The morning dawned clear and sunny, bright beams of light streaming in through the window in Ariala’s small bedroom. She shared the house with another metal worker called Kendra, younger than her by a good few years, and much louder. They got along, though, and shared the chores fairly, and that was what mattered.

Ariala drew her feet out from under a drowsy Char and gave the dog a scratch before rising and padding towards the small bathing room.

A second dog, this one a paler ash-tan colour, appeared behind her and whined for attention. Ariala spun and smiled. “Well good morning to you too, Tal, my girl,” she said to the animal. Both Tal and her darker companion Char were on the smaller side of large, with long, sleek bodies and smooth, short hair. They needed plenty of exercise, which gave Ariala an excuse to run twice a day.

Her mother was always complaining that she was all muscle and sinew, no curves to be seen, but as a metal worker, Ari knew that it was the best way to keep fit and strong.

“Wanna go for a run?” she asked Tal, chuckling as Char picked up the key word and woke up speedily, bounding over to join his mistress. “I guess that’s a yes.”

Ariala hastily pulled long, dead-straight black hair into a loose pony and pulled on a white singlet top over shorts. She had a strange physique, being that if she’d not gone into the forge, she would have been a slight, slim, fragile-looking woman, standing at just under 5’3”. However, after years of working in the tough forge, combined with twice-daily runs, she had grown lithe, and remarkably strong. She had a naturally fast metabolism, which was probably a good thing, considering she ate whenever - and whatever - she chose.

It had rained the previous night, and Ari found herself tiptoeing over the flat stones between which was the remains of muddy grass that led from the front door. Parting the garden crookedly, she headed out of the property and onto the long path that ran alongside the house, then around the back and into the verdant field that the dogs loved so much.

Tal and Char were never locked inside, or out - they even had a good-sized flap in the door to crawl through - but always seemed to enjoy the outings with their mistress more than vague explorations. At least, they always got into more mischief that way.

However, the usual half-hour in the field was cut short today; Ariala was meeting with an old friend, to the animals’ annoyance.

Tal crouched down as if trying to start some sort of game with her mistress, trying to distract her, anything. But Ariala just grinned at her, whistled once, and jogged off towards the pre-arranged meeting place.

Raef was a handsome man, standing at just above six feet, with a thick body and a cheery face. The son of Ariala’s father, the two had practically grown up together, gone through just about every adolescent problem you can think of, including a short period when they were convinced they were in love and tried to elope. Tried being the operative word.

When the time came to further their chosen careers, however, Raef moved to a city in the North that was renowned for it’s excellent vintages. Despite their best efforts, they inevitably lost contact. Until now.

Now, Raef had a chance to tell Ari just how he felt. About her, about the horrible length of time they’d spent apart, about his dreams. And he hoped with the depth of his soul that she would reciprocate.

And then, she was there. Warm-black hair tied loosely behind, stray tendrils framing her face, beautiful grey eyes smiling at him as she increased her pace to fly into his arms. Raef had been significantly taller than Ariala since early adolescence, and had compensated by learning how to pick her up effortlessly. He hadn’t lost the skill.

“Raef, it’s so good to see you!” Ariala exclaimed once she’d been set down.

The big vintner grinned at her saucily. “You look amazing, Ari,” he said truthfully. “How long’s it been now? Two years?”

The metal worker rolled her eyes. “More like four, my dear fellow,” she grinned at him. “Hey, would you like to come back to my place for some hot breakfast? I think I’ve got some fresh coffee, too.”

Raef agreed almost before the words had fallen from her mouth and they headed back towards the house, Tal and Char zigzagging excitedly behind them. He hesitantly put an arm on her shoulder as they walked, then cursed himself as he felt the woman’s body tense beside him. He’d never been one for touching past an initial hug, and Ari knew him too well to think he’d changed.

Ariala stopped, always preferring to get things out in the open right from the start. Looking at her friend, she cocked her head a little. “Raef, what are you doing?”

Suddenly feeling ridiculously embarrassed, Raef shrugged. “You know I like you, Ari. I was just...”

“Just starting something that you know we can’t finish.”

He winced at that. “Why not? Why can’t we? I mean, it’s been years since that last... thing,” he tried. It was true, it had been a good six or seven years since then.

“That’s not the point,” Ariala said, hating the way this was going. She just wanted to spend time with her best friend, not worry about complications, or hurt feelings, or... love. She really didn’t need that right now. “Raef, please, will you just be my friend? I love where we are right now. I love reading your letters, however late they come. I love the fact that we get to spend a week together with no strings attached.” She paused, forcing him to look straight at her. “Please, no strings.”

He knew it was true. All of it. Besides, he could control himself. Loving someone was often a one-sided affair, he’d discovered. He’d done it before, he could do it again. “No strings.” The vintner tried to put on a cheery smile. Hey, it wasn’t all bad. “Now, what about that breakfast?”

Ariala smiled and hugged him briefly. “Thanks.”