After pouring his Aunt a cup of tea, as well as a cup for himself, Dimitrius began telling Cindalina of the incident with Marreck, the worries it brought, and the encounter with a very distressed Ariala over the entire matter.

Cindalina sipped her tea in silence as Dimitrius told his story. When he was finished, she sighed, "Seems to me that Marreck will become a problem in the future. If only he could accept fate like Emelaide; she understands your heart and respects you enough to let things be without causing a scene or fuss over it."

Dimitrius sighed as he picked at his turnover, "Aye, but it's understandable; I'd have reacted the same way if I were him - a bit more gentleman-like and a bit less blunt and cruel to Ariala, but I still none-the-less would have gotten jealous of the one Ariala had fallen for. I do not grudge him for his outburts and I bare no ill-will towards him. I simply worry about how much damage I've done to Emelaide. I'm very relieved to hear that I haven't done damage to Ariala, and that helps lighten things, but I still feel as if I could have handled Emelaide better. What say you Auntie?"

Cindalina sighed, "Dimitrius, you're worrying too much. I've recently seen Emelaide, and she's doing fine. It seems she's already found someone new."

Dimitrius couldn't help but laugh, "So soon? I should have known Em would bounce back quickly."

Cindalina nodded, "Aye, that's what I hear. Apparently he's another temperature controler from the next village over. He was lecturing at the Villa and she happened to be assigned to him during practice. From what I hear, they connected almost immediately and have been seen talking and being some-what intimate ever since."

Dimitrius smiled, "Good, I'm glad. It'll be good for her to get out and find someone new. I just hope it's no too soon and she's not forcing herself on the man; it wouldn't be fair for him to be used like that."

Cindalina nodded as she finished her turnover and stood up to check the pie, "Aye, but from the way she speaks of him, that is hardly the case."

Marreck was standing outside of Ariala's house when she returned home from practice. "What do you want?" She snapped at him, her eyes glowing with anger.

"I want to apologize." Marreck said, looking at his feet. He wasn't one to admit being wrong.
"I should've handled things better when I talked to the Winter Elf." He glanced up at Ariala's face, the fierceness in her gaze was lessened-defiently a good sign. "I just...I know how sometimes you can let your emotions rule you and to see you fall for him and be hurt...I wouldn't bare it." He said.

"Oh, Marreck." Ariala said, giving him a friendly hug. "You worry to much. Yes, you should've handled that much better but you wouldn't be you if you had." She said with a smile.

Dimitrius sighed as he finished his turnover and sipped his tea, "Auntie, do you think I'm good enough? I mean, after what I did to Emelaide, do you think I'm worthy of Ariala's love. She's so much.. I don't know.. I just-"

"Trius, child, calm down. You're getting yourself worked up over nothing and you're letting what Marreck said effect your judgment as well as make you feel inferior to him, which surely must have been his intention. Have you voiced this concerns to Ariala?"

Dimitrius didn't answer and just simply took a sip of his tea.

"From you silence, I judge that it to be a 'No.'. Dimitrius, you need to speak to Ariala, only she can relieve you of your doubts."

"I have, Auntie, briefly. I didn't get into details, I don't want to worry her or have her angry with Marreck. He's her friend, I don't want to drive a bigger wedge between them. I'll be fine, voicing them to you helped me rationalize things. I mean, maybe you're right, maybe I'm falling right into Marreck's plan and am doubting things when I shouldn't be. Now, why don't we pack up those sweets and bring them to the Masters before they get cold."

Marreck wrapped his arms around Ariala for another hug, breathing her in the sweet smell of her hair. "So I'm forgiven?"

Ariala laughed, pulling away. "Not completely but you need to apoloize to Dimitrius."

Marreck grimaced, that was the last thing he wanted to do. "Do I have to? I said those things because they were true. I may have said them harshly but that doesn't change the facts."

Dimitrius sighed as Cindalina handed him another basket after delivering the treats to the Masters, "More? I thought we finished delivering treats on the last run."

Cindalina laughed, "Aye, to the Masters we did, these are for Ariala. I thought she might enjoy them after a long day of practice."

