A Message

[saerwen]

Damion laughed at Miriel's remarks as he took hold of her waist a little tighter to ensure that she didn't go tumbling down as she was thrown off balance. He then gave her an admonishing look, "Now Miriel, there are plenty of other ways that I could contrive to get you to sway your hips. Don't be thinking that it was just about that." Damion stressed the just. He had to admit that he had thought for a moment about what it would look like if Miriel did succeed and learned to skate proficiently. Her had imagined her graceful and poised form gliding across the ice, but that hadn't really been the main reason. It was meant to be more of a trust walk. It was turning out to be a wonderful idea. He then gave a sheepish grin and replied, "I might be terrible, but you are very fine. At least I know a good thing when I see it."

"Eh? Or maybe I had it in me all along and I just never let it out because I never had the opportunity?" His eyes gleamed as he looked at her. Sure he might have picked up a few new ideas from Cecily or Neron, but he also had lived long enough to learn how to mash people into traps they couldn't really escape from. While that hadn't really been what he meant to do with Miriel, he had hoped that once he got her on the ice, it would grow on her enough to where she would really actually begin to conquer her fears.

Damion couldn't help but be very proud as Miriel began to step out on her own. Her confidence was mounting with every movement she put in. Somehow, she had managed to pick up a feel for the ice right away. It dawned on Damion that even though he and Miriel were two opposite elements, they might not have been quite as opposite as they seemed. While Miriel would never be able to adapt to water or even ice very well, she had learned that it could be used. Damion now felt reassured that if anything ever did happen to him, Miriel would always be able to see ice for what it was. While at some points it could be the harsh hand that reach out and stole all warmth and life from your being, it could also become the most beautiful display of water in the world. Like the frozen depths of the waterfall, ice could make things stop. I could make things easier to appreciate in some ways.

Damion was glad that Miriel was taking to his own element so quickly. It had been hard for Damion to overcome the idea that Miriel was a phoenix. When he had first found out, he would never forget that sinking feeling he had had in his heart as he had looked on her beautiful face, eyes closed, her form still. He had had to check and recheck himself to ensure that he really had just save a fiery phoenix and that that phoenix was Miriel. However, his love for her had forced him to cross the desert of his fears. Fire was known to be his instant death, and it had already almost killed him more than just once. But, it was also the gentle warmth and comfort that he wanted so badly on the inside. Ever since he had been born he had been cold, but his demeanor and personality had always longed for warmth. Miriel was that warmth. He was sure now, more than ever before that he would die without her. He needed Miriel more than his breath.

As Miriel took off across the ice with a slow, but steady pace, Damion followed along, his own form catching up he hers and began to keep a rhythm with her. He smiled at her, "See, now this isn't so bad. Not scary at all. And even if you fall, the ice will catch you. It might not be a soft landing, but it will catch you." His face sobered for a moment and then he smiled again, "But then again, I suppose ice isn't really known for being soft." It was true. Most ice dragons were hard, callous creatures with rock solid hearts. Damion hadn't been like that because he had grown up with parents that weren't ice dragons. For that he was thankful.

Sobering again, he looked at Miriel and asked, "Miriel, are you having fun?" It was a strange way that he asked the question. He was asking a light-hearted question, but it seemed to way heavily on him for some reason. In his heart, he was becoming scared of what would happen within the next 20 or 30 minutes. He was worried that things might not go well; worried that he might leave this place with no hope left.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel smiled at him with mischief in her eyes. "Mhmm sure Damion, sure." When he mentioned her being a fine thing she laughed. "Yes." Her green eyes settled on his glowing blue ones, "At least I know a good thing when I see it as well." She then blushed and focused on the ground before her. As he mentioned having mischief before she just raised an eyebrow and mentioned playfully, "Oh? Showing your true colors now Damion?"

Miriel's face was glowing with excitement, cold, and the warmth of Damion's words. She shook her head when he mentioned the ice catching her. She understood what it was like to fall onto the ground. The experience was neither pleasant nor bloodless. She could only imagine how ice would be even more unforgiving. It was going to be something she didn't want to do, to fall into its arms in this state. Suddenly she noticed the tone of his voice, he was referring to himself abstractly wasn't he? She nudged him slightly and smirked, "Only when in other forms. Plus if you aren't careful you could get rather soft." Her green eyes glittered brightly.

The next question caught Miriel off guard slightly. What was he talking about? Again with the tone, he was going from happy to sober quickly. Miriel stopped shifting her feet and let both of them slowly glide to a stop. "Of course I am Damion!" She smiled encouragingly at him, "How could I not? You are here."

