A pot of soup simmered on the stove while Orian retrieved some bowls from an upper cabinet in his small kitchen. He had to use a step stool to reach the cabinet, but soon he was spooning portions of into the two little white bowls. He brought them to the dinning table and went to find Loraine.

He found her sitting in the den staring almost blankly out of the small window at the rear of the room. She had been that way since the end of the trial. She was brought to Orian’s home to serve her two week sentence of house arrest. Loraine had made it through the first week and had another week to go. After that she’d be allowed to move freely in the village.

The way Loraine stared out of that window made Orian wonder if she’d ever leave the house. She would watch villagers pass by and he’d see her duck behind the curtain.

To keep his eye on her, Orian had to take time away from school. Luffas would come by the house daily to bring Orian’s school work and care packages for Loraine. At first, Loraine would take the packages back to her room without saying a word. Eventually, she warmed up and was able to start saying thank you.

Orian took a step into the den and called for her as gently as he could to not scare her. “Lunch is ready, Loraine.”

“Thank you, Orian. I’ll be right there.” Loraine said.

It took her a minute or two to leave the den then reappear in the dining room. Orian was waiting to help her onto her seat. He pulled the stone bench out to make room for Loraine’s long legs.

“Thanks again. You’re quite the little gentleman.”

Orian’s face scrunched up in slight disgust. “Why do you have to call me little?”

“Well.. I don’t mean to offend you, Orian. But even you must admit you’re much smaller than I am.

It was true. Loraine stood like an elegant pine tree. Orian was at least a full foot shorter than she was, and his scrawny frame only made him look even smaller. Loraine was thin and slender, which Orian thought only added to her beauty. Even though the clothes she had to wear were much to large for her, she was still incredibly beautiful.

“In a few days, Luffas and I are going to take you out into town to see the tailor. We’ll get those dresses altered so they’ll fit you better.”

“Thank you, Orian. I’d like that very much. The dresses are lovely and once they fit better they will increase in lovliness.”

“You know.. You talk kind of funny.”

Loraine smiled. “So do you.”

Orian tried to hide his embarrassment as he blew on a spoonful of his soup. He tried not to look Loraine in the eye but he found himself glancing back at her between mouthfuls of broth.

“So Orian, how have you been doing in your studies?” Loraine asked.

“Who are you, my dad?”

“No. But he did ask me to update him on your progress. You have to do well in your general schooling if you are to become an apprentice stone cutter.”

Orian flinched. Stone cutting. It was the inescapable profession that was going to haunt him forever.

“Dad knows that I want to study carpentry.”

Loraine wasn’t sure how to respond and found herself only able to regurgitate things Rigel had told her.

“He’s aware of that, Orian. But he says there’s no future for carpentry. Your village, your home, they are both built with stones. Only bits and pieces of wood can be found. A door, a cabinet or two--!”

“D..Don’t you think I know that! You know what else I know? That stupid stone slab your sitting on will ruin your back!”

Taken aback, Loraine scooted back in her chair. “There’s a cushion on it.”

“The cushions get flat!”

Orian had a point. Loraine she could tell her cushion was already flat as a pancake from a few minutes of sitting down.

“Please forgive me, Orian. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“If constructed correctly, wood can make a chair that is much more comfortable. And there won't be back problems.”

“But that requires cutting down the trees. If I remember correctly, that is forbidden. Is it not?”

Orian nodded. “It is. That’s why we only use wood from freshly fallen trees. And healthy trees don’t fall very often, so I visit the carpenter. He gets deliveries of wood from other villages. I borrow any waste pieces before they get passed around as fire wood. Hey, let me show you my plans!”

Before Loraine could protest, Orian had bolted out of his seat and disappeared down the hall. She could hear him rummaging in his room. Judging by the noise, Orian kept his plans well hidden from his father. To Rigel there was no point in Orian’s fascination in working with wood.

Wood was a limited resource in a village that banned the cutting of trees. Over time, they settled into the stony ways of life. But Orian was deterimined to break free of tradition.

Loraine sipped her broth and found a smile creeping across her face. Orian was source of happiness for her. He had all the determination and persistance anyone could ever need. He had saved her life with it. She wasn’t sure if Orian would succeed in his endeavors, but she greatly admired his drive.

