"Evening"
"Thankfully, the council seems to be making some headway in our relations with the Ancient Dragons regarding the weapon…" The elders' voices droned on and on as Lileina held her water jug on her lap and listened to the all-too-familiar discussions that were taking place around the room. "Meanwhile, the Dimos Dragons are showing great interest in discussions of magic-sharing…"
Bored, Lileina touched the brooch she had pinned to her miko's robes with an inward smile. It wouldn't be too much longer until she would be free of the meeting and able to go meet with Valtier. He had told her the day before that he had a great surprise for her while they were walking in Karal. Lileina was looking forward more to sitting in the sun and reading a book of poetry aloud to Valtier, who was ever fascinated by the fact that there were so many similarities between the human and dragon worlds.
Only about a week had passed since the shower of stars, and as far as she was concerned, as boring as council might be at that time, any place with more than one elder in the vicinity was safe from Drassi. She had taken to walking with Sorian everywhere, and with other mikos or elders if they were going to same way in the sanctuary, and Valtier told her this made him feel better, since he couldn't be there.
Of course, Sorian's righteous anger alone had rivaled Valtier's when Lileina had finally whispered the reason why she was jumping at the least sound, and she had insisted that they either tell one of the elders or the captain of the guard about his inappropriate behavior, seeing as how mikos were supposed to be considered sacred and untouchable without their consent. True to her character, though, Lileina was afraid that this would only make Drassi come after her in anger as well, and refused over and over to let Sorian tell anyone. Instead, she played upon Sorian's sisterly instinct and asked her to walk with her wherever she went in case Drassi showed up, like a bodyguard.
Although Sorian was not in the least satisfied, she agreed but still insisted that they should track Drassi down and yell at him a little. Once again, Lileina refused, and Sorian had no choice but respect her friend's wishes. Lileina, on the other hand, wanted to forget all about it for the rest of her life and spend her time thinking about much more important things. But for the moment…
"In other important news, the cleansing ceremony will be upon us once again before we realize it, and as you know we will be holding a special session to decide on which one of our lovely young mikos is the right lady to---"
"Elders!" The one who was speaking was interrupted by a slam as the doors burst open at the back of the council hall and one of the young guards ran into the middle of the hall, out of breath. All at once, the other elders jumped up to look at him. Lileina recognized him as Terais, one of the guards that was supposed to be stationed at the settlement at Dragons' Peak. What could he be doing back at the sanctuary? "F-forgive my interruption, elders, but I bring news! Terrible news!"
"Calm down, Terais, there is no intrusion." The chief elder stood up and smiled at the golden-haired young man to calm the others, and he paused to catch his breath. Reflexively, Lileina stood up and poured him a glass of water as she walked over to the center of the room.
"Here, Terais. Drink this, you'll feel a bit better."
"Thank you, my lady." Gratefully, he took the glass and drank its contents in one gulp. As Lileina refilled it, the elders decided he was fit for questioning.
"Tell us, what is this news you bring?" Beckoning him closer to the head of the council hall, the elders murmured among one another while Lileina went back to her seat at the rear of the room. She too was concerned, as she had never seen Terais act like this. He was usually so quiet and reserved, the most level-headed guard she knew.
"There's been an attack…the dragons of Dragons' Peak were attacked last night by a group of high-level demons." Shaking his head, Terais seemed to be fighting back tears as he spoke again. "We were unprepared for such a sudden attack. About two hundred dragons were killed, maybe more." Again, he paused, and Lileina felt her fingers clench around the water jug's handle as she waited for him to compose himself. How could this have happened? All around the room, the men who sat on the council began to speak softly amongst themselves, trying to make sense of what he had just said. Terais spoke through his emotion as he stood straight and looked at the chief elder. "About half that number were Gold Dragons from our settlement." The buzz that had been building in the room became a wave of voices, indistinguishable from one another as they began to speak at once. Lileina bowed her head quickly, praying that this was not true, that Terais had gotten his numbers mixed up. But somehow, she knew that it couldn't be so.
"This is an outrage!"
