"Ilmarë is trying to get us to fall in love." Ossë's voice was warmer and calmer than Uinen had ever heard it, but it wasn't aimed at her.

"Yes, I know," said Tilion's soft voice from the other side of the tree.

Uinen didn't mean to eavesdrop. Really she didn't. But she was sitting under a tree, and there were voices on the other side, and so she listened. Who wouldn't?

"I wonder why," Tilion continued.

Ossë laughed and Uinen's heart sped up, just a bit. "Maybe it's because she's friends with Arien?"

Uinen happened to know that Arien and Ilmarë were more than friends. For obvious reasons, she didn't say so.

"You like Uinen!" Tilion sounded extremely indignant.

Another laugh from Ossë. "But to the best of my knowledge, Uinen doesn't hate my guts."

Uinen stuffed a fist in her mouth to keep from laughing: though she would never have phrased it that way, Arien did hate Tilion's guts.

Then it truly sunk in.

Ossë liked her.

Ossë. Liked. Her.

Today was going to be a very good day.