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[saerwen]

Jaedon sat on a small incline near the edge of the water. She had thought about diving in and having some fun, but she decided that she was not in the mood for fun. A little piece of the joy she had experienced the other day before finding Neron and Aeryn was still there, but she couldn't restore it completely. Not after what had happened. She was heart broken. Neron was gone. Just when she thought that things could finally get underway as far as their relationship went, this happened. She was currently cursing Aeryn's guts and wanting to shove his little tricks down his own throat.

She had her arms wrapped around her knees, which were drawn in close to her chest, her chin rested in a dejected manner on top of them. Neron... Now she knew what it would feel like without him. She would never have to ask herself again what it would feel like, but that would also mean that she would do anything that she had to in order to make sure that it never happened again.

She wondered what people did when things like this happened, what normal people did. She wanted to find Damion and talk to him, but she hadn't had any luck with finding him. She didn't want to go and talk to Miriel because she was still recovering from their little spat and the spat with Damion. There was no way that she needed to know that Neron had lost his marbles again.

Jaedon was surprised that she had become so used to Neron being nice so quickly. It had grown on the second that it had started. For some reason, it just suited Neron to be nice but witty, a little annoying but cute about it. It suited Neron to behave like a sweetheart. Jaedon smiled at the thought. Neron, sweetheart...There was something about putting those two words together that just made her smile. For a split second they sounded like a pair of dissonant notes, but then they evened out to beautiful harmony, practically synonymous in her mind.

However, sweetheart was far from what he was now. That part of him was being chained and used by the part that Jaedon wished she could rip to pieces and hurl into the very pit of hell. That was the only place that dragon belong...It troubled her to think about that fact that the dragon was still a part of Neron, a piece of who he was, but at the same time it was nothing of him. She wondered if Neron would ever really be rid of it, or if it was just going to have to be smothered for the rest of his life, however long that might be.

This led the way to darker thoughts and Jaedon knew she didn't need to go there. She looked at the water and dipped her fingers into the crystal water. It was cool and refreshing to the touch. She looked at it longingly, and tried to use the temptation as a way to keep her mind off of Neron. She hadn't slept much the night before because she was worrying about him, but she didn't mind. It was Neron, losing sleep over him was okay. She just hoped that she would be able to find Damion soon.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel long black hair blew about her, being groomed by the winds untamed fingers. It was a beautiful day, the sun was burning in the sky like some burning egg. There was nothing better to do but walk around the Lagoon, soaking up the warm air. Besides her walked someone who wasn't nearly as bright as her. His black hair hung into his eyes, shading them slightly from view. Both hands were clasped behind his back, one covering the injuries of the other.

The two seemed to be having a serious conversation and when both noticed Jaedon Neron made some motions to her and shook his head. Miriel touched his shoulder and laughed, as if calling him a fool before heading toward Jaedon, leaving Neron no choice but to follow. "Jaedon!" Miriel called out. "Isn't it a beautiful day? A great day for walking." Upon seeing Jaedon's tired face she frowned. "Are you alright Jaedon? Is everything ok?"

Neron approached the pair and stood silently by the two. There was a quietness about him, a sadness in his eyes when he glanced at Jaedon, his hand tightened behind his back. Then he moved his eyes toward the lagoon and stared out at it moodily. Because his darkside was letting the light side take the controls, but only on a short leash of course, he could not speak to Jaedon. That was to dangerous to "The Plan". Instead he could talk to Miriel and Damion with regulations. It was strange this time, the rules, the punishment, the torture. It was more cruel this time, more thought out. All that he had learned had been used against him, all his wit turned sour.

Unconsciously he had turned his whole body to the lagoon, his hand still covering the wounds of the certain fist. Even though he could still hear what the girls said, it looked like he was giving them privacy. He looked absorbed in his own thoughts. Which he was to some extent.

[saerwen]

Jaedon had heard Miriel approaching and she knew that someone else was with her. The only persons that Miriel would be talking to in such a manner other than herself were Damion or Neron. Damion would have been making just as much noise as Miriel and Jaedon could barely hear anything that her partner said. Her only conclusion was that Miriel was with Neron. She wished that she could warn Miriel to stay away, to be more on guard, to not fall for his scheme's, but at the same time, she didn't want to take away the healing balm that Miriel would be to her own troubled soul. It was selfish, she knew, but she needed Miriel. She needed help. Neron really needed help, but she had no idea what kind of help to give to him.

