What was strange further was that she hadn't been aware of this creek's location. It seemed to magically open itself up to her when the time was right. How wonderful if that was truly what happened here. To realize the land of Novus had a mind of it's own... fascinating and beautiful all at once. The maiden wandered the creek bed without a care, without even realizing this was a private space.
Reserved for lovers.
She didn't see any. Perhaps if she did, she would realize. Maybe she'd blush and run off. Maybe she'd coo "how sweet" and leave as quietly as possible. But no, Novus seemed to lack a distinctive thing lately; romance. New life. Anything good in it. Of course there was good in Novus but... for a hopeless romantic like Willoughby she felt the world needed more love.
True love, love that could withstand time. Love that could weather any storm. She wanted that sort of thing one day. Unaware of the creek's intentions, she moved slowly through the foliage. Her wings kept close to her sides in case she wanted them to tangle. Ahead of her, she spotted movement... but who was it? "Hello?" she calls softly.
Feelings, like electric, had jolted his body awake that morning. With a start, he had almost fallen from his craggy perch, his tail swinging in the abyss below. The only reason he had chosen to be slightly higher up was for protection, but the constant fear of rolling off mid-sleep had been driving him crazy. Still, he had survived another night.
In his slumber, he had, as usual, been plagued with nightmares. Usually they were of his homeland, wrapped in fear and loss and hatred, the religious fervour of the enemy emanating from every inch of his vision. But this time they had been different. They had been closer to Novus -- dreams of his first landing, the boat he had steered into the cliffs and coastline above the Mors Desert. How desperate he had felt to land somewhere, anywhere, and how he had been blessed with a land filled with equines.
And they had featured Willoughby, too.
He had imagined losing his newfound friend, turning her back on him in rage and sadness. He had called out her name many times, trying to make her turn back and see that it was just him! It was just Galileo! But she had not looked back with those pale eyes, but she had walked away from him, as everyone else had done.
When he had awoke, he questioned the dreams only momentarily. He had been getting them long enough to not pay them much heed, as they usually repeated the same scenarios again and again. Still, it had shaken him, to find Willoughby in them.
As he'd headed out of his canyon, he hadn't a place in mind to go. And so he walked, his far stride taking him in any direction. Where he ended up, he had never been, but it was an attractive place where birds sung and the rivers hummed along to their tune.
He made his way downwards, picking through trees delicately, till the noise of water became louder and he guessed he was heading for a creek of some kind.
Who he saw there, shocked him greatly.
"Willoughby?" He questioned gently, not meaning to startle her. "It appears we find each other in one another's company again."
As he peered around, he suddenly came to the realisation that he did know where this was. Luvena had passingly mentioned it, perhaps. This was the place where lovers came to be together, and with the shock of Willoughby in front of him, the irony did not go unnoticed. He paused, unsure whether to go closer to her in case anyone got the wrong idea about the pair.
"You do know what's significant about these lands, don't you?"
Unlike Galileo, she hadn't thought much of anything of late. Her dreams were not plagued and she continued to wander without a care. Yes, the fleeting meetings were on her mind. No one in particular though. She thought it best to not get her hopes up, just in case she would never see them again.
Perhaps it would be unkind to say that out loud though. Especially if she knew that Galileo had been thinking of her. Willoughby felt she would be kinder to that realization. But ah... she was not a bright bulb. Not where it counted. Her dreams were as fleeting as the faces, no real epiphanies. It was like everywhere else she had been.
And everywhere she would continue to go.
But seeing the man before her now, once again, brought a warm smile to her lips. She slowed her pace, standing in front of him. Not close, not yet. "Oh!" she is quiet, the exclamation polite but she is delighted to see the face again "hello, Galileo!"
She made to go closer, to bump her nose against his shoulder. He had told her not to be a stranger, so she naturally assumed he wanted to be friends. But his hesitation and awkwardness... She could feel them roll off in waves. Puzzled, the maiden slowed and stared openly. Her confusion only deepened when he spoke of this place.
Furrowing her brow, she glanced around them. Nothing but seclusion, peace and quiet. "N-No...?" she was at a loss for his reaction "should I... know?" she queries, glancing back at the man "I thought I had seen most of Ruris, but this place suddenly appeared to me."
Can someone change your life if you had only met them a handful of times?
Purple colouring danced against the dark green, dim backdrop of the forest. The light that managed to trickle through the boughs played daintily on her pelt, catching the cues in spectacular technicolour fashion. He hides his delight that he has found her again, and so soon after they had parted ways.
