The grass under her feet was warm and fresh. It was a good day to be an elf. Raya stood by the moongate wondering what chore she should attend to next. When the gate made a noise, she turned just in time to see him ride out. Her breath caught in your throat, she had never seen an elf that stole her very breath from her. She felt her checks burn as he moved closer to her.

Raya stopped suddenly realizing she must look a fright. She was not like the others, no time for play there were bows to be made, and tailoring to be done and if she finished all that then the smith shop could always use a good hand.

He moved closer and stopped right in front of her. A smile parted his lips as he said hello how was this elf? Where had he come from? And more important how long would he stay?

He said my name is Izual,

Weary from a full days work, he headed for the moongate, to head to the Enclave. Stepping through the gate the first thing he sees when his vision comes back is a beautiful elf on a black steed. She was in a plain dress, but it looked worn, her hands showed signs of excessive use, yet something about her captivated him. She was someone he would not just bow and say good day to.

She notices him and looks shy, either that or he looked embarrassing and didn't know it. Hoping he didn't have a hole in his pants or mud on his face, he urges his charger forward, and introduces himself with a smile.

"Hello, my name is Izual. I haven't seen you around here before, what is your name?" He asked.

"Raya." She replied, trying to stop the blood from rushing to her cheeks.

"Pleasure to meat you, Raya. Have you been shown around?"

She shakes her head, no.

"Come, follow me, and I will show you Zento and the Enclave."

Izual showed Raya around, stopping on the bridge to show her the beautiful waterfall. Showed her all Zento had to offer, and where the Exiles of Gondolin called home, the Enclave. Thinking he did not want to let her go just yet, he asks "You have met Eowyna Rohanna and Maddux, right?"

"Yes, wonderful people." She replied.

"Wonderful people?" He chuckles. "I can see you JUST met them. I think we should set up a little suprise for them. Let's go find that rotten couple a place to be wed."

Raya smiled at the offer to look for places with Izual. He seemed to be an elf of the world. She thought to her self that he had seen most things in life. He was very good at magery, he could open magical moongates.

The more gates they went through the more wonderful places she saw. Izual was so kind always going first in the gates to make sure there was no danger on the other side. He seemed to be more of a hunter then a crafter. She was watching him in the garden he seemed as free as the wind around him. She closed her eyes and traced the lines of his face in her mind never wanting to forget what he looked like.

Hours seemed to pour away like water running off the rocks. Raya felt her face burn when she noticed for the first time that there was more to life then just making bows for the village.

He rode his charger close to her stopping on inches from her side. She could feel the space between them fill with an energy that she could not explain. Her mind drifted as she thought I have to run. She said Thank You for the lovely ride I would really like to go with u again some time. She took one last look at him and tried to burn his face into a place in her mind, so she could always remember him. With a smile she said the words to travel home, wearing the largest grin a girl could wear. She thought to herself what a perfect man.

……………….Will I ever get to see him again?

She was enjoying herself, and so was he. In all of Sosaria he'd never felt the simple pleasures of spending time with another in this manner. Born a war wizard, trained, and working his way up to Warlord, Izual knew nothing else but of being a diplomat and warrior. This was all new to him, and he was wearing the biggest smile he had ever.

She was smiling too, whether or not because he was in her company or because she enjoyed the wonderful places he took her, didn't matter to him. She was with him, and that's all that mattered.

Izual showed her several places known to be used for weddings.


The bridge that symbolizes a couple binding together, and leaving as one. Raya thought it was beautiful, not very fitting for the Bandit King though.


The garden, used for larger weddings, was one of Raya's favorites. She said she could see herself being wed right on this spot. The smile on her face made Izual's heart melt.


A quiet spot in the hedge for a smaller, more intimate wedding. This would suit Maddux much better, Izual stated, trying to move in closer to Raya. She still seemed shy, but with every new place he showed her, she opened up a little more.

They went on for what seemed like days, enjoying the views, and the company. Izual could see just how much Raya enjoyed seeing new places, and he didn't want to stop. There was something about her, maybe it was her innocence, maybe her beauty, but whatever it was, he didn't want to let it go.

With every new place he showed her, Raya shyed away less and less. It was getting late though, and the day must end. Izual still had important matters to tend to, and Raya no doubt still had work yet to do. He said we should get going, Raya finally realized how long they had been out and agreed. He took her hand and smiled, she blushed but stared into his eyes. Raya thanked him for everything and suggested they should do it again, if she only knew Izual didn't want it to ever end.

Raya pulled the string tight on the bow she was repairing for skatha seemed good as new. She could not seem to focus on anything but Iz; his smiling face filled her head. She shook her head I have to get some work done here. She reached for her next bow on the rack for repairs; this one would need some serious work. Raya set the bow back down there was just no point in trying to work her head was filled with day dreams now.

I know she said standing I will bring Skatha her bow back surely she needs it. Blushing as she walked to the door knowing the real reason she wanted to go to Skatha’s house was that she lived close to the moongate where she had first seen Iz.

She grabbed the bow and ran for the gate. A moment later she was standing by the gate where she had meet him the day before, but sadly he was no where to be seen. She walked slowly towards Skatha’s house taking her time going over the small bridge by the waterfall after all this was where her and Iz had started there evening and it filled her head with the laughter from the night before, bring in instant smile to her face.

Raya reached Skatha’s door and was please to see her at home. Skatha had been working on her house and was pleased to have Raya stop by so she could show her around the place. Raya forgot all about Iz for a moment while they talked. Then she heard a noise and turned there he was standing there…….her heart missed a full beat and then climbed into her throat. While the burning on her checks started again she knew she was smiling at the floor now.

The three of them talked for a long time it was a nice day and good friends so close. She should be getting back to work but she could not bring her self to leave, when just then Eowyna showed up. Everyone exchanged hellos and Iz told Eo that we had been out searching for nice places for her to marry the bandit king, she seemed unhappy. Why? What could make this so? Then Iz placed his arms around her waist and she no longer was thinking of why Eo would be looking at Iz as if he had done something wrong. When Eowyna said, “I will have to tell Maddux to keep better control on his warlord” while looking at Iz. Could it be? Could Iz be the warlord?

Eowyna left with a slam of the gate out front. Raya spun around to face Iz. He told her many things about himself then. She listened and nodded. Then he pulled her close and kissed her………………Raya forgot what she was saying and only knew no matter what she didn’t care what he had done in his past only about him right now. And right now he was perfect………..

Eowyna slammed the gate of Skatha's home! The very idea! Those two off searching for spots for she and Maddux to be wed, and then the pair of them standing there and needling her about it! Just outrageous behavior! A snip of a girl, hardly old enough to have an ounce of sense, and the Warlord, Izual, certainly old enough and experience enough to know better than to triffle with such a girl--he was behaving no better! Were they even remotely aware of where their behavior was leading? Fuming, she strode down the streets of Zento at a less-than-ladylike pace. And Maddux, that scoundrel, where was he in all this? Why weren't they pestering him??!!

But her temper cooled somewhat as she walked toward the Temple, and she actually laughed to herself... Iz and Raya? Hmmmm.....