She gave a sort of side ways glance to Miriel, she gave a weary smile, one that was obviously forced and replied in a quiet but distant tone, "I am fine. Just didn't sleep well last night." She then paused for a moment as she cast a slight glance in Neron's direction. It held longing and agony. But she would not allow herself to dwell on him. She tore her eyes away almost as quickly as she had placed them there and as though remembering suddenly what Miriel had said beforehand she put another fake smile on and said, "Oh yeah, it is a lovely day for walking. I am glad that you seem to have taken advantage of it."

Jaedon noticed that Neron had started out looking at her and then turned away from them to the lagoon. Something about her was turning this evil side of him off. She hated it. She wanted Neron to look at her the way he always did, with those mischievous green eyes that seemed to dance with glee. She knew that he would not be the same this time, but she still coveted their gaze. After all, no matter how much she might dislike it, Neron was Neron as she had told Aeryn. Even though it wasn't Neron like she wanted, it was Neron like he was. This was a part of him and she would have to accept it. After all, if she couldn't accept all of him, how could she say that she loved him. The only problem with this was that he vexed her so when he was like this. It made her angry just to be around him. She knew that learning to love Neron would take a long time. She had known that when she had first started thinking about it and how she felt about him. Feelings were something that came and went. She was going to have to base this affection on something other than feelings. She didn't know what yet, but she knew that if she was going to learn, now would be the right time since he was at his worst. She would never give up on Neron, never. She jsut hoped that Miriel didn't notice how cold she was being towards Neron. She didn't want to have to explain.

Just then, a rather perky voice called from behind them, "Well, well, well. How typical. I come searching for one and I find all. The only person we are missing is Tarian. I suppose its the original four this time." Damion came bounding up, now quite better, even though he was still not quite as strong as he normally would have been, he was glad that the pain was gone. A brilliant smile lit up his face. He had apparently been running or he had forgotten to wait to land before changing into his human form because it hair was quite windblown. He quickly pushed the wild mass down into something slightly presentable as he walked over to Miriel.

"How are the lovely ladies this fine day?" He said, smiling with glee at Miriel. Then he turned to Neron, "And what about you sir, how long did it take for Miriel to drag you out here? Or was Jaedon the culprit?"

[»Míríel«]

Green eyes met the greenish waters of the lagoon. Neron's face was about as serene as the water, and his eyes were as distant. So you like this place, it is soothing to the soul isn't it. You think it peaceful, I think it dead. Look at the water, almost no life, no movement. Where is the churning and tossing of the waves and the mystery within? You have lost this Neron, and I am here to reclaim it. You should thank me. Just think what a boring being you would be without me. Neron bowed his head slightly and let his hands hang besides him, though they were clenched. "You bloody fool, they will see past your blasted trickery and-" Pain wracked through his mind, causing him to lean over and hold his head. Palm open, shading the eyes, if they looked over you would look like you were searching for fish. They will never know the pain you are in."

Miriel looked at Jaedon with worry in her eyes. There was more to this. Jaedon usually didn't have problems sleeping unless she herself was worried about something. "Ah, well at least you are resting." She had followed Jaedon's glance at Neron and her gaze grew skeptical. There was something going on between these two, again. Opening her mouth to say something, she looked back at Jaedon and the fake smile that was upon it. This wasn't the right time. Smiling she glossed over the obvious problem and answered, "You know me, I can't resist a beautiful day."

A familiar voice called out from behind and Miriel immediately turned with excitement showing on her face. The look at Damion with his hair windblown made laughter flow from Miriel. As he approached she wrapped him in a hug and pulling back studied his now slightly mussed hair. Hmmm.." She studied it for a moment and tilted her head as if making a calculation. "I think you missed a spot..." Reaching out with her hand she gently tucked a piece of hair back, then as she brought her hand back, she brought a whole clump of hair forward, messing it up to a ridiculous angle. With a little giggle she prancded off by Jaedon, as if trying to hide behind her.

Neron, upon hearing the familair sound of laughter turned and raised an eyebrow. His gaze slid from the slightly flushed face of Miriel to the now ridiculous looking Damion. Love...how disgusting. Without thinking he found himself looking back at Miriel, who happened to be by Jaedon. Blinking at the sudden realization that he was actually looking at Jaedon he turned his head and re-clasped his hands behind his back.