Standing still on ice was proving troublesome. Balancing on thin blades was harder then one would think. Miriel found herself resting against him just to stay upright. Who knew that doing such a thing like this could be so exhausting? Already she was starting to get tired.Her breaths were heavier and the wind was starting to make it through her outer robe. Her eyes traced over his face, there was worry there. Perhaps Damion was trying to hard to make her have fun. Was he really that afraid of her not enjoying herself? Just being with him was enough. Didn't he realize that by now? Damion was the only one she would feel safe with in the water or on the ice, and even with him it was hard to swallow the pill of actually doing it. Taking his hands in hers she shifted towards him with difficulty. "Damion." Her face was glowing with happiness, but there were tones of seriousness in her eyes, "Don't worry about my having fun. This is the best fun I have had in a long time. Who would have thought that it would have been on the ice I so despised?" She squeezed his hand, "I'm having a wonderful time. Are you?"

[saerwen]

Damion looked at Miriel and grinned, nodding his approval, "Yes, yes you do know a good thing when you see it." He knew that he hardly had any room to say that. He had failings enough to make him unworthy of any young lady. In reality, all men did. It was an inescapable truth. That was why you had to learn that you couldn't deserve them before you could even think about falling in love with them. You have to understand the value of something before you can treasure it. You have to understand what makes something precious to you. Guys could just say that a girl was precious to them and they might have a reason, but it would be the worst reason in the world. Even now, Damion had to check himself and make sure that he loved Miriel for the right reason. Miriel was an attractive, lively, brilliantly blooming woman that would be a jaw-dropping bit of eye candy for anyone. Damion had to make sure that that wasn't the only reason he loved Miriel. Even now, he had a list of reason that he kept handy. Besides, with Miriel, it wouldn't have been hard to think of a few. She was perfect. She was priceless. She was precious.

Miriel soon jerked him out of his thoughts and he gave her a sly look, "What better time to do it, eh? I've already got you violently in love with me, so much so that I got you out onto a frozen body of water. Now I shall simply shatter your soul with the truth that I am nothing but a heartless, cold, old man with a nasty sense of humor." He was clearly joking with her about everything; well, everything except being an old man. He couldn't deny that compared to Miriel, he was...ancient.

"Oh dear, I can't get soft now can I?" Damion chuckled, " You know, when I was first born, I can remember this terrible old codger coming around my parents and telling them that they needed to be more harsh with me because I would become soft and weak if they let me go for too long. When they were out of the room he would look at me and say-" Damion began to mimic the older dragons voice, "'I can see it in your eyes. You are weak. Nothing but trouble is what you are. Your going to grow up and have no spine. Born weak, raised soft, destined to die.'" Damion paused for a moment and then looked at Miriel, "That was when I would simply reply, 'Well, I could have told you I was destined to die. Everyone does. Even you. Why don't you tell me something I don't know?'" Damion laughed at himself, "I should have been slapped half way across the room for that kind of response. But the old man seemed too speechless to even think about reprimanding me."

Damion felt a little bit of relief filling his heart. He was glad that Miriel was enjoying herself. He had wanted to make this special. More special than anything they had ever done together. He wanted Miriel to remember this moment for the rest of her life, whether it ended the way Damion wanted or not.

He noticed that Miriel's breath was a bit heavier than it had been. She was getting tired. Damion at first began to wonder how it was that she was tired this fast, but then he realized that while the weather felt just glorious to himself, Miriel was probably starting to freeze. It was no strange thing that she was becoming tired when her heart was having to work twice as hard to heat the rest of her body and she would definitely have been too frightened to use her fire to heat her body. He decided it was time to take a break. It was time for him to man up and find out the answer to the question he had been agonizing over for the past few weeks. He was scared, but he knew that he would just have to face it and take whatever came his way.

He smiled down at her, forcing the worry from his eyes and voice, "Of course I am having fun. As long as I know you are happy I will be having the best time of my life." Damion realized that he was going to have to swallow those words later. He was going to have to live up to that. If, somewhere down the road, Miriel decided that her love should belong to some other man, he would have to swallow that truth, that he would be happy as long as she was happy. He would have to content himself with seeing her smile from afar. He then brought his thoughts back to getting Miriel a little warmer.

