"Dusk"
Just before dawn, Lileina woke with a start, her entire body feeling terribly cold. But as she began to fully regain consciousness, she realized that Valtier's arms were still around her, holding her gently. At once, she relaxed. They were still in Karal, and still together, much to her relief.
Sitting up a little, Lileina gazed down at Valtier, laying on his back against the whiteness of the sheets and pillows that covered the bed in the elder's house. His hair was strewn all around, giving him a sort of wild look, despite the fact that he was completely peaceful at the moment. Nevertheless, in Lileina's eyes he had never looked more handsome, and she leaned over slowly to kiss his lips ever so lightly.
"Wha…Lileina?" Groggily, Valtier opened his eyes and looked up at the figure who was smiling down at him. With her long, light colored hair in a braid over her bare shoulders and her face lit up by the last hours of moonlight, she looked more like an angel than anything he had ever seen, and it took him a moment to realize that it was Lileina who was stroking his cheek softly. Blinking his still-tired eyes a few times, he yawned. "Is something wrong?"
"No…I just…" The bits of a dream that were in Lileina's mind while she was watching over Valtier only a moment earlier immediately faded, and she frowned as she tried her best to bring them back. "I don't know. It must have been a dream…but I just had a sudden urge to look at you." Snuggling back under the covers and against Valtier's body, Lileina still tried to remember the dream as she put an arm around him and smiled. She was afraid that if she looked too troubled, he might get worried. "Valtier?"
"Mm?" It sounded as if he were already going back to sleep, something Lileina didn't blame him an ounce for.
"I never really thanked you for saving me. Earlier, I mean." A few strands of his long hair were under her hand, and she played with them thoughtfully as Valtier wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes as he did.
"No need."
"I wish I knew a way to repay you for helping me, and for everything else you've given me." Lileina was talking more to herself than Valtier, and he smiled from somewhere in his exhaustion.
"Just…be close to me, forever. That's more than…" His voice trailing off into sleep, Valtier's smile remained on his lips as Lileina gently kissed the side of his chest, where a spot of bare skin was visible.
"You don't have to worry about that… If there is a way, I'll find it."
The sunlight streaming through the open window woke Valtier first, and he checked the seemingly tiny figure in his arms to see if she was awake yet. Still fast asleep, Lileina was curled up beside him as if she were still in her egg, a smile on her face. Valtier wondered for a moment what she was dreaming of.
Although he had no idea what time it was, Valtier thought that returning to the City of Ancients could wait a bit longer. The feeling of Lileina's soft skin and silken hair on his arms and chest, her warm breath, and the tiny smile on her lips were all incredibly precious to him, and he wanted to look at her a few minutes longer to try and memorize every detail of the perfect moment she seemed to be caught in, like all the others that seemed to fly by all too fast when they were together. He had spent his entire life in a place where everything seemed to be plotted out by destiny, and yet he had never felt a happiness, a completeness like he did when he looked at the gentle curves of Lileina's face, illuminated by the morning sunlight. If only he could wake up beside her like this every day. If only…
"Valtier?" While he was thinking about this, Lileina's eyes had come open and were looking up at him, a little bewildered.
"Good morning to you, my love," he said, kissing her forehead lightly. "It seemed like you were having a nice dream, and I didn't want to wake you."
"I don't remember," Lileina answered, smiling peacefully. It was nice to be someone's love. "But waking up here is better than any dream." As she embraced him tightly, the door opened a crack and the kind, slightly plump face of the elder's wife popped into view. Seeing that the two guests were awake, Elaine laughed softly.
"Finally! We wondered whether you two would ever wake!" Walking briskly into the room, she placed a pile of clothes containing Lileina's dress and Valtier's pants onto the chair beside the bed. "Here we are, nice and clean." Holding up a scrap of blue fabric, she smiled at Valtier. "This was in the pocket of your pants, so I just cleaned it up with the rest of the clothes." Laying it on the chair, she gazed out the window. "Lucky you didn't lose it out there."
"Thank you," Valtier said, sitting up. He tried not to laugh at Lileina, who was hugging a pillow to her chest, still afraid that her gown would slide down too far and embarrass everyone in the room.
"Yes, thank you," she murmured, clutching her pillow as if it were a talisman.
