"Aeliana, please," Eldor's voice was pleading, and he reached out to touch her arm gently, "talk to me. What's wrong?"
Aeliana halted abruptly, her back still turned towards him, her shoulders tense. "I want to be alone. Eldor, Please, just go away."
But the prince refused to relent. He had known Aeliana long enough to recognize when something troubled her deeply. "I can't just leave you like this," he insisted, stepping closer, "not when I can see that you're upset. Please, talk to me."
Aeliana sighed heavily, her grip tightening on the shawl around her shoulders. "I don't want to," she muttered, "You would think it's stupid".
Eldor reached out to gently turn her around to face him, his expression soft yet determined. "I wouldn't," he urged, his gaze searching hers, "Not when it's you, you can tell me everything."
