Birria smiled to him, "I have a feeling that Albain is going to give her that ring that was by his bag soon too." Joshua raised his eyebrows at her.

"Have you been going through their things Birria?"

"Not really. The case just fell out of his pack when I moved it, so I picked it up and looked at it."

"Don't go through their things again. It's their personal business."

"Well, I want only what's good for my best friend." She nodded her head.

Mirk wandered into the house followed by Marcus and some of his friends. Mirk looked at Birria and pointed to the little wood elves. Birria started to shoo out the children. "Your so lucky! You have a lizardman staying with you!" one little one said.

"Well he's staying here with Lielay and Joshua." Marcus bragged.

"You can talk outside." Birria shut the door and some children moaned.

"Thank you Birria. Thossse onesss have been following me around all day." Mirk rolled his eyes.

"Well, they've never seen a iksar before." Birria laughed.

"Do you know where Lielay isss?"

"Yes, she's in her room." Joshua sat down.

Mirk entered Lielay's room and saw her and Albain talking. He cleared his throat and the two looked at him. Lielay smiled and got up. "Hello Mirk."

"Lielay would you join me for a walk pleasse?"

"Sure." With one last kiss with Albain, she left.

Lielay and Mirk got off the lift and walked silently through the forest. They came to a small grove where the trees circled them. Mirk crouched down and picked up a handful of leaves and dirt. He smelt it and then let the wind take it away. "We have nothing like this in Cabilisss."

Lielay had never heard Mirk talk about his home before. She sat next to him, "What did you want to talk about?"

He looked at her, "Are you happy with Albain?"

"Yes I am. I haven't been this happy for years." Her eyes sparkled.

"Do you trust him?"

"With my life."

Mirk closed his eyes and shook his head, "Don't put that much trust in him. Albain, I've noticed, hasss many different persssonalitiesss."

"What are you talking about?"

"I jussst want you to be sssafe and happy." He stood up.

Lielay stared at the ground for a while. Mirk patted her shoulder and with a swish of his robes he was gone. With a sigh, Lielay rose and stared into the forest. She decided to go for a walk by herself to think things over. Stirring the leaves as her light foot passed over them she disappeared behind a tree. Mirk watched her leave from the opposite side of the grove before he headed back to Kelethin.

*****

Snappy was chasing Marcus and his friends around when Lielay came back. The children laughed hysterically as Snappy bounded after them. Lielay walked byand Snappy jumped off Marcus and rubbed against Lielay's leg. The children kept on playing without even noticing Snappy was gone. "Man, a lion and a lizardman. This is so cool!" one kid said while running by.

Lielay laughed and walked into her house. Everywhere there were things for the wedding; it would take place in two days. Flowers covered every surface area and Joshua's ceremonial clothes were hung off a doorframe. Joshua was rushing around moving things and replacing them with others. Birria came bustling in and out the door with armloads of things. Mirk was sitting in the chair by the fire gazing at it. Albain was seen outside the window on the balcony, he was looking over the edge with his chin resting on his hands.

*****

Everyone was rushing around the morning of the wedding. Mirk was again conned into wearing colored robes by Lielay; he was wearing a dark green robe with the Liltreehuggr crest emblazed on it. To everyone's surprise, Lielay wore a long forest green gown. No one had seen her wear a dress for who knows how long. On her gown the Liltreehuggr crest was sown on her bosom. Albain also had a shirt and vest with his family crest on it.

Lielay had been over to Birria's house early in the morning. Birria's gown was a night blue with a pale crescent moon surrounded by multi-colored stars; the Stargazer's family crest was simple, but beautiful. Marcus was dressed up too, but he wasn't very happy about being forced into the clothes by his mother and Lielay. He sat cross-armed in a chair with a frown on his face.

The Liltreehuggr crest was so wonderful to Lielay as she helped Joshua pull on his vest. His clothes were a forest green like Lielay's and Mirk's. The crest was a tall pine tree with vines wrapped around it, almost hugging it, and there was a mist circling it that represented mana because the most of the Liltreehuggr's became druids and the first Liltreehuggr was a druid. Lielay even took the time and made Snappy a little vest with the crest on his back.

The day wore on and the ceremony ended happily. Birria was now a Liltreehuggr and Joshua was so happy all he could do was smile and shake hands. Marcus was already out playing and getting his clothes dirty. Mirk and Lielay sat talking and laughing while Albain listened and held Lielay's hand. Snappy was over excited with all the attention he was receiving from all the guests, that he barely annoyed Lielay. The sun hung low in the sky when people started heading home. Sawn Shroomfoot came to the Liltreehuggr house after nightfall and brought a bottle of the best elven wine in Kelethin.

"So, what have you done since Crushbone?" Sawn asked Lielay and Albain.

"I went to Freeport, Rivervale, and Surefall Glade," Lielay left out Caleb because it was to painful, "Oh and we had a battle."

"A battle? What kind?" he leaned forward.

"Just a revenge battle, Mirk's old group came and tried to kill us." Albain laughed.

Mirk smiled and laughed along with Albain. Joshua was going to move in with Birria since it would be easier for all of them, so he was moving boxes around as he listened to the conversation. It was late at night when Sawn staggered out the door and into the cold air. Joshua left to Birria's and Lielay was left alone with Albain and Mirk.

"So, when are we going to get your horse Albain?" Lielay asked.

"Well, I was going to give it to you so I was going to let you decide." He squeezed her hand.

"I would alssso like to come with you two." Mirk said.

"Of course you're coming with us. Whether you like it or not." Lielay smiled.

"I'm tired so I'm going to bed. Good night both of you." Albain got up, kissed Lielay, and disappeared behind a door.