"I expect you're both hungry," Elaine said, turning towards the door. "Come on downstairs when you've finished changing and have some lunch. I've made some tasty roast chicken and vegetables." Smiling, she left the room and closed the door as Valtier yawned a little.
"Roast chicken sounds great." He ran a hand through his long hair as he got out of bed, leaving Lileina and the pillow to their own devices. Glancing at the flurry of bandages that still covered him, Valtier smiled. "Guess these can come off."
"Yes, you should actually have been all healed last night. If you come over here, I can snip them off for you…" Before she had time to complete her sentence, Valtier was already unwinding the bandages. "Or you can take them off…"
"I know you're still afraid that gown is going to fall off. Here," he said, dropping one long bandage over the edge of the bed frame. "I'll turn around while I do this and you can change into your dress."
"Th-thank you…" Blushing, Lileina took her dress from the chair and stood up. Making sure Valtier's back was turned, she unbuttoned the too-large nightgown and let it fall around her feet, then pulled her own dress over her head. The mending job Elaine had managed was terrific, and Lileina admired it as she picked up the brooch she had spent a great deal of time cleaning the night before and pinned it onto her dress to hide the new stitches a little better. While her back was still turned, Valtier pulled on his pants and began to roll up the bandages.
"Finished?"
"Yes, thank you." Turning back around, Lileina sat on the bed and leaned forward to pick up her boots. Valtier's brown pair were sitting beside her light lavender ones near the night table, and Lileina smiled pleasantly. Men had such large feet. Looking back up, she noticed Valtier twisting his hair into a thick ponytail. She hadn't really noticed much the night before, since she had been so busy taking care of him and so worried about his condition. But now, in the light that fell through the window, Lileina's wide blue eyes moved slowly over his strong, nicely muscled chest and stomach, which made her think things that caused her to blush.
"Are you hungry?" Valtier's words finally registered in Lileina's head, and she realized she was sitting on the edge of the bed holding one boot and staring at him. "Lileina?" To his surprise, she fairly leapt across the room and hugged him tightly.
"Yes, very." His now bare skin was warm against her cheek, and she suddenly realized something as she looked up at him. "Wait…did she… did she say lunch?"
* * *
After eating large amounts of Elaine's roast chicken and accepting a clean shirt for Valtier from Michael's closet, Lileina and Valtier went back to the field of flowers to return to their homes.
"They'll be worried about me," Lileina murmured, holding Valtier's hands. "Especially Sorian. But I will come back tomorrow."
"I'll wait here for you," Valtier said, drawing her to his chest for one last embrace before they had to go their separate ways. "And I'll miss seeing your face when I wake up tomorrow morning."
"As will I." Blushing a little, Lileina spread her arms. "I suppose I can transform here, if you don't mind."
"Good idea," agreed Valtier, smiling. "I've seen Gold Dragons before, but not your form." This only caused his companion to blush even more, and they began their transformations at the same time, standing almost back to back.
From within the twin spheres of light that encircled them appeared a pair of Dragons that at first would have seem rather ill-suited for one another's company. The larger of the two was a deep midnight blue with a rather fierce face and sharp claws, and it turned to look at the creature behind it with bright golden eyes. Sitting in the flowers and sniffing a blossom was a much smaller golden Dragon with wide blue eyes. In comparison, the Gold Dragon looked much more sedate, with no claws and a number of silky-looking scales on its body in place of the dark-colored feathers that covered the wings of the Ancient Dragon.
Despite the differences in their appearances, the two dragons moved closer to one another and inspected each other with fascinated eyes for a few moments before the larger of the two, Valtier, leaned his head down and lovingly nuzzled the head of the smaller Lileina. Pleased that he found her Dragon form attractive, Lileina made a small purring sound deep in her throat as she rubbed her head against his neck.
Nodding at the sky, Valtier began flapping his enormous wings and rising into the air, with Lileina following his lead until they were both airborne, soaring side by side over the trees, dipping beneath one another playfully over the forest for a while before parting for their respective homes.
In his back yard, the village elder of Karal looked up into the sky just in time to see the two dragons fly over his house and away into the distance together. Smiling as he shielded his eyes and ignored Michael's questions about where his favorite shirt had disappeared to, the elder sighed. The Ancient Dragons and the Gold Dragons had been torn apart for so long, over nothing more than foolish pride. Perhaps these two young ones were the ones who could bring the two races back together before tragedy occurred between them.
