"I'm sick of you."

I watch the hurt dawn and darken in his eyes, and I can't help but smile. And I thought that there were no games left to play in the realms! What a lovely change this is. His hand twitches toward his sword hilt, and my eyes widen and delighted laughter escapes my lips.

"You wish to hurt me!" I laugh, adoring how hatred blooms in his handsome eyes. He falls on one knee and bows his head, trying to win me back, make me not see how bland he is.

"Never hurt you, my love," he says, but his voice is low and thick with dislike. I wrench his chin up and laugh again.

"I was like you once," I say lightly, letting him go and twirling in the everlasting sunset. "Did what I was told to do, counted myself lucky when I was free for a moment. I was so scared that if I changed I'd lose it all," I lower my voice as the truth pours out of me, looking down at him with my head tilted on my shoulder, curls partly hiding my face.

"What would you have me do, lady?" he asks, voice low, strained once more.

"Change!" I shout it at him. "Be more daring, more unique! Change the way the winds blow you!" He stands now, looking down at me with anger in his eyes.

"When you asked for me you wanted a man to stay with, someone to love you for eternity and never alter," he says. I smile again. He sets himself up.

"Things change." I step away from him and imagine legions of men, all in love with me, all my true love, men who change. I do not need to turn to know they're there. I can feel them, their love for me thrums in the air. Every few seconds one shouts out a proposal, a snippet from a love sonnet. I watch him absorb them in their numbers, then I look up at him once more.

"You are expendable. All of these men," I gesture behind me. "All of them love me just as you do, mayhap more, they all can change."

"As you have no more need for me then, lady, I shall leave you." He turns to go, walking into the forest. I laugh once more.

"Do you still love me?" I call to his back as he leaves. He pauses a moment.

" I loved you once. But things have changed."

Mayhap I have found a never ending pastime in the realms after all.