[saerwen]

Jaedon turned around and gave a sigh of relief as she watched Damion and Miriel together. Damion...perhaps he would be abel to make sense of all this. But how would she talk to him without making it obvious. It was hard for Damion to hold a conversation with her in his head and not make it too terribly obvious that he was distracted from everyone else. She would just have to see how things played out. Maybe she could grab him later. In the mean time she watched Miriel as she played with Damion's hair and then messed it all up. Jaedon couldn't help but smile at the rather silly hairdo that Miriel had left him with. She suddenly sobered. She began to wonder if she and Neron would ever have a relationship like that ever again. She remembered how long it had taken Neron to fix himself and she wondered if she would have to wait that long again. And if she did, would they ever be able to continue on the way that things were? She put her chin back down on her knees as Miriel came and hid behind her. Her eyes looked down at the water, traveling to where Neron's reflection showed in the liquid. She missed Neron. She vowed that she would never complain about his annoying little comments ever again, she missed him that much. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she choked them down with all the force she could muster. She would not let Miriel and Damion see her that way, and if her Neron could possibly see it, then she would definitely not show him. He already had all he needed to deal with.

Damion became distracted with Miriel so that he forgot about Neron's lack of an answer. He was glad to see Miriel carefree and laughing. It was the most beautiful sight in the world. He ran his fingers over her hair while she was close. He loved her hair.

"I think you missed a spot..." Damion made a face and started with a, "No I didn't" but he never got all the way through with it before Miriel played her trick. He sighed and fixed it, running his hand through his bleach white hair. He looked at Miriel with a mockingly harsh glare and said, "I don't know why you are hiding behind Jaedon. It isn't like she will protect you." He took a few steps towards the two women.

Jaedon mustered a slight smile and said, "No I certainly won't."

After that Damion looked quite satisfied. Avoiding Jaedon, he grabbed Miriel around the waist and pulled her close. "I think I deserve an apology." He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "You sorry yet?" His icy blue eyes were gleaming.

All Jaedon could do was smile slightly as she watched the two love birds. She then stopped torturing herself and allowed herself to openly stare at Neron. Perhaps he might see her. Perhaps the green dragon that was really Neron could see her. She missed him so much. She never thought that she really would miss him that much, after all of the teasing and annoyance that he subjected her to, but she found that without it, her life really was quite boring.

Without entering his mind, she simply projected her own telepathic thoughts out to creation around her. If Neron was listening he would have been able to hear her since he really was quite close with her. Neron, can you hear me? I love you...I love you... I love you. She felt foolish for constantly saying those same three words over and over again, but it made her feel better to think that she was telling someone at least how she felt.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel laughed as she was pulled close to the man she loved. No matter how many times she was in his embrace, it always felt like the first time. Flashing a glance back to Jaedon she frowned and muttered teasingly, "Traitor." The kiss immediately made her focus on one thing, Damion. Looking up into his sky blue eyes she smiled, "Perhaps a little." A pink blush had surfaced as her eyes shone brightly. Bringing her face close to his she kissed him again, while bringing her arms around his neck and pulling herself, and him closer to each other. Breaking the kiss she put her head beside his and whispered, "I missed you." She twirled a lock of his hair around her finger playfully, thoughtfully, lovingly. She then rested her head on his chest, nuzzling up closer to him.

Neron, can you hear me? I love you...I love you... I love you."

These drifted into his mind, immediately his stance softened and his gaze was snapped from the lagoon to Jaedon. His eyes were soft and gentle, they were Neron's. "I know-" Then his eyes shifted to that of a snakes. A smirk grew on his face. "that you are merely joking." Then the smirk disappeared and a serious and threatening look came to his face, "Don't think that you will be able to save that green weakling." The eyes shifted from snakes to normal, but the look of threatening stayed. The black side had let something slip, he hadn't blocked the girls thoughts, and the had stirred something in that foolish and beating heart of Neron. Hearts were dangerous, they were unwieldy and uncontrollable.

Neron's face glossed to the normal stoic expression as he turned to the two embracing lovebirds. "You should miss him Miriel." He watched as Miriel looked at him in astonishment that he could have heard. "You love him, more than life itself. Whenever your loved one goes missing, a piece of you goes missing too. It's a tragic thing really." His voice was loaded with sarcasm, and the smirk rose to his face. The only reason he had heard her was due to his hearing being amplified due to the shift in mind control. Evil brought out the power in everything. That is why Neron had to be careful about the heart, passions tended to run high during this sort of role, Jaedon must be distanced.