Walking back into the house and continuing to ignore Michael, as well as Elaine's requests for him to go get some vegetables for the stew she was working on, the elder wondered if he wasn't hoping too much.
* * *
"Sorian! Sorian!" Lileina ran into the small sitting room on the very topmost floor of the sanctuary and looked around. She knew Sorian had to be in there somewhere, the sun shone just the right way through the stained glass to inspire her friend to paint new and beautiful pictures, and she always seemed to be hidden away in her 'private studio' when Lileina was looking for her. Just as expected, Sorian was standing in her favorite spot by the window, staring at a glaringly empty canvas. Upon hearing Lileina's voice, she turned, her eyes filled with worry.
"Lileina! Where have you been?" Dropping her brush and hugging Lileina tightly, Sorian looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment. "I was so worried…I looked everywhere for you!"
"Are the elders very mad?"
"No, I covered your duties and told them you were…unwell." Pulling Lileina over to a corner of the already deserted sitting room, Sorian dropped her voice as she gave her friend a close look. "Does this have anything to do with…"
"As a matter of fact, it does." Quickly, Lileina told Sorian about all that had happened the day before, playing up Valtier's heroic efforts to save her from the bandits as she did so. Wide-eyed, Sorian listened to every word, pressing a hand to her chest as Lileina described how she had tried Resurrection for the first time. "So, you see I couldn't just leave him there…I wouldn't…"
"Yes, I understand completely. But you gave me such a fright!" Motioning to her empty canvas, Sorian shook her head. "I haven't been able to paint a thing."
"I'm sorry. May I watch you? I really enjoy seeing how you make those beautiful things come to life on your canvas…" Going over to the easel, Lileina picked up the dropped brush and handed it to her friend.
"Of course you may. I don't see how it can be very interesting, though." Sorian picked up her paints and looked thoughtfully at the canvas, hoping a picture would come to her. Lileina smiled at her as she stretched a little.
"I have always wanted to paint as you do…I suppose I thought that if I watch you long enough, the knowledge will come to me as well."
"Have you never tried?" Picking up what looked like a number of short pieces of paper bound together loosely, Sorian put down her palette and went over to Lileina's seat in one of the maroon colored wing chairs of the sitting room, then put the notebook onto her lap. "Would you like to give it a try?"
"Oh, I doubt I could…" Uncertainly, Lileina looked at the paper as she bit her lip. It was true she had never tried drawing, but she had never thought of it as a thing she could do. The only talents she had discovered were reading and keeping her patience at odd times. Other things, like pottery, music and sewing…she was absolutely clumsy at those things, and drawing seemed even more delicate.
"You will never know unless you try. Go ahead, I won't laugh at your first try." Pressing a pencil into her friend's hand, Sorian gave her an encouraging smile. "You'll do fine, I just know it."
"But…I don't even know where to start…" Trying to find an excuse not to humiliate herself, Lileina stared at the pencil as if it were a foreign object, but Sorian shook her head, not to be dissuaded.
"Just close your eyes and think of something you really like. That's always a good first try. You love flowers, why not try that?" Opening the sketch book for Lileina, she smiled. "Here. Just try…you might surprise yourself."
"Oh…okay…" Lileina stared down at the page blankly for a few moments, then closed her eyes. What was she supposed to be thinking of? Flowers? Sorian always drew nature pictures, maybe she should just try a tree or something at first. Just before she was about to give up on her mind as well as the drawing, an image of Valtier popped into her mind. Lileina almost laughed out loud. A portrait? Her very first drawing, and the first thing she thought of was a portrait? Figuring this was about as likely as rain in the Ruined desert, she pressed her pencil to the paper and sighed. "Here goes nothing…" Taking a deep breath, Lileina started to move the pencil and immediately heard a snap. With a laugh, Sorian handed her another pencil from within her apron.
"Don't press so hard."
"Th-thanks…" Trying to remember the look on Valtier's face when he had smiled at her for the first time, Lileina began to move the pencil around on the paper in what she decided were rather vague shapes. Much to her amazement, the more she worked at it, the more the pencil seemed to be moving in exactly the right places. The sketch of Valtier smiling his usual cocky smile was so clear in her head that the lines on the page began to take shape even faster than she had ever dreamed. After what seemed like an eternity, Sorian wiped her hands and looked over Lileina's shoulder to see how her friend was doing with her picture.
