Hello! Here we are again. Let's recap, shall we? A new war is brewing in the midst of winter. Drew, being made general will be on the campaign to the south. In his fury towards the king who dared to suggest having May in his harem, he made up his mind about marrying May. All that is left is actually asking.

Fire!

I still don't own Pokémon...damnit

Chapter 14: Stay With Me Before You Leave

Turns out, May had been waiting for Drew as he came out.

She looked away sheepishly, "I thought you might want to...talk?" she muttered.

Drew stared at her, "Talk?" he replied, lightly stumped.

May pressed her lips together for a second, "Well sorry! I didn't mean any harm," she said, sounding offended but mostly just hurt. She turned to disappear to the living quarters,

Drew quickly grabbed her wrist, "I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting it," he said. He was sure that once she was up in her quarters he'd have a hard time getting her down and he didn't know if he dared to barge into her personal space again. "We'll talk."

May looked stunned, but then nodded, "Care for a walk then?" she said.

Drew glanced outside from the overhanging they were under: there was a layer of snow and it was still snowing. He knew his own cape and double tunic was more than enough to keep himself warm and his sturdy boots would keep his feet dry. "Are you dressed warm enough?" he asked. That cape she wore seemed awfully thin.

May stared at him and then smiled, "I'll be fine. It's not snowing that badly," she said.

And she was right, Drew thought, there were just tiny flakes falling gently. "Let's take that walk then," he said and held out his arm. May chuckled as she grabbed it and they entered the snow-covered gardens. Drew knew they must be not that far from the maze, and though he wouldn't brave it now, he was eternally grateful of meeting May there.

"Thank you," May suddenly said and Drew looked at the young woman on his arm. "For defending my honour, anyway," she said staring down, blush adorning her face.

She did look very pretty, Drew decided, with flakes in her hair. "Wouldn't be the first time, now would it?" he asked chuckling.

May smiled, "No, it wouldn't," she said.

They walked in peaceful silence, May stopping to look at the snow-covered trees and bushes every once in a while. Meanwhile, Drew was contemplating what to say. He promised Norman he'd ask May to marry him, and he definitely wanted to do that before he leaves.

Only now, he didn't know how. It was the right time. Actually, coincidentally, he thought, he couldn't have picked a better time. But this needed to be done before the snow got heavier or she got to cold.

Taking a deep breath he grabbed with his other hand May's hand that wasn't on his arm, turning her towards him.

She smiled at him, "What is it?" she asked.

Drew gulped, "May, you probably have, no I know you have bad experience with this," he said, then looking around for a moment, searching for the right words. "And I am hardly up to standard. I have to clue to act around officials and I am crude. All I have to me is my mother's name and I don't know my father."

He halted, breath stuck in his throat. May was staring at him with sapphire deerlike eyes and Drew felt his face heat up. He really wasn't the right man to do this.

The castle loomed next to them, covered in snow. It would have been idyllic had not his nerves been killing him. He ruffled his hair and then continued, both desperate and afraid to finish. "I am arrogant and caused you more grief than happiness. I want to use the rest of our lives to make it up to you. I do have your father's approval, but the woman, not the princess, May is more important to me than anyone's opinion."

He realized he was beating around the bush, even if realization was dawning in May's eyes. A crop formed in his throat and Drew knew he sounded hoarse when he continued. "May, someone asked me if I wanted to have you waiting for me to come home. I want that. At the moment, it's all I want. I want to share our lives, and all the fortunate and unfortunate things that happen in it."

Drew clenched his hard around hers and fell on his knees, not feeling the cold of the snow, the water seeming in the fabric of his pants. He wouldn't know what to do if she refused. He pressed the clenched hands to his forehead staring at the ground.

"Make me the happiest man and marry me?"

It stayed silent for the most frightening moment of Drew's life and he'd rather do the whips all over again if it meant not feeling this terrible fear and hurt of refusal.

But then he felt May's hand slip from his grasp and rest on his jaw, forcing him to look up. In her eyes there were tears burning and he almost got up, thinking he had done something wrong.

Instead he got no further than rising slightly when May shook her head. Drew's heart about stopped when she spoke. "Drew, you silly silly man," she said, and the heavy emotion in her voice stilled Drew.

She slid on her knees as well to the same height as Drew, who silently protested against her taking that position in the snow. "Half of what you just said was unnecessary but I am glad you did. I'm glad you came into my life and make me feel more than just a princess. I'm glad that you value my wish and I'm glad you want me in your life," she said.

Then she smiled, "Of course I'll marry you, you idiot!" she laughed, tears running over her face.

