Two Lovers

The two lovers stood in the glade ...... it was early morning, the shafts of sunlight shone through the trees and fell upon the two lovers. They embraced as lovers do, however this was not an embrace of love, it was an embrace of good bye. Suddenly the man pushed the girl from him, and held her at arms length, and said, "I am sorry I failed you." She in turn, shook herself from his grasp, and flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him to her as though she would never let go.
The man did not resist, instead he stroked her dark hair; and as he did so, the girl started to weep, softly at first ...
The man sighed, and gave voice to his frustration, "I must go, your father has chosen another for you. I did everything in my power to win his acceptance. But I have not the lands the other has, your father wants to expand his holdings, and there is nothing a I can do about it. You my sweet, are my love ...
At his words the girl stopped her weeping, and tilted her head up, looking into her lover's blue eyes, and whispered, "I don't care what my father wants, I will go with you. Your horse is strong, he can carry us both. We can leave now, I need nothing, but you, and your love ...
As the man disentangled himself from his lover he said, "I cannot allow it. It would bring disgrace upon you, and I love you far too much. Nothing would give me greater joy than to put you upon my steed and take you from this place of sorrow. No, you are betrothed to another, and that is who you will marry.
At these words, the girl stood erect with head bowed, her arms at her side, and cried. The man led his horse a few paces from the girl, and mounted the mighty beast. He took one last look at his love, turned the beast to the east, and rode off into the rising sun.
After traversing half the meadow, the man turned his horse and rode back to the girl. He extended his hand to her. She grabbed hold of his strong arm, and was lifted up; she settled behind her lover and wrapped her arms about him. And together, they rode off into the rising sun.