"Let's see how you…" Gasping softly, Sorian looked at Lileina in amazement.
"What?"
"Lileina, that's wonderful! And here you said you didn't know how to draw…you've had lessons before, haven't you?" Putting a hand on her shoulder, Sorian beamed proudly at her friend. "Clumsy, indeed!"
"Really, I haven't drawn a thing before today. Except magical diagrams, but they really don't count." Gazing down at the piece of paper, Lileina found herself smiling gently at the face that looked up at her. "I just did what you told me…I thought of something I really like."
"This is amazing, I've never known anyone to be able to just sit down and draw like that." Wiping her hands again, Sorian sat on the chair's arm and looked at the picture a little more. "That's him, isn't it?"
"Mm." Running her fingers over the sketch as if it were a precious document, Lileina nodded slowly, remembering the first time he had given her his smile, before he even knew anything about her. And the way his arms had felt around her in the night…
"You were right, he is handsome." The room was quiet as Lileina nodded again and Sorian sighed a little. There was only one thing that could make her shy sister have that look in her eyes. "You really do love him, don't you?"
"Mm."
* * *
Valtier was laying on the bed in his room thinking about how nice it had been to fly for a little while with Lileina when Artemis burst through the door, looking extremely rattled. His gold eyes searched the room, resting only once they had found what they were searching for.
"There you are! Damn, you had me worried!"
"Oh, Artemis….you really do care." Scratching his head as he sat up, Valtier smiled. "What's wrong with you?"
"You were gone all yesterday! And most of today! That's what's wrong!"
"Why are you yelling? I'm right here." Standing up, Valtier stretched his arms as he looked over at his friend. Artemis did not look amused in the least.
"Aleris covered for you, but only because I asked him to…" This made Artemis look ever more uncomfortable, and Valtier supposed he knew why. Aleris could be considered Artemis' brother in that they were raised by the same dragon after Artemis' egg had been found abandoned near the Ruined desert by Aleris' mother. Though it was normal for dragons to lay only one egg at a time over greatly spaced intervals, she had decided that if the egg hatched, so much the better. And it had hatched, yielding one slightly smallish Ancient Dragon, a trait that Artemis carried into adulthood. As a result, he and Aleris had a strange relationship wherein Aleris loved to torment and protect his 'little brother' while Artemis secretly admired his 'big brother' the sentinel. "And you wouldn't believe what he threatened to do to me if I didn't tell him where you were…"
"He'll live." Pulling on a shirt that matched the one he had ruined in the forest almost exactly, Valtier nodded towards the city. "Dinner?"
"Is that all you ever think about? Where the hell were you, anyway?" This was the first time Valtier had ever seen Artemis so forceful, and he frowned a little.
"Are you sure you're feeling well?" As he looked a little closer, he realized that Artemis was looking a bit thinner than usual. "You look tired."
"I'm fine," he replied shortly. "Just…tell me you were with her?" Relief surged over Artemis as Valtier recounted the tale of the bandits and Lileina's selfless heroism in performing a spell that drained her to save his life as well as explaining that they had stayed at the elder's house that night. Artemis sighed inwardly with relief as he told himself that he had been worried for nothing, that it was a pack of human bandits that the pair had run afoul of, not a guard of angry Gold Dragons. They had not taken the latest refusal by the Ancient Dragons to turn over the weapon very well, and he hated to think what would happen if Lileina had been followed from the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary. Sighing softly, he smiled. "At least you're both okay."
"Of course we're okay. Why wouldn't we be?" Picking up some money, Valtier headed for the door. "Let's eat. I haven't had a thing since we left the human village…"
"Sure." Weakly, Artemis followed his friend into the hallway and out into the street, wishing that he could find a way to explain to Valtier what was really on his mind.
* * *
The hours seemed to drag on as Lileina went about her duties in the sanctuary, and as she walked along the hallway, sweeping away the dirt that the elders and mikos had tracked in, she tried to think about meeting Valtier in the hopes that it would help pass the time.
A sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see who was coming. Pausing to greet whoever it might be, Lileina prepared to bow and smile until she saw that it was Drassi, heading towards her rather purposefully. Deciding that she had swept enough, Lileina thought maybe she would head for Karal early. Maybe he hadn't seen that it was her…
"Lileina!" Drassi's voice rang through the empty hallway, and she cringed a little. Too late. Now she would have to talk to him.
"Good day to you, Drassi," she grumbled quickly, trying to act as if she had somewhere else to be. He stepped in front of her, and Lileina gripped her broomstick tightly. "And how are you this morning?"
"I am well, and you?"
"I cannot complain." Still trying to avoid him, Lileina tried to scoot around him. Unfortunately, Drassi was an immovable obstacle.
"I am pleased to hear that. How would you like to have lunch with me? These floors look plenty clean, you could take off a little early. We could even go to one of those human villages you like so much." There was more than a hint of disdain in his voice, and Lileina shook her head.
"No, thank you. I'm very busy." Once again, she tried to step around him. This time, however, Drassi grabbed her arm so tightly that she almost cried out.
"Why must you keep avoiding me? All I wish is for us to become closer," he said softly as his fingers dug into her arm hard enough to make her eyes water. Suddenly a little frightened, Lileina tried to pull away.
"Stop it, Drassi! You're hurting me!"
"You shouldn't fight it, my dear…we're meant to be together, don't you see? You should just accept it and let me make you my mate." His eyes were strangely bright, and a surge of anger flooded Lileina's chest.
"Let you make me your mate? In case you failed to notice, I have the choice to become the mate of whomever I like. And I will never let anyone make me do anything I don't want, nor will I be forced to become anyone's possession, least of all yours." Breaking away while he looked a little stunned, Lileina turned around and started down the hall, eager to get as far away from the sanctuary as possible. Before she was able to get very far, however, Drassi grabbed her shoulder roughly and spun her back towards him, pinning her against the wall.
"Choice? What better choice is there than I?" He seemed not to notice that Lileina was struggling to break his grip, and smiled widely as he leaned towards her. "I'm sure I can make you change your mind…"
"Leave me---" Silenced by the sudden motion of Drassi's lips pressing against hers hard enough to leave a bruise, Lileina froze in place as her eyes widened. What was he… Images of the men grabbing her in the forest came back to her all at once, and Lileina squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to let him see her cry. Her stomach turned as she felt him begin to press his body against hers, and she began struggling once more. Stop it…stop…help me, Valtier… The image of Valtier that came into her mind, his arms outstretched towards her, gave her a strength she never knew she possessed and she brought her knee upwards as hard as she could into Drassi's most sensitive region. Immediately, he released Lileina's shoulders with a howl of pain and indignation, followed by a flood of words that she had heard some of the workmen in Karal say before during painful occasions.
Wasting no time, Lileina ran down the hall towards the inner sanctuary. As she disappeared, Drassi looked up through watering eyes and cursed ever more loudly. His outburst of anger attracted the attention of another miko who had just happened to be wandering nearby.
"I saw it all," Rinoa said sympathetically, shaking her head as she walked over to where he was leaning on the wall. "She really should learn some respect."
"I don't care what it takes," Drassi said, ignoring Rinoa as he looked down the hall. "She's going to be my mate."
"Perhaps that is a matter best taken up with Lileina and her lover," said Rinoa, leaning knowingly against the wall. Drassi's eyes shifted towards her as the words registered in his head. Rinoa smiled cruelly. Now she had his attention.
* * *
I feel so…sick…
Resting her head on one of the large rocks beside the stream that gently trickled through the forest, Lileina continued to cry softly into her hands as she closed her eyes. Although she had washed out her mouth over and over, she could still taste Drassi's kiss on her lips, and it made her feel sick all over again. Another feeling arose as she played the whole horrible moment over in her mind, and though she knew she shouldn't, Lileina felt completely ashamed. She didn't want him to kiss her, not in the least, there was only one person she wanted to ever approach her in that way…the one person she felt she just couldn't face at that moment.
Afraid to stay in the sanctuary but too embarrassed to meet Valtier in the field of flowers or show her face in Karal, Lileina had gone as deep into the forest as she dared and sank down by the stream's edge. She wanted to hide from every world she had ever known, hide until everyone and everything had forgotten her…forgotten that she even existed…forever.
