confined to the embassy, since Lindaria is a dangerous place for a young elf to be. I obeyed for a few days. Then, bored to tears, I sneaked out to roam the suburbs. It was a noisy and crowded place with many traders and all sorts of creatures living in apparent harmony together. The life there astonished me. It is such a place where fights in the street are not uncommon and orc and Drow walked the streets without a care. I took my small dagger with me on my secret explorations but a greater danger lay there that I could not have imagined.

"After two weeks from my arrival, I met her. The fatal beauty that scarred me forever. She was a Wood elf and seemed too fragile and gentle to be in such a rough country. She was a beauty beyond all else. But, among all sweet wines, there is always poison. And I picked the poison. Poison that is not known until it roots itself deep within your veins before releasing its deadly power.

"So it was with I. I talked with her and, before I knew it, I was completely consumed with love for her. I cared not for time or place. I simply wanted to unleash all of my love upon her. I felt as though she was my Nienna, the one chosen by Meleniel for me, the missing half of my soul. So great was my love for her than I broke my word to Uteire and unveiled my identity. For I loved her so that I wanted no secrets to be kept between us. Alack," He closed his eyes for a moment. The memory of how foolish he was still pained him, "I was so young in love that I thought all love was requited and no passion went unrequited. It was nightfall by the time Uteire's guards found me and, by that time, I had already agreed to meet her again the next day."

It was only then did Hari realise that Draco had his arms around his body. One arm around his shoulders and the other resting on his chest. Still, he continued, "Again, I slipped past the strengthened security around me and went to meet her. I hoped to invite her to join with me in matrimony and went joyfully, thinking that the day would be as bright as the last. How wrong I was.

"I entered the place and looked around for her. I did not see her at first but I thought that perhaps she had gone somewhere else in the place, having lost patience. I was late, after all. I walked about the place and mounted a bridge between streets, as was common in the suburbs there. From that place, I saw her. Just as I was to call for her, the words stopped in my throat. For she was not alone. She was accompanied by a tall Drow some hundred years older than myself. She was laughing and looked so joyful.

"I attempted to reason with myself. It is perhaps a good friend, I told myself, or a relative that accompanies her for safety. But, I knew in my breaking heart the truth. As they approached my perch, they stopped and I could hear every word. 'Do you go to the little fool now?' asked the Drow. 'It would be better', answered she and her voice was so cold and loveless that I was affrighted, 'to deepen our deception. The lovesick little thing has told me that he is the Prince of Valivial already. He believes me a cherubim who can tell no falsehood'. The Drow laughed, laughing in the way that stabbed my heart a thousand times, 'He is a fool. Valivial shall be surrendered to us when he is King and you are Queen. But, tell me, do you have any feelings for the love-blinded thing?' And, answered she, 'No, never. He is a silly little Prince and will weary me.'

"In the street, in my eyes, they kissed with such passion that seemed to rend my being in two simply by watching. Had I not already been ripped to shred by their words. I stood, my alarm and astonishment seemed to seal me like a statue to my spot. Then, my grief rent its blow upon my wreck of a heart. I lifted my head and gave an unearthly and woe-ridden cry that did not express but a tenth of my anguish. The street froze as though Harivosl had thrown a veil over them. She and her Drow consort looked up at me and her lovely, now-spoiled face broke me anew.

"With pain-stricken droplets flying from my eyes, I leapt from the bridge and into the shocked street. I ran, hardly caring where I was going. So agony-racked was I that all my mind desired was to fly, fly and never see that face again. I fled through the suburbs, guards from the embassy pursuing me, summoned by my screaming, for I shrieked in my aggrieved fit as I cast myself forth. All I heard was her traitorous words in my head. I fled, bashing my head against walls in an attempt to drive her from it."

Draco's grip increased upon his chest and he leaned his head upon Hari's shoulder, "I left the suburbs and lost the guards in the wooded area on the other side of Lindaria. For it is a small isle or my broken heart made my being faster than the wind. The trees were abloom but spring could not touch my heart now. My weariness finally took hold of me when I neared the sea-cliffs. I stood for a second, staring out upon the tranquil ocean before me, and then collapsed upon the grass and fallen flowers, weeping. I wept myself almost to lunacy, curled upon the ground, wishing to grow smaller and smaller until I disappeared from this world. My cries sent birds from their nest in distress, so loud and maddened as they were that they could have been mistaken for the wolf's howl.

"Presently, I came to my senses, feeling as though I had wept out my very soul, so empty and hollow I felt. Perhaps she was right, I thought. Perhaps I did enact the fool and so drove her to consort with the Drow. Perhaps it was I who had taken Meleniel's gift in vain and was now being punished for it. I stood, for I had no more tears to shed and stood upon the terrible precipice before me. All other things in Valivial that I had so loved now seemed pale and unlovely in my mind. I felt as though I had lost everything. I had tasted paradise for a day and now, it was taken from me. I could never, ever go back to ordinary life." Even Hari was surprised with how much he remembered of that terrible time, "I spread out my arms, the wind pushing back my hair and clothes ready for my course, the fallen flower petals whirling about me, thought for a single content moment of how she was the previous day...and fell forward from it."

Draco grasped Hari even harder in fear, so consumed was he in the tale, "I must have lost consciousness as I fell for I do not recall reaching the water. I came to myself and it took me a little while to realise that I lived. I was lying upon the rocky shore overshadowed by the cliffs. Stranger still, I was not completely soaked by saltwater. My face was free of seawater, though my body from my shoulders was sodden. I stood and, realising I had failed in what I set out to do, I strode forth up the pathway to make another attempt. Still, it baffled me that I threw myself so willingly into the grasp of Garthiel and she threw me back out again.

