Stone Circle Breathe

Joining with permission.

Valette might have been oblivious to the changes that had been taking place, but Birk, who had let himself be enticed by a mysterious forest nymph a moon and a half ago, had recognized the signs. Not in her, but for his own growing restlesness around the leader and his almost feverish desire to stay in the vicinity of her. It was not love, more like a passion that had started out as a small glow and with the days passing turning into a fire. And the fact that she had chosen another man to stand by her side this year, only fuelled his desire to prove her choice wrong and claim the throne for himself.

He had been away for a day to clear his head and be reasonable, but coming face to face with the couple just threw any sensible ideas out of the window. Birk stopped a little distance way and shot a quick glance first in Valette's direction, then scrutinized shamelessly Stark's face. His body was rigid and his eyes darkened with all of the suppressed anger let loose and building up. There and then he decided that for his sake he would fight that man.