"I think it is time to take a break. I would hate myself if you got too cold out here and started shivering on me." He took her hand and began to lead her over to the side of the frozen river where her shoes rested, along with the little, icy stool. He glanced up at the top of the waterfall and sunk deep into his powers for a moment. He could feel the water building and building. He was going to have to set it free soon.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel just laughed at Damion's explanation of himself. To say such a thing as that was ridiculous. Damion was one of the kindest men she had ever met in her life. No one else could have touched her heart the way he had. The two of them understood each other and were willing to overcome their differences and meet in the middle. How she managed to catch his eye, she wasn't sure. Jaedon had told her she was pretty, but Miriel never saw it, nor did she linger on the fact. To her personality was the main attraction and to be truthful, Damion had both aspects.

The story Damion told was heart wrenching in a way. To have an elder talk to you in such a way was unimaginable. Still she smiled at his response. He had spoken truth though, everything on the earth must die. Some just took longer times to get there. Human's called phoenix's immortal, and if everything went well perhaps they could be, but in Miriel's experience many died through accidents or fights. Everyone, during their life, have to stand up to something and put their life on the line. Also the longer beings lived on the earth, the more they seemed to lose pleasure in life. Nothing surprised them anymore, and death always seemed to be lurking around. Friendship became something that wasn't needed, you would out live them anyway. Few could see past this and keep the view of life in the correct perimeters.

"Then you will be happy often, I am told I take delight in everything." She smiled. It was true. Miriel was easily amused and easily satisfied. This could be an asset or a hindrance.

To be honest, Miriel was happy when Damion mentioned taking a break. Her emotions were still strained from what had happened before. Even still, though she was secure with Damion and had some confidence in the quality of ice holding her up, there was still a tension in her mind. If something went wrong, she would die in a matter of minutes, less if she freaked out and changed forms. That was one of the phoenix's main cause of death, falling in water and shifting.

It was not just her emotions that were strained, but her muscles as well. She was using muscles that were not accustomed to being used. The way she was forced to move on the ice was foreign to her body, and the concentration she had to use to keep her balance was trying. It would be good to sit.

As Damion began to lead her to the stool she pulled closer to him. Now that she knew that she was getting away from the ice, the adrenaline was running out and her senses were starting to chime in. Yet even though the exterior was growing chilled, her heart was warm. Damion was here. Once she made it to the bench and her shoes returned, she wondered what would be next. What did Damion had planned?

[saerwen]

After Damion had restored Miriel to her regular shoes, he stood up and offered her a hand as he stepped back onto solid ground. It was strange, straying away from his own element back onto the earth. It was like a soft padding compared to the harsh ice. Sometimes Damion wondered how it was that he had gained such a control over ice. It was such a willful thing, Damion had thought at first that it would be impossible to conquer. It hated to be twisted and played with, but as a part of his nature, Damion had slowly begun to realized the softer side of ice. Snow, water, ice, they were all one in the same thing. If you had one you had them all. Damion's first huge show of power was in creating a huge ice storm so that he wouldn't have to go to school the next day. He had admitted to himself that it had been wrong, but he knew that he couldn't confess it or else he would have been killed or hunted.

As he now looked at Miriel, he wondered if it was his softness that had caused him to turn towards Miriel so quickly. He had accepted her fire after a while, and he had loved her after only knowing her for a small amount of time. Perhaps his heart had always been more accustomed to warmth than he had originally thought. Either way, he knew that Miriel had turned him even softer. While the order with Eventide had reminded him of serious things and darkness that would always rest inside his heart, he had been able to see his way through it because of Miriel. She had solved it for him, in a way. Now, it came right down to it. It was time to decide what happened to himself.

When they were further away from the ice, Damion turned to Miriel. "Miriel, I had a very selfish ulterior motive for doing all of this." He began strong, and had to convince himself that he could keep it strong through the rest. "I wanted to make this a very memorable day for you. In fact, I wanted to make this one of the most memorable days of your life." He looked down for a moment and then back up, his blue eyes gazing softly at Miriels. "I promised myself that I wouldn't kiss you until the end of our date for a very special reason." He chuckled at himself slightly, "And I have to admit that it has been really hard. But, I think that it is well worth it. I have to prove myself that I am not just in love with the idea of you, but that I am really in love with you." He put his hand up to her face and brushed a stray hair that had fallen from her bun behind her ear. "I want to make sure that I would do anything for you. After watching my past fiance walk away with another man, I have feared that my heart wouldn't be able to stand one more heartbreak. But, I have realized that if you really do love someone, you have to put them first. You have to be willing to see them happy, even if they are happy without you." He knew that he was lecturing himself, but he was also telling Miriel exactly what had been in his heart for the past few days. "Now that I am sure I have realized this, I have something that I need to confess to you..."