"…specifically violates section 537 of our treaty…"
"I knew we couldn't trust Hellmaster to be up to anything good…"
"We need that weapon!"
"The council should have sent a battalion to the Peak…"
"Everyone, calm yourselves!" The chief elder was standing at the front of the room, his arms raised, trying to keep some semblance of order in the room. "This is a terrible thing to have happened to us, but we cannot allow ourselves to lose control at a time like this. Our guards are perfectly capable of protecting our sanctuary, and they will be stationed around the outer doors at all times." This seemed to quiet the fears of some of the elders, and they began to calm down a little as he continued to speak to Terais. "Now, tell me. Have you heard news from any of the other Dragons' guards concerning their plans?"
"Yes, great one. The White Dragons, Dimos Dragons and Ancient Dragons have all agreed that they will send a battalion of their finest warriors to Dragons' Peak to battle the demons that remain, as well as offer protection to the Dragons who still live." The sadness had all but disappeared from Terais' eyes, only to be replaced with a look of complete determination. The chief elder nodded.
"Very well, then please send word that the Gold Dragons will also be sending a battalion to Dragons' Peak." Right away, one of the other elders began scribbling something on a roll of parchment, and the others began talking among themselves again. In the back of the room, however, Lileina was hugging her water jug tightly in an attempt to keep herself from trembling. No matter what she tried, she couldn't stop shaking, and couldn't stop a flood of terrible images from racing through her mind.
No…they wouldn't send him there…to die in battle with some unspeakable demon…they can't…no, all I can see is…is blood…
"Lileina, dear? What seems to be the matter?" One of the oldest of the council members named Jeian put a hand on her shoulder gently, startling her. The water jug crashed onto the floor, sending water cascading over the tiles as she pressed her hands to either side of her head, trying to make the images go away.
"It's too dangerous! He'll be killed!" Her eyes were wide but somehow unseeing as she looked around the room, and the elders stood up to go to her side at once. Caiphas was the closest to her besides Jeian, but as he spoke to her she seemed to comprehend even less of what he was saying.
"They understood when they became soldiers that a day like this might come…" Lileina could only hear part of what he was saying, but she shook her head and covered her ears in an attempt to shut out his voice.
"No! I won't accept it!" Still covering her ears, Lileina ran out of the council hall, her white robes making her look a bit like a fleeing dove. Speechless, the elders stared after her, unable to believe that this was really the miko they thought they knew so well. Caiphas wondered what could possibly be bothering her so much…she had never seemed to be this high-strung before.
* * *
At the very moment the water pitcher smashed on the floor of the council hall, Valtier felt a stab of pain in his chest, just under his heart. Reaching over to press his palm to the offending spot, he frowned slightly. Aleris looked over at him, his attention captured by the sudden movement of his guard partner.
"Something wrong?"
"No…it's more of a really bad feeling about something…something very important." At once his mind turned to Lileina, and he looked over to Aleris, who was smiling knowingly.
"Or someone…"
"I'll kill your little brother later. For now, can you cover me here?"
"You know we're supposed to keep two men on the Dome at all times now because of the attack on Dragons' Peak." Ever concerned with obeying the rules, Aleris looked upset as Valtier waved it off.
"Don't worry about it, I'll be back before they even miss me. Besides, our shift ends soon. You'll be fine without me." Turning a deaf ear to the rest of Aleris' protests, Valtier hurried down the street as another sharp pain caught him just under the ribs. He hoped this didn't mean there was something wrong with Lileina. Something at the back of his mind told him that it would be a good idea to head to the field where they always met, just in case something was wrong. Still, he hoped beyond hope that he would find her safe, then broke into a run…just in case she wasn't.
* * *
I must get to the field…I know he'll be there, I just know…he wouldn't leave me without at least saying…goodbye…
Before Lileina's eyes, a rainbow of bright colors spread out like a blanket over the valley as she ran mechanically towards the one place she knew she was safe, her miko robes billowing behind her in the wind, as her mind kept repeating the same words over and over…she had to get to the field. Her clothes, the council, nothing mattered but knowing whether or not Valtier was safe. Lileina's mind was so busy trying to get her to the field and her vision so blurred with tears that she didn't see Valtier running towards her from the other side.
