Arkarian.
Why am I so nervous? I mean, it's only Matt. He knows how I feel about Isabel, and that we want to spend the rest of our lives together, so this would be the next step anyway. But technically she's only eighteen, which I guess in the 'real world' is a little young, but in our world – well, her agelessness has kicked in, and she's faced far more in her eighteen years than most mortals in their whole lives. So we're not exactly 'the norm'.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up," I wry voice pipes up, and I turn to see Matt leaning casually against one of the machines lining the walls. Even after all this time I forget that he can open the door to my chambers himself – everyone else calls. I realise I've been pacing up and down next to the main sphere (now dark and quiet, since there is no great urgency to watch the past) for the last few minutes, and I halt my steps.
"Hi, Matt." My mouth is all dry and I feel a bit flustered. Matt noticed and raises a brow at me. The older he gets, the more like an immmortal he becomes. I suppose he's never really seen me like this, either. Even in the battle I was calm and composed!
"Hi, Arkarian. So what did you need to see me for?" He's watching me carefully, and I suddenly realise he probably thinks it's something to do with the Named, or the past, or basically anything else.
"It's about Isabel, actually. I wanted to ask you something." I have his attention now. I draw the little box out of my trouser pocket. It is very intricate little box; a deep, dark blue velvet, but as the light catches it the colour glitters. Sometimes silvery, sometimes gold, sometimes violet. I pass the box over to him. "I want to ask Isabel to marry me. And, well... I want your permission to do so."
Matt looks at me as he holds the box in his hands, and I sense that my words have touched him deeply. I know he has protected Isabel all of her life, and been a father figure as well as a brother. He flips the box open and whistles softly. "Wow, Arkarian. I don't know much about jewellery, but this is beautiful. Where did you get it?"
I peer into the box, and am still mesmerised by the ring inside, even though I've looked at it a thousand times already. "Lorian gave it to me, after he granted her with agelessness. He was given it by his parents. I suppose, rightfully, it should be yours, since Dartemis was actually firstborn." Matt shuts the lid and hands the box back to me, shaking his head.
"No, Arkarian, that is yours. Besides," He gins at me then, and thumps me on the shoulder. "It will suit Isabel. I'm honoured that you decided to ask my permission, Arkarian. But of course you can ask my sister to marry you." I grin back at him, suddenly elated. I'm not even sure why I was nervous! The next, and scariest, part is the proposal - and I'm hoping she won't suspect a thing.
"I just ask you one favour, Matt, and that is that you keep this between us. Don't tell a soul! Not even Neriah." Matt lays his hand on my shoulder briefly, and nods.
"Of course, friend. Good luck!" With that he turns and leaves me with my thoughts, which are half excitement and half terrified. Now to put the plan into action.
Matt.
As I walk back down the mountain, I can't help but grin. Their relationship has gone from strength to strength – sometimes a slightly sickening couple, if I'm brutally honest, but they are that effortless sort of couple that seem to know what each other is doing all the time, but not in a suffocating sort of way. I guess Neriah and I are the same, though. Maybe that's just the way it is with soulmates. With Arkarian and Isabel, I always notice that even when they are not together in a room, they always seem to move to mirror each other, even if it is unconscious. Always keeping each other in sight. And sometimes you catch them looking at each other like they are the only ones in the room.
I'm nearly home now, having decided to walk the way instead of use my wings. Sometimes it's nice to actually take your time to do normal things like that. I let myself in and head upstairs. Neriah still lives with us, although she's sort of migrated into my bedroom now instead of Isabel's. Not that Isabel is ever home. Mum has just stopped questioning anything now – we're a little older and have our own lives, and have supposed 'jobs' that she thinks we go to every day. I only really still have my room at home as a formality, to check in with Jimmy and so Mum knows I'm still alive. Most of the time, Neriah and I stay in Veridian, where we have our own chambers. I lead the Tribunal now, having stepped into Lorian's place as the Immortal leader – my father was not interested in moving back to Earth – and Neriah is in training to take up her place on the Tribunal.
I open my bedroom door and there she is, sprawled across the bed reading a book. Looking up to the door, she throws the book aside and opens her arms to me. She is so beautiful – and all mine. What a lucky man I am.
Author's note – Man, I just love shameless romance. Isn't it great?