Song of Lake Linaewen by Zdenka  

Love is a Wilful Bird

Maicáne pours out her feelings for Aewelir in writing, but destroys what she has written.

Written for femslashfete for the prompt "forgotten." Title from the aria "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle," from Bizet's opera Carmen.

Once among the rushes
I found a little bird, singing sweetly.
I whistled to her and called her
until she grew tame,
until she would come to my hand.
I loved her dearly.

Duty called me away;
I left without a word.
For duty is a sword 
that cuts all bonds save one.

I thought of you, I reached for you, I dreamed of you--

I thought I would never see you again. I could not have brought you
to this cage wrought of gold and marble. You would have pined and languished
for your dear waters, your dear lake-rushes.

Did you pine for me?

Now I have returned, but my little bird has forgotten me.
She flees when she sees me, with quick flits of her wings.
She turns her face away; I do not dare pursue.
It was I who left her, I who wronged her.

Little bird, if I wait for years upon years,
will you pipe your notes to me once more?

I will give this page to the sea
and let the waves wash the ink away,
since I think my beloved bird
will never again come to my hand.