As a pair of arms closed around her, the realization that he was there and unharmed hit her solidly in the chest and she felt her knees buckle. Valtier caught her, holding her gently to his chest as she began to cry loudly with relief against his armor. As strange as it might have seemed to any onlooker for a miko of the Gold Dragons and a sentinel of the Ancient Dragons to be embracing in a field, at that moment it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to both of them.
"It's okay, Lileina…I'm here. Don't cry, it's okay…" Trying to comfort her and steer clear of the large spikes on her headpiece at the same time was no easy task, but Valtier somehow managed to hold her close to his body and murmur soothing words to Lileina as she slowly began to calm down. "Now, tell me what's wrong."
"Council…I…t-they said…Dragons' Peak…Hellmaster…"
"Take a deep breath," he said, patting her back encouragingly as Lileina continued to spit out random words. She took a breath slowly, then tried once more to explain to him why she was upset.
"Terais, one of our guards, said that the White Dragons and the Dimos Dragons and the Ancient Dragons would be sending a battalion to Dragons' Peak to fight the demons…I was afraid that you would be…I…Valtier, I don't want to lose you." Finally, she was able to get the words out, and Valtier stroked her hair softly.
"You won't lose me. Not ever."
"But the demons…they…are so strong, and we cannot fight them properly…"
"I'm not even going to Dragons' Peak," Valtier said, interrupting her carefully. "Aleris put in a good word for me to stay at the Dome, who knows what he told them, but in any case, I'll be just as close to you as I always am. Even if it's not as close as we'd like to be."
"But…if they ordered you to go…"
"Then I would leave." Kissing the top of Lileina's head, he smiled. "Don't you see? I'd rather give up my post as a sentinel than be so far from you, even for a short while." Hugging her tighter as he felt her arms encircle his chest, Valtier shook his head. "It hurts me so to see you cry, my dearest. With all that is happening in our world right now, I know there is very little I can say to ease your mind. But I promise that after this war is over we won't be separated again."
"What do you mean?" Looking up at Valtier, Lileina frowned a little. He had joked once about giving it all up and running away to live in Karal, but he couldn't possibly be thinking…
"This is what I mean." Backing away a little from Lileina, he pulled something from within his armor. "Here. I was hoping to give it to you with a little more ceremony, but this seems like the perfect time." Lying in his open palm was a plain golden ring, similar to the ones Lileina had seen many times before on human women who were married. Clearing his throat a little, Valtier smiled. "It's…ah…the same kind the elder's wife had. I hope…I hope you like it."
"I…I don't know what to say…" Once again, Lileina found that she was shaking, but now for a different reason. She looked from the ring to Valtier, who was a little pink around the cheeks. "You…you do know why she had a ring like this…don't you?"
"I figured the elder gave it to her." Glancing at Lileina's face, he couldn't tell what she was thinking, and cleared his throat again. "Is…something wrong with it?"
"Valtier…humans exchange rings like this one when they are married." There was a strange look on his face, and she blushed. "It's a fancy human word for…becoming someone's mate. Surely…"
"Then I was right to get this ring." Taking her hand, his gentle smile returned. "If you don't want it, I will return it. Perhaps I was a bit…"
"No, I…" Blushing even more as she tried to decide what she was supposed to say, Lileina snuck a glance up at his face. It was completely serious, save for the smile that seemed to always be on his lips, and she tried to figure out what he meant. Was he saying that he wanted her to be his mate? "Valtier, what…what does this mean?"
"Exactly what you think it means." With a small sigh, he lifted her face up with his free hand so he could look into her eyes. "Lileina, I have loved you since the moment we met. No one has ever made me feel as happy and as…as alive as you have in the short time I have known you. I want to be near you, to feel the way I do now, for all of my life. Words…aren't enough to explain it. But I want you to be with me…forever. If you don't feel the same, just tell me…but if you do…" Unable to finish what he was saying, Valtier looked deeply into her eyes. Just as before, they were overflowing with beads of crystal, but somehow now she looked happy as she nodded through her tears.
