[open] golden days; Leliana and any

[Isilya]

Isilya

yet it was not that nature had shed o'er the scene
her purest of crystal and brightest of green

Isilya does not hesitate to follow Leliana through the portal, not even for a heartbeat. Not only is she just incredibly curious to see what Leliana considers to be one of her favourite spots in the kingdom, but her trust in the other mare is already concrete, already her fellow magician has roots within this sparkling mare’s heart. Although Isilya is aware that she is older than her friend, has had her magic longer, the portal’s presence makes her feel younger and less experienced. Not in a way that makes her feel small or sad, but she muses on it all the same.

She lost so much experience living in a forest, wrapping herself in bark and leaves and losing her mind to nothing but the soil and the sunlight. She’s barely placed a hoof in the pool of all she could accomplish with her magic.

The place they walk into through the portal makes Isilya release a soft gasp at the beauty – her gold-green hazel eyes widening as though an extra millimetre exposed of them could help her take even more of this precious, beautiful grove. But her attention shifts entirely to Leliana when the other mare begins to speak, begins to explain the importance of this place to her.

The golden-pointed mare steps a little closer when she catches the words and the sadness at what was almost lost. She’s honoured to have been shown this place that means so much to her friend just as she is awed by how much Leliana has done with her magic.

“Nothing would make me happier than to give you all the help I have, to be here for you and call you my friend and herdmate.” Isilya reaches out then to touch her muzzle gently to her friend’s cheek, her heart full with a warmth she’s been craving for so long. She has a friend.

She’s quiet for a minute after she pulls back, her gaze shifting back to the grove around them and she enjoys the peace and the moment they’ve shared.

But, at heart, she’s still just a youth – so an easy smile begins to spread into her eyes and they dance as she looks to Leliana once again. “So, tell me about your husband.”

’twas not her soft magic of streamlet or rill
oh! no, it was something more exquisite still

table by Laura | art by Nikkayla

@[leliana]