Dimitrius finished his toast as he leaned against a tree standing tall on the Elimlee border, gazing across the meadows waiting for Ariala.

Ariala started humming on her way through the woods, dancing around the trees before reaching the meadow.

Dimitrius smiled as he saw Ariala emerge into the clearing. Giving a small wave, he began walking towards her to meet her half-way.

"Morning," he said as he placed a kiss on her cheek, "We have all morning together, so what do you wish to do?"

"Swim." Ariala said, taking his hand skipping in the direction of the water fall.

Dimitrius blushed as he reluctantly followed her and, not about to admit to her that he had never learned how to swim, softly tried to convince her to do something else, "S-swim? Y-you sure? T-there's so much more to do in Winterglade though, you.. you have yet to see the ice caves! They're beautiful this time of day, you don't want to miss it."

"Don't be silly. Swimming's fun. Don't you think?" Ariala said then looked up at his blushing face. "Haven't you ever swam before?"

Blushing even more, he avoided looking at her directly, "S-sure I have, it's one of our favorite pass-times."

With a sigh, he admitted, "Alright, no. We don't have pools in Winterglade, it's not a Winter tradition. Sure, we have hot springs, but they're not made for swimming, just soaking. I-I honestly don't know how to swim.. Nor do I even have any attire to swim in.."

Ariala smiled up at him. "So I'll teach you how to swim. Its fun and don't worry about clothes, we just stay in our underclothes to swim then dry off in the sun." She said as they reached the stream. Ariala began taking off her clothes shamelessly until she stood in only a tank top and small shorts.

"Of course, since I'm with you I think it'd be best if I covered up somewhat." She added with a wink.

Dimitrius blush deepened as he hesitantly removed his jacket, shirt, pants, shoes, socks. Standing there in his boxers, his slender build and light skin shining in the light of the sun, Dimitrius hesitantly moved towards the water. Slipping in until he was waist deep, he looked over at Ariala, "How do you plan to teach me? I.. I don't even know where to begin.."

Ariala was distracted for a moment by Dimitrius standing without a shirt before she realized that he had asked a question. "Oh. Uhm, just come out a little deeper. All you have to do is kick your feet to stay above water. I'll save you if you start to drown." Ariala said with a wink.

"Hmm, I like the idea of drowning then now that I know a pretty little blonde'll save me from a dark watery grave," Dimitrius teased as he slowly inched his way deeper in the water, heading towards Ariala.

Ariala laughed, treading in the water. "Just a little farther out." She said, motioning him foward. "See, its all instincts."

"Instinct for you maybe," Dimitrius mumbled as he did as Ariala instructed, trying his best to keep his head above the water.

Ariala swam up beside him, only showing off a little bit as she did so. "Its not so bad." She said, wrapping her arms around him, holding him up the slightest bit.

Dimitrius chuckled as his eyes kept wearily darting to the water, "For you, maybe. For me? This is torture."

"Torture?" Ariala asked, tilting her head to the side. "But you get to be with me." She said innnocently, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

Dimitrius chuckled as he teased, "Hence why I said it was only torture, it's a step up from being Hell."

Taking her hand, he backed up to where his feet could touch and his shoulders were above the water. Pulling her close, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, "Now, love, you'd best teach me to swim before my feet get any colder."

**Expression Note:** "..before my feet get any colder." does not refer to his feet being literally cold, he means it in the expression "to get cold feet" as in, before a wedding or other such important event.

"Okay." Ariala said, slipping out of his arms. "Lay on your stomach, kick your feet, and move your arms like this." Ariala said, gesturing a front stroke.

Dimitrius hesitantly did as she said, floating a bit before getting a face full of water as he tried doing the movements she told him. Spitting out the water, he sneezed, "Well that was fun. Let's go do something else."

Ariala rolled her eyes playfully. "You have to blow out through your nose. Otherwise you'll get all water." She motioned the arm and face movement standing in the water then motioned for him to do the same.

"I feel so helpless and childish," Dimitrius blushed as he repeated her movements, improving a bit from the last time he tried.

"Don't." Ariala said. "I had to be taught how to swim to. You're doing better. Of course you do have the best teacer ever." Ariala joked.

Dimitrius smiled, "Aye, that I do."

For the next two hours, Dimitrius kept trying to improve, and after awhile, he finally succeeded in finally swimming without nearly drowning.

"See, its easy once you get it." Ariala said, her eyes shining with pride. She swam up next to him and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "I told you, you could do it."

Dimitrius smiled as he floated on his back near her, reaching his hand out to caress her cheek as he leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her lips, "Aye, but only because I have a pretty little instructor like yourself to teach me."