[saerwen]

Damion couldn't help but chuckle at Miriel. He had always known that there was a passion that drove Miriel's every thought, word, and deed, but he was always shocked and amazed when he saw how that passion took hold of his girl when he was with her. He believed that love was more than feelings and passion, but he couldn't deny that the more in love they were with each other, the more passionate they both became.

"You can't blame Jaedon, it's not like she could have done anything. She is smart, knowing a useless fight when she sees one," he gave a mischievous smile as he spoke, "In fact, I can't even believe that you thought you could run away. It was obviously pointless." As he finished he tightened his arm around her waist a little.

He enjoyed seeing the color rise on Miriel's face. He knew that his own would forever stay pale and cold, but hers was warm and bright. They were a perfect contrast for each other. For some reason, it sent a shiver of pleasure down Damion's spine as she whispered in his ear. It was probably something wrong with his thought process, but since he couldn't pinpoint it, he couldn't really stop it. After all, with the woman that he loved so close to him, few thoughts could really be tamed, though he never let himself wander too far. Not yet at least. As she came closer and close to him, resting her head comfortably on his chest he just smiled and ran his hand over her silky black hair, his other arm firmly wrapped around her waist. "It's been a little less than a week Miriel. I think this might be becoming an addiction for both of us." He whispered just as quietly as she had.

Jaedon blushed a bright red when Neron's eyes found her blankly staring at him. However, she wouldn't look away because for a slight moment she had what she wanted. Neron saw her, Neron could tell what she was thinking. He had heard her. As he spoke, Jaedon got the only message that she wanted to hear. " I know..." That was Neron. The rest was all an act, it was all for show. She knew what was real and what wasn't. That one phrase, that one look had restored her hope for good. She was going to find a way to bring Neron back. Perhaps she could do the same thing that Aeryn had done, just with a bit more caution. She would have to try something.

"Don't think that you will be able to save that green weakling." Jaedon just glared and the black dragon, she was not going to back down. She hardened her gaze even more and her voice was quiet but harsh, "Then I'll die trying."

When Neron addressed Miriel, Damion looked over at him also. How in blazes did he hear that?And even more so, why would have said something like that. That is strange. But then again... Damion thought to himself, Neron is always strange. Perhaps it is just his mood. As he listened to Damion, his blue eyes became hard, angry at first that he would be so calloused towards such a subject, but it was soothed over quite easily. Neron had never really been the romantic type, or at least Damion had not taken him as such. Even though he had been changing over the past weeks, it was hard to believe that he had actually become romantic or at least even sensitive to those kinds of things. However, something struck him as out of place. Damion looked down at Jaedon and saw that something was very wrong.

Jaedon had gained hope a few moments earlier, and while that hope had not died, Neron had easily just put a dampener on it. That was exactly the situation that she was in now. He was taking advantage of her weakness. She felt a tear start to roll down her cheek, unbidden to come. She quickly wiped it away, clearing her eyes. She felt herself harden towards Neron and she found within herself the courage to actually say something.

"You would know, wouldn't you? Speaking from first hand experience, eh?" her voice was callous and pointed.

Damion cocked his head to the side. What was going on here? Jaedon and Neron were mad at each other? What was new about that...? Then again, that was something new since Neron had overcome his inner evil. What was going on? Damion looked back at Miriel, obviously confused. Very quietly, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "What is wrong with those two? Or is it just me picking up on these strange vibes?"

[»Míríel«]

"True." Miriel smiled playfully at him, "But she's still a traitor." Her green eyes twinkled, "I'm just keeping you in shape." As his arms tightened around her waist she cocked her head slightly, "Trying to stop all means of escape aren't you?" Obviously she didn't mind. Ever since their last fight she couldn't get enough of him. Every couple days away felt like years. He had almost been taken away from her forever, and she couldn't let that happen again. She was going to enjoy him, and cherish every moment they were together.

"I think it is an addiction that is well worth it. I hope I am never cured of it." She murmured back to him. Indeed she hoped that it never was cured. There was something about his coolness that helped her feel stable. It was like a brisk wind of autumn flowing through and cooling the heat within. Everything seemed sharper with him around, more colorful, the fire within, though calmed, seemed all the brighter and more lively. She could take risks with Damion around, she knew he would back her up, and if she did something foolish, he would correct her in the most loving way possible. Never before had she had someone like him, and she knew that she never would again. Damion was one of a kind, and or some reason he had chosen her.

