To this, Aldrec said not a word, but merely smiled at her, before unhorsing himself from the porch railing. He started down the staircase.
"You're leaving already?" Mericlou said, not making an effort to hide her disappointment.
"I have a busy day tomorrow," Aldrec replied, turning back around. "Elves have lives too, you know."
"Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Probably not," Aldrec replied, heavy with regret. "But rest assured that I will see you soon."
He quickly re-ascended the staircase, and then kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Until next time, Meri," he said, and walked off into the dusk.
Mericlou felt at her cheek. Her face was red again; there was no mistake of that familiar warmth in the evening's cool north breeze.
He's never done that before, she thought. Maybe he's trying to tell me something.
But then again, elves kiss so readily … or so I've heard.
This is silly! Aldrec would just tell you that you're trusting in stereotypes again.
But there's so much about him that I don't know. And he's always so sweet …
So what if he really meant something?
If that's true, then maybe he really does like me.
Maybe … maybe Sedriil was right.
"Well, it can't hurt to hope," she said aloud, cradling her head in her hand across the balcony railing, smiling at the memory of his kiss still on her cheek.
"Hope for what?" Came an unexpected voice.
Mericlou gave a start. She had been deep into her reverie that she failed to notice anything else -particularly the door opening behind her, or Noroa positioning herself by her side.
She was holding Needles, now wide-awake from her nap during the party inside, and very much ready to play. "You're always so quiet," Mericlou said, taking the ferret from her sister. She placed it into her in her own cradled arms.
"No, you were lost in thought," Noroa corrected. "I saw you and Aldrec talking outside. I'd hoped to tell him goodbye, but it seems like he already left."
"Sorry," Mericlou said with a vague shrug. "He comes and goes as he pleases. Even after all the time I've known him, he's still a big mystery."
"Elves are like that," Noroa said. "Garen works with a lot of them back in Rogart. And after dealing with them as often as I have, I can tell you that they really are creatures of many secrets."
"So, you're excited about the new baby, no doubt?" Mericlou said, changing the subject. "I'm sorry everyone didn't pay as much attention to that bit of news as they did to Aldrec."