"Of course." Marreck said. "What time would you like to meet?"

"Wh-whenever is more convenient for you. I don't wish to keep you from any classes you may have, I know this time of year is the busiest for Spring Elves. I have no classes tomorrow, and I don't want you to get into any trouble on account of me, so whenever is best for you we shall meet here," Emelaide stammered softly, her thoughts still thinking about how wonderful Marreck's lips felt against hers, yet confused as to why she was feeling that way.

Marreck smiled, cupping her chin and putting a thumb over her lips. "You're rambling." He teased softly. "Tomorrow at sundown." He said, leaning in for another small kiss before turning to leave. "Until tomorrow Emelaide." He called over his shoulder.

Emelaide blushed as Marreck turned to leave. Snapping out of her utopian daze, she stepped in front of Marreck, stopping him from going any farther, and wrapped her around around his neck. Teasingly murmuring against his lips, Emelaide looked up into his eyes as she spoke softly, "What makes you think you can kiss me like that and get away with it?"

Marreck smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "What do you plan on doing about it?" He asked.

Emelaide grinned as she teased him, her hand slipping into his hair as she spoke, "I can think of a few things." Brushing her lips against his, she stepped closer, deepening the kiss with every movement as she let her body gently rest against his.

Marreck was beyond words as Emelaide's lips touched his. He thought he mumbled something of an agreement but he wasn't completely sure. Marreck pressed tighter against the small of Emelaide's back as he moved and hand to curl behind her neck. His lips moved slowly over her's as he deepened the kiss.

After several kisses, Emelaide broke away and murmured softly against his lips as her nose gently brushed against his, "I hate to say it, Spring Elf... but I think.. I'm falling in love with you.."

As a gentle blush deepened the color of her heated cheeks, Emelaide lifted her sapphire eyes so that they met Marreck's.

"And I find that I'm falling in love with you as well." Marreck said, cupping Emelaide's chin with the hand that had previously been around her neck. He gazed into her sapphire eyes, shining in the sunlight.

Marreck moved to look towards the sky which had become a red form the sunrise. "You should be getting home." Marreck said with a smile. "Until tonight." He said softly, pulling her chin towards him and kissed her softly.

As one hand gently stroked Marreck's cheek while the other slid down his arm to clasp his hand, Emelaide returned his kiss with more kisses, saying without words that she was perfectly fine right where she was.

Marreck responded to her kisses with some of his own. "Emelaide." He whispered against her lips. "You should be home, I've kept you out all night." He said, moving forward to give her another kiss.

"No one will notice, and I don't mind," she murmured between kisses as her lips made their way down to the nape of his neck where she kissed him tenderly, "Unless you'd rather me leave, that is."

Marreck moved his hand, pulling Emelaide's lips back to his own. Marreck moved his lips to kiss her jaw and traced a line to her ear. "Temptress." He whispered.

He pushed her away gently. "You know we can't stay here all day." He said as he stepped away.

A small pout forming on her lips as her eyebrows creased and her eyes locked with his, Emelaide inquired softly, "Why do you say that? Don't you wish to stay here?"

Marreck's will power shook as she pouted. "You know I wish I could Emelaide. But you also know that I can't." He gently caressed her cheek lightly with his hand. "I'll see you tonight Emelaide." He said, pulling her close for a last kiss. Marreck pulled away before he lost his will power to leave. "Goodbye." He said, kissing her forehead and walking away.

Emelaide sighed as she watched him leave, "Goodbye, Marreck."

Turning back towards Winterglade, sleep began to catch up with her as she stifled a yawn while walking through the woods.

A few hours later, Emelaide was bathed and tucked into bed, not awaking until late that afternoon.

Marreck slipped through his window and managed to dress himself minutes before Erreminette jumped in his room, fully awake.

"Morning." She said cheerfully. "Ariala's coming, she was just getting dressed. Let's go." She said hurriedly, pulling him out the window so that the three could enjoy a day together after what had seemed like ages.