But despite the fact that she wanted to hide from even herself, Lileina couldn't help wishing that Valtier was there. It would be so easy and so wonderful to just fall into his arms and cry onto his chest until she couldn't cry anymore, knowing that he would hold her gently and maybe kiss her forehead and tell her that everything would be all right. And as long as he was there with her, everything would seem like it was all right. She would be safe…no one, and nothing could harm her. Yes…she wanted him there. Even if she was too ashamed to look him in the eyes.
"Lileina!?" Out of breath, as if he had been running, Valtier spoke her name from somewhere behind her, and Lileina curled herself into a ball on the ground. Suddenly, she was embarrassed all over again.
No…I don't want him to see me like this…
"By Cephied, what's happened?" Hearing him speak the name of the Great Flare Dragon she knew he must be terribly worried about her, but Lileina refused to move. Hurrying to her side, Valtier fell to his knees next to her and carefully gathered her into his arms. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" There was no answer, and Valtier pressed his head lovingly against hers the way he had when they were in their dragon forms. "Just say something, my darling one…" Finally giving in to the warmth he offered, Lileina curled herself into a ball on his lap.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, keeping her head down. "I feel as if…as if I have betrayed you."
"Betrayed me? How?" His voice was gentle as he brushed her bangs away from her forehead. "You don't have the capacity to betray anyone."
"But…I have…" Lileina's voice dropped to no more than a whisper as she explained to him what had happened. "I was in the sanctuary sweeping, and Drassi…he kissed me." Pressing her head against his chest, Lileina shook her head. "He…tried to touch me. It was so awful…he just wouldn't let go."
"Oh, Lileina…" Rage built within Valtier's chest at the thought of another creature daring to hurt Lileina in this way, but he suppressed it, knowing that she needed his love at that moment, not his anger. Rocking her back and forth a little, he kissed her hair. "You've done nothing wrong. It was him, not you…"
"Then why…why do I feel so dirty?" Closing her eyes, Lileina continued to cry softly, making Valtier want to pull off Drassi's arms on sight. She was so gentle, so sweet that she wasn't suited for this type of indignation upon her person. Searching for the right words to comfort her, Valtier continued to hold her as tightly as he could.
"My dearest Lileina…you're not in the least dirty. You're just as precious and pure as the moment we met, and you can't let him make you feel that you're any less than that. No matter what he says, no matter what he does, you will always be precious to me. And I will always love you. No matter what." Stroking her hair as he spoke, Valtier heard Lileina's tears beginning to subside, and he shook his head. "My love…I hate that he's done this to you. I wish I could protect you from him, burst into the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary with my armor and sword and tell him to keep his filthy hands off you, but I can't. All I can do is hold you here in my arms, and tell you that I love you and that I will be yours, no matter what…and wish that it were enough to heal your heart."
"You're…mine?" Lileina couldn't quite comprehend the meaning of this, and Valtier nodded, smiling at her.
"My heart, my spirit…everything of my being belongs to you, if you desire it. Anything you ask, I will do my very best to accomplish. If you wanted the stars, I would fly up and catch them for you, just to see you smile once more." Tears forgotten, Lileina blinked up at him, blankly.
"You…you would?"
"Of course I would. Lileina, I love you…your smile is more precious to me than a mountain of Taria stones." As he spoke, he kissed the gems on her forehead. "It may sound unbelievable to you right now, but…"
"No, I believe you." Her voice so soft that Valtier could barely hear it, Lileina interrupted him with a small smile. "And I understand, because…because I would give my own life to protect yours. Since I can remember, I was raised in the sanctuary by the elders to be quiet and reserved, to hide my real feelings behind a smile. I suppose they meant well, but there's something different about the way I've seen mothers…dragon mothers and human mothers…care for their young ones. That's how one learns to love, I suppose. But I never really understood more than affection, or friendship. Now…I feel as if I understand what it is to love…because I love you."
"Lileina…" The forest was silent, save for the burbling of the stream in the background. Valtier wasn't sure what he should say, or if he should say anything at all. Lileina was quiet, resting in his arms as she gazed at the glittering water that flowed into the trees, and he smiled. "Did your tears make this little stream?"
