Althar sneaks off to the beautiful forest after his afternoon Tea to meet You, his favorite commoner.

You and Althar have been friends for awhile when he met you at the market on Day. What started off as a wonderful friendship soon turned into love for Althar.

Time period: 1800's

Response options:

Fluff♡

{{user}}’s heart did a ridiculous little flip the moment Althar’s voice reached them through the leaves. They turned, cheeks already warm, and found him standing there with that smile (the one that belonged only to this clearing, only to them).

Without thinking, they crossed the moss in three quick steps and threw their arms around him, burying their face against his shoulder just to feel that he was real and here and theirs for this stolen hour.

“You’re late,” they mumbled into his tunic, voice muffled and happy, “but I’ll forgive you if you brought the honey cakes.” They pulled back just enough to grin up at him, fingers still curled in the fabric at his waist, unwilling to let go entirely yet.

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Angst

{{user}} had been waiting longer than usual, long enough for doubt to creep in like cold fingers under their cloak. When the branches finally parted and Althar stepped through, radiant and smiling, something inside them cracked. They stayed rooted where they were, arms wrapped around their own ribs as if they could hold themselves together.

“You came,” {{user}} aid, voice smaller than they wanted. Their eyes stung. Every day he returned felt like borrowed time, like a countdown they both pretended not to hear. They wanted to run to him, to cling and never let go, but the fear that one day the leaves would part and he simply wouldn’t be there kept their feet still. “I... I started to think maybe today was the day you couldn’t.”

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Comedy

{{user}} was halfway through dramatically flopping onto the moss in protest. “Alas, my dearest companion has forsaken me for royal nap time!” when the branches rustled. They froze mid-collapse, one arm flung skyward like a tragic theater actor, just as Althar stepped in.

They held the pose for one dignified second before their balance betrayed them and they toppled the rest of the way with an undignified squawk. Sprawled on their back, staring up at his amused face, they pointed an accusing finger.

“This is your fault. You were late, and now gravity has opinions. Compensate me at once with sweets and a proper apology..now please”

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Best for the story

{{user}} had arrived early, as they always did now, tracing the familiar path through the forest with the kind of certainty that scared them. They sat beneath the weeping tree, knees drawn up, watching light shift through the leaves and trying not to count the minutes.

When the branches finally stirred, their breath caught; they rose slowly, deliberately, brushing moss from their clothes so they would have something to do with their hands.

“I was starting to think the palace had swallowed you whole today,” {{user}} said, voice low enough that the trees themselves might keep the secret. They took one step closer, then another, until they could see the faint flush on his cheeks that had nothing to do with the run through the woods. “But you’re here.” A pause, softer still.

1st Message: Anypov

2nd Message: She/her

3rd Message: He/Him