Xlelon took a deep breath. Then another, and another. Then she took her bow and shot. The arrow smacked satisfyingly on the bullseye, the first of the night. Daine smiled.
"Very good! You're getting better!"
"Yeah," said Xlelon, still distracted, "Yeah I am."
Daine shook her head. It was the night of Neal's ordeal, so she could understand why the girl was so distracted, but all of the other ladies hadn't been so quiet.
Xlelon had a reason. The events of the after noon still played out in her mind, on a bit of a loop that was quite annoying.
~
"Xlelon?"
"Hm?"
She heard him gulp, then speak, but the words were so surprising and so rushed that she could barely understand.
"IjustwantedtotellyouthatIloveyou."
Her voice caught, she knew what he had said. Trying to think of all of the ways that she could answer, she ended up just giving him a deer in the headlights look. Not the impression she wanted to give him, which was what he got. He looked away from her, at the sun that was swiftly setting in the distance. Xlelon shook off her surprise, grabbed his chin and pulled his face around to look straight at hers, kissing him sweetly in the process.
"I love you too."
~
Xlelon shook herself. Daine was tapping her on the shoulder, pointing to the morning sun just beginning to peek over the hills.
"Oh gods."
Daine chuckled softly as Xlelon put her bow away, quick like. Daine had never seen a bow put away so quickly. Then, she had to jog to keep up with her while they walked to the chapel. A few of the birds that lined one of the outside paths asked what she was hurrying for. Daine explained as quickly as she could, trying to keep up in the process. When they reached the chapel, people were just starting to gather. Neal was just getting up from his meditation. He caught her eye, and she saw so much of the fear drain away. She had time to blow him one last kiss before he dissappeared.
~^~
*gasp* What'll happen?!?!?! I am so mean!!! *g*