While Emelaide slept the day away, Dimitrius went about his usual routine of lectures and practices. As practice came to a close, Dimitrius decided to check up on Emelaide, who he noticed had missed a practice session - something that was highly uncommon for Emelaide, someone who took pride in knowing she had never missed a practice or a lecture in her life.

Ariala, Erreminette, and Marreck raced to the meadow and, not surprisingly, Erreminette won. "I win again." She laughed.

"Big shocker." Ariala said, rolling her eyes playully.

"So unfair." Marreck said, dropping in the grass. "What are we going to do today?"

Knocking gently as he opened the door, Dimitrius called out to Emelaide, "Em? Are you home?"

Ruffling could be heard from the room down the hall and Dimitrius laughed, knowing that Emelaide was still fast asleep. Making his way towards her room, he wondered to himself what could have made her sleep so long.

Opening the door, Dimitrius smiled and leaned against the doorway. Emelaide's eyes twitched as she turned over so she could face whoever was in the doorway and shedding light across her face. Groaning, Emelaide turned back over and hugged her pillow, "Go away.. Can't you see I'm sleeping?"

Dimitrius smiled as he walked over and sat beside Emelaide on her bed, inquiring softly as he leaned over her so that he could see her face, "Em, are you feeling well?"

Emelaide nodded, "Aye, I'm alright."

"Then why have you missed practices and lectures today and are still in bed at this late hour?"

"Marreck."

"That horrid little Spring Elf of Ariala's? What in the world were you doing with him?"

"Nothing really, but I find myself deeply attracted to him. So much so I'm finding that I can honestly say I'm falling in love with him."

"Love? You? With a Spring Elf?"

"Yes, love. Yes, me. Yes, a Spring Elf. Is it so hard to believe that I may love another after losing you?"

"Well, no I-"

"Because I seem to recall you the one having left and fallen head over heels in love with another."

"Yes, I-"

"I need more sleep for I only just got in a few hours after sunrise. So if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you left my room, shut my door, and didn't let the door hit you on the way out!"

Dimitrius, infuriated by Emelaide's outburst, stood abruptly and stalked out of her room, slamming both her bedroom door and the front door on his way out.

Emelaide simply rolled her eyes as she drifted off back to sleep, thinking of her night with Marreck as she nodded off.

"Marreck!" Erreminette laughed as he gripped her by the waist. "You cheater!" She laughed again.

"How you can you cheat in tag?" Marreck laughed, pushing her away. "You're it." He called, darting away from her.

Erreminette broke out into a devilish grin. "Now who should I catch?" She teased. "Its not like you can outrun me." She laughed, running until she was inches away from Ariala who giggled and back away. Erreminette ran, a blur across the meadow, so she was behind Marreck who ran in the opposite direction.

Dimitrius stalked off towards the woods to cool down from his "fight" with Emelaide. Thoughts racing through his mind, a blizzard raged around him as he sat down at the base of a tree in the middle of the forest. Leaning back against the trunk, he rested his head against the bark and looked up at the sky, letting the snow whirl around him while his thoughts roamed, thinking about Marreck and Emelaide when he wasn't thinking of Ariala.

Ariala felt a small breeze coming from Winterglade. As she moved closer to the border the wind picked up, left over winds from a storm. "Hey. I'll be back, kay?" Ariala called to Erreminette and Marreck.

"Kay." Erreminette called as she ran to catch Marreck, who currently had sweat on his forehead from trying to get away from Erreminette.

Ariala bundled in her long sleeves as she pushed forward. Curiousity killed the cat... Ariala mused as she hurried through the forest. Perhaps curiousity will kill the Spring Elf... Ariala thought as the wind blew against her.

Dimitrius' thoughts raged a war within his mind, as his magic reflected in the world around him. By now, the snow had drifted into hills three to four feet deep around the base of the trunk, nearly hiding Dimitrius as his skin and hair blended with his surroundings. So deep in his thoughts was he, he didn't hear the steps of an elf approaching from the Elimlee border.

"Hello?" Ariala called as her body shivered from the cold. "Anyone there?"