• The sapphire rose was such a rare beauty, perfectly fitting for a princess. Tamasin, a simple man from a small village to the east, clutched it to his breast as he led his horse through the tangled forest.
    Behind him loomed the castle in all of its pearl-white glory, illuminating the surrounding fort in the moon's reflected light. In the centre of the furthest tower was a window left wide open for the cool breeze to enter. Tamasin looked back over his shoulder at the window, knowing that inside of that dark room was his one true love.
    The sapphire rose, fully bloomed in his palm glowed brightly in the dark as Tamasin continued through. He held it aloft, staring at the petals that stretched out around the dark bud. He had found it in the caves near his home, growing alone in the depths almost as though it had been waiting for him. Tamasin had met the princess only months before, and upon sending her secret flowers from all around his home, the king banished him from the land. His heart had ached to see her smile again when she looked upon his new floral gift and not even the king's threats could keep him away. He sneaked into the lands again with his horse and learned from the townspeople that the Princess Emera had fallen ill with a rare sickness and could not be cured.
    Now he was searching for a legend. There was no hope of making his beloved well again, but he had been granted the final chance to say goodbye to her with this final gift of the sapphire rose.
    Upon travelling he had learned of an elf named Linuguid who lived in this forest, forever crafting fine bows with powers that none other could hope to harness without the sacrifice of something most personal. Tamasin knew that the magic of the elf Linuguid was the only way to make a miracle happen.
    "Tamasin, you have come a far way."
    Tamasin's horse skittered on the spot, dislodging Tamasin and throwing him to the ground. The spooked animal fled into the forest, leaving the man to stare into the trees with wide, frightened eyes. "Who's there?"
    There was a laugh. "The one you seek is here." A bright light danced before Tamasin's eyes. He was blinded for a moment, then the light was gone and he was staring back at a man that could only belong to one race.
    "It is I, Linuguid the elf, here to craft you the perfect tool." The elf stood tall, a thin silver cloak lined with gold covering his body. His pointed ears flapped in the wind, and his piercing green eyes watched Tamasin without blinking as he pulled himself to his feet.
    "Please," Tamasin begged. "Please craft me a bow." He held out the sapphire rose. "A bow that can shoot this into Princess Emera's room without a chance of missing or being discovered."
    Linuguid reached out a pale hand and plucked the rose from Tamasin's hands. He stared at it closely, the corners of his thin mouth curling into a smile. "This is a fine goodbye to send her. I'm sure her heart will be filled with joy before it gives its final beat."
    Tamasin's own heart filled with pain at those words and he bowed his head. "This is my final chance. She will not live through the night. Please craft me this bow so she can gaze upon this flower and know that this simple man was thinking of her in her final hour."
    The elf nodded his head, his smile remaining. "Of course I will help you for crafting brings me more happiness than anything in the world, but of course each of my bows costs a steep price."
    Tamasin dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of gold coins. He paused suddenly as he remembered the tale. The sacrifice of something most personal. He did not need to hear Linuguid's laughter to know that it was not gold he wanted.
    "Foolish human. The price is not money or goods or anything of the sort. It is something that you hold onto with every waking breath." He jabbed a finger at Tamasin's chest. "What I want is your heart, the tool of your love."
    Tamasin didn't waste another moment. He nodded his head opened his arms wide. "Take it, then. Take my ability to love and leave me as an empty shell. If it means the rose will be delivered to my dearest Emera, then I will give it gladly."
    The elf regarded Tamasin for a moment then shrugged his shoulders. "So be it." He began crafting the bow, stripping wood from the trees and carving into it with thin bladed knives hidden beneath his cloak. Tamasin watched in awe, waiting patiently. When the bow was finished it stood taller than Tamasin. The elf handed it to him and helped him balance it against his body.
    "Remember," the elf whispered in his ear. "The price is your heart."
    Tamasin wouldn't turn back now. He readied the rose in the string of the bow, aimed through the trees, pulled back and let it loose. As the rose shot from the bow with a twang Tamasin felt a ripple in his chest. He rested a hand to it and felt his heart beating, but there was no feeling inside. He no longer felt love or cared for anyone. Not his family, not his friends, and definitely not the princess. He rose his head to the night sky and screamed for he felt empty and hollow inside, and the moon shone down on him, the man who had sacrificed his heart for the one he loved.
    Princess Emera awoke with a start. Sweat coated her forehead and she felt her head pound as she sat up. She was alone in her room. It was just her and the candle burning beside her. She knew she would die tonight, but she was not afraid. All she feared for was her love, Tamasin, the man who didn't even know of her soon-to-be passing.
    As she looked around the room, she noticed something glowing on her bed. She pulled the sapphire rose from her covers and smelled the petals. It smelled sweet and filled the air around her. She breathed it in, tears rolling down her cheeks. He hadn't forgotten her after all.
    She lay back against the pillow with a smile on her face and the rose clutched in her hands. As she took her final breath, she was not afraid, for Tamasin had said goodbye to her and it was all she had needed to find happiness.