A Changing Heart

[»Míríel«]

Miriel nodded at Jaedon. "I think Neron would appreciate you telling him instead of him finding out at a less opportune time." Miriel didn't like the disturbed look on Jaedon's face. Something was bothering her friend. "What's wrong?" Miriel's eyes showed her concern, but also would tell Jaedon that she didn't need to tell her. Miriel was always one to respect the others privacy. If she asked a question that the person didn't want to answer, she didn't press any further but accepted the answer to change of subject in stride.

Miriel let her eyes narrow in a playful manner. "Looks are deceiving my friend." She sobered, "I guess I know I have a life to figure everything out, so if it doesn't make sense I know it will later. I just need a new perspective on it."

"Of course you will make it." She smiled.

The change to married life made Miriel drop her eyes for a moment in shyness but she quickly regained her composure. "Wonderful. I get to spend my time with my best friend. I never knew it could be so personal." She tilted her head. "He understands and knows me so well. It can be hard to have someone know everything about you, and for you to know everything about them. " Her eyes grew distant for a moment as her grip grew tighter around her bouquet in her hands. Then with a blink she was back. "Oh the honeymoon! We went all over Europe, and to be honest I don't know everywhere. WE just flew and when a place looked appealing we stopped. IT was wonderful, everything was absolutely delightful. " Miriel's face grew flushed as she remembered her honeymoon. It had been a whirlwind, but it had been a wonderful one.

Miriel got out of her happy stupor and smiled brightly at her friend. "I sincerely hope that you find marriage life sometime. It is the most interesting, wonderful, but strange thing you will ever experience."

[saerwen]

"Yeah, I think that anyone would appreciate that," Jaedon said more to herself than to Miriel. When Miriel asked her what was wrong, Jaedon knew that she was referring to the perplexed look that had come over her face at the memory of Neron's black dragon side. She debated for a moment whether or not to tell Miriel, and then abruptly decided, "Well, I guess that now that your are all hitched up and back from your honeymoon I can tell you. Right before the wedding, something unfortunate happened. Have you met Aeryn?" Jaedon then rushed on, not leaving much time for Miriel to say anything, "Well, anyways, if you haven't there is this guy around now named Aeryn who is a really strong telepath, stronger than me. He is just as curious as any other telepath and Neron posed an interesting mind for him to play with. Needless to say, in the midst of his meddling, he let out Neron's," Jaedon paused for a minute as she thought of a good way to say it, "his dark side. So, I hate to tell you, but only the nasty half of Neron was at your wedding. But anyways, that is beside the point. He was driving me nuts and I think that his evil little mind was scheming a way to kill me, but thankfully before he succeeded, which he probably would have if he had tried, Tarian and Cecily helped me get this great idea for stopping him and so he is now all fixed up and normal again." Jaedon took a deep breath after her rampage of words, yet again realizing how fast she could talk and how much she could talk when she wanted to. It was kind of startling at first.

Jaedon grinned at Miriel, "Well, if you haven't figured out the dependence thing yet, be assured that you have the best of teachers. Damion will set you straight in no time."

There was a small part of Jaedon that became envious of Miriel as she spoke of marriage. Now that she had pushed the whole secretive thing out of her mind, the thought of someone knowing her so well was actually kind of comforting, although it some parts of it still filled her with worry. However, Jaedon didn't let her envy show by covering it with a smile. She really was happy for Miriel, that she had found so much happiness with Damion. However, something caused Jaedon to stop and look at Miriel critically.

"You say that as though something has gone wrong in regards to how much Damion knows about you. I can hardly believe it would be true, but I am curious," Jaedon's eyes narrowed at Miriel.

"Well, gracious. How many people can boast of a honeymoon like that? Just tell me that you didn't go to Italy and I won't be eaten with jealousy. Italy is my favorite, although I have only been there once," Jaedon spoke with a small smile on her face.

A far away look came over Jaedon, "Well, I have found a guy, but there is no way on earth that I am going to ask him. So, I guess that I will just have to keep being patient." She then shook her head, "And besides, we would kill each other if we were around each other that often. It is a recipe for disaster unless we fix some more things."

