The full moon shone down through a cloudless sky as Martin and Rose sat together on a grassy rise. Marshank loomed like a great, evil sentinel keeping guard over the shore. Martin knew that by sundown tomorrow, it would be nothing but a bad memory. Rose laid her head on Martin's shoulder, turning her eyes to his face. He was so strong, so brave…

Martin laid his head on hers, placing his arm around her shoulder. She was so beautiful. He couldn't wait to go back to Noonvale with her. Then he would ask her to marry him. He felt her shiver beneath him as a cool breeze blew in from the sea. She took her head from his shoulder and turned her gentle hazel eyes on him. "It's getting chilly. Are you sure you don't want to go back to the fire?"

Martin shook his head. "If you want to go back, I will go with you."

Rose shook her head. "I think it'll be warmer in the shallows." She rose. "Come on."

Martin smiled and got up, following her down to the sandy shores, where waves lapped the tide line. They walked together for a time, holding paws, the opposite way from Marshank. Then they stopped, looking out at the sea. It seemed endless. Rose took a deep breath and spoke. "Martin, may I tell you something?"

The Warrior nodded. "What is it, Rose?"

The mousemaid sighed again. "We attack Marshank tomorrow. But I think that either one of us or both of us will die in the battle."

Martin's grip on her paw tightened slightly and he turned to her. "Don't say that. We'll both survive. And then we'll go back to Noonvale. Or wandering, whichever you want."

Rose moved her head closer to his. "I would prefer either. But now, there's something I need to tell you."

Martin cocked his head. "What is it?"

She placed both paws on his cheeks and drew his head close, kissing him.

Martin could not think. He moved one paw to the small of her back, taking one of her paws in his own as her soft lips pressed against his. He felt her other paw move down to his shoulder, and they stood in the shallows, the waves lapping around their footpaws as they kissed each other under the full moonlight.

Martin had one wish then. For the kiss to go on. And on, and on. He breathed through his nose, and felt from a gentle draft on air on his neck that Rose was doing the same.

It seemed like an eternity when they finally broke apart, only to embrace each other. Martin murmured into her fur as he felt the water on his footpaws. "I love you, Rose."

He felt a movement on his shoulder as she murmured into his fur as well. "I love you too, Martin the Warrior. Somehow, even before I met you."

When the two mice went to sleep that night, Martin with his arm around Rose's waist, the Warrior could still feel Rose's lips on his.

It was a touch that would plague him for the rest of his life.