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"Mmm, that sounds like her. Lina always has been the one for planning things weeks before you truly need to. As for the colors, depending on the hues we choose, the effect could be rather stunning in the meadow. Have you thought about where to hold our Engagement Dinner? The Dinner Rehearsal? The Wedding Breakfast? I'm truly at a loss as to how we were to go about those. With such two different cultures and climates, it'll be hard to appease everyone."
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"To be honest, I haven't put an entire amount of thought into it." Ariala admitted. "There's so much to do. Though the wedding itself will have to be put off until I'm 120 which won't be until a couple of months." Ariala said. "A month and three weeks to be exact. Not that I'm counting." She added with a wink.
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Dimitrius smiled as he leaned across the table and placed a tender kiss upon her lips as he whispered softly, "Love, I'm already counting the seconds until we say 'I do.'"
Leaning back, their hands till entwined, Dimitrius finished his tea before speaking, "But yes, that is plenty of time. As far as planning goes, my Aunt and Mother shall help you if you wish it. Although I refuse to go back to that Palace, I will make an exception so that you may meet her and arrive anytime you wish. But after that, my dearest, I'm afraid you shall visit alone. My mother has already acknowledged that she must leave the Palace with Dimeria if they are to see me, for I refuse to go within the same building as that man again. Nothing but trouble comes from being near him.." Dawning on him that he'd never quite mentioned his father was the King of Winterglade nor made it known Ariala was going to become their Princess, Dimitrius blushed, "A-Ari.. I've got something to tell you, which you may have already assumed from the way I've been carelessly talking lately.. Forgive me for not telling you sooner, but I assumed I had that life put behind me.. until now that is.." At a loss for words, Dimitrius wasn't sure how to put it, so he simply remained silent for a time, collecting his thoughts. --------------- When Cindalina left the Palace, she left the King in a state of fury and shock. Only she, in the entire Kingdom, besides Dimitrius, could bring out this fury and spoke in such a manner to him. After a time of laying in bed, he dressed and went to see his wife in their chamber. After lashing out at Cindalina, quite loud and vocally at that, he went on to tell her to contact her son and tell him he may wed that commoner if he so chooses, but he'd have nothing to do with it himself. Therefore, it would be up to the Prince to make the arrangements with the Elimlee Royals. Elinadette, happier than you could have imagined, kissed her husband and thanked him before heading to her desk and beginning to write a note to Dimitrius. |
"Dimitrius?" Ariala asked, her voice quiet. "Are you royalty?" She asked, her breath stopping in her throat. How could he not have told her? Surely that was of some importance even if he wished to not be royal. Ariala couldn't have cared less about his status, her concern weighed more in the fact that there was much he hadn't told her. She stood from the table to take her cup to the sink. Ariala leaned against the sink, facing Dimitrius's back as she waited for his response.
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Dimitrius stood up, taking his dishes to the sink as he spoke softly, "W-well.. in a round about way, I suppose.. you could say that?" Dimitrius finished rather hesitantly, afraid of her reaction.
Taking her hands in his, he looked down into her eyes, afraid she'd end things right there, "Ari.. I.. I left the Palace a long time ago, renounced my title.. My father is even trying to produce another heir so that he doesn't have to acknowledge me as a son and unwillingly leave me the throne due to protocol! There's no sure thing you'll have to be a Queen, we can be just like everyone else! I mean, I don't depend on my status for anything, I promise you. I just.. I didn't want to scare you.. I know I should have told you.. but how was I to bring it up? Say 'Oh, by the way, love, I'm a Prince!'? The timing.. it just.. it didn't seem right.. and then I assumed you figured it out.. forgive me for not telling you sooner.." |
"I'm upset about you being royalty." Ariala said, her voice soft as she looked at his hands on her's. She felt the familiar heat his touch always left as she slipped her fingers through his. "How much more about you do I not know?" She asked, not daring to look at him, as she stared intently at their entwined fingers.
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Gently caressing her cheek with one hand, Dimitrius tilted her chin up so that he could meet her eyes, "Nothing, I promise you. When you meet my father, you'll know why I left. I promise you, it's nothing that I have done and this is the only thing I have kept from you. And, I didn't exactly lie; I did say my parents were in the Palace... and I did plan on telling you.. I just.. I never saw the opportunity.. but now.. after ranting about him.. I.. I thought I'd best tell you.. please forgive me for not saying so sooner.. I truly regret it.."