"Of course I do…" She was barely able to speak the few words she managed, and found that it was even harder to catch her breath as he gently slipped the ring onto her finger. Its slight weight felt both strange and wonderful on her finger as Lileina pressed her hands to her chest, soundlessly.
"My Lileina…the thought of being beside you forever makes everything seem like heaven. Even guard duty." Hugging her tightly so that she couldn't see, Valtier smiled with relief. Part of him had been terrified that no matter how much she loved him, she would still decide that she didn't want to be his mate. The warmth of her arms as she returned his embrace told him that he needn't have worried, and Lileina tried to push back her tears.
"Do you have to leave so soon?" Afraid to let him go, she tightened her arms around his chest. Shaking his head, Valtier looked up at the sky where a group of gray clouds were forming over the field. He hadn't noticed them on his way in because he was so worried about Lileina, but now they were looking more like a threat.
"Of course now. But we really should go to Karal, or someplace with a roof at least. Those clouds look as if they could burst." He nodded into the sky, and Lileina looked up just in time for a fat droplet of rain to hit her on the nose. "I spoke just in time," Valtier said, wiping her nose as he laughed. "We should hurry."
"We can't go like this," Lileina said, motioning to their clothes. Realizing that she was right, Valtier took a few steps away from her as she began to change. Quickly, they both changed to suitable outfits and hurried towards the gate of the city that stood at the end of the long path as the rain began to fall harder. Reaching the gate, they started through it as if it was any other day, but were stopped by a pair of armed sentries that appeared between the sheets of rain.
"Halt!"
"Where do you think you're going?" One of the guards advanced on Lileina, and Valtier stepped in front of her as she frowned through her wet bangs.
"Timothy? Is that you?" As she came closer to the young man, she realized that he was indeed the youngest son of the village elder, and stepped out from behind Valtier. "What are you doing out here?"
"Lady Lily! Forgive me…I didn't realize it was you!" Motioning to the other guard to back off, he took Lileina's arm and started with her down the main street. "It's lucky you came by here! Father wanted to see you right away if you came into town!"
"Why?" Sharing a look with Valtier, she looked at Timothy. "Is something wrong here in the town?"
"Yes, there was an attack here last night. But I believe Father wanted to talk to you more about it. He's been terribly worried about you, and about Lord Val." Leading them to the house, Timothy took them up the stairs and opened the front door. "Father? Mother? You've a pair of guests in the hallway!"
"Guests? Who in their right mind would be out on a day like…" Wiping her hands on a cloth, Elaine came down the stairs, shaking her head. The moment she saw Valtier and Lileina dripping in the doorway, she gasped softly. "Oh my dears, just look at you! You're soaked to the skin!" Hurrying down to them, she rushed them up the stairs as Timothy went back to his post. "Get up here, come on, I'll put some dry clothes on you."
"But Timothy said that the elder…"
"Jacob went into the village a few hours ago. He'll be back before too long, but for now I have to get you two dried off and get some soup in you." Not bothering to ask if they wanted any soup, Elaine hurried them upstairs, not taking no for an answer, mumbling under her breath as she continued to shake her head. "Going to catch your deaths running around the forest in the rain…you kids…never a care in the world…"
* * *
"Lileina? Lileina are you around here?" Sorian walked down the passageway towards the sleeping quarters, looking for her missing friend. Lileina had caused quiet a commotion when she had run out of the council hall, and Sorian was looking everywhere she thought Lileina could be hiding, hoping to find her before one of the elders or Drassi did. She had a pretty good idea of why Lileina was so upset and she didn't think that anyone else would be very good company for her at the moment. "It's me, Sorian…"
"Just the one I was hoping to see." A voice came from around the corner, and Sorian froze in place. Why now? Out of all the men she didn't want to run across…
"Dot now, Drassi, I'm busy." Trying to walk around him, Sorian was as short with him as she could possibly be, and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Not too busy to talk to me, I hope," he said, coming ever closer to her and blocking her path as Sorian gave him a dirty look.
