Mari sighed as she once again surveyed the rocky terrain surrounding her. 'I'm never going to get out of here at this rate' she thought, brushing her blonde bangs out
of her face absent-mindedly. Throwing another anxious look around she continued trudging in what she hoped was the right direction. After a few more minutes of
wandering Mari heard the sound of fighting in the distance. She quickly ran toward the sound, and arrived just in time to save the warrior. As he straightened up after
the fight, Mari's breath caught in her lungs. Before her stood an elvaan, tall and proud like all of his race, with gorgeous dark hair and eyes. She longed to reach up
and play with his adorably long ears, and watched spell bound as he bowed down before here. "Thank you" he said as he grinned at her " You're my little angel."
Mari, too far gone into her swooning to be offended by the short comment merely smiled at him. "Your rather reckless you know starting fights that you can't finish."
she told him teasingly. "So I've noticed. Thankfully an angel was here to save me. May I ask your name?" Mari nearly fainted as she listened to him speaking to her in
that low enthralling voice. "My name is Mari." Mari sighed as she heard her friend Melzy call her name as she came running up to meet them. The dark knight before
them bowed to Melzy in greeting then turned back to Mari, "It seems your in good hands now my angel so I shall take my leave of you to complete this quest." Melzy
frowned slightly as she watched him walk away from them then giggled as she saw the look on Mari's face. "How do you always manage to get so lost Mari", Melzy
said while grinning at her. " I told the others to go on ahead that I'd come find you again." Mari laughed sheepishly. " Sorry Melz, I think my mind just wandered away
and I followed it again." Mari stared longingly at the spot where the knight had once stood, then obediently followed Melzy as she led the way back to Bastok. As they
were nearly town Melzy pulled Mari to a stop. "Are you sure your ok Mari, you still seem a little out of it." "Huh, yea im fine." Mari replied. "Just daydreaming I guess."
Melzy sighed. "Your still thinking about that elvaan aren't you. You know evlaans never marry us humes Mari. You're just going to get your heart broken if you try to
be with him." Mari sighed dejectedly. "You think I don't know that already Melzy. Prince Trion is so picky about who his knights can marry. I know its probably a lost
cause...but still I have to try Melz...I have to. If it's not meant to be then I'll accept that, but I'm not giving up without a fight. Not this time." Melzi looked at Mari in
disbelief. "You just met this guy like twenty minutes ago Mari, why are you so willing to risk everything for him like this, especially after what Xander did to you." Mari
glared at her. "Don't you dare mention that name to me, I screwed up then ok, I know that now. But this is different somehow. I don't know why but it just felt so
right to be near him....." Melzy stared at her shocked. "You don't mean..oh Mari.." She heaved an exasperated sigh. "Well in that case I suppose we have an elvaan to
find now don't we." Mari's green eyes sparkled with excitement as she threw her arms around Melzy's neck and hugged her. "You're the best Melz, now come on,
hurry. I bet he went back to basty to finish his mission before returning to sandy." Melzy giggled as Mari gleefully started running off in the wrong direction. "Mari" she
called. "Wait up before you get lost again."
