Aera cool eyes stared, her face blank. Damn that girl, she thought. [i]I say no visitors and she lets in the elf. Probably figured i wouldn't mind.[/i] His lips so close to her skin, she could feel his warm breathe on her flesh. With effort on her part, she pulled her hand away, lifting her chin. "Taris. So you've found the library after all." She stepped back, putting space between them, and motioned for the seat across from her, sitting back down in her own. "Please, sit." He looked reluctantly at the chair behind him before, instead, taking the seat beside her, pulling off his quiver and bow and setting it beside him on the floor. Aera's lip twitched.

"I find you have awakened my curiosity." Aera said, trying harder than she should to keep her eyes on his black face, rather than... anywhere else. "Elves are hated in this city, thanks to my dear cousins, the Kartaians. And yet here you are. You just marched in here, head held high, announcing that you're here for the tournament." She folded her legs and leaned back, studying him. "I admit, I feel a bit of envy at your confidence."

Something passed over her face in that moment, a shadow of an emotion, but nothing else. Just as quick, it was gone, her practiced porcelain expression back in place. [i]That's where I know him.[/i] She thought.

She continued. "Part of me wants to believe you're here for another reason." Her eyes lowered just for a second, as she glanced over his muscles and clothing, before she looked up and met his eyes. [i]Such eyes[/i], her thoughts wandered, noticing the purple.