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Ariala forced herself to smile, hoping it was enough to fool him and knowing it wouldn't be. "Its fine, love." She said, moving towards his cup and bringing it to the sink. She turned with her back to Dimitrius as she began to wash their cups, letting the silence fill between them. Her mind raced as she thought about how Dimitrius still seemed to be a secret to her. They were going to be married and she hadn't even known about her family. She felt like a fool.
"My parents work at the Palace. They're not royalty I mean. Not even close. Though our family is well respected." She mumbled, letting the wors fall off her tongue without thinking and hoping that by telling him about her family things would be better. That she would know more about him and knowing that the exact opposite was going be true. She rambled until the dishes were clean, setting the towel beside her. Yet, Ariala couldn't bring herself to face him. He could have a princess and he had chosen her. Nothing was making sense. Ariala wanted to run, to fly across fields and through forests. To run until her problems didn't matter anymore. But she couldn't run this time. Not from Dimitrius, if she ran she wasn't sure that he would follow her. That was something she didn't want to face. |
"Ari, don't give me that crap about it being alright. I know very well it's not. You may think I don't know you very well, but I do.. I know every emotion you show, I've seen them all. I've seen the movements you make.. and I know you're not alright, I know you're upset and you're just hiding it from me.. I wish you wouldn't.. Do you think because you're not Royalty that I'll leave you and marry some Princess? Ari, even if I were the King of Antronesia, I'd still choose you over any other girl. I love you.. can't you see that? I only want to spend my life with you; you and only you!"
Dimitrius, feeling like he was losing the only thing that mattered in his life, tried to reassure the one he loved the best he could. His words rang truth; he just prayed that would be enough to ease her worries and see that he was true. |
"I know you do." Ariala said, turning to wrap her arms around his neck. "I also know that you always know what I'm feeling. I know you love me. But I don't understand why." She said, pulling him closer against her. "You could have everything but you're choosing me." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm glad you do." She said quickly. "Don't get me wrong. I love you. But you're impossible to figure out." She added.
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Dimitrius smiled as he lovingly caressed her cheek and placed a tender kiss upon her lips, "Ariala Gallagher, I'll love you forever, even after death. No one, no matter their status, no matter their power, no matter how much money they have; no one can compare to you in any way. You're much more than all of that, Ariala, and I love you for it. Furthermore, I believe myself to be the luckiest Elf under the sun, any sun in fact, simply by knowing that you love me and honor me by marrying me in a couple short months."
That said, he placed a deep, long, tender kiss upon her lips before pulling her into a hug, gently caressing the small of her back and her head against his chest. "As for being impossible to figure out," he murmured softly as he placed a gentle kiss upon her head before resting his cheek in her hair, taking in her sweet woody sent as he spoke, "ask me anything and I will answer you fully and honestly, no matter the question. Never will I hide anything from you, so you need only ask any doubts or questions you may have on your mind." |
"Ah, but it would be logical for me to just talk to you." Ariala said with a smile, her toes still curled from his kiss. "I've never been one of logic or reasoning." She said with a smirk. Reaching on her toes to give him another kiss, Ariala sighed and let her body mold into his. "I love you." She murmured, putting her head against his chest.
"You should be home. Its late." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek with her arms sliding down her his until they were holding hands. |
Dimitrius smiled as he returned her kisses and murmured softly against her lips, "Mmm, I love you too my darling Ariala."
Placing a gentle kiss upon her forehead, Dimitrius grinned and brought her hand to his lips, "I'd much rather you come with me, Lina does have pajamas for you after all. That, or I can stay here if you'd prefer, I rather like sleeping beside you after all, what say you?" |
Ariala grinned at Dimitrius's confession. She did have the day off tomorrow and she did want to spend the night with Dimitrius. "Let me get some things for Winterglade." She said, standing on her toes to give him another kiss.