“You’ve got to see these, Loraine!” Orian shouted. He bursted into the room with an armful of long rolled papers. Without even asking, he shoved Loraine’s soup bowl away from her. Then he started unrolling his plans across the table.

“You see this? This is what I mean. The construction here isn’t solid and allows for there to be.. well.. I don’t know the technical--whatever! But don’t you see? The men here work hard all day long and come home just to sit on stone chairs with coushin’s that go flat.”

Loraine nodded in agreement. “Well. Have you built any chairs yet?” She asked.

“Have I?” Of course I have. Come with me to the shed!” Proudly, Orian grasped Loraine’s dainty hand and pulled her from her seat.

It felt electric. Like a static shock but more intense. He felt it travel from his hand and up through his arm. It made its way to his chest and when it hit his heart he was taken aback. And then their eyes met.

Orian’s cheeks must have looked like fire. That what it felt like to him at least, like lightning had struck him and lit his face aflame. Looking at Loraine, Orian thought maybe she had been struck too. Her pale cheeks had taken on a rosy hue that complimented her turquoise eyes. Neither of them spoke as Orian led Loraine to the shed in the backyard. Once there, he showed her his work.

“I’ve been working on these for a while now. They're not quite right but eventually, they will come together to make a fine chair.” Orian said. He proudly slid his hand across the smooth surface of an arched piece of wood.

“How did you learn to do this?” Loraine asked. She was fascinated. Her eyes focused in awe at another piece of wood with intricate floral designs carved into it.

“I saw it in a history book. It was from before Mother Goddess cursed us. Back then, we made everything out of wood. After doing more research, I went to see the family of one of the carpenters that was mentioned in the book. The old man’s family wanted me to buzz off, but the old man was happy to talk to me about it. He taught me the basics before he passed away. I’ve learned everything else from his plans and my imagination.”

Orian grabbed another rolled up paper from and spread it out across his work table. “See this?” Its called a rocking chair. Its what I’m trying to build right now.”

Loraine was once again fascinated. “Orian,” she said. “This is very inspring.”

“I want to make life easier for people. Well, not exactly easier, just more comfortable. My dad shouldn’t spend all day working hard and come home to sit on a stiff chair. If I can make things even the tiniest bit easier for him....”

“It’s wonderful what you’re trying to--“

“Dad doesn’t think so.... He hates it.” Orian wrinkled his nose and cleared his throat before speaking again. “Orian. Son. You were born into a family of stone cutters. Your granddad was a stone cutter, and his dad was a stone cutter. You’ll be a fine stone cutter one day too so you better get your mind off of this carpentry nonsense.”

Loraine had to laugh. Orian’s impression was spot on. “You’re very amusing, Orian.”

“You have to be when your father is a master stone cutter. He’d flip out if he saw me doing all this work in the house.”

“I’m sorry he doesn’t approve of something you feel so passionate about.” Loraine said.

“It’ll work itself out somehow. I mean. I’m almost eighteen! I’ll be able to move into my own house soon. Then I can do whatever I want with my life.” Orian stopped speaking and looked at Loraine as a smile spread across his face. “Want to join me?”

The look on Loraine’s face was one of total confusion. She thought she knew what he meant, but she wasn’t sure. “For what?” She asked.

“Join me. You know? You can live with me when I move out.” The flames returned to Orian’s face. Had he really said that?

“Well,” Loraine said, “We are going to get married aren’t we?”

If he had been inside eating his soup, Orian was sure he would have choked to death. His fox ears flattened out in embarassment. “I j...just said that because.... I mean.... They were going to kill you!”

“Relax, Orian. I would love to follow you wherever you go.”

“Really? Seriously?!”

“Yes.” Loraine smiled.

“Wait. I’ve got to ask first.” Orian stepped around his work table and approached Loraine. “You are my age right? Or atleast eighteen? Because, I don’t think its legal for you to move in with me if you aren’t my age.”

Loraine let out another of her endearing laughs. “No need to worry. I am much older than you.”

“You are? How much older....?” Orian asked.

“I’m twenty nine years old, Orian.”

“You’re kidding!” Orian had to catch himself on the edge of his table. The shock was almost too much. The fire began to return to his face.

“I am not. I age much more slowly than you do. I am an elf after all.”

“That explains your gorgeous face.”

It was Loraine’s turn to blush. “Yes. I guess you’re right.”