[»Míríel«]

Miriel's face clouded at the news. Neron's dark side was at her wedding? He seemed just fine to her, but then again she had been so excited that it had been nearly impossible to concentrate on anything else. Miriel's thoughts flew back before Jaedon had even known Neron. It had been a darker Neron, much darker, he had come a long way even before Jaedon met him. They had a friendship back then, but it was a different one then they had now. "Perhaps not just his bad side, if his bad side had just been there I doubt he would have shown up." She paused. "Aeryn..." her eyes narrowed slightly, "I doubt he knew what he was getting into. I don't know what Neron's mind is like, but I could only imagine." You could tell the wheels of her mind were turning as she tried to compile Aeryn's name with a character. It was heavily in the positive light, even though he had messed with Neron. Aeryn had to have a reason right? He had to have something that drove him about that, and even he couldn't have possibly known what Neron had coped up inside.

Miriel's face cleared. "Cecily and Tarian helped you?" Her lips twitched with a smirk, "I don't think I will ask how." Cecily's methods weren't always, agreeable. Somehow they always worked, if not directly, then indirectly.

Miriel shook her head. "No, it can just be daunting. When you know someone so well it can be hard. Living every day with someone, letting them see your every fault, can make you focus on the bad instead of the good. Still I wouldn't trade it for the world, and don't you worry, Damion and I have yet to have anything of much importance."

"We went all over. Perhaps we went to Italy, perhaps we didn't." She smiled. "I'm sure you will get to go one day Jaedon." Miriel got a glint in her eye, "It was beautiful."

At the thought of Jaedon asking Neron just laughed. "Yes you will have to be patient." The smile faded a bit. "Very patient. I think when you two get around to it, and fix some times like you said, you will do just fine."

[saerwen]

Jaedon looked at Miriel and understood what she meant. "Actually, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. Their remedy was quite simple. What miffed me about the whole thing was that Cecily drugged my tea, and Tarian knew that she was doing it. He must have recognized the scent or something because about halfway through our conversation I could tell that I had been acting strange and that Tarian had taken perfect control of the situation. However, I am over that now."

"You and Damion, faults? Impossible." Jaedon was teasing, but there was also some truth to that. As she thought about her and Neron in that kind of situation, the faults between the two of them would equal much more Miriel and Damions. She also realized that it would be her faults contributing the most to that pile. What would it be like if she and Neron got married?: What would he do once he saw all that there was to see? What would she do? She and Neron knew each other very well, but she knew that there were plenty of secrets that she hadn't told Neron that would have had to come out eventually after marriage. She assumed Neron must have some of those himself. What on earth would it be like, she wondered, to have him know everything? There was a piece of her that said she shouldn't do it because he would run away. She quickly shook that idea from her mind.

"Yeah, yeah, 'perhaps we didn't' it easily the biggest understatement ever. Oh well, I won't be too jealous of you."

"Really?" Jaedon asked, slightly hopeful, slightly doubtful. "All I can envision right now is us tearing each other apart. Or else spending more time away from each other than together because we would both explode silently and then walk away for a while. Just because we have gotten better at not getting angry doesn't mean we don't anymore, and I am finding that both Neron and I have taken to shutting up when we are angry at something. I can't imagine living like that all of the time in the same house together."

[»Míríel«]

Miriel cocked her head to the side. "Not to bad?" She frowned slightly. "Cecily poisoned you?!" A smirk came to her lips, " You must have been particularly stubborn. " She shrugged, " Still I am glad she could help you. I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Miriel looked at her friend and smiled gently while shaking her head. Faults, why did everyone think she was faultless? She just hid them better than most. Damion probably knew that now. She smiled at the thought of Damion and immediately her thoughts turned more positive.

"Oh, I'm sure you two would work it out, even if some flesh wounds were required. I think once you two start trusting each other, the ride will be much smoother than you could imagine. You star to know when to push the person to open up, and when to wait for them to tell you. " She smiled, "It's a fine line but once you find it, it's like nothing else."

[saerwen]

Jaedon looked up innocently at Miriel, "Me, stubborn? No." She then went back to her normal self, "Don't worry about it. You had more important things to worry about."