"I have no use for you, Drassi. Now move aside and let me continue on my way." Moving to the other side of the hall yielded no more positive results as Drassi once again stepped in front of her. He smiled coldly as he reached into his armor.
"Oh, I know you have no use for me or any other male, Sorian. And if you don't want me telling the elders that you prefer to spend your time in the company of women, you'll calm yourself down and tell me all you know about this lover of Lileina's." There was an ugly undertone to Drassi's voice that Sorian didn't care for, and she drew herself up as tall as she could. She didn't know how he had found out her secret, but she wasn't about to allow him to intimidate her with it.
"I do not care who knows whom I prefer to spend my time with, and I have no idea what 'lover' you speak of." Affecting a rather haughty look, she started to walk around Drassi as he pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it in front of her face. Sorian's eyes widened slightly as she realized what it was, and he smirked.
"This man is her lover, is he not?" The drawing of Valtier that Lileina had surprised herself by drawing a few days earlier was clenched in his hand and Sorian tried her best not to look too interested in it.
"What might that be?"
"Don't play me for a fool, Sorian. This was folded up in a book and hidden under the mattress of her bed like some sort of treasure map. So why don't you drop your act and tell me what the big deal with him is. Let me guess, he's a human, is that it?" While he was talking, Sorian tried to snatch the paper from his hand.
"You have no business going in her room!" As she finally lost her composure, Drassi pulled the paper out of her reach before she could touch it, and Sorian's face reddened with anger as she stared at him. "Give that back!" This only made Drassi laugh, and she narrowed her eyes into tiny slits. "Why don't you just leave her alone? She doesn't want you!"
"And I suppose you think she wants you?" The tone of his voice made Sorian's slender hands curl into fists as she began to turn red again. "Come off it, Sorian, Lileina and I are meant for one another. Whether she realizes it or not, she belongs to me. And nothing will stop me from having her, not even a meddling little---" His words were sharply snipped off by the hand that flashed out from Sorian's side and struck him quite hard across the face.
"How dare you?!" While Drassi still seemed stunned from the slap, Sorian grabbed the sketch from his hand, accidentally tearing it a little in her zeal. "You aren't fit to clean Lileina's boots! Just because you guard the sanctuary, you think you're some great treasure, but let me tell you Drassi, you're beneath even a…a…Dung Serpent, if there is such a thing!" Storming away with the drawing in her hand, Sorian left Drassi rubbing his cheek and, oddly enough, smiling. So Rinoa was telling the truth after all. There was something those two were hiding about this Valtier person, whoever he was.
Walking back to his quarters, Drassi laughed. Dung Serpent, indeed.
* * *
"There you go, a nice hot bath is just what you need." Elaine had piled Lileina's wet clothes into a basket and, upon deciding that her lips were turning blue from the cold, placed her in the hot bath she was preparing for the elder when he returned. Meanwhile, she had placed Valtier in the guest bedroom, trying his best to dry off with the pile of towels he had been given. Leaving Lileina in the tub, she went down the hall to check on his progress. "Have you taken off those wet things yet?"
"I haven't got anything else to put on," Valtier said, looking around the room. Tossing him another towel, Elaine laughed.
"Come on now, son, I've raised four boys in my life. Three of them are still living in this house. There is nothing you could possibly have that I haven't seen before." Holding out a hand, she smiled. "Off with them." While Valtier continued to protest, a door opened and closed down the hall, and Elaine nodded as she finally got him to give her his things. "Sounds like she's done in there. Why don't you run down and get in before the water cools off? It'll take a while for me to heat more…"
"Thank you. But my clothes…?"
"I'm going to hang them over the fire so that they'll dry out. In the meantime, I'll bring some of Michael's things into the bathroom for you to wear. They may be a little big, like last time, but at least they'll be dry." She put his clothes in the basket with Lileina's and stepped out of the room. Valtier wrapped the towel around his waist as he heard her walking down the stairs and slipped out into the hall.
