Beneath the Everwood
by Lenore Bravehard
Edited by Wyndforge

e was fresh out of his training in Qeynos, and was given the heavy task of eliminating the gnolls that surrounded the city. So, armed with his sword and shield, he made his way towards the den of the gnolls, Blackburrow.

As he neared the den, he spotted movement beneath a nearby Everwood tree, and there in their midst was a young woman engaged in a a vicious battle with three gnolls.  The young warrior ran towards the young maiden, ready to help her in what looked to be a serious disadvantage.

There would be no rescue this day, however, as he watched in awe the gnolls falling one by one at her dainty feet, her magics slowly killing them.  He reached her in time to watch the last gnoll fall, at which she turned to face him.  She looked elven, a half elf possibly, and her purple eyes looked into his.  

His heart strangled in his chest. She was beautiful.  A light breeze ruffled her pale white hair.

"Greetings warrior," she said, her soft voice a caress to his soul.

"My lady," he said, bowing deeply.  "I happened to wander by and saw you. I wanted to make sure you were safe."

She smiled, and the strangle in his heart deepened.

"Thank you, brave one.  My name is Lenore."

"My name is Choco," he said, as he took her hand and kissed her fingers.  "I am honored to meet one as beautiful as you."  Choco was pleased to notice a soft blush in her cheeds.

"May I ask what type of magic you used against them?"

"Certainly. I am a druid, a daughter of Karana.  And may I ask whom you champion for?"

"I am a Paladin in the service of Karana as well," he replied, bowing deeply.

"Well, my brave knight.  It seems we have a common goal.  Shall we combine our forces and rid the lands of these pesky gnolls together?"

He smiled.

"Nothing would please me more, M'Lady."

From that time on, Lenore and Choco joined together and shared long campaigns against the gnolls of Blackburrow.  But that is not all they shared, for a deep bonding love formed between them.  It was a rare sight to see them apart.  

Then one morning Choco presented Lenore with a gift.  He asked her to close her eyes as he led her outside.  After a few moments, Lenore opened her eyes to find that she stood before the tree where they first met.  After a closer look, Lenore noticed something that caused tears to form around her eyes.

There, carved in the trunk of their tree were these words:

Choco and Lenore
I love you

"Oh Choco. I love you too."

"Then you will say yes when I ask you to be my wife?"  With those words, Choco got down on one knee and presented Lenore with a ring made from the wood of their tree.

Chocking back tears, Lenore replied, "Yes."

.

Years have passed since that warm spring day, and now, Lenore and Choco have returned to sit again beneath their Everwood. The engraving is still there, and although slightly faded, it still held the magic of the moment Choco asked for her hand in marriage.

Lenore looked back to that day when she saw his handsome face, one eye covered by a rakish eyepatch. She remembered it well, for it was the day she had given him her heart, and he had given her his.

A warm breeze blew, carrying a fallen leaf and laying it upon Lenore's lap.  She took the leaf and placed it in her pouch as she leaned back against Choco's chest, resting quietly beneath the canopy of their tree. Later, when the two would be off on other campaigns against the enemies of Karana, Lenore would find her leaf and smell the fresh Qeynos air that lingered there.

And each time she did so, her mind painted a picture of her and Choco back again beneath the Everwood, reminiscing on days gone by. . .

The love betwen Lenore and Choco Bravehard continues to blossom on the Innoruuk server.