Disclaimer: I do not own Briar or Sandry, or any of Sandry's family, or any of the characters except for Dallin and Meagan. So no suing me or anything; all I've got is leftover Halloween candy.
A/N: Hehe, surprised that I have another chapter? Sorry that this took so long. I couldn't figure out how to write out what I wanted to happen.
Georgia Nicolson: Dallin could have been piggish, but then he wouldn't be the sweet Dallin that we all know and love!!
Lady Sandrilene: Nope, this is the end (I think). And I read your story. It's way good!!
White-wolf: It was just a friendly picnic! The first one was, anyway…
Hayden's Super Hobbit: Urgh, Homework. Even over Christmas break the teachers manage to get us. Glad you like the story.
Moon*wolf, Justine, Writer Princess: I think that you'll like this chapter…
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Sandry looked at Briar through lowered lashes from over the top of her book, the story forgotten. The teenaged plant mage was seated at her uncle's desk, scribbling away at something. She grinned as she watched him; his forehead crinkled up in such an interesting way when he was concentrating, and it seemed that sometime over the past few years he had developed a habit of biting his tongue.
"Briar," she said softly.
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?"
He looked up briefly to give her a bright smile. "Writing a letter."
"To who?"
Again, he looked up, a mischievous look in his eyes. "Don't you mean: To whom?"
"Ha!" Sandry laughed, picking up a small pillow and throwing it at his head. With a quick hand, he caught it and tossed it back.
"To Rosethorn," he said with a grin, as Sandry knocked the pillow away with her book.
Her eyebrows scrunched together in puzzlement. "But isn't she just at Winding Circle? You could visit her."
Briar laughed. "Shows how much you pay attention. Rosethorn left a couple of days ago for some trading down at Rolinton (a/n: I so completely made that place up it's not even funny.) She won't be back for two weeks."
"Well, I guess I was just…distracted," Sandry said, half surprised by the sudden coyness in her voice.
Briar's eyebrow shot up. "Distracted, eh?" He turned around to look at her, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Yes," Sandry said nonchalantly, rising to her feet and going to the window. "All those reports Uncle has given me…I have a lot of duties around here you know."
Briar laughed and walked over to the window. "Wasn't I even the tiniest bit distracting?" he asked poutily, slipping an arm around her tiny waist.
"No," she said firmly, "You," she tapped his nose, "are just…Briar!" She leaned forward, gazing out of the window with a surprised look on her face.
With a surprised frown, he looked down at her. "What?" he asked, a little cross at having the mood spoiled.
"Isn't that Meagan?" She pointed.
Following her finger, Briar looked outside and saw the familiar figure of his tall brunette friend. Walking hand in hand with none other than…
"Lord Dallin?!"
Briar and Sandry looked at each other in surprise.
"When did she meet him?" Sandry wondered.
Briar shook his head. "I don't know, but they look pretty friendly to me." The two mages watched as Meagan and Dallin walked around a corner and out of sight.
"Well!" Sandry said, dropping into a nearby chair. "That's a surprise!"
"Jealous?"
Sandry gave a most unladylike snort. "Not a chance."
"You know, you have been avoiding him like the plague for the past month. Sure there aren't some unresolved feelings?"
"Briar…"
"A…fear that if you see him again, it'll stir up old sentiments?"
"Briar…"
"Any residual…"
"Briar!"
Briar lifted an eyebrow and Sandry leaned forward eagerly. "Really Briar! Dallin is a wonderful man, but he's not you." She took his hand and smiled warmly. "And it's you that I want."
With a happy smile, Briar leaned forward to give her a kiss. "That's what I hoped."
* * * * * *
Meagan laughed softly as Dallin finished his tale of his niece and nephews latest escapades. "They sound wonderful," she said, unbidden visions of plump babies filling her head. She silently scolded herself. It had only been a month since she had met Dallin, and already she was picking out names for their children.
Dallin nodded. "They are wonderful." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You should meet them sometime." Meagan's breathe caught. Dallin noticed and gave her hand a squeeze. "They don't bite, you know."
"I know, it's just…" she hesitated, unwilling to voice her fears only to find out that they were true. Silently, she stared down at the ground as they walked, and smiled at the sight of his bare feet. Ever since Dallin had discovered her aversion to shoes, he had taken to removing his own when he took her on their evening strolls. To make her feel more comfortable, he had said.
He was always doing sweet things like that.
"It's just…" she paused again. How do you tell a man that you were afraid that you were just a fling? That servants didn't marry handsome lords?
"It's just that you're afraid that my family won't like you, because you are a maid." Dallin said with a slight frown.
Meagan nodded, nervously tucking a curl behind one ear.
Dallin stopped walking, turning in the path to stand facing her. "Meagan," he said earnestly, taking her hands in his. "Listen to me. You are more than just a…a fling." Her brown eyes snapped to meet his as he spoke. "I can't honestly say that I love you…"
Meagan bit her lip. I can…
"But I can tell you this: I am absolutely and entirely besotted with you, Meagan Nilay, and dangerously close to falling completely head over heels."
"Bet you say that to all the girls…" Meagan said softly, watching his face. You certainly seemed to be in love with the Lady Sandrilene. And within a week!
Once again, Dallin seemed to sense her thoughts. "I thought that I was in love with Sandry," he said, with a laugh. "Because my heart pounded when she smiled, and she was fun to talk to."
I felt the same way about Briar…
"But you, Meagan, not only make my heart pound, you make my knees weak, and my head spin, when you smile. And not only are you fun to talk to, but the mere sound of your voice sends a chill up and down my spine." He laughed, squeezing her hands gently.
Meagan stared, completely caught up by the look in his eyes, her heart beating wildly.
"Well?" Dallin asked a little desperately. "Are you going to say something?"
"I am glad…"Meagan said slowly, stepping closer to him and slipping her arms around his neck, "that I am only a few inches shorter than you are."
A surprised look flashed across his face, and he gave a brief chuckle before wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his forehead to hers. "I was wrong," he said happily.
"About what?"
"I'm way past falling completely head over heels."
"Oh?"
"Yes. And I think that I'm going to kiss you now."
"Alright."
So he did.
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Argh!! Cheesy ending! *bangs head on keyboard* Endings are soooo hard….
All right, you guys have to tell me…is this the end, or do you want me to write more? It kinda seems like an ending, but I don't know….
Review!!