Drew was speechless, stunned for a moment before on his face too a smile broke and he would have swept her around hadn't they been seated on their knees. Instead he pulled her towards him in an honest embrace he for the first time felt, did not have to be limited.

"I'll spend the rest of my life making you not regret this," he said hoarsely.

He felt May nod and right now, no words were needed.

The snow was still falling and Drew felt May shiver. "Do you want to go back?" he asked.

May shook her head, not letting go from the embrace. "No," she murmured. Drew laughed softly, having some idea why as she made herself more comfortable.

"I won't disappear once you let go, you know?" he said gently.

May let out something that seemed like a whimper, "You know that isn't true. As soon as I let go you'll have to leave for war," she said.

Drew nodded and pressed his lips together. In this insane burst of happiness, he hadn´t thought of the impeding war. Suddenly he felt a lot less like letting go. But they did need to get out of this cold. The snow had started falling heavier."May," he whispered at the still clinging girl. "I won't disappear. Not unless you want me to tonight," he said.

May loosened her grip and stared up at him. Drew smirked lightly, "It's true that the next days will be all about preparing. But tonight, it's all about saying goodbye to loved ones. Unlike Gar, I won't slack off, I won't risk life's," he said.

May nodded although touched by his words, saddened, "So you won't leave tonight?" she asked.

Drew shook his head, "No, slow one, not unless you want me to," he said. He felt as if he was digging his own grave, but it was her right to ask this of him. And, if he actually was digging, he'd gladly take up the shovel. May had been at the meeting, and knew exactly how things were.

But his promise, although jabbing, visibly cheered her up. "Then, let's go inside," she said.

Drew smirked, pulling her up, "Starting to get cold?" he teased. At her frown, he shook his head, "Let's get inside by all means."

As she walked next to him, Drew tried, a bit futile, to keep the goofy smirk off his face, or at least wearing somehow a bit more of a less elated face, but failed. He'd been pushed and bullied into it somehow, but he was going to marry May eventually. The same clumsy, stubborn, go-lucky May he couldn't stay away from.

First, there was a war to be fought, but at home the war was over. He didn't need to protect her from possible worthless future husbands, because it was him, and he would never want to be a worthless husband to her.

Suddenly he noticed May leading him up the stairs to her rooms, and he pulled back slightly. "May, you do know I can't go there?" he asked.

May looked back, "Why not? You said you wouldn't leave tonight," she said.

Drew sighed, that wonderful but naïve woman, "May, whatever we said or promised, I, a male, can't be seen going to your rooms. Your honor is something I'd very much would like to leave intact, unquestioned," he said, smirking.

May stared at him for a moment, and then realization struck. She seemed to ponder this for a moment, "Then, tonight, I don't want you to think about my honor or the war, my rooms or whatever strikes youer mind. I want you to stay," she said stubbornly.

Drew quieted, this was one fight he apparently wasn't going to win. Yes perhaps she did have him in the palm of her hand, "Very well," he said. "Then, I'll follow you." Then he smirked at her, "Just don't expect me to do anything, how about we leave that for the wedding night?"

May blushed furiously and hit him in his shoulder, "I don't want you to, jerk," she muttered.

Drew chuckled and chose not to reply. At the moment, he still felt way too happy to argue. Luckily, no questions were asked as they didn't meet up with anyone on the stairs. The castle-walls probably had earts so May might have something to explain eventually when she took Drew inside her chambers.

This time he had actually the time to look around in her room. Much like the rest of the castle, her walls and floors were made of stone and torches lit the room somehow. His slightly frozen limbs were grateful for the fire in the fireplace. The rugs and the tapestry were all very much tinted red.

May looked back at him, a bit embarrassed. "Would you mind turning around so I can change to my night robes?" she asked.

Drew snickered but did as he was asked. For all her gutsy behavior she was still rather modest, even around him. Since he wasn't one for voyeurism he kept his eyes forcefully on the window. Faintly he noted it was a good thing they got out of the snow. The light snowfall from before now rather resembled a snow-storm that wouldn't die down any soon. This made him frown. This campaign, even if it was to the south would be hard.

On horses in full gallop it took 4 days to reach the border. To do so with an army packed and walking it would be considerably longer. And the borders were actually a mountain-chain. And when they did cross those mountains to Kamesh' land, they would be faced with desert. One side is freezing with snow, the other side the scorching desert.

To Drew, this war was damned before it actually started.

"What are you thinking of?" May asked. Drew deemed it safe to turn around now, if she was speaking to him. Sure enough, facing her, she had already crept under the covers and was seating up.