With a laugh, he shakes his head, the innocence of the woman making him question how dark a path he had tumbled down. Age truly did bring wisdom. Letting the tension leave his body, he relaxed as he realised nobody was here. The young horse could have walked in on some awkward scenes indeed.
When she brushes against him, his eyes flicker to her for a moment, and with a friendly smile, he bows his head gracefully.
"This," he begins, preparing himself to possibly explain the birds and the bees to her, "is where lovers come." He emphasises the word, raising his brow as he waits to see if she understands the hidden meaning implicit in his words.
"I believe they call it the Amare Creek. Famed for its natural beauty and, uh, well. Secluded spots, I suppose." In his typical matter of fact way, he shrugs his shoulders as he moves towards the creek itself, looking to drink some of the fresh spring water (as well as get a better look to see if anyone was around, and would get the wrong idea about the pair of friends.)
With another chuckle in between sips, he called out to her in his deep voice, "I can't believe you wandered here! Of all places! Come to think of it, I wandered here too. Must be an easy mistake to make, after all!"
"Lovers?" she echoes, slow realization dawning on her features. Willoughby flustered, glancing this way and that, expecting to magically see someone or some equines here. Anyone other than the pair of them. "oh" she says it simply at first before heat seeks her cheeks "oh, my." She slowly backs away, her feathers ruffling.
Galileo chuckles, twisting away from her to drink at the creek. Willoughby isn't sure what to make of the situation. She is not squeamish when talk rolls to romance, but she has not exactly rolled in the hay so... haphazardly. There was a whole location for lovers to come do their, ah, business? What else was Novus hiding from her?
And why did the creek reveal itself to her now, of all times?
She had strolled through Ruris casually before. Never did she come in this direction. Perhaps the gods did not wish her to come. Perhaps they hid it from her view. So, again, why now? She glances at Galileo as he admits he strolled here too without thinking. Her pale cheeks heat up again, and she glances away. He calls it a mistake.
She is not sure.
Nothing is ever a mistake to the maiden. "W-Well" she tries to smooth her feathers "Novus seems to be lacking in that, um, department" the vacancy of this region alone "if we are the only ones here" she also attempts to joke, but it falls flat to her ears. "perhaps there is a grand event going on elsewhere."
Politics, events, festivals... Even war - it sounded much more thought-out than strolling into Amare Creek. Alone. She was just glad that Galileo did not think her to be the type of woman to require a stranger for a partner. "I... am glad it was you" Willoughby states softly "t-that found me here, of course."
With a burst of true laughter, Galileo almost choked on the water he drank. His ears flicked as he threw his head back, roaring with glee at the innocent child, who had clearly realised her mistake. "You truly had no idea, did you!?" He chuckled, turning back to face her again.
Steadily, he bent his head and the laughter subsided, so she knew he was laughing with her, not at her. He had not laughed like that -- a full, deep-from-the-belly, gut-wrenching laugh -- in a long while. "It's an easy mistake to make, lass." He offered to her kindly. "I'm just glad I didn't have to explain to you how foals were made!" Once again, he made himself chuckle, and he shook his head.
Allowing himself to settle, he rests on three hooves instead of four. He has nowhere to go, nobody to report to, and so he is free to do as he pleases. And for now, it pleases him to stay here and tease his lilac friend.
"It does seem rather empty," he agrees, glancing around to see if anyone had arrived. "Perhaps that's the attraction of it -- they come here so as not to be seen."
She speaks of balls and events and he can truly think of nothing worse, scoffing at them with a huff. "Let them have their galas and their pleasantries. I would rather be hanging by a love making creek with a pretty woman any day." It was a joke, and he hoped she took it as one, but he knew it was also a subtle flirt. Galileo had never quite been sure of himself around women he had perhaps had the opportunity to flirt with, and had preferred to leave the talking and cut to the chase.
With a smile, he puffs his chest proudly. "I am glad it was you, too. It would have been rather awkward if I had run into someone else who I know, that's for sure." Galileo was quite surprised that he had been speaking so much as he had been, because he was typically mute around strangers, and surely that was what she was? A mere stranger? But still, he felt like his soul knew hers, perhaps from a past life. Regardless, he was happy to be in her company, and hoped she felt the same.
Heat brushed her pale cheeks. She needn't say to Galileo that she was new to these lands again, and therefore the creek's true meaning was beyond her until now. No, there was no need to patronize him with words. He seemed to be in a much better mood, so why ruin it? He repeats his opinion about the courts and royals, of their galas and events.