"I returned to the cliff top and, just as I was about to reach the brink, I realised that I was not alone. A half-Drow, half-Elf, some centuries my junior, was sitting upon a large stone on the edge of the trees. He was the strangest being I had ever laid my eyes upon him. For he was completely unclothed but for his overgrown black hair, falling in coils around him. Though, I could not fail to notice his right hand was missing, healed over as though it had happened a long time ago. Through that, pale eyes stared at me. Though my despair had not lessened, I was curious of this creature.

"'You wish to kill yourself, Prince Hari Valedhiel of Valivial.' said the being. So shocked was I that I staggered. How did he know me when I did not know him, methought. As though I had spoken aloud, he answered again, 'Your mind intrigues me, Hari. You have fallen completely love and now wish to kill yourself when you are betrayed.' He scoffed and, though aggrieved and shocked, I was angered by his lack of respect to me, 'No need to act like that to me', he said, again, as though my thoughts were speech, 'for your title has no true meaning but in the public's mind.'

"At last, I felt I had to speak, 'How do you know what I think when I am silent?' asked I. The being answered 'I am a rogue of your enemy.' and held up the place where a hand should be, "'I am the bastard child of the Drow Lord Manastreth and I have stuck land today. You landed in my boat as I cast ashore and thus, it lies at the bottom of the sea now. I was not tossed into the sea for the Finned Crocodiles to prey on because I have the gift of the Rinatula. Your mind is like an open book to me...and I have never seen such a weak, unprotected and simple one.' I opened my mind to reply but he seemed to sense something coming, 'Forget me, Prince Hari Valedhiel.' Then, as a phantom, he vanished among the trees, leaving me upon the cliff to be discovered by Uteire's guards."

"What happened then?" Draco asked, quietly, his body pressed against Hari with more strength than ever, "Did you find that half-Drow again?"

"Not I." Hari shook his head, "I told the story that I was walking by the cliffs, decided to swim in the sea, got caught in a fierce tide that would have drowned me and an anonymous half-Drow had saved me. I could not tell them of my broken heart and I did not go from the embassy again until it was time to leave Lindaria. I had not yet recovered from my anguish and the words the half-Drow spoke remained in my mind. When it was time to go, Athara entrusted the reward for saving me with the Nimohtar of the land so they may find him. They found him and he now lives in Lindaria by the name of Noalith, the apothecary owner. When I next went to Lindaria, with great reluctance, he found me and we have been good friends ever since."

"And, do you know what happened to the girl? The one you loved?"

"I heard," Hari changed his tone to a cold disregard, a direct contrast to what he felt within, "that she was imprisoned several times for betraying husbands. I was just another fly in her web. It was that event that made me make the solemn promise to harden my heart and refuse all love. For love could only lead to misery in my eyes." He moved his face closer to Draco's marble visage, "Then, I saw you. The stone shattered and my heart was flesh, beating with love with you. I tried to stop myself. I tried to spurn you, I even pretended to court another as you know simply to convince myself that I could not have you." Hari gave a little laugh. He could not believe such falsehood came so easily. But it was a good falsehood nonetheless, "We have both made pretty fools of ourselves, have we not?"

Draco sighed and seemed to be preparing himself for something. Hari had not noticed that they had slid down the wall so much they were almost lying side by side, "My Prince-"

"Oh, do not call me that." Hari waved a hand, "Call me Hari when we are in privacy."

"Hari," Draco licked his lips as Hari had done before professing his love, "I promise to never betray you. I'll never make you so upset that you try to kill yourself. I accept your love and will do my utmost to return it for now, forever."

A gasp shook Hari's body. He had not expected this and these words hit him hard. He shook under the blow these simple, heartfelt words made upon him. Then, he had to turn away and hunch his body, "Hari?" Draco's warm, godsend hand laid itself upon his shoulder. Gradually, he turned back, trying to smile through the thick tears,

"Alack, alack." He choked, through sobs, "I thought myself stronger than this. Who knew that I could have so much water within me?"

The embrace came swiftly and almost caught him off guard. The both of them held each other tightly, savouring the sweet moment together. Draco stroked Hari's back as the elf sobbed onto his shoulder, "Don't cry, Hari." They remained like this for even longer than before and, when they separated, Draco's shoulder was soaked. Hari rubbed his eyes and looked through his shaky vision at the image of perfection before him. Draco looked concernedly back, "Is it true, Hari? Do you really...love me?"

Oh, how can he ask me that after all this? Hari took his cool hands in a tight grip and looked him straight in the face, "With all my heart."

Their lips met and that was it. All reason to pretend, all reason to hate, all reason to run; they flew from their heads in that one moment. Now, they knew nothing but complete and incorruptible love for one another. Their bodies came together until there was almost no gap between them. And no gap was desired. They were one now. The perfect pair, the two halves of the soul, now come together in this blissful moment.

Draco lay upon the soft bed, motionless, his eyes still closed, It was a dream. I dreamed the Prince came to me and said he loved me. I dreamed those kisses. Still, he stayed that way. It had been such a good dream. There was a sound of a door opening and closing, And there's Arawen to wake me up. Footsteps came closer, a warm weight settled itself on his right side and then...heaven came again.

Warm, smooth, familiar lips pressed against his. When they lifted, Draco opened his eyes to the wonderful face above him, "Good morning, my Nienna."

A/N: Finally, Hari and Draco are together! Hope I did the love scenes okay, I was really worried about those. And, it's not over yet! I'm planning a prologue fanfic next so stay tuned!