The Lavender Lion

As the last of the day’s sunlight faded over Erento’s soft ridged mountains, the town began to rest. Busy worker bees returned to joyful families, adventurers drank in celebration of successful conquests, and lonely lovers made the short trek to nearby taverns in search of nightlife. One such tavern stood apart from the rest, bordering the forest at the Capital’s edge rather than nestled into the hustle and bustle of the city.

A youthful firbolg mosied to the door of The Lavender Lion, seemingly comfortable in the unfamiliar territory. She was heavy set- curvy even- but standing at a daunting seven feet tall. Although short for a firbolg, she knew she would have to duck to enter the tavern.

Her hair was solid black, with a natural silver chunk on the right side of her face, and tied in a single chest length braid. The woman’s features were vaguely cowlike, with wide, floppy ears sticking straight out the sides of her head; a largely square pink nose; and small horns poking through the crown of her hair. Her face was smooth and round, pale, with a slender chin and full lips, her deep brown eyes reflecting the warm fire-light of the tavern’s lanterns. She had adorned her braid with clover picked near her home and, despite being slightly furry, she was easy on the eyes.

The firbolg was confident, and beautiful, but preferred her own company to that of others in Erento- making her appearance at The Lavender Lion quite unusual.

She briefly paused in front of the door to the tavern, taking a breath to steady herself. Was this what she wanted? Was she ready for this? Before she had a chance to decide, a voice called out to her from close to the ground:

“Don’t worry, Love, the first time’s always a little rough.” A red headed dwarf dressed head to toe in purple reached his hand up to the firbolg. “Alberich, at your service.”

“Liora,” the woman replied, as she set her hand into his.

“Well, Liora,” Alberich said, pulling her lightly toward the tavern from two feet below her eye level, “I’ll walk you in this time, if you buy me a drink.”

“I think there’s been a misunderstan-” Liora began to protest, but Alberich interrupted.

“I’m not here for you, Love.” He chuckled to himself as he pushed open the door to The Lavender Lion.

Liora’s jaw dropped as the tavern’s joyous energy radiated towards her. From her spot in the doorway the atmosphere was overwhelming, but Alberich continued to guide her inside and towards the bar.

On her right stood a handful of tables, all crowded. To Liora, it seemed as if every tavern dweller arrived with at least four other compatriots. She scanned for people she knew, unsure of whether a familiar face would be better or worse in this situation. On her left was the bar, a few paired off drinkers, and the barkeep: a scraggly looking halfling who had clearly seen better days.

“Renee, two pints,” the dwarf told the woman behind the counter. “The lady’s buying.”

“Eight copper, darling.” Renee was charming but firm. Liora relinquished a silver piece, eager to get some liquid courage in her system. She held out her hand, expecting her remaining two copper.

“Aye, give her the lavender,” Alberich interjected before downing his pint.

Liora’s face scrunched in confusion, but Renee was quick to explain. “Here at the Lavender Lion, you can get a single stem of lavender for a single copper. A lot of our customers prefer it to carrying petty change.”

“Huh,” Liora mused aloud. “Why is that?”

Alberich and Renee shared a look. Renee spoke first. “Well, the folks here tend to use it as a conversation starter, I suppose.”

“C’mon, Love, I’m sure there’s plenty of half-decent ladies here that would love to be handed lavender from a-” Alberich hesitated, craning his neck to look Liora in the eyes “-tall… drink of water such as yerself.” He turned to Renee, “She’ll take the flowers.”

As the barkeep handed the firbolg two stems, Liora’s face flushed pink. “Do I really look like the type to… pursue women?”

Alberich fell off his barstool laughing. “Love, you found the one tavern in the capital for alternative lovers. Either you fancy women, or fate has quite a sense of humor.” Clambering back atop his stool, the dwarf pulled Liora’s hand into his own. “Go have fun. You’re among friends.” Alberich gave a half-assed salute to the two women before strutting off across the tavern and kissing the hand of an ornately dressed elf.

Liora sipped her drink, and turned her attention back to Renee. “They got friendly fast,” she said, tipping her head in the direction of Alberich and his newfound male companion.

“Ah, those two are old friends.” Renee shrugged, polishing a glass. “Some nights they love each other, other nights they spit and slap. They always end up back in each other’s arms at the end of it all.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound the most healthy.”