Damion paused for a moment. He reached inside of the pocket on his black vest. He pulled something small out and wrapped it in his fist. He fingered it slowly. "Miriel, I have to confess that I don't really think I can live without you. I would force my self if I had to, but I know that there would be a part of me that would rather just die. I love you so much it hurts when I am not near you. I love you more every day, and I know that I will only be able to keep growing in my love for you. There isn't one thing about you that isn't perfect in my eyes. You are more beautiful than anything in this world. I never thought that I would love someone that is my opposite element, but Miriel, I think I love you more for it. You give me a taste of warmth that I have always longed for and never had before." Damion paused for a moment, and brought his hand up from his side. With a very fluid motion, Damion got down on one knee and looked up at Miriel, "Miriel, would you please consent to be my warmth, my light, my love, and my wife?" He held in his hand a silver-banded ring with diamonds that looked like ice crystals surrounding a flaming red ruby in the center.

[»Míríel«]

When Miriel's feet hit the ground it was strange to feel the resistance. Ice had such a gliding quality, it was probably the closest one could come to flying. Still that isn't to say that she wasn't glad to be back on solid ground. There was no fear here only security.

When Damion turned towards her and started talking Miriel realized that this date was beyond normal. He had taken special care with this for a reason. Though she didn't know what reason for certain, there was one that she had in mind and was praying she was right. As she listened her face was smooth and gentle. Ever word he said just built tension within her. Was this really happening? Her heart started to grow within her, it started to beat faster and faster. Her cheeks started to turn rosy. Damion, are you really asking this? She looked at him. His eyes were so pure and earnest, even though they were glowing slightly from the power he was using. As his finger brushed her face the blush only grew in intensity.

When Damion got down on one knee Miriel's eyes were covered in tears and her hands raised to her cheeks. This had to be a dream, a wonderful blessed dream. Her laugh was tear laden and she bowed her head slightly. Miriel tried to compose herself, tried to regain the composure, but she found it to be impossible. How could one be calm when it felt like their heart was about to burst with happiness. Instead she threw herself at Damion and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes Damion! Yes!" The sudden movement was the last straw for her hair and it came rippling down her back like a sort of black river. Then she whispered in his ear between sobs, "You have made me the happiest of women!"

[saerwen]

Damion had known that there was a possibility that Miriel might reject him, but he had pushed it from his mind. He was not going to let it show on his face, or in his heart. Miriel was going to do what her heart desired and he could be content with that. She was a being that needed freedom, and while he knew that he needed to give her the freedom to decide, he couldn't help but hope that his efforts had caused her to be biased towards him.

It was agonizing as he watched her. First, she began to blush, then she started crying. Damion felt his stomach churn. He couldn't tell if they were tears of joy or of disappointment and frustration. For what seemed like hours, Damion felt his breath coming in shallow gasps. It was really only a few moment though before Miriel threw her arms around him. He was slightly stunned when she did; hardly able to move. It was only when he heard the word, "Yes" that he felt all his fears run away, his stomachs knots come undone, and all thoughts of suicide after this run away. He wrapped his arms around Miriel, his fingers running through her long black tresses. He looked up at the sky, so brilliant and blue and smiled. All of his wishes had come true.

He pulled away from her just enough to see her face. "I suppose we will just have to be the two happiest people alive on this world." He smiled as he came closer and pressed his lips against hers very gently. He was so glad that he could enjoy the feeling over and over again. If she had said no, he would have vowed never to kiss her again. It was wrong for a woman to continue to give her kisses to a man she never intended to marry. He would have waited until she had decided to marry him, or have left things where they were if she had found another man. But he could enjoy the thought that he would be the only one kissing her for the rest of his life. She was his and his alone.

He broke the kiss, and pulled a little away from her again. This time, he took her left hand and carefully slid the ring onto her finger. He then looked up to her and said, "I will never love another person more than you for the rest of my life." He then kissed her again, this time, much more passionately. When he stopped, he didn't pull very far away. "My precious, precious girl," he whispered.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel savored the sensation of Damion pressing his lips against hers. There was something new about it this time, something more intimate. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they loved each other and belonged to each other. Damion was hers, and she was his. She let her hands loosen around his neck slightly with one hand ran through his hair.