"Valtier…" she said, her smile becoming brighter as she shook her head. "Say, how did you find me here? I mean, I wasn't in the field where we promised to meet…"
"I'm not sure myself. I was worried about you when you didn't come to the field, so I just closed my eyes and listened to the forest like you do…and I thought I could hear you crying. After that I just started running towards that sound. I was a bit surprised to find you here, I'll admit that." The leaves on the trees rustled softly, and Valtier looked into the sky. "I suppose I just followed a feeling."
"Hmm." Leaning back on his chest, Lileina thought she felt something odd beneath her head, and she sat up. "What's that?"
"What?" Frowning, Valtier reached down and patted the spot Lileina was pointing at. "Oh, that's right. I brought back the elder's shirt. I thought I should return it to him. After all, he was so kind to lend it to me." Pulling the shirt from within his vest, Valtier lay it on a nearby rock. "When I was running to find you, I tucked it into my shirt so I wouldn't lose it."
"That's a good idea," replied Lileina softly. "Do you want to return it now?" She was glad to see him shake his head, having grown comfortable on his lap.
"Not yet. I'd rather sit here…just a bit longer." Putting his arms back around her, Valtier smiled peacefully as Lileina closed her eyes.
"Oh…okay."
* * *
"You're sure we can't persuade you kids to have a little more stew?" Elaine was following Valtier and Lileina out the door as they tried to make their getaway back to the forest. Trying his best to be tactful, Valtier smiled broadly at her.
"Couldn't eat another bite, really!"
"For goodness' sake, Elaine, they just came in to return Michael's shirt and you've managed to keep them until nightfall!" The elder's voice rang from inside the house, and Lileina tried not to laugh as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Thank you for dinner! We must be going now, but I promise we'll visit again soon!" Waving at Elaine, Lileina smiled brightly as Valtier looked into the sky.
"It has already gotten dark…will you be able to get home safely? I can fly with you just until you reach the edge of the Ruined desert, but after that…" He didn't finish the sentence but Lileina knew what he meant.
"I'll be fine by myself, but…" A flash of Drassi's face appeared before her eyes, and Lileina felt a little sick. "But I don't want to go home just yet!" A smile spread over her face as she looked into the sky, then grabbed Valtier's hand. "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Laughing at the way Lileina was nearly dragging him towards the hill, Valtier let her pull him until they were on the very top of the highest hill that overlooked the flowering field and most of the forest.
"Here…look up at sky!" Pointing upwards into the heavens, Lileina's eyes shone brightly. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"It's…amazing." Tilting his head back to look into the sky, Valtier was astounded by the number of stars that seemed to surround them, glittering like diamonds in the black and blue sky. Beside him, Lileina clasped her hands over her breast.
"So many stars…the sum of all our lives, our hopes and our dreams…all there in the sky, shining down on us." Her eyes scanned the sky, trying to gather all the stars at once. Something glittered through the heavens, and Lileina pointed at it. "Ah! Look, a shooting star!"
"Yes, there's another one," he said, pointing to a different spot in the sky. "And, look, there goes another… it seems like they're raining around us."
"Quick, make a wish!" Closing her eyes, Lileina tried to think of the one thing she wanted most of all, that would be special enough to wish for on a night like this. Before she was even finished, she felt a pair of strong arms encircling her from behind, pulling her close to his body. Lifting her chin up to look at him, Lileina was surprised by the kiss that found its way onto her bruised lips, gentle enough to avoid hurting her, but strong enough for her to understand how much he loved her. It was nothing like before…in the sanctuary. As if he and Drassi were from completely different species… Almost laughing to herself, Lileina remembered that they were. "Valtier…"
"What did you wish for?" His voice was low as he spoke right beside her ear, and Lileina found herself blushing.
"I can't tell you that…it might not come true." Gently, she rubbed her head against his arm and relaxed her body as she smiled up at him. "How about you? What was your wish?"
"I wished that I could be near you like this forever." Kissing the side of her face, Valtier smiled down at her. "But I do hope it comes true, even though I told you."
"Mm…" Enjoying the feeling of the night breeze on her face, and of his kiss on her lips, Lileina put her arms around his. "Do you think it will?"
"Of course I do." Valtier looked up into the sky, where hundreds of shooting stars were still dancing across the sky. Tightening his arms around Lileina, he smiled. "We'll find a way to make it come true."
"Valtier…you were wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"You do have the power to heal my heart."