Neron smirk deepened as the blackness within replied, "If you say so. then I will have two problems out of the way."

Neron enjoyed seing Damion and Miriel both turn to him with looks of anger and confusion mixed within. Let them guess and stare. Even though his original plan had been to remain undercover, he found out that with JAedon here, it was impossible. He could just make it seem like he was having a bad day. Neron was full of those, so it wouldn't be to out of place right? Plus with Jaedon acting like she was it wouldn't be hard to Miriel and Damion to excuse it as the two having a fight earlier.

Turning back to Jaedon he shook his head. Jaedon would notice the hard look on Neron's face. His ,eyes narrowed in her direction, "No, I have never felt that sort of love, not toward you or anyone else. I merely heard some girl chattering about it when I passed by. Sorry to disappoint. Now get away from me and stop following me around." Turning to Damion and Miriel he frowned, "Sorry about that you two. I didn't mean to... sour the romantic air that seems to be gathering around you two like a thick mist. Excuse the, outburst."

Miriel lowered her voice, her face now confused and stiff, and whispered to Miriel, "Looks like they fought. I don't know though. Neron must have gotten the worse of it by the way he is acting." She let out a sigh, "Just when I thought things were getting better"

Neron had a look of mock surprise, "Ah, but they are better. Much better. Haven't you guys seen how happy Jaedon is? She's quite changed. Just look at her smiling face, all because of me." He smirked and let out a little scoff.

[saerwen]

"Oh I see." Damion looked at her through narrowed eyes, "So you think that I am in need of a work-out? If I really am having that much trouble-" he tightened his arms around her even more; it would have been nearly suffocating to Miriel, "-then why can't you get away from me?"

Damion chuckled at her, "Well, we already know that I certainly won't be the antidote, so I guess you will just have to be spending more time around me." He then loosened his arms slightly. "Guess that means I don't have to hold you so close." A slight frown came over his face as though he were disappointed.

Damion was no longer focused on Neron, but on Jaedon. As she listened to him, she jerked her head away from him, casting her gaze viciously into the water. Something was really wrong with Jaedon. Suddenly, Jaedon's fist pounded the earth below her. She then jumped up and glared with those bright green eyes at Neron.

"That's exactly what you want, isn't it?! You just want me gone, don't you? Your scared that I might bring some hope into that black hole of your soul, aren't you? Well, I'll do better. I'll light it up. Forget having your little throne, Neron because I will personally remove you from it. It will not be long so enjoy it while it lasts."

Damion turned towards Jaedon, reaching out to her, "Jaedon, calm down! What is going on you two? Is this the remains of a fight I am hearing? What the devil is going on?" He wondered if Miriel was right, perhaps they had just fought and it was just a little tousle that could be fixed by someone calm and level headed.

Jaedon turned to look at Damion, but her eyes showed that all hopes of mediation were out of the question. It was then that she heard Neron's little comment. She slowly turned to Neron, her eyes completely black, all color gone from her face. She glared at him as she began to walk past him. It looked like she was just going to walk past and leave, but right as she had just stepped past him she turned and punched at his face, a shot that would have sidelined his jaw. She then shoved him with all of her might. Not even pausing to see what kind of havoc she had caused him, she turned and left.

Damion just stared at the scene, mouth hanging open in shock. He murmured to Miriel, "I think this was a little more than a lover's quarrel."

[»Míríel«]

Miriel laughed and pulling her hand from behind his neck she placed it on the side of his face as she put on a mask of sympathy, "Well, I didn't want to tell you so but..." A smile broke through and she just laughed. Then his grip grew strong and she felt his strength tightening around her. When he loosened his arms she looked up at him with mischief apparent in her eyes, "Who knows, I might just make a break for it." She pushed against his arms, teasing him with the thought of her suddenly bolting.

Miriel snapped her attention to Jaedon when her fist hit the earth. There was a lot of tension between these two. There were only two choices to what must be going on, either they had a huge fight, or something else was going on.

