Emerald eyes followed along with her agile aerial display as she courageously circled around the sky; the sun soon to descend below the horizon, beckoning nightfall to reclaim its rightful place in time. Orin remained transfixed amongst the surreal, his curious posture leaning heavily over the aged railing of the balcony, catching sight of her familiar restlessness. There was no doubt; this was the same Peregrine Falcon from each and every night before, wandering over for another passing glance. Her presence never remained for long, soaring beyond the walls of human civility once more; reality returning just as swiftly as if fled.
Orin lifted himself off the rail and headed inside, the stillness of the air returning upon his arrival. Quickening steps passed the upper bedrooms and descended down a flight of stairs, seeking the expected, darkening living quarters below. But alas, that was not entirely the case, compliments of a certain friend of his; a half-elf to be exact. Arklen hovered near a newly burning fire, its warming light flickering about. As was normal routine, Orin returned to his desk and lit up several candles along the way, and around his desk. It was here, a daunting reminder awaited.
What exactly was it that made Orin want to return to such a disorienting state of disarray? Dismayed at the sights of worn parchment, earmarked books, and illegible revisions, feelings of defeat arose. Leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh, Orin wondered if it was even possible to accomplish such an impossible feat. Not willing to give up just yet he looked down upon the last open page and focused on the image alone, hoping to discover something previously overlooked.
“Hey Orin. You at it again?” Arklen spoke aloud, attempting to grab his attention. “If I were you, I would just take a nice long break, in the meantime.” Hoping to catch Orin unaware, Arklen approached quietly, and quickly snatched the book from his sights.
Orin attempted to reach for the book, to no avail. Speed not on his side, there was little use in getting it back. Let Arklen see for himself and make up those imaginative little stories.
An opinion formed with a single flip of the page. “Orin, you may find it easier if you just gave up all of this reading and just tried for yourself.” No one would ever know what they were capable of without trying for themselves. “Have you ever once attempted to take a chance?” Arklen couldn’t understand what was preventing him from doing so.
“What is wrong with remaining human?” Orin kept in his seat and his eyes on the materials upon his desk.
“What if it isn’t that you are incapable of transforming, but you aren’t comfortable with the idea of being anything other than yourself?” What else could the reason have been? Druids had a natural gift of being able to do so without issue. Or maybe Arklen was entirely wrong and there was more to what a druid was than what he realized. He was only a half-elf after all.
“What if I said I was?” Desiring to place doubt in his friend’s mind for the time being, he played along. To lose one's senses was fear enough to keep one from trying. “So, you would risk taking the chance that I am able to change into a wolf. To turn myself into one of those savage… carnivorous… flesh-eating beasts of the wild.” Orin spoke with a forceful gruff, foreboding nature’s unpredictability. “Do be careful, me changing into a wolf is the last thing you want me to do.” Tension amongst his words subsided. “I just don’t think it is wise to mess around with nature without knowing the consequences.”
Arklen wasn’t sure whether to be afraid or respectful, but for whatever reason, he found his hand wavering in the direction of Orin, desiring to return the book safely to its original position. Not without incident of course, for Orin snarled and growled the entire time, daring him to come closer. Ready to give up the topic of conversation, Arklen dropped the book and backed away. “Okay, I give up. You win. Can we talk about something else like that falcon of yours?”
“Mine? What do you mean mine?” Orin remained surprised that his friend still thought he had anything to do with the reappearances. “No matter what you wish to believe, I have done nothing to persuade her to return time and time again.” He stood up and stretched before facing Arklen, who chose to sit down near the fire.
Understanding that Orin was unwilling to budge on anything this evening, he spoke of other interests. “Have you heard anything else from the princess since the last time?”
“Not really. That’s just how things are when you are a member of royalty.” Orin lingered upon those words a bit more than all of the others, curious as to what was going on in the castle, even now. “And before you ask, I am still going to go through with it.”
