Chapter 15

Miri felt herself being pulled out from a deep hole of darkness and into her own body as she woke to the dim light of the sun breaking through the walls of the tent. Her shoulder ached dully. Shifting her head slightly, Miri tried to remember where she was. She still was not completely aware that she was lying in a bed with bandaged shoulder.

"So, you're finally awake," came a soft voice from somewhere nearby.

Miri followed the sound and turned to look at the speaker. It was Evin. In his hand he held a bowl of hot food, which instantly made Miri's stomach rumble with hunger. She smiled weakly at him, then stuck her tounge out, making relief flood into Evin face as he laughed. He has a nice laugh, thought Miri. Warm, friendly and kind.

"Are you going to give me my breakfast or not?" demanded Miri, pulling a face at Evin.

"But of course, my lady," Evin said, with a certain glow in his eyes that made Miri squirm uncomfortable.

"Stop it," she said severely.

"What?" Evin spoke with an innocent face. "I didn't do anything!"

"Yes, you did, and you know it."

"Did not"

"Did too."

"Did not." Evin swept his blue eyes over the whole of Miri's body, showing a longing and craving which both scared and excited her.

"I said stop it, or I do something about it," she said threateningly.

"Oh well, if you say so." Huffing slightly, Evin plopped down on the stool near Miri's bed. "Danric hoped that you would awake today. You've been in and out of consciousness for two days."

"Two days!"

"Yes," Evin said, smiling. "You've been holding up all the Rider groups."

"I have!" Miri looked mortified at being the cause of the delay. She turned her face to Evin, pleading for pardon. "I'm so sorry, I--" Evin cut her off with a quick kiss.

He smiled abruptly at her."I should be sorry, teasing you when you're in this state," he gestured at her cot. "Here's your soup. You were supposed to drink it as soon as you woke." He started to spoon-feed her carefully, as her shoulder would make feeding herself a difficult task.

Being the butt of Evin's joke did not suit Miri in her condition. "You are a bad man, Evin."

"I know," he said cheerfully. "But you love me for it!"

"I used to."

"What!" Evin sputtered, as soup went flying from the spoon he held midway to Miri's mouth.

"Yes, Evin," Miri said solemnly. "When I was ill, I had a premonition that told me that I should not see you again. Unless you can prove otherwise."

Setting the bowl aside, Evin bent over Miri and echoed huskily, "Unless I can prove otherwise. Of course I can."

"Confident, aren't you," Miri remarked, moving her head away from Evin's intended path.

"Yes." Evin put a hand under her chin to stop her moving away any further, and tilted her head back towards his. Slowly bending down, Evin gazed into Miri's eyes for reassurance. He saw what he needed - love. He was mild at first when he captured her lips, afraid that he might cause her more harm than good in her weakened state, but that ended as Evin's will couldn't hold back. He gradual pressed Miri back down to her pillow as he deepen the kiss and let his fingers tangle themselves into her soft hair. After awhile, Evin pulled back, feeling ashamed that he had no control.

Sitting down on the stool, Evin stared at the floor in silence. It was Miri who ended the quiet. "I don't know if you've convinced me. I think I could have had better," she pondered this awhile. "Though I haven't had a kiss for a long time. Maybe I should make sure." Miri smiled warmly at Evin, feeling happy to be alive and even happier to see and feel and taste him.

"How can you be so calm about it?" croaked Evin, "I nearly lost you...and you...you're just teasing me! I thought you were dying. I thought I'd lost you." With that, Evin had his face in his hands, weeping silently. Miri looked shocked. Never had she seen Evin waste tears. Lifting herself gingerly off her bed, she stumbled towards him. Not waiting for permission, she raised his bowed head into her hands and sat on his lap.

Startled Evin stopped and stared at Miri. "You should be in bed!" He ordered, his temper quickening.

"Stop it," she said, firmly but quietly. "We need to talk."

"Fine, just don't blame me if you fall ill..." Miri stopped his words with a kiss.