Drew shook his head and sat down on the ground beside her bed. It didn't matter that only his shoulders and head reached over the edge now. "Nothing your pretty little head needs to worry about," he smirked.

May pouted, "I thought you would think more of me by now than that," she murmured.

Drew closed his eyes as he pressed his hand against his head, "Then, rather, I don't want you to break your head over it." He felt May's hand clench around his.

"It's about the war, isn't it?" she asked.

Drew smirked at her, "You're too nosy for your own good," he said.

May smiled back, "I'll share a house and family with you. Why can't I share your life?"

Drew sighed exasperatedly, "I wonder if it has been a wise decision to marry you," he teased.

Shoving his arm shoulder lightly, she protested, "You can't take it back now!"

Laughing lightly, Drew replied, "Like I'd do that now," he said. It had taken up so much of his courage, and the breaking his head over it, hadn't been all that fun.

May sniggered, and Drew looked up at her curiously, "What?" he asked.

She shook her head, "Are you sure you don't suffer from moodswings? You seem to change your mind all the time," she said cheekily.

Drew smirked back at her, "I have to, if I want to keep up with you," he swiftly said.

She huffed and dropped herself on the bed, laying on her side to face Drew. "Do you know how to fight this war already?" she asked more seriously.

Drew frowned, "To be totally honest, I don't. By all means we have every adversity you can think of. Unfamiliar grounds, harsh weather, and me, who doesn't have any experience at all," he said.

May pressed her hand against his shoulder, "What happened to the confident Drew I know? Don't think so low of yourself," she said.

Frowning, Drew replied, "I think I am just nervous then. I am not Gar, I care about the men I am responsible for, even if I ask the most out of them," he said.

The female on the bed let a breath escape, "You'd better not be like Gar, and believe me or not, your men care about you too. Otherwise they'd have given up immediately. Just, don't do anything foolish, alright?"

He relished in the small touch she accompanied her words with. Only turning his head slightly to look at her, he smirked, "I'm not you," he said. Then he sighed, "May, I asked you to marry me. That much is true. I made, however, a second deal with your father."

May frowned, moving a bit, but didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue. He'd probably tell her. And Drew didn't disappoint, as he closed his eyes slowly, damning every honorable bone in his body. "I asked him, whether we could get married only upon my return." He snapped his eyes open at her to see how she would react.

May gasped, she hadn't thought of that, it hadn't registered. She'd been sad that he'd go to war, and happy he had actually asked her to marry him that she hadn't thought of the time he would be away from her. She had figured they couldn't be married immediately, and she hadn't expected that, but this…was something else.

Drew saw her mind work, and closed his eyes in defeat again, "I understand if you're not willing to wait for me…" he said, but May interrupted.

"And what kind of woman would make me that? Why would I be different from all those other wives that wait for their husbands to come home?" she growled.

Drew looked up, he had hoped but hadn't dared to think of it as a fact. "Even if it takes me years to come back, you'll wait?" he asked incredulously.

May smiled, "Even if it takes you years, I will wait," she said.

It was indescribable to Drew. "Thank you," he whispered. He couldn't believe really that he was this lucky, she'd be willing to wait a long time for him.

May smiled, closing her eyes, "Then, promise me, you'll come back," she said.

Drew frowned, "How can I do that?" he asked. The skin of her face was distracting against his hand.

May made a noncommitical grunt. "How do you think? Return to me," she said. Drew smiled softly. Sleep was already overwhelming her. In some way it made him sad because it ended the limited time they had. It was also very endearing.

He leaned down raising from the ground next to the bed and pressed his lips against her temple. "Then, I'll come back to you, so wait for me," he whispered. May didn't reply and Drew figured she was already asleep. He didn't think leaving would be this hard now, and he really, really wanted to stay.

But he had a duty to fulfill so he threw a lingering look at his promised, and then turned to leave.

May woke the next morning alone.

The castle was in chaos, everywhere there were diplomats walking around, trying to get every thing noted down. From Max, May had heard Drew was doing his job well, and it would seem he'd manage to prepare the entire campaign in just a matter of days.

May knew that and was proud of it, but it still left her wishing he wouldn't have to go. As perfect as he might be as commander, she liked his arrogant, flawed self a bit more. She didn't even see him during these days.

True to his words, Drew wouldn't compromise her honor sneaking into her chambers.

Misty sat down next to her, as May stared into the fire. She had been reading, a tragedy about a knight who loved his lady and never came home, but she really really didn't want to read something like that right now. Drew not coming home made cold fear grip around her heart. She still wanted to really get to know him, his likes, dislikes or annoyances, even his strange quirks. She wanted to be able to snuggle against him in private.