She moved to the bedroom and took her necessities such as her toothbrush, hair brush, and toothpaste and put them in a small bag. She moved through the dressers and put on a dress Cindalina had made for her for the trip over before packing pajamas and an outfit for the following day. Back in the kitchen, Ariala stood with her bag over her shoulder. "Ready?" She asked. |
Gently placing a kiss upon her hand as their fingers entwined, Dimitrius smiled, "Whenever you are."
Letting their hands fall to their sides, fingers still intwined, Dimitrius led Ariala out of her home to the rope ladder. Pausing, he turned back towards Ariala, "What about your parents, love? Are they coming home tonight or staying at the palace again?" |
"They stay at the Palace all Spring. Its their jobs." Ariala said as she moved past Dimitrius and hurried down the rope ladder. She landed at the bottom, fixing her bag and waiting for Dimitrius to join her.
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Dimitrius smiled as he climbed down after her. Taking her hand in his once more, Dimitrius grinned down at her and whispered softly before placing a kiss upon her cheek, "Does this mean I may steal you away anytime I wish and not have your parents angry with me?"
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"That's exactly what it means." Ariala said, reaching up to give him another kiss. "Let's go before it gets darker." Ariala said, holding his hand as she began to run towards the border.
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Chuckling, Dimitrius ran after her, slowing down as they reached the border. "Ariala, what is the rush? If you're frightened of the dark, simply stay close to me, I'll protect you," he added with a serious smile as he pulled her close and placed a kiss upon her forehead, "Besides, the snow looks pretty in the moonlight. It'll be nice to walk home in it, especially with you by my side."
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"I'm not scared of the dark." Ariala said, peeking behind her. If Adan had seen them leave he would follow. Walking would be okay in Winterglade as he wouldn't be able to follow them there. Adan had began to be the same Adan she was with before the wedding disaster and she didn't want things to switch now. His temper could destroy everything.
"Walking would be nice." Ariala said, slowing her pace as she entered the snow covered lands of Winterglade. |
Dimitrius eyed her curiously as he wrapped his arm around her waist, "What is it, love. There's something you're not telling me, and it has to do with Elimlee. Do you wish to talk about it?"
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Ariala sighed, it was absolutely pointless to try and hide things from Dimitrius. She pulled him closer, feeling comfort in having him by her side. "I was just thinking. Adan has a horrible temper. If he saw us leaving he'd stir up trouble." She said. "He's been hanging around the house lately, waiting for me and such. He left me so I don't understand why he's trying to make amends. He could've been gone forever and forgotten about me but he keeps coming around." She sighed, resting her head against Dimitrius as they walked.
He was right, Winterglade was beautiful in the moonlight. Of course she did have the gorgeous Winter Elf next to her which helped. She thought about how they were to be married. How she had gotten this lucky still amazed her. |
Dimitrius gently caressed her cheek with his free hand as he spoke softly, "Ari, I don't care what that Adan may do or say. If you fear he will make me leave you, you doubt me too much. Nothing will keep us apart, unless you wish me to leave. That is the one and only scenario in which I will leave you, and even then it'll be hard to get rid of me," he added with a chuckle as he placed a kiss upon her forehead.
"As for him coming around... would you like me to stay with you for awhile? You're always welcome in Winterglade if you wish to get away from him that way... You know I'll protect you from him, you need only say the word and I'm there." |
"I don't doubt you." Ariala said. "I know you love me." She said before quickly adding, "I didn't mean that to sound quite as full of myself as it did." She said with a laugh.
"I'm not scared of him. I only find it strange that he would come around. He made it quite clear that day that he had no interest in me. Along with many other things..." She said, her voice trailing off for only a moment. Shaking her head at the memory, Ariala snapped back to reality. "I find it odd that he can appear so caring when it was made obvious that he doesn't care in the least bit." |
Dimitrius' lips remained flat-lined as they continued walking, "Yes.. it is strange.. very strange... I wonder what he's up to.. I mean, I'm sure he realized what a big mistake letting you go was and now he regrets it, he'd be a fool if he didn't, so now he's trying to get you back... but... he sees that you're happy.. and you have someone you love.. what can he possibly be thinking following you around and hanging around your house when he knows he's lost his chance? Does he not realize I'll fight for you and not let you slip away from me if I can at all help it?"
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