Chapter 10

He'd been awake for a long time after Illyrian had finally nodded off. He just watched with a smile as the girl he loved slept so peacefully in his arms. Peter had sworn to himself to wait until he was married before he would bed a lady, but last night was something that they both needed. He was honored at being Illyrian's first, but felt a pang of guilt when he heard her cry of pain when he pierced her.

Peter watched as Illyrian began to stir and open her beautiful eyes.

"Hi." Peter brushed a lock of burgendy hair from her eyes.

"Hi." Illyrian gave a tiny smile.

Peter just smiled and continued to watch her.

"What is it?" asked Illyrian. "Do I have scary bed hair, or something?"

"Or something." Peter chuckled.

Illyrian placed a hand on her head, and Peter burst into laughter at the look on her face.

"Ooohhh... Not good." Illyrian sat up.

"Where are you going?"

"To fix this nest on my head." Illyrian smiled and wrapped a blanket around herself.

"I think you look perfect." said Peter. "Come back and lay down."

Illyrian looked down at Peter. "Thank you." she crawled back down beside him, and Peter held her close.

"Illyrian?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you... Do you regret what we did?" he asked shyly.

"I don't think so..." she blushed. "What we did... It was nice."

"Yeah, it was..." Peter replied.

Illyrian smiled.

"So," Peter cleared his throat. There was still a matter that they haven't settled yet. "Do you remember out on the beach earlier? There was something I asked you before we were... attacked." Peter took her hand in his.

Illyrian looked down and saw the little red ring on her finger, and it all came back to her. Peter had asked her for his wife.

"I remember, Peter."

"Tell me 'yes', Illyrian." Peter kissed the top of her fingers. "Tell me you'll be my wife. I have never loved anyone the way I do you. There was a time when I didn't think I would be able to love someone like this."

"I love you too, Peter." replied Illyrian. "I love you so much."

Peter smiled. "Will you be my wife?" he asked softly.

Illyrian nodded. "I will be."

Peter hugged her hard, felling tears stinging his eyes.

"Everything of my past is gone." Illyrian began. "I've lost so much, and I know I could never forget my father or my Midori. They are a part of me, and always will be." Illyrian kissed Peter tenderly, "And now, after tonight, you've become a part of me as well."

Peter smiled and bent his head to claim her mouth with his.

--

White sails danced in the wind as a large ship appeared on the horizon. For sometime the ship had been sailing the waters in search of something precious.

A man, garbed in strange clothing, tossed his pipe overboard, frustrated. Their search was not going as well as he had hoped. 'Where are they?' he thought. They will search the islands before they return to their homelands.

"She is safe, my Lord." a shorter man stood by the rail. They spoke in a different language than either French or the English tongue.

"I pray that she is." replied the other man, running a hand through his hair. "We must find my daughter."

"We shall, my Lord." replied the shorter man. "I will see that no ground remains unsearched."

The other man nodded. "I know the strenght in my daughter. She will overcome anything."

"And my Lord mustn't forget, the white cat is with her. No harm will come to her." the smaller man bowed low and left the other man to his thoughts.

"Be brave, my child." he whispered up to the sky. "I am coming, Illyrian..."

(A/N: Wow... I didn't think this chapter would be so short... :P I'll make the next one much longer!! :D R&R)