She would have liked to laugh. But any effort would make it forced and awkward. Truly, there was no greater joy in life than love and seeing others in love. But walking in on it when it was supposed to be private was another matter. Willoughby stared in near shock as the stallion proclaimed he would much rather be here.
With her.
Pretty she is called. But more than that, he calls her a woman. "You speak ill of such events" she regains her composure, almost shyly as she glances away "but I - I have never gone to one" her lashes fluttered downward as she dared speak it "I would not have minded the participation, but..." I have no one to go with.
She goes on as quickly, as quickly as he had throwing the words to her and continuing. "Well, it would be awful dull. Not finding you among the crowd."
His teases seemed to scare her slightly, and he eased off his pressure by bowing his head in her direction, almost in an act of subordination. He does not want to offend her and so he allows her to regain her confidence by returning to his usual self -- silent, but watchful.
In an attempt to encourage her to open up once again, he speaks to her gently, his deep voice ricocheting off the bark of the silent trees. "Tell me something about your past. Anything at all... That is, if you'd like to." Desperate to get to know her, for she was his only new friend so far in these lands, his eyes are friendly and warm, glowing their usual gold.
Recoiling at the idea of attending a ball, Gaileo turns away from her now, not wanting to show the emotions on his face. Events had always proved such a chore, and having to talk to people? Nothing turned his stomach more. "I must admit," he begins, sighing a little. "It isn't my kind of thing at all. It draws the worst kind of equines, and the fakery of it is truly something else... I think you'd like it though, being as friendly as you are. No doubt everyone would want to speak to you." And speak to her for the right reasons, as opposed to when the third Kodarki son had attended them and they had wanted to ask him about why he missed this, or when did he do that, or if there were any news of his brothers.
Not finding you among the crowd.
Friendly, or a flirt? He isn't sure, but he leaves a noticeably longer pause to allow his brain to digest what she had just said. "You would have a lot more fun if I wasn't there, I promise."
"I doubt that very much" Willoughby goes on at his insistence she'd be better off without him at a gala. She huffs gently, amused as she closes her eyes. A nod was given, confirming the issue with herself. For now, she brushes aside his want of getting to know her to really seal the point across. "I am here with you now, yes? An event would not be any different. I'd still be with you, just in a different setting."
She chuckles. "If I am to be around fake equines, I'd much rather be with equines that aren't. Surround myself with the good ones" she pauses, slipping her pale eyes open and lowering her head. Her ears pin against skull as she takes a step forward. Just a little one. "and you are one of the good ones, I can tell." Willoughby states with certainty.
But before it could really sink in, or allow Galileo to respond, she is zipping away again. "As for my past" the maiden states "I am dreadfully boring. I was kept in seclusion by my parents, who fled a violent lifestyle. We wandered aimlessly when things got tough, so I never learned how scary the world really is." She frowned almost sadly at him.
"I've been to other places besides Novus, yet never learned their names. So I named them myself, in my head. I also imagined I had friends there, that I left behind..."
"There would be others!" He insists indignantly, shaking his head as though she would never understand. "Socialising is hard, and it is very different when the eyes of a hundred other equines are looking at you, as opposed to just yours." There had been so much of him that had been desperate to put all those events behind him, gasping for air as he drowned in the ocean of gossip and rumour. And thus, he had sworn he would never be forced to go to another gala again. Not even a fair young lady like Willoughby could change his mind on that.
For now.
Galileo had never been sure how to tell the good from the bad. In truth, he believed that wasn't how they worked -- they were not one or the other, but a mixture of the two, perhaps more on one day than another. At least, that is what he hoped, for his own soul. "It is kind of you to say, but I have done things that are... well, things that bad people do." He isn't sure how to explain himself any further, so he opens his mouth to speak but leaves the air empty of his breath.
Regardless. She, she is all that is good in the world. Innocent and kind and caring and wondrous, he knows not many equines could have tolerated his stubbornness all this time. No, she may think he is good, but he believes that every relationship, be it friends, lovers, or even enemies, requires a dichotomy, a two-fold approach. In theirs, there is no denying, she is the good, the pure. He is the one that left a bitter taste in the mouth.
"Wandering is never too bad," he inputs hopefully. "I quite enjoy the nomadic lifestyle nowadays. Too long have I been tied to lands and places, for no real reason, putting them before myself." He finds himself interrupting her, and he pauses. "I apologise, I don't mean to talk so much about myself. It is just, when you find somebody to listen after nobody has listened for so long, it all comes out."
"Now you have me as a friend! Though I'd be sad if you left me behind without a goodbye."
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