When Damion broke the kiss she looked at him. Her eyes were filled with love and had a new spark in them. There was a new life before them, and she was eager to experience it. The ring slid on perfectly, it felt like it belonged there. she broke her gaze to look at it. The ruby, it was like a crystallized drop of fire glittering among the ice that surrounded it. It was just like them. Fire surrounded and resting in the security of ice. The idea seemed absurd, unreal, but she wouldn't have it any way. Looking back up at him when he called her a precious girl she blushed deeper. Somehow around Damion it always felt like the first time, she was always a flutter in his arms and when he was near she could sense him. They were almost one, but not quite.

Reaching out she brushed his bangs from his eyes."Nor will I love another man. There is no room in my heart for one." She smiled brightly, "It seems like you have filled it up until overflowing." coming closer until their lips were just a fraction away she whispered, "I love you.' Then the pressed her lips against his and brought herself closer. Her heart was fluttering like a young bird striving to take flight. Pulling away she rested her head on his chest and cuddled as close to his as she could get. With one arm on his chest she began absently tracing a pattern on his chest.

[saerwen]

She was so close, so warm. Damion could hear her breathing, it was warm on his face as she whispered, "I love you." He felt like soaring high into the air from all of the joy inside his heart. He wanted to tell the whole world how happy he was. However, right now, only his heart could sing because he was too busy enjoying Miriel's kiss.

He closed his eyes for a moment as he felt Miriel's fingers tracing little patterns on his chest. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. He had forgotten about all of the water that was sitting at the top of the waterfall. He had been so happy he had forgotten all about it. His eyes began to glow very brightly. In a hushed tone he said, "Miriel, look at the waterfall." He reached his hand up as though to point. However, he made a fist with his hand and then, released it. It wasn't long before the sound of rushing waves came. Damion had just broken the huge barrier of ice that had been holding all of the water from the river. It would come rushing down, and indeed it did, just as Damion had planned.

The sun was high in the sky, and as the water flew over the falls, the water began to cast reflections. It seemed to move so slowly at first, as though it was still recovering from the icy grasp that had held it. As it hit the ice below it, Damion made one more motion and the ice that they had just been skating on melted. The waters began to ripple and flow. But more than anything, Damion hoped that Miriel saw the billions of little rainbows that appeared as the water roared over the cliffs, and the brilliant, clear blue of the water as it splashed at the bottom. The spray could be seen in the form of mist, sprinkling itself all over the place. The watery foam at the bottom of the falls began to float away, pure and white like snow. Damion had made sure that they were well out of the way of the waters raging depths so that they wouldn't get even the slightest sprinkle, but they could still see the beautiful sight of running water coming back to life. Damion wrapped his arms a little tighter around Miriel. It was obvious now that Damion had been holding in quite a lot. His body felt more relaxed and his mind was more at rest. His eyes had returned to their normal blue. He was weary from his work, but he was content to keep that at bay, just so long as he was with Miriel. Sleep would come later, but right now, he was with Miriel, and he had no intentions of leaving soon. He leaned over and said over the roar of the water, "I love you, too."

[»Míríel«]

When the dam of ice broke Miriel couldn't help but bring herself even closer to Damion. The roar of the water was frightening, it seemed to be angry, swearing against the thing that held it back. Her eyes were wide with fright for a couple moments. When she saw that the water wasn't coming towards them she started to relax. The colors of the rainbows started to show and were so delicate and beautiful. She couldn't help but let out a little sigh of delight. "Beautiful." Her eyes were now wide with delight.

As Damion's arms close around her tighter she smiled softly. She loved how just at a touch fear would slid away. Taking her arm from his chest she crossed it against her own and placed it on his. picking it up she placed her cheek against it for a moment. Then pressing her lips against the back of it for a moment she pulled her legs up to her chest and leaned against him. Lifting her head up she tilted it upward at Damion and with an impish grin she said, "So about the wedding..."

[saerwen]

Damion smiled at Miriel, "Glad you liked it. I planned all of that just for you."

When Miriel mentioned the wedding Damion couldn't help but laugh. She looked so eager and so mischievous. It was a funny combination, especially when dealing with a wedding. Damion thought for a moment, not really sure what to say. He hadn't really thought that far ahead, seeing as how he had been worried about her even saying yes. He was not really sure what their options would be. As far as Damion knew, he had no one very important that he would have wanted to come other than the few friends that he and Miriel both had. Neron, Jaedon, Tarian, and even Cecily, if she would come.

When it came right down to it, he realized that only one thing mattered to him. Time. He looked back at Miriel, "Call me terrible, but I only have one demand." He then grinned and pulled her even closer, "I am tired of waiting. Our wedding is going to happen within the next three weeks, or I am just gonna find someone to do it, and then steal you away." He then paused for a moment, a new thought popping into his head, "Speaking of which, where do you want to go on our honeymoon?"