"Lielay?"

"Yes Mirk?"

"Would you like to walk again tomorrow?"

"Yes, I would. Good night Mirk." Lielay patted Mirk's shoulder and went to her room.

A light mist was falling when Lielay awoke. The sun was just coming over the horizon and there was little light. After changing, Lielay glided out of her room to find Mirk already up. He handed her a cup of steaming tea and the two left the house. They stepped off the lift sipping their hot tea. The two walked about an hour only saying little things before Lielay spoke up again. "Do you need to tell me something?"

"No," he hesitated, "no, I jussst like to walk with you."

Lielay grinned, "I like walking with you too."

Twigs broke behind them and Mirk turned his head. Standing there was Glynn Stubblechin and his group. Lielay turned and screamed. She threw her tea at Glynn's face and tugged on Mirk's sleeve.

"So, nice to see you again too Lielay." Glynn bowed to her while wiping the warm liquid off his face.

"Who are you and what do you want." Mirk put an arm in front of Lielay and pushed her behind him.

"Glynn Stubblechin and Company." Behind him stood Oc, Papsworth, and Addison.

"We've come to talk to Lielay and Albain since we cant find that Breskin boy." Papsworth said.

"What about?" Lielay glared. "And you better leave Aubrey alone after what you did to his brother." She spat.

They ignored the part about Aubrey. "About our money of course, now be a good lass and behave." Papsworth winked at Lielay as he stepped closer.

"You better get your assssss away from her now." Mirk yelled. Oc stepped forward and brought a club out. He swung it at Mirk's head, but missed. Lielay screamed again and pulled Mirk out of the way to avoid another blow from the club.

*****

Albain awoke form his sleep, "Lielay!" he shouted. He just dreamed Lielay was in trouble. He jumped out of bed and into Lielay's room she wasn't there. Grabbing his sword he ran out of the house. Running through the woods barefoot, he searched for Lielay.

*****

Lielay pulled Mirk along in the woods running from Oc. A blur passed Lielay and she stopped, Mirk's arm was wrenched form her hand. She screamed once more, thinking it was Glynn. She looked on the ground and saw Albain and Mirk toppled over on each other. Letting out a sigh, Lielay helped the two up.

"I thought you were in danger." Albain heaved.

"We are, it's Glynn!" Lielay pointed behind them.

"Why are you running then? I thought you wanted to kill him because of Caleb." Albain scratched his head.

"Well, gee we don't have any weapons smart one." She threw up her hands.

"Lielay did have tea, but ssshe threw it at the sssmall one'sss face." Mirk smiled.

"Oh isn't this sweet. Both Albain and Lielay together." Glynn stepped in front of them.

"Leave now Glynn or you're going to get it." Albain raised his sword.

"Oh I'm so scared, a tiny wood elf in nightclothes. Yup, see me tremble." Glynn snickered and his group laughed.

"Tiny? Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Lielay put her hands on her hips.

"I may be tiny, but some of my friends aren't, like Oc." Glynn said hotly.

"Oc has a small brain so he doesn't count." Lielay giggled.

Oc tilted his head and just stared blankly. Papsworth put a hand to his face and groaned. Addison laughed under his breath and Glynn got mad. "That's enough! Give me my money now or you all will die!" he stomped his foot.

"Calm down. Cant we jussst talk about thisss?" Mirk said.

Papsworth was some how behind them now blocking them with his sword and palm that had a small mana ball forming in it. Oc and Addison were on both sides and Glynn was still in front of them. Oc snarled like a wild animal and Lielay gave him a "can't you think of anything better" look. Albain held Lielay in one arm and his sword in the other. Mirk held up his fists and faced Oc.

"Do you really think you can beat us? I mean a wood elf in nightclothes, an iksar without a horn, and a helpless woman." Papsworth laughed.

"This is much easier then kidnapping her kid. Did you ever find him Lielay?" Glynn mocked.

Lielay lost it. She pushed Albain out of the way and threw Glynn to the ground. She sat on top of him and punched him with tears running down her face. Oc came up behind her and grabbed her like she was a rag doll. Albain flew at Oc only to be tripped by Addison. Mirk did a flying kick and sent Papsworth into a tree. Glynn got up and rubbed his head, he stood on tiptoes and told Oc something.

"Stop!" Glynn shouted. Mirk was helping Albain up when Glynn shouted and the two froze. Lielay stopped kicking in Oc's arms and stared at Glynn. "I have a deal for you three."

"What." Albain spat.

"No money, no Lielay." He rubbed his hands together evilly.

"You can't do that, you can't keep me prisoner!" Lielay began to kick and struggle again.

"You have one day before we kill Lielay. I'll be waiting for you by the docks." Glynn turned around and started walking, Addison followed.

"Me strong. Me squish 'ittle elf head easy." Oc said stupidly.

"Come on Oc, you knucklehead." Papsworth yelled. Oc ran after his group with Lielay thrashing about. Albain started after them, but then Lielay screamed in pain. Albain stopped. Oc was shaking his hand at Albain and was squeezing Lielay's head. Albain fell to the ground and pounded his fists into the earth.

"This is all your fault Mirk!" Albain bellowed.

"Mine! If it wasssn't for you I wouldn't have to convince Lielay to trust you!" the lizardman yelled.

"What!" Alban's head shot up.

"If you didn't sssleep with that barmaid I wouldn't have to talk to Lielay about thingsss!"

"You told her didn't you!"

"No I'm jussst trying to. protect her from you. I want her to be sssafe and happy." He lowered his voice to a growl.

Albain stared at Mirk, "You love her?"

"Don't you?" Mirk turned his back to him.