Neron just smirked. "I would like to see you try." The eyes flashed dragon for a split second before returning. "I don't think you are up for the challenge." The dark dragon was counting on the past relationship to keep Jaedon from killing Neron. Though, that didn't matter to much to the darkness, if Neron died, at least he would be going down in his control. If Neron lived, then all the better, the darkness could rule more and cause more chaos. Last time chaos had been so easy. Both of the opposing sides had come to terms and worked together. Now the good side seemed more rebellious and harder to control. Love, what a troublesome thing. An idea sparked in the Black dragon's head, if he could flip the thought of love being good, yes. That is how he would win. Jaedon wouldn't be a problem for long.

Jaedon's punch hit the mark , with only a slight dodging of the blow. Neron had been so intrenched in the thought process of killing love that he hadn't seen it coming until the last moment. Only reflexes saved him from a broken jaw. Still that blow would cause bruising, quite a lot, if it didn't let some micro-fractures of the bone to bloom He also wasn't prepared for the shove, nor the force behind it. He stumbled backward, and would have recovered if his feet hadn't gotten tangled. Down he went in a magnificent splash.

The water was cool, fresh, clean. If Neron had been in his right mind he would have enjoyed it immensely. Now all he could do was think of rage, it clouded his mind, his eyes. Below the surface his hands shifted into dragons, and scales sprouted on his skin. Those green pools of sight turned into blazing wells of fire, slanted and flickering. She would pay, she would pay with her very life!
No, No, calm down, no use ruining everything. You are above this, remember. You did not sit in wait for months, if not years to blow it in one shot. No, you must be cunning, and strong."
The shift to dragon reversed and he looked nothing more than human. "Stupid two legs." With a strong stroked upward he pulled himself onto shore and came out on all fours, head bowed. Running his hand through his now sopping hair he combed it out of his eyes. The hand then slid to his jaw, which he rotated to check damage. IT hurt like the dickens, but it wasn't broken. Pain was in his hand as well, looking down he saw the scabbed knuckles, and the swollen fingers. He dropped his hand, sighed and looked up at Damion and Miriel, " Once again I apologize. She seems to have relapsed into her darker side." He smirked, "Pity, I was starting to like her."

Miriel blinked, and realized she had gotten closer to Damion. Her eyes had focused on the damage that Jaedon had done, as well as Neron's hands. The bruising and wounds were familiar. He had been upset, probably taking it out of things once more. "I think that is the first time I have ever heard him apologize....something isn't right." Her voice was quiet, just Damion could hear.

Pulling away from DAmion she walked over to Neron. Reaching out she went to touch his jaw. He was looking at her with a confused expression and turned his face away. He didn't move though. "Neron..." She spoke softly. 'Let me see-" As soon as her fingers touched his face he knocked her hand aside with his arm and glaring at her retorted with almost a hiss, "Don't touch me."

Not caring to see what damage his words did he walked off as well. Miriel stood there holding her arm and looking after him with a puzzled and confused face, in her eyes was dread.

[saerwen]

Damion put a hurt expression on his face, "Do you really want to get away from me that badly? What happened to being addicted to being with me?" He then smiled and gave her a look full of laughter, "Fickle woman."

Damion almost laughed as he saw Neron pulling himself out of the water, sopping wet. Something told him that Neron had deserved it. However, Damion narrowed his eyes when Neron apologized for Jaedon.

"Since when did you start owning up for Jaedon's little fits?" he gave Neron a sideways look, utterly confused. "And if I remember correctly, you have been 'liking' her for the past few months. Suddenly feeling the love turn off or something?"

Damion was willing to believe that it was fine, that Neron and Jaedon were just having a rough time. He was willing to believe that Jaedon was having one of her days, and that Neron was just in one of his moods. He was always willing to believe the best whenever the opportunity presented itself, but the moment that Neron had smacked Miriel's hand away, Damion lost it. All hope that things were just normally rigid were lost.

He walked over to Miriel and put his arms around her in a comforting manner. "Something is going on here. I don't care how angry they have gotten at each other, there is just something not right about either of them. What did Jaedon mean when she was talking about Neron 'being on a throne' and since when did Neron ever want her 'gone' as in gone for good? He's in love with her." He looked down at Miriel, "Any ideas as to what else might have happened?"

[»Míríel«]

Miriel smiled up at him, her expression echoing his laughter.

"Love w as only an act Damion, she is better now, or was until now. So I turned it off. It's not that hard if you try." Neron smirked before he left.