Wondering why the elder wanted to see Lileina, he headed toward the bathroom. Thoughts of the attack on Dragons' Peak continued to march through his mind uncomfortably, and he couldn't help worrying. If Dragons' Peak had been attacked, who was to say that the City of Ancients wouldn't be next? Or the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary? The thought of Lileina being in a place where he couldn't protect her was almost unbearable, and for a moment he wondered if maybe she could be convinced to come and live in Karal, at least for a little while. A human village might be safer, he thought, as his hand fell onto the doorknob.
Still lost in thought, he pushed the door open and as he stepped into the bathroom, he realized that it was still being occupied. Lileina was stepping out of the bathtub, completely naked and holding a thin towel over her breasts. Her mouth fell open as she saw Valtier standing in the doorway, his eyes seemingly locked onto her naked form.
"Valtier!"
"Sorry! I—I thought you were already out!" Turning away so that he faced the door, he blushed brightly. "I'll…I'll leave you alone…"
"No, I was…I was done." Quickly wrapping the towel around her body, Lileina got out of the tub and started out the door. Pausing for a moment beside Valtier, she cleared her throat. "By the way…I was going to tell you that I was thinking of buying you the ring that goes with mine…if you don't mind…" Her head was bowed shyly as Valtier looked over at her, trying to keep his eyes on her face. Although she looked small and slender under her miko robes and dress, the towel that barely covered her rosy skin made it obvious that she was rather nicely endowed and had quite a pretty figure. Valtier was having difficulty keeping his mind on the question at hand, but he managed to nod before she figured out what was distracting him.
"S-sure…"
"And I didn't get thank you earlier…for mine." Gently squeezing his hand as she passed, Lileina hurried down the hall to get some dry clothes from Elaine. Watching her small form disappear into one of the bedrooms, Valtier couldn't help wishing to himself very suddenly that she was already his mate.
* * *
"So, Karal was attacked last night as well…" Curled up in a pair of pajamas that were too small for the boys and a blanket, Lileina sat by the fire at the elder's feet as he relaxed in his chair. "Now I see why Timothy was acting so oddly to us."
"The council has decided that all the young men of the city should be on guard duty in case of another attack…I was completely against it, though. I understand as well as you that our weapons are of no use against demons, which is why I was so worried about you and Valtier. Dragons are about as helpless against high-level demons like the ones that attacked our town as we are. When word came to me that a number of Gold Dragons were killed up at Dragons' Peak…" Shaking his head, the elder didn't finish his sentence as he looked at Lileina. "But I am glad you're both safe. And with cause to celebrate, from the looks of it," he said, nodding towards Lileina's right hand, on which the ring sparkled in the firelight. Blushing, Lileina shook her head.
"No, it's not…I mean, Valtier gave me this ring, but he didn't quite understand that humans…well, that is…not yet…"
"Yes, I know it's somewhat different for Dragons. There's no real ceremony, but from the ring I can assume that you are indeed to be mated together?" Smiling in a paternal way, the elder laughed as he saw Lileina hurriedly take another sip of the hot milk Elaine had given her. "You have no need to be embarrassed, dear. As I have told you, I spent many years among Dragons, learning your language and your ways. To me, it's just like one of my own getting married."
"I'm sorry…it's just that I've never been too skilled at talking about things…like this. I mean…" Before she could finish her sentence, Valtier walked into the sitting room dressed in some of Michael's old clothes. He took a quick look out the window before he sat down.
"Still raining hard," he commented, moving closer to Lileina. Still blushing a little, she offered him part of the blanket, which he wrapped around himself. "Thank you. It's a little cold upstairs."
"Valtier, last night, Karal was attacked by demons," she said softly. Immediately, Valtier frowned at her as if he didn't understand. "This war…they're attacking humans now. It's not just between the demons and Dragons after all."
"But what could they possibly gain by attacking human villages?" As he spoke, Elaine walked into the room with another mug of hot milk, which she handed towards Valtier with a smile. He accepted it with a quick nod. "Thank you."
