That night Jasmine and Lief snuck away into the bushes to 'express their feelings'. They were very careful not to wake Barda. Barda just silently smiled. He had been faking the whole time and he now thought about what the lovers were up to.

'They won't do it just yet. They don't need my help with that. But getting Lief out of his boyish mindset long enough for him to ask for her hand, that'll be a challenge…' Barda drifted of to sleep.

Jasmine looked around for a small, private location. They were currently in the plains between the city of Del and the Forest of Silence. There weren't many such spots to be found and even fewer trees to ask for directions. She eventually found the perfect spot.

Felling Lief's presence behind her, she turned and was instantly captured by his lips. They did this often enough but what threw her over the edge was when his hands began tracing lines down her back. Her clothes only amplified the softness and of his caressing touch. As his kiss began to deepen his tongue begged her for entrance and she moaned and granted it. When the pleasant experience turned into pure bliss she remembered the first kiss they shared like this. It was at the party the night after they all defeated the Four Sisters. She knew now she got way too friendly after drinking; but that was her first time drinking…

Flashback

Jasmine felt left out in the party. Everyone was dancing but she was just bone tired after the recent battle. She couldn't even summon up the energy to dance with the person she knew felt just as tired. And there he was; clothed in rough silk trousers and a shirt that made him look tough but still royal. Lief of course doesn't realise Jasmine is looking at him this way because all he could think about is his warm king-sized bed.

Walking over to him wasn't an option, he was the king after all and Jasmine did not know how to express her feelings. Barda walked up to Lief and whispered something in his ear. Jasmine strained to hear but it was too loud in the courtyard. Lief smiled at Barda and held up one finger. Not one to be kept in the dark she headed over to them.

"Ah Jasmine, join us for a drink?" Barda said cheerfully. He already seemed fully recovered from their journey. Jasmine never drank because she always wanted to stay alert. Now she realised there was nothing left to stay alert for. "Sure Barda. But only one," Jasmine held up one finger like Lief had done.

The usual dinking story ensured and all three of the companions got tipsy. A certain black-haired girl got tipsier then the others. The informal dances had just started and Jasmine's state allowed her to pluck up the courage to ask Lief for a dance. He seemed pleasantly surprised as they made there way to the dance floor. Taking her hand he spun her around three times and they danced the night away…

At the end of all the dances the couples were kissing and Jasmine's still tipsy state allowed her to follow by example. Once she started her love-starved body took over and didn't allow her to stop. Lief just smiled and deepened the kiss…