"Stop it," she repeated and Evin obeyed for once. He wrapped his arms around her to secure her on his legs, and to feel her in his arms. Protected and safe. Only she isn't. I wasn't there to save ner when she needed it.

"Now, my dear Commander, we both know the risks of being a Rider. It's a hard and sometimes dangerous task, but we do it because we believe in something greater. To help and protect the common people in Tortall. People like us."

"You should do the motivational speeches for the new Riders,"quipped Evin. Miri whacked over the head for silence.

"Evin. I am glad to be one of the Queen's Riders, though I could have done without the cold nights outdoors and the mud constantly appearing in my hair and on my clothes. I could have spent my life without being bashed and bruised by the enemy, and hearing men and women telling that I should be whipped for disgracing the female sex. And yet, if I had the choice, I'd do it all again, since I would have you. You were the reason I took that stupid arrow in my shoulder, so you'd better be grateful!

"I am."

"Good," nodded Miri. "Because I know next time I will let the archer shoot you instead of me!"

Miri began to yawn, her body was still tired and she missed warmth from her bed. As she shivered slightly, Evin lifted her easily in his arms and carried her the short distance back to her cot. He fussed over her for the next few minutes, tucking the blanket up to her chin and tucking all the corners in.

In her sleepy haze Miri mumbled,"You'd make such a good father." Evin stopped fussing and leaned in to kiss her forehead, staring uncontrollable at Miri's beautiful face.

"You too...I mean...of course... in a motherly way...hopefully...er..." Evin jabbered. Miri's eyes sprung open as she heard Evin babble about mothers. What's brought this on? She wondered. Not that I mind...I love him. Oh no, he mustn't know I just thought that! Well, you do love him, so what's the problem? She hated how her brain seemed to be argue with itself.

"Evin?" she spoke. Evin stopped his ranting and gazed apprehensively at Miri. "Will you marry me?" The silences lengthened, as Evin appeared to be choking on an invisible vegetable. "Not like right now, but maybe in the future, when we've had time to consider?"

Miri's pitch about marrying was stopped short as Evin's lips seized hers suddenly. Unlike any other kisses she had gained from Evin, this one burned with unspoken passion and filled her very core with happiness. She felt her insides melt and it seemed that fireworks had been lit in her stomach. Instinctively, her hands found Evin'' hair and she pulled them closer together. Evin broke away from her red tender lips and quickly pecked her cheeks, nose, eyelids, and chin.

Out of breath, Evin replied raspingly, "Yes."

"You would?" Shock was apparent in Miri's voice.

"Of course, you ogre." Miri hit him over the head again. "I love you. I think I always did, but you were too stubborn to see it." Evin ducked away from the upraised hand, caught it, and starting kissing the palm.

"I love you too." Miri said it quietly, admitting her feelings was something Miri didn't do often, but Evin heard her words easily. He gave her a big hug, nearing killing her in the progress, until she cried out that she couldn't breath and if he didn't stop he would be a widower before they even had a chance to get married.

"You need a ring," stated Evin. Miri just grinned. "Will this do?" he asked.

His left hand came out of his pocket to reveal a small blue box. Flipping the lid open, Miri gasped. Set in silver was a large dark blue sapphire surrounded by small light blue crystals.

"I thought the colour would remind you of the sea...and my eyes." Ignoring the remark, Miri stared at the ring, flabbergasted.

"You planned this?" squeaked Miri.

"Well, I was going to surprise you with a romantic meal in Corus, but you jumped ahead of me...again." Evin smiled. Her reaction was perfect, even comical if he would see beyond the lover's perspective. This woman who looked half -ill, exhausted, and now crying was the only one for him.

"Yes." She mumbled through the tears and so Evin placed the symbol of love on her left hand.

Miri suddenly threw her arms around him and whispered defiantly, "You do know this means that you can never dance with a court flirt again."

"I only did that to make you jealous," protested Evin.

"It worked."