In Joy And Sorrow

The sun glowed beautiful rays upon their bodies as Miriam awoke in the morning, feeling the light shine all around them. Aaron was already awake, leaned against the moss-covered alley wall, staring at his hands in his lap, brooding to himself. Miriam crept towards him and he broke out of his daze, and gave her a shy smile. "Morning." She buried her face into his shoulder and said, "Morning," but the sound was muffled as she lifted her head from his broad shoulder, strands of scarlet hair blowing in the slight breeze. She picked up her body in a cross-legged position, fingering the long strands in her hand. "Hmm... I think I wanna change my hair. How does black sound?" His almond-shaped eyes scanned her for a moment, and he nodded approvingly. "I think black would suit you." Miriam smiled sheepishly at him, then sealed her astramentous eyes closed, and within a minute, her hair had been transformed from an enticing bright red to pitch black, and the raven-black tresses had grown many inches longer. "Black DOES suit you," Aaron said, trying not to stare. Miriam's smile never left her lips. She stood up and paced through the long, dark alley, then came to a sudden halt as she reached something she had not seen before here ; a corpse lying in the heavy sunlight, it's flesh rotting away quickly, giving off an unbearable smell. Miriam's distinquished features contorted into an expression of fear as she knelt down beside the decaying body, her black eyes lingering on it's blood-stained face. She was unable to tell who this victim was, but she could see from the multiple gashes in it's disintegrating chest that it had been stabbed many times, leaving deep knife wounds piercing the man's bleeding heart. She glanced toward a flickering red object on the ground, and then screamed when she realized what the shape was ; at first she thought she imagined it, but it was clear she had been mistaken. It WAS the man's heart, torn from it's humane prison, blood still seeping from the holes and incisions sliced through the organ. Aaron dashed to her side, wondering why she had screamed. As his hazy eyes fell over the corpse, and the heart ripped out from the bloody body's chest, he understood at once. He took Miriam in his arms and covered her eyes while she wept softly, her mind unable to erase the flashing image of the shredded heart, the look of pain across the victim's face, and his chest which was clawed to pieces. His frightened eyes swept over the ground and he glimpsed strips of the man's flesh, and the crimson pool which had spread about five meters diameter. Aaron carefully led Miriam's weeping contour from the alley, walking into a more vast sunlight, he brushed the jet black locks that were in her face. Frantically she tried to speak, but she struggled more with each word. "W-we h-have to get out o-of here! I-I should have known t-this wasn't safe..S-something's out there, a-and, it's looking f-for us.. It w-wants us, Aaron! Like s-some k-kind of m-monster.." Aaron put his finger to her lips as they continued walking away from the mysterious alleyway, and placed his arm around her quaking shoulders, trying to help support her shuddering frame. "Don't worry about that. It's going to be okay. We can go as far as you'd like to go away from there..please don't cry.." He wiped the tears from her eyes. She smiled at him and gave him a hug. "I'll be right back."She headed back towards the alley, her head tilted against the green wall as she promenaded down the aisle. Miriam lowered her eyes as she approached the demised body, and studied it for a moment. She strode towards the place in the alley where they had left their blades, bent down and picked them up, and ran from the black alley. Miriam returned to him, breathless from running so fast, and handed him his immense sword, which he took as he smiled at her. "Thanks." "Much welcome," she panted. She really didn't want to go there again. Miriam gave a brief glance to her shoulder, where the strap of her red corset had been broken. She looked toward her feet, and saw that her short black skirt was frayed. Her cheeks went red instantly. Aaron took her hand and guided her into a thick forest. She gazed all around, her eyes stopping to see the vines that were swinging softly from the wind, the enormous green trees and the patches of grass that grew keenly to her knees. She could hear a brook or a stream flowing in the distance. "Pretty place," she said gently, ceasing her promenade to admire the beauty of the forest. Aaron reached out his smooth hand and touched the trunk of a huge willow tree. "Yes. It's gorgeous," he replied. "Beautiful. It's called Blackwood. I have only heard about it, I have never been here before. It is a forest unlike any other." He sat under the ample willow tree and rested. She went down with him. "How so, do you think?" she questioned testily, a small smile whispering over her light pink lips. "From the creatures that live in it, so I have heard," he responded, forgetting to think. Miriam flinched and mumbled, "So whatever killed that man...I bet it came from here..we're not safe here either, are we?" Aaron's lean arms embraced her as he patted her back gently. "I think we're safer here, and we could always run before we get hurt...you could use your information spells to detect if something is here..then at least we would have a warning. I think it would be okay to stay here for a while.." Miriam sighed, feeling embarrassed that she had been afraid of something that could be easily taken care of. "Okay. You're right. Sorry." He let go of her but held on to her hand. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault for being scared." Miriam nudged him in the ribs playfully, "I'm not scared!" He snickered, pulling her closer. "A-aron..why are you-" He looked at her, the bright smile sliding off his face. "Never mind," she said quickly, casting her gaze down. Aaron cradled her in his muscular arms. "Close your eyes," he told her. Miriam obeyed him and closed her black orbs, as she allowed herself to relax in his arms, feeling the wind blowing tresses of her hair, and Aaron leaning close towards her mouth. He bent his head closer, and pressed his lips softly to hers. She opened up her eyes at the touch of his kiss, and put her hands on the back of his neck, stroking his sensitive flesh gently. "Aaron...we barely even know each other.." Aaron's lip skimmed her ear lobe, and he brought them down to her cheek and started kissing her again. "It doesn't matter..I think you're beautiful..." Her mouth dropped open at that remark. "I'm not beautiful.." she murmured, blinking back tears which were threatening to fall. "You're more beautiful than you think," he stated rather plainly. Her expression became cold and stony as she eyed him fiercely. "You don't even know me! You don't know anything about my life..all the things I do..and what I've done..All the things I feel, you would never understand" Aaron sucked in a deep breath, and recited, "I know you lost your family when you were a child, I know you're house was burned down, I know you were separated from your sister. I know Sarumon was trying to convince you to join his army..I know you escaped..I know you almost killed yourself by stabbing yourself to death. I was the one who saved you..I know right now you're probably wondering how I know all this, don't even bother asking. I know your birthday's in June, I know you have a dark personality, I know you hate fights but are willing to do anything if you have to.." "Okay, okay, I get the point." Miriam could not stifle a laugh. Aaron stared into her sparkling eyes as he moved closer to kiss her again. This time she succumbed. Aaron reached out of his hand, grabbed a flower, and tugged it from it's roots in the soft soil. He situated the lavender lily flower behind Miriam's ear, and she smiled at him, as she ran her fingers through his wavy chestnut hair. The kiss grew deeper as Aaron released his hungry tongue into her mouth, and she rubbed her tongue gently against his. He held his arms around her waist as she writhed with the flowing intensity of the kiss.