Three days ride from Valimar was when he asked. It would have
seemed an innocent enough request, had he not been who he was.
“I thought you invited me out here to hunt with you,” she said. She kept her
reins held loosely in one hand while the other gestured to keep his sight from
the first.
He had dismounted as well and was approaching slowly, his intent clear even if
his words had promised something more innocuous. “Just a kiss, Aredhel, that is
all. What harm is there in that?”
Many would have backed away, closed in as she was, but she did not stand down.
“Fond of you though I am, dear cousin, I remind you that we share a family bond
already.”
“We are not really cousins, you and I,” he argued, brushing the back of her
cheek with the tips of his fingers. “Only almost cousins. It might be wrong for
Angrod or Aegnor to court you, but what is wrong with you and I? Aye, we share
the same grandfather, but our heritages are quite different. You should have no
concern over such things. Worry not about such things, sweet one. Take comfort
and pleasure where you can find it.”
His words tempted her, but there was still a feeling of unrest. Aredhel played
along in order to remove herself from an otherwise uncomfortable situation.
“Perhaps... one kiss would not hurt...”
“No, beautiful one, it would not,” he crooned. He began to lean forward, but she
stepped back and remounted.
“And you shall win one from me, if you can catch me!” she said, and sped off,
back toward Valimar.
For a few moments, Celegorm narrowed his eyes at the retreating form. Her horse
was faster, it had always been faster, and there was no way for him to catch her
now. He would need to try another tactic next time. As he mounted his own steed
and whistled for his dog to follow, he wondered to himself if perhaps he might
convince Artanis to come hunting with him next time...