Author's Note:Here's a fluffy little story for Valentine's Day. I had some extra time today, due to a scratched cornea and a day off, so i wanted to write something for the holiday. Sorry if it's not as good (all done in one day), but I hope you like it! Thanks for reading!
I don't own anyone from the Hollow Kingdom Trilogy, Claire B. Dunkle does.
P.S. I'm considering making it a two-shot, but would like to hear your opinion (the one or two of you who stumbled onto this). Should write a little more, or call it the end?
Kate brushed her curly golden locks again, sweeping them up, and tying them with a red ribbon. Eyeing herself critically in the mirror, she deemed her hair acceptable.
She rose gracefully, and sashayed her way behind her dressing shade, and picking up the dress she had laid out earlier. She carefully slipped the pink satin over her carefully done hair and over her undergarments. Kate then tied the red silk sash around her waist.
She returned to her seat before the mirror, and sprayed the berry and rose fragrance on her wrists, neck, and chest. She set the small vile down, and then picked up her powders and brush. She dusted her cheeks with the red, and dusted her nose and forehead with the light cream.
The door to their room opened, and her husband Marak walked in. He was dressed in his normal black pants and undershirt, but on her request, replaced his normal green coat with a red one. "Why are we doing this Kate?"
Kate looked at him incredulously in the mirror, but explained it to him for the umpteenth time, "It's the fourteenth of February, a.k.a. St. Valentine's Day, and it's a time for couples who love each other to show it."
Marak rolled his eyes, but took her hand, and pulled her up. Using a little magic, he put his formally empty hand behind his back, and brought back a dozen long stemmed red roses. She accepted them with a smile and a little curtsy. She then put them in the vase on the counter, and Marak waved his hand, magically putting some water in it.
He then led her out of their room and down the hall to the area below the lake, where the blue sun was high in the sky. Marak had set up a table with pasta for two, complete with more roses, red ribbons, and lit red candles.
Ever the gentleman, he pulled out her chair, and pushed her back in. He poured her grape wine in her glass, and then poured his own. He then sat down himself, and they began to eat.
They ate in a comfortable silence for awhile, but then Kate began to feel that something was missing. "What's wrong?"
Kate frowned, and chewed her lip as she tried to put her feelings into words. "I feel like I'm forgetting something, or like something is missing," she finally found a sufficient summary, but was unhappy by the lack of solution.
Marak sighed heavily a moment, but snapped his finger a moment later. Kate scrunched her eyes as she questioned him with her eyes. He gave her a teasing smile, and leaned back, obviously waiting for something, and enjoying her suspense.
After a few minutes that felt like forever, several goblins walked in slowly, playing various instruments. Marak rose from his seat and bowed to her, extending his hand to her as he rose from his bow. "May I have this dance?"
Kate smiled, and nearly cried, delighted and surprised that Marak knew her so well as to know what she didn't. "I would be honored to accept," she said delightedly, wiping her eyes before they could leak out their contents, and placed her small hand in his.
They danced the rest of the day, happy to be together, knowing the love of Valentine's Day was true, whether it between two humans, or between a Goblin King and his elf-human cross wife.