But she wasn't that selfish so she let him to his duty. Right now, that was more important than her, and May knew that she would wait for him. Even if, and it would, take years and life turned her older.

"Moping around again?" Misty asked.

May glared lightly at her, "I'm not moping," she stated.

Misty waved at her surroundings, "You're alone staring in the fire with an empty look. What should I call it then?" she asked, a light teasing glimmer in her eyes.

May rose a single shoulder in a shrug, "What should I do then?" she asked. "He proposed properly, but he's off to war."

Misty sighed, "I know how you feel, but you must have faith that he will return."

And that, May smiled, glancing at the book she had put away for a bit. "He promised that," she said.

With a light puff of breath, Misty smiled at her, "It's not that I don't share your pain, Ash is going too." She pulled a face. "Although he got warned not to distribute any more horses on a whim." She and May shared a look and then burst out into laughter. They could only all too imagine how he'd taken that remark: sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

May sobered up quickly, "Do you believe Ash will come back to you?" she asked.

A playful glimmer and a smirk appeared on Misty's face, "Well, he didn't exactly give me such an elaborate promise as Drew did to you, you must tell me about that by the way. Where did you have that talk?" she rattled off.

"Misty!" May called, face red.

Misty waved her hand, "Ok, ok, just saying," she replied. "Then rubbed her sleep, "As I was saying, Ash didn't promise anything like coming home for me. But it takes more than a petty war to keep Ash away. Even if I have to drag him back myself!" she said.

She wasn't saying it aloud, but May could see the memory of him almost dying flash in Misty's eyes. But Misty huffed, "That guy is as block-headed as they can get," she said. For a moment, May really admired her companion, the way she blindly could have faith.

Horns sounded outside and the two women looked at each other. "It's time, isn't it?" Misty asked.

May listened to the deep metallic sounds, "Yeah," she breathed. Then she rose from her chair and looked at Misty, "How about seeing them off?" she asked. Misty nodded and followed the princess.

"Tell me, why are we at the walls?" Misty asked. Without question she had snatched horses with May and they had galloped to the outer walls of the castle citadel.

May turned to Misty, "I don't know about you, but if I would stand between the crowds, I won't see a thing. Besides, my father will see them off about here," she said.

Misty nodded, and the two dismounted their horses. Soon enough the sounds of the crowd reached their ears and in a solemn line the army arrived. For some reason everyone seemed to be taking this war more serious. Unlike the other war, the men had to travel far and the road was difficult, especially with the snowfall.

The men were heavily packed and families were saying goodbye. The trumpets were playing of victories yet the mood was anything but victorious. Women were silet, any sound were the whispers of goodbye.

May spotted her father and brother on their horses, with between them Drew sitting on his own horse. It seemed that this time too Roserade would come. Drew had his back straight and his face stern but his eyes were far. As they reached the gate, Drew too stepped off his horse.

May wondered for a moment, he couldn't have possibly have seen her yet, but instead he walked to a middle-ages woman with green hair. He hugged her closely, and May saw tears in the woman's eyes. Then it made sense: this was Drew's mother. She had been May's nursemaid but the princess didn't remember her face. From now on she would. Drew didn't get his handsome looks from a stranger.

Then he turned and got back on his horse. The slow march went past him: Drew keeping watch over his men. It took some while but once all the men were past and well outside the walls, Drew followed them through the gate. For a moment, May was afraid that that far-off look in his eyes was the last she'd seen from his face, when he turned around.

His eyes searched the gathered crowd frantically, and then settled on May. The snow that had been falling the past days, covering the grounds with a thick blanket of white, suddenly picked up and the snow fell harshly in the wind.

Drew and May stared at each other for a moment, before Drew rose his hand, pointing at May, closed his eyes and pulled his hand back to lay it over his heart.

May understood the message and her throat constricted.

Then Drew opened his eyes, visibly hardened. His hand dropped, and with a short tug on the reigns, he turned and galloped towards the disappearing group of soldiers, barely visible through the snow.

He was almost not visible anymore when May found the feeling in her legs again. She sprinted out in the snow, leaving Misty and everyone else behind her. "Get back home, you hear me!" she screamed in the wind, not caring her feet got soaked in the deep snow.

Drew was barely more than a shadow in a white scene.

"Please," she whispered, feeling the stinging cold betray the tears on her cheeks. "Return home to me."

[You are in my heart]

Oh man, I really took too long with this. I have a lot of trouble with the next chapter, and I am afraid that my college-education is challenging enough so….well. I'll try to update a bit more…..shame on me!