"I think it'll take more than flesh wounds," Jaedon muttered to herself. SHe then looked at Miriel, "Trust, eh? That is the one thing that I don't think I will ever master. But maybe slight improvement will be enough." She then smiled as something white caught her eye. "Oh, I'll bet." She was trying hard not to give away the fact that Damion was walking stealthily up behind Miriel, about to scare her. "So, where is that charming beau of yours? Why isn't he with his lovely wife?" Damion winked at Jaedon in thanks for the distraction, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

Just a few seconds later and Damion's hands shot out and grabbed Miriel right above her waist where most people are ticklish. A huge grin lit up his face as he planted a quick kiss on Miriel's cheek and then looked at Jaedon with a cheeky smirk on his face.

"Good afternoon, Ladies," he turned back to look at Miriel, "I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important. However, I will be stealing Miriel away if it is not a terrible time. I have a pressing date scheduled with her and I am not about to be late."

Jaedon chuckled, however, there was something inside of her that made her skin crawl. It was time to abandon ship and let the lovebirds drown in their emotions. "Nothing important at all. You are free to steal her away any time that you wish. I have a pressing engagement with my book and some food." Jaedon turned around and waved her hand to the two and the walked off.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel was about to answer Jaedon when two arms wrapped around the upper portion of her waist. She let out a little gasp and instinctively tried to pull away. Whether the strong arms or this kiss on the cheeks made her stay, she couldn't decide. That kiss made it obvious who was holding her captive. Immediately her cheeks turned rosy and her body relaxed back onto his.

She was sad to see Jaedon go, though she was excited to see Damion. After lifting her hand, returning the gesture of farewell, she turned to face Damion. Her green eyes sparkled as she looked up into his face. "A date?" She lifted her arms and wrapped them loosely around his neck. "What scheme have you cooked up for tonight?" She teased him gently.

It was nice to see that marriage hadn't ruined the passion in the relationship. Damion still doted on her and set time aside for her, just as she did for him. If anything they had become even more in love after the wedding. Just thinking that the man that was holding her in his arms was hers and hers alone made Miriel's heart soar. How had such a guy like him fallen for her? Even though everyone else could see that the two were perfect for each other since the beginning, Miriel felt privileged to have someone like Damion. There was no where so secure and so loving as being at Damion's side.

[saerwen]

Damion gave a little wave to Jaedon and then returned his focus to Miriel, who had turned to look at him. He gave her a playful smile as he began to explain.

"Oh, nothing really. I was just thinking of some nice food, maybe candles, pretty classical music, possibly some wine, but definitely a really nice dress for you. There might be a chance for a dance or two and some pretty flowers to make an appearance. After that, I can't really say what might happen," Damion shrugged and then gave her a mischievous glance, "but I keep having this strange vision of you and me on a beach somewhere, under the stars." He pulled her a little closer and cocked his head to the side, "Have I peaked your interest enough yet, or must I give more hints away?" He then lifted one hand from her waist, stretching his arm out to push his sleeve back a bit so he could look at the watch on his wrist. "I sure hope that you say yes because we are gonna be late if we wait much longer. You still have to go home and get dressed." He gave her a pleading look, waiting for the affirmative that it was time to go.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel's grin grew brighter. "oh my interest is peaked." Miriel smiled then released her arms from around his neck. "You know, I'm sure about it. I think you are going to have to earn my answer." She smiled playfully. " You will have to..." She thought for a moment. "Catch me.' Due to him no longer having both arm around her waist she slide out and tore off in the direction of their home. She was sure he would catch her before she reached it, she just couldn't resist letting the playful sprite within come out every once in a while.

[saerwen]

When she said that he was going to have to earn her answer, Damion rolled his eyes. Of course she would turn this into a game. But it was just another chance for him to win, since he was sure that he would. Before he had a second to think about what she might do, she dashed off after challenging him to a race. He smiled and shook his head.

"She's gonna get all sweaty and then she'll have to take a shower. Oh well, means one less thing she has to do tonight which leaves more time for me." He then looked up after her, "I suppose it's only fair to give her a few minutes head start." After glancing back at his watch, he decided that she had had enough time and raced off after her. There was no way he was about to lose. He wanted her answer after all. They had a date to go to!

THE END