“They’re old, and bored. They don’t want healthy. They want interesting and passionate.” Renee grabbed Liora’s now empty mug, pausing to catch the firbolg’s eye. “You don’t need to be like them, darling. For everyone who will hurt you, there are ten who will cherish you. Don’t settle for interesting.” Renee adjusted her apron, before heading off to clear dishes from tables.

Liora twirled the flowers between her fingers, musing over how to proceed. Groups and gaggles mingled around The Lavender Lion, but no one stood apart from the crowd. Just as Liora was beginning to consider heading home early, she was met with a leather gloved hand extended in her direction. The hand was presented carefully- respectful- and in their palm layed a twisted paper rose.

Liora’s eyes trailed from the stranger’s slender fingers, up to their muscular arm. Their skin was grey-brown, and shimmered lightly in the warm tavern light. Do they always shine like that? She admired the ridges and scars, raising her gaze past the stranger’s sharp collarbone and up to their face. They seemed to be some sort of human. Half-elf, maybe? Their ears were pointed, and clearly visible through their curly, dark hair. Below the hairline, the stranger’s curls were cut short- maybe an inch at most. What was left was pulled into a loose bun at the back of their head, aside from a few rogue strands.

Cautiously, Liora lifted the paper rose from the stranger’s hand, and placed a lavender stem in its place. As she took in details of her suitor, she noticed the stranger’s bushy eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Every detail was conventionally attractive, and completely androgynous, but more than anything Liora was captivated by their eyes. A hauntingly brilliant turquoise blue that she knew she’d never forget.

“God, you’re gorgeous.” Fuck. I swear I meant to say hello. Liora was at a loss for words. Her brain and her mouth refused to cooperate with each other.

The stranger smirked, and looked at the ground shyly. “I’m Sage.”

“Liora. Charmed. You’re charming. I-” Her rambling was cut short by Sage aiming the lavender back in her direction.

“Can I-” Sage hesitated, but brought the flower close to Liora’s hair.

Liora suddenly remembered the clover blooms woven into her braid. “Oh, yes, of course!” she said, handing the second flower to the Sage.

Sage worked at a leisurely pace, adding in lavender where the clover was missing. They reached over the bar- grabbing more flowers when needed- and leaving a copper piece for each one. The whole time, Sage didn’t say a single word. When they were done, they took a step back to admire their work, and smiled.

“Like it?”

Liora blushed, and nodded, holding her braid between her thumb and forefinger. Internally, she was screaming. “You’re good with your hands.”

Sage, raised their eyebrows playfully.

Realizing her double entendre, Liora’s eyes widened. She quickly tried to backpedal. “I mean- I just- That wasn’t supposed to be an innuendo, I promise.”

Sage chuckled. “I believe you.”

Liora’s body relaxed. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Sage flagged down Renee. “Time?”

“Half past midnight, darling.”

Sage turned back to Liora, “Not today. I have a prior engagement.” They got up to leave. “Certainly one day.” Sage lightly grasped Liora’s hand, and kissed it without letting go.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” Liora’s eyes pleaded with Sage to stay.

Sage shook their head. They raised Liora’s hand to their face, pausing to soak her in. The pair’s eyes locked. Turquoise and deep chocolate, seeing no one else but each other.

“One day,” Sage said, and they walked out the door.

Liora felt her heart break as she watched Sage head further into Erento’s center. For the first time in her life, she had felt a genuine connection with a stranger, and was filled with a sinking feeling that she’d never see them again. She turned around on her barstool, placing her head down on the counter and closed her eyes. What a creature, she thought to herself.

“You know,” Renee said from behind the bar, “I think they said more words to you than I’ve heard from them in a year.”

“They’ve been coming here for a year?” Liora was eager to get any information on Sage that she could. She felt like even the smallest detail would be worth grabbing onto. Even the slightest taste.

“Oh ya. Almost every week. I never caught their name though. I’ve asked a few times, but they just smiled and shook their head at me. Did they tell you?” Renee seemed curious, but genuine.

“Actually, no. It didn’t come up.” Liora was thrilled. She’d never held someone’s secret before. She thought to herself about all the things she would do if she saw Sage again, how much she longed for a few seconds more. Her thoughts consumed her as she walked out of the Lavender Lion, infatuated with the idea that Sage had trusted her with something so special: their voice and their name.

“Sage,” Liora muttered to herself on her walk back home. “That name dies with me.”