"I don't know what they could be after here. Demons don't just randomly attack anyone. But the elder tells me that no one was killed, fortunately, or even seriously wounded. It's as if the attack was…just for show." While she turned back to speak to the elder, Valtier was silent, thinking about what she had said. No one was killed, most likely because they were humans. It was a fair guess that Hellmaster was trying to divert attention away from something else by attacking a human village, but he couldn't guess what it might be. However, in the attack at Dragons' Peak, more Gold Dragons were killed than any other race, as if they were being targeted. If that was true, it would only be a matter of time before the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary was attacked.
Somehow, he was going to have to think of a way to convince Lileina that she wasn't safe at the sanctuary, and that it would be a better idea for her to come to Karal, even temporarily. If she wanted, he could even come with her. The City of Ancients had more than enough sentinels to replace him, and as he looked over at Lileina's face, shining in the firelight, he nodded to himself. The most important thing to him, after all, was her safety.
Finally, the rain let up, and after changing back into their dry clothes and finishing the dinner that Elaine insisted they have, Lileina and Valtier bid farewell to the elder and his wife and headed back to the forest. For once, they were walking in silence. It was completely unusual for them not to have even a word pass between them, but neither could really think of anything to say.
As they reached the part of the forest where Lileina's swing still hung from the tree, she suddenly stopped and went over to it. Gently, she touched the rope that connected it to the tree and turned to Valtier.
"Push me a little?" Her voice was soft, and Valtier nodded as he joined her.
"Of course." Wordlessly, he walked behind the swing and watched her climb onto it, then pushed the swing gently so that Lileina was propelled into the air. He wondered what she was thinking as she closed her eyes and let the breeze flow through her long hair as it streamed out behind her. There was a strange look on her face that wasn't quite happiness, but wasn't quite sadness either, and he remained silent for a moment, unsure if anything he could say would sound right.
In Lileina's mind, she was being transported to another time on the swing, when there was nothing more to worry about than the sweeping of the sanctuary's halls and all she needed was a book and a quiet place to walk with Valtier by her side. Moments of happiness…the day she met him, laughing with Sorian over dinner, spinning for endless minutes in the field of flowers until she fell backwards into the whirling palette of color…flew through her head as she tried to block out the images of the war that she knew was raging on in other parts of their world. She had always worried excessively about others, but this was so close to her heart that she couldn't help worrying.
Although it seemed so selfish of her to think of her own happiness, and of wanting nothing more than to fly off into the sky and disappear with Valtier, she couldn't stop those very thoughts from returning to her mind's eye over and over. So deep in thought was she that Lileina hardly realized that Valtier was talking to her.
"…consider it, at the very least…"
"What?" Looking over her shoulder, Lileina tried to muster up a smile. "I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere."
"I understand," he said, smiling as he continued to push the swing gently. "What I was saying was that I'm always so worried about you because you're so far away, and the attacks at Dragons' Peak and Karal don't help a bit. The demons will eventually find a way to attack the City of Ancients and the sanctuary, you and I know it is only a matter of time, and with everything going on, we won't be able to see one another as often as we do now. The longer we're apart, the more I worry about you…even if it's only a few hours. I was asking you if you would consider coming here and living in Karal for a short while." Immediately, Lileina put her feet down on the ground and dug in her toes so that the swing stopped moving.
"Leave the Fire Dragon Lord's sanctuary? Valtier, how can you even suggest something like that?" Jumping up from the swing, Lileina was as mad as Valtier ever thought he had seen her, and her eyes showed every ounce of hurt she was feeling as she raised her voice. "I understand that you're worried…I'm worried for your safety as well, but I wouldn't ask you to leave the City of Ancients! I know you are capable of protecting yourself!"
"Lileina, please don't be angry…I wasn't suggesting that you're incapable of protecting yourself. I just want to make sure that you're safe. The elder said that no one was seriously harmed here, and I'm sure it was because they're humans. Hellmaster is targeting Dragons, and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you…" Taking a step towards her, he held out a hand in peace. "Please, I was only asking you to consider it…"
"There is nothing to consider! And I don't want to discuss this any further." Turning on her heel, Lileina started down the path as she felt her cheeks grow hot. How could he even suggest that she leave the sanctuary? It was her only home, her only family… Why were all males like this? Certain that they could take care of her better than she could take care of herself?
