"You're very early," I said as I knocked, Rowin rushed to attend to me and gave me some water.
"I had to hurry, I started to look really bad," She replied as she pulled her silver hair back.
"Rowin, you are the only person I count on, please don't leave my side again."
She looked at me with her turquoise eyes and smiled at me, she squeezed my hand and we were silent for a while.
"Oh, I almost forgot, I brought you this drink from the human world," She said as she showed me a huge plastic cup with a symbol that said Starbucks.
"You really brought it to me, you're the best!" I smiled, watching her with a tender look.
"For us elves this is forbidden, but I wanted to fulfill your last wish, Eldor. I asked for it just the way you like it; dark and low in sugar," I said as she gave me a sip.
I sighed, I loved that delicious drink that humans call 'coffee, it was my main reason for learning about the world of these intriguing creatures.
"You are beautiful, Rowin, I always tell you right? Ever since your silver hair was first detected by my eyes, I've never stopped thinking about you."
She blushed. She was speechless for a moment until she finally said:
"Are you in a lot of pain?"
"Yes," I replied with a groan. "This curse that warlock put on me is stronger than I thought. Even our most powerful healers can't reverse it."
"Don't give up, Eldor, trust in Elunde's light," She replied as she placed her hand on my chest.
"You know, I was going to propose to you after this battle. I wanted to take you under the feet of Ithiriel's tree, and give you my mother's Noldor ring, and then give you a first kiss."
Her eyes bugged out...
"Eldor..., I..., I know you have had these feelings for me a long time ago..."
I waved my hand and tackled her.
"You don't have to say anything, I'm already used to you not feeling the same for me. Your company is enough; you even brought me a coffee drink from the human world in defiance of our laws; something very atypical of you. I know that deep down you would have come to love me, as your deeds speak louder than your words, but too bad it all turned out this way. When I am in Elunde's arms, I will be very happy, because I will take with me the certainty that at least I am someone special to you."
She was silent and squeezed her neck with her left hand.
"I don't want you to die, Eldor."
"Just share this coffee with me, Rowin, that would make my last moments happy and peaceful; like that of those humans who sit in those places called Coffee Shops, talking for hours and enjoying these rich dark-colored drinks."
Rowin nodded and began to take several sips from the glass. I took only three sips before my vision began to blur. The last thing I glimpsed at that moment was Rowin's cheeks wet with tears.
Everything turned to darkness. Silence. It was as if I was slowly sinking to the bottom of an abysmal sea. After a long while, I heard voices again; they were almost unintelligible and booming. I began to slowly open my eyes, and the first thing I saw was Rowin's face smiling at me. I smiled, looked to the side, and glimpsed a dark-haired healer with dark hair and glowing crimson eyes carrying a staff of Ashar.
"The curse abates, the boy will live," the healer said.
Rowin let out a laugh of happiness and jumped on me; I let out a sound of groaning and relief at the same time.
As the healer walked away, leaving Rowin and me alone, she and I started chatting.
"We haven't finished that coffee yet, do you want to do it now?" she asked as she shook the glass gracefully.
"Of course, with you, I'm always up for it."