[»Míríel«]

Miriel's laugh sounded when she heard Damion's response. To be honest she had hoped he would say something like that. She wasn't sure she wanted to go off an elope, but she didn't want to wait. It felt like she had been waiting her whole life and now, the time was right. Their wedding didn't have to be spectacular, just a couple friends.

Looking into Damion's eyes she laughed again, "That demand suits me just fine. How about this weekend?" Saturday evening would be a beautiful time. Then when they woke up the next morning they would be starting a new week and a new life together, side by side. When he mentioned about the honeymoon she just leaned forward kissed him lightly and looked him in the eye, "Wherever our wings take us." The thought was a new one for her. Now that she thought about it, she had never flown with Damion, well, not including the fight. She had never pleasant soared through the skies. Why that hadn't was beyond her.

With a sigh she pulled back reluctantly. "If it is to be so soon I guess I better start getting ready for it." She sighed and looked at him lovingly. All she wanted to do is to be here with him, why did there have to be a wedding before being proclaimed one? She had to do what was right and proper, it was her way. 'But I don't want to leave..."

[saerwen]

Damion smiled, "I thought it might. This weekend sounds fine with me." That was quite the thought. Damion was going to be married by next week. It would have come as a shock to some, but Damion and Miriel had been together for so long and were so obviously ready, there was really nothing holding them back. Neither were scared of the thought; in fact, they welcomed it. Since they both knew that it wasn't going to be huge or anything like that, they could both relax and have fun together until the day.

When she mentioned going wherever their wings took them, Damion just smiled. He would have to direct that flight somewhere though...He would think on it and then decide whenever it really was time for them to leave. A couple different places crossed his mind, but then he started to wonder why they would limit it to just one place. He soon shook himself from his thoughts. His elation was putting him on the brink of daydreaming.

When Miriel started to pull away, Damion tightened his hold on her. He wasn't about to let her go. He had realized that there was going to be some point on this day that he was going to have to let go of her, but he wasn't about to let it come this soon. Damion knew that she was right. They both had stuff to do now, but something inside Damion said it would make his life a lot more pleasurable if they did their jobs together. Then he thought again. Miriel was about to sign her life away to him, literally. Perhaps she should have the last few days as an unmarried woman to herself.

He gave a very sad sigh and loosened his arms a little, "I suppose that you are right." He paused though as a new thought came to his head, "But before you leave and start making plans, I have to ask what your preference is. First off, what would you want to me to show up in? Second, when should we meet so that I can take you shopping for your dress?" Damion held up his hand to stop any protests she might have made, "I don't care what you say Miriel, every bride deserves a dress. Now whether you just want it to be a fancy evening dress or a full blown gown is your deal."

[»Míríel«]

When Damion's arms loosened around her she felt sorrow in her heart. She wished he just pulled her close and forced her to stay. It was a fantasy and she knew that next week she would have all the time in the world with him. Things had to be done.

When he mentioned what he should wear and demanding she get a dress Miriel just smiled brightly at him. to be honest she hadn't even thought about that, a dress... "I think a suit will do just nicely. As for my dress." She had mischief in her eyes, "I think that is something I will do with Jaedon or if I do it with you, you would have to wait outside. You are not going to see a single scrap of the gown until the day." She laughed, "No exceptions!"

Standing up she kept hold of one of his hands with hers clasped around it. She didn't want to leave, and it was the last link she wanted to break before she left. giving his hand one last squeeze she let go. "See you soon my love." Then taking a couple steps backwards to keep him in her sight she finally turned and continued through the woods. It was strange, the air didn't seem as cold anymore.

[saerwen]

Damion laughed at Miriel. Of course she would never give him the satisfaction of seeing the dress before the wedding day. He was a groom after all. Even though neither of them believed much in luck, Damion figured that there were some traditions you just couldn't shake. But, he would be busy enough trying to find himself a suit that would be appropriate for the occasion. He couldn't think of any places where he could find a suit and he knew the one that he had had seen some better days. Maybe he would take a short road trip...

He mournfully watched Miriel walk away, but he comforted himself knowing that he had succeeded in his mission. Miriel was going to marry him. He was sure that she loved him, and as far as he knew, he was going to be sticking around pretty closely in the coming week until the date. Miriel wouldn't be stuck missing him during a war or anything else like that. When she had disappeared into the woods, Damion stood and brushed his pants off. It was time to get busy.

The End