"Wait, Lileina!" Running after her, Valtier called out to her in the hopes that she would give him just a moment longer before she flew away. "Please, just listen?"
"Why should I? I believe I've heard all I want to." Her voice was still frosty, but she stopped walking. Valtier saw this as a sign, and he moved closer to her.
"Because I love you…and because I don't want you to run away from me. Especially now, when something might happen to either one of us at any time. If Hellmaster decides that tonight the demons should attack the City of Ancients, and I should never see your face again, I would hate for the last words we spoke to one another to be spoken in anger." The effect of his words on Lileina was visible in the way she bowed her head slightly, taking in what he had said. Coming up behind her slowly, Valtier gingerly lay a hand on her shoulder. "Lileina?"
"What is it you want to say?" Her voice was low, and he smiled as he dropped his head. Before she could move away, he put his arms around her, embracing her from behind, and spoke just beside her ear.
"I know you're afraid. All of our kind are right now. I'm just trying to keep you safe the best way I can. Every moment we're apart, I wish I could be by your side to protect you…and now, you're so far away from me and so many things could happen to you. Things I have no control over and can't prevent. Please understand, I don't want to make you angry. I just want to assure myself that when the sun rises, we will both be able to see it, wherever we may be." Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply. "As much as I want you near me, I can't tell you what to do. But I can tell you how I feel. And I will."
"Why? Why do you all think that the only place I'm safe is under your gaze?" Lileina's voice sounded as if it would break, and at once Valtier understood.
"My darling…I am not that contemptible Drassi creature, who thinks that he can use force to make you love him and do what he wants. You know I wouldn't ever ask you to do something against your will, no matter how much your refusal might pain me. You didn't let me finish…I wasn't suggesting that you come to Karal alone. If it means that the chances of my losing you decrease by even a tiny bit, then I will come with you. We could live as a human couple, together, until the war is over. All I want is to make sure that you stay safe…so that we can never be parted." He paused, and relief surged through him as he felt Lileina relax in his arms. As her head fell against his chest, he thought he caught a glimpse of her smile as he opened his eyes.
"I…know you aren't him. But…" Her words trailed away again, and Valtier turned her around to face him.
"You know, I've never been as worried about another being in my life as I am when we are apart. To be honest, it frightens me," he admitted as Lileina looked into his eyes, searching to see whether or not he meant this. "But I know I can't be too frightened…I have you to think about now. There's not a thing I do anymore that I don't think about how it will affect you as well as me. Being so…connected with someone, with you, makes any fear seem like nothing. I know you'll always be there, no matter what." Looking once more at Lileina, he was glad to see that she was smiling as well.
"No matter what," she said softly.
"I can't stop worrying about you," Valtier said, leaning his head forward so that their foreheads were touching. "But I can and will promise not to bring up you coming and living in Karal again. The last thing I want is to anger you again." Smiling hopefully at her, he took her hands. "Can you forgive me?"
"Of course I forgive you. How could I not? Every time I look at you, all the anger and sadness just melts away from me…and I can't help smiling." She felt his skin brush against the band on her finger, making her whole hand seem to tingle.
"I'm glad."
"But…you know I can't leave my home in the sanctuary. Not right now…with everything going on like this. Maybe after the war is over, we can talk about where we're going to live together." Reaching up, she brushed his cheek with her fingertips. "I worry about you too, you know. Especially now, because you're a sentinel. If the demons attack the City of Ancients, you're the first ones they go for."
"Yes, but I have a very large sword." Standing up straight, Valtier shook his head. "You don't have to worry about me. Once this is over, we'll always be together…even if it's in some little village where no one's ever heard of a dragon before."
"I know we will," Lileina said softly. "You made me a promise…and I know that you'll keep it."
"That I will," Valtier answered as he lifted her right hand, on which the ring continued to shine, and kissed its palm before kissing her forehead. Smiling, Lileina nodded slowly.
"We both will."