Miriel was still looking after the disappearing black form of Neron. Strong arms encircled around her once more. She relaxed a bit into his arms. "The whole thing is a mystery Damion. Something is wrong, they have both changed. That smack against my wrist, and his voice, that was something I haven't heard in a long time. There is something off about this whole situation. It was like the old Neron, but that couldn't have happened... could it?" She sighed, "Perhaps they both had a bad day, Maybe we are over reacting or they were." Miriel looked up at Damion. "One thing I am sure of, those wounds on Neron's hands, I have seen the like of them before. He's been mad at something and had been taking it out on some local trees." Reaching up she put her hand on his chest before continuing, "Listen Damion, don't get mad at him for refusing my healing. If anything that is the most Neron like he has been all day. That stubborn pride of his is always getting in the way of letting others helping him."

[saerwen]

Damion was enraged by what Neron said about love being an act. He knew that something else was wrong. Either Jaedon had hurt Neron very badly, or something else was wrong. Neron had not been acting at love in the past weeks. He had put up with Jaedon during some of her worst moments, so he knew what would help and what wouldn't. He would never have played at love in order to bring her out of her depression and self-pity. But Damion knew that there was little he could really do about it. Neron and Jaedon would have to work these things out. Fights would probably make their relationship stronger in the end, but he knew that every single one of them would be rough. When Neron or Jaedon fought with someone, they went hard.

Damion listened to Miriel, his eyes growing slightly darker as he thought about Neron having reverted back to his old ways. He shook his head and sighed, "I hope that is not the case, 'cause if it is-" Damion paused as he thought about the consequences, replying fairly quickly, "-I'm gonna kill him. Jaedon doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. I mean, I know she is hard to deal with, but she is trying hard to change. She doesn't deserve to have Neron just break his side of the deal."

Damion gave a sigh after hearing Miriel's defense for Neron. "I suppose you're right. Neron has never been too keen on asking for help, let alone lowering his pride enough to accept it. I suppose some things just don't change." He then tightened his arms around her waist a bit and kissed her cheek before resting his chin on top of her head. He stayed quiet for a moment before starting up again.

"You know, when there aren't two really gloomy presence's around here, this place is really quite pretty." He paused for another moment before continuing his thought, "Nice place for a date, wouldn't you say?" He then gave her a look that was full of fun. He then gave a very pitiful face and explained, "I am afraid that I didn't think about having a romantic picnic date with you here before we got here." Then perking up a bit he recovered, "However, I will be sure to keep it in mind for next time. In the mean time, would you like to come with me and get some tea and coffee? I know the perfect place. Perhaps it will make up for my sad romantic failure."

[»Míríel«]

Miriel allowed herself to be drawn in a bit by him. The touch of his lips against her cheek caused a blush to rise to her face. The silence between them was comfortable, something to be desired. She wished she could just sit there, relaxing, taking in his presence, but the moment was over. It had ended all to soon.

A laugh came from Miriel at his remark. "It is pretty! Even though there is water, it is very pretty." She looked up at him, "You know since I met you, water no longer has the hold on me like before." She chuckled, "Which is why this is a perfect place for a date." When he mentioned that it wasn't going to happen at this time Miriel was genuinely saddened by that thought. To be alone with Damion and not be interrupted, that would be a dream.

At the mention of tea and coffee Miriel perked up and smiled up at her icy lover. "That sounds great! Perhaps you can let me try that delightful mint tea concoction that you are always talking about!" She pt on a mock sad face, "Though I don't know if it will make up for your romantic failure. Only a date will make up for that."

[saerwen]

Damion looked at Miriel and said, "If I really have nullified your fear of water that much then maybe one day I will actually be able to teach you how to swim. Who knows, you might actually come to enjoy the water." Damion knew that would take quite a while and that progress would be very slowly, but the idea of Miriel one day learning to swim and actually enjoying being in the water was interesting. It showed him just how much their love had changed Miriel. If he had eased any of her fear of water, the he would be very happy.

He then released her waist and took her hand. "Perhaps I shall! And perhaps you can try and force some coffee down my throat." He grinned at her. He wouldn't be that much trouble when trying coffee, but if he didn't like it as much as he remembered he didn't, then he certainly wouldn't drink any more of it. It had been a long time since he had had coffee but he remembered that he hadn't liked it. But considering how many years ago that was, perhaps he had changed. And perhaps it was an acquired taste that Miriel would help him have. She might start to change him a little more too.

As he started to lead her away he gave a very miffed expression, "But this is going to be a date Miriel!" He then smiled and said, "But I suppose that I will have to try a little hard to make this up. Not like that will be hard though."