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Interlude I: The First Try

Devur, Aguro and Jerin were sitting around a table downstairs in the Sorcerer's Cerpreve. The three were talking about the events that had led up to the point to which they had arrived the night before, which had been Christmas Eve. Aguro was sitting next to his wife of two years and had his muscular arm around her slender shoulder. She, on the other hand, was holding his hand and had one hand on his thigh as they talked. It was making Devur very uncomfortable, but he did not say anything.

It's cute, he decided, after he was sick of being jealous of the two for what was about forty-five minutes. I never thought that those two would wed each other. And two years later, even after attending the wedding . . . I cannot believe my eyes. Aguro Levarien Ackern and Jeriavea Sylanie Valardis-Ackern are actually getting along with one another. He drummed his hand on the table in thought as he looked at the stairs, as if it would make the time go faster. It would have taken a brain surgeon to make those stop arguing when we were fighting the Sinistrals in the Second Doom Island War! Now look at them!

Devur felt like screaming. He really did. So he tapped his feet and cleared his throat, which followed with him banging his head against the table.

Jerin looked at the Knight of Alekia with an inquisitive look and muttered to Aguro, "Devur has finally lost his mind, Ag. Just look at him." Her hand that was on his thigh went around his abdomen. "I mean, I think he's worried about Lufia yet again . . ."

"Well, look at us," Aguro pointed out to his wife. "Ready to--"

"Don't even suggest it," Jerin told him. "I am not thinking down that road tonight, Aguro. Not in someone else's home." Yet there was a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "But have some decency in front of our friend and your fellow knight. I don't think he's even had sex yet, from the way his face is turning red."

Devur rose his face from the table and looked at Jerin with merciless blue eyes, glaring at her from a beet red face. "Don't try my patience tonight, Jeriavea," he growled, using her full name. "I don't want to be toyed around with. Lufia is the most important matter we need to be discussing."

Jerin hissed at him, "How did you--"

"That is irrelevant," Aguro interrupted, cutting Jerin off. "Lufia is the most important matter in this case. Her memories are returning, overwhelming her. And if we do not help her . . .they could come for her and take her for their own greed. And once that is done, there might not be anything we can do." Aguro sighed as he shifted positions on the bench he shared with Jerin. Stretching his legs underneath the table, he asked, "Her nightmare and this man Bryant . . . has she told you who Bryant is?"-+

Devur nodded. "Somewhat. She hasn't told me all about her past, Aguro."

"Now you know how we feel when she doesn't tell us stuff, Devur," Jerin muttered as she yawned tiredly, scratching at the back of her head. "Still, there could be a way. But Lufia has to wake up still." Then she looked to Aguro. "I need you to let go for a minute, hon. I do need to relieve myself for a minute, you know."

Aguro shook himself out of what seemed like a deep thought before he returned to the present "Oh . . . what?" He blinked a few times, dark hazel-jade eyes staring at Jerin's golden ones. "Sorry about that, dear." His arm lifted off her shoulders and Jerin slipped out of the end of the bench and seemed to float away, her long blonde hair bouncing behind her.

Devur, who sat opposite of Aguro, look over at his friend closely. "You two seemed to have settled your differences."

"Yes, it seems to me that we have. A long time ago, in fact," Aguro told him, still looking at his wife as she walked. "But you know, I'm glad that we did. The constant fighting was not going well for me at all. It seemed to tear my soul apart, if you know what I mean."

Devur nodded, brushing back his red hair. "Yeah, I know what you mean, Ag." You tell them not to do one thing, and they do the exact opposite of what they say." Dreamily he looked out the window, which was still sunny outside. Then he shivered, realizing that it was cold in the room. "You know, that was partially why I didn't want to take Lufia with me when we were fighting the Sinistrals in the Second Doom Island War. I was afraid of losing her." He really did not realize what he was saying as he was looking out the window, staring at the Pripheas that were in bloom.

Aguro seemed to notice this, but he did not want to stop Devur from talking. Instead he wanted the Knight of Alekia to go on, to relieve his stress. "Well, why?" He knew the answer; Aguro wanted to hear Devur say the words that he never heard him say to Lufia Narobyn.

And he heard them in the next three seconds, and they were spoken without hesitation.

"Because I love her, that's why, Aguro. I love Lufia and I would give anything not to lose her ever again."

Aguro looked at Devur as the Knight blinked and turned to face Aguro. It was then at Aguro suggested the unthinkable to Devur Tranvent.

"Have you ever thought of telling the girl, Devur?"

Devur turned away from him then, his face lighting up a beet red color. "Well, no. I don't think Lufia will listen to me. I told her when she was sleeping, of course, and when we were little, but you know how it is when you're little. It doesn't mean anything when you're little."

Aguro sighed as he once more tried to talk to Devur about telling Lufia his true feeling He was tired of him not telling his childhood sweetheart of how he truly felt, and Aguro knew that Jerin told Lufia the same thing. Lufia had told Jerin the way she felt about Devur, but it was starting to seem like Devur was never going to tell Lufia. "Well, look, you know she loves you. She's devoted to you, man. She's one of those girls that will never leave you."

"I know, Ag," Devur meekly replied. "I'm just not sure she's ready for me to say yes if I ask her to marry me, that's all." He pulled out a amethyst ring that he had hidden in his pocket. "I want to propose to her on Christmas Day--today. I just--I guess I'm losing my nerve, that's all."

Aguro nodded. "Damn straight you are. Now, you are going to ask her, right? Because if I hear that you've chickened out, Devur . . . "

Devur shook his head.

"It's been twelve years that you two have been together, Devur Arran Tranvent. You two should tie the knot by now." Aguro smiled as he said this, crossing his fingers. "I'll tell you the whole story on how Jerin and I stopped arguing later, only if you promise to propose to Lufia."

Devur smiled. "Deal."

It was at that point that Lufia came down the stairs, with Roman helping her walk. Devur smiled and rose, while Aguro smirked and sat, his feet on the other bench. His sword was standing beside him, the point standing up. Devur was in full knight's armor and he reached his hand out so he could take Lufia's hand. "Lady Lufia."

Lufia giggled, then started coughing for a moment. "Oh, forgive me, Devur. I'm afraid I'm getting sick. But is there something you want to talk to me about? You're never this formal with me unless you want to ask me something." Slowly she took Devur's hand and she pressed to her heart. "Mi'Lord Devur."

Devur got on one knee and started sweating violently on the sides of his forehead. His eyes started darting from one side of the room to the other. What if she says that I'm not good enough for her? What if she doesn't want me? What if--

He heard something whoosh from the back of the room and hit him in the back of his head and he knew nothing more.