Dimitrius chuckled as he headed for the door, "Aye, that she would. I'll run them over before heading home. G'night Aunt Lina."

"G'night Trius, dear. Give my love to Ariala when you see her. And tell her I'd appreciate her bringing some more apples or strawberries if she feels up to it, as well as give her my deepest thanks for the fruit she sent today."

"Marreck." Ariala said firmly. "Its not your place to judge Dimitrius. I'm in the relationship here. Not you."

"But he's not right for you." Marreck said, only a trace of whine in his voice. "Why aren't you getting it? He cheated on the other elf before you, who's to say it was the first time? How are you sure he doesn't do this all the time?" He asked.

"Enough!" Ariala shouted. "I'm done listening to you. I am 119 years old, I do not need a babysitter. I think Dimitrius and I are good together and its my choice who I see. I'm sick of your foolishness."

Dimitrius sighed as he walked through the meadows of Elimlee, making his way towards Ariala's house. His hair had fallen out of the ribbon holding it back, unbeknown to him, and was now gently blowing in the breeze. Running his hand through his hair, he still couldn't shake Marreck's words. "Maybe he's right," he said softly, "maybe I'm not good enough. Surely Ariala deserves better.."

Grabbing the rope ladder that led to Ariala's house with the basket of treats in hand, Dimitrius didn't notice Marreck and Ariala at the top of the ladder arguing as he climbed.

"Ariala you deserve better." Marreck nearly spat at her.

"I love him. Just because you don't know what love is doesn't mean you can past judgement." Ariala spat at him. "You need to leave now." She said, her voice ice cold.

Marreck sighed then turned to his own home and left, leaving Ariala to lean up against the wall with her eyes closed. He is such a headache... She thought before she heard someone coming up the ladder.

Dimitrius looked up and saw Ariala as he climbed up the last few rungs. With a smile he walked over to her and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, "I didn't expect to see you out here. I thought you'd still be with one of the Masters."

Holding out the basket to her he chuckled, "Auntie made extra for you; she thought you might like to taste some of the treats your fruits made."

Noticing her look, he set the basket down and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close as he gently caressed her back, "Ariala? What's wrong? What happened?"

Ariala sunk into his form and wrapped her arms around his back. "Nothing." Ariala said, she just wanted to be with someone who wouldn't give her headache and Dimitrius was the perfect someone.

"Food." Ariala said, picking up the basket and taking Dimitrius by the hand, pulling him into the house. Her parents were staying at the castle during this spring season so they would be alone.

Ariala moved to the drawers and pulled out a knife along with two plates and forks and began slicing the pie. "What kind is it?" She asked, not looking him in the eyes.

Dimitrius sighed as he walked behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, one hand reaching up to take the knife from her hand, the other slipping across her stomach to pull her towards him. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he kissed her neck softly before tilting his head to look at the profile of her face and speaking softly, concern thickening his voice, "Apple, I believe. But for now, forget the food and tell me what's the matter. I'm not buying the 'nothing' response; something happened after you left me earlier in the meadow. Was it something the Master said? Or was it another Marreck incident."

Ariala felt tears sting her eyes and she turned so that her face was resting against Dimitrius' chest. "Why are you here?" She asked. "Everyone's creating so much drama for us and I just want to be with you." She cried, letting hot tears fall down her cheeks. "Marreck keeps telling me that you don't deserve me but maybe its just the opposite. You don't need this."

Dimitrius hand gently caressed the small of her back as his other hand tilted her head up so he could look into her eyes. Gently wiping the tears away, he caressed her cheek with his fingertips as he said softly, "Don't be silly. There's no place I'd rather be than right here with you. I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me you don't love me and mean it; and until that day, a day I hope never comes, I'm yours, forever. And if being with you means dealing with a jealous creep like Marreck, then I'll gladly fight the battle just so I can stay with you; unless..
Unless you'd rather I didn't and let you go now.. I mean.. if you'd rather be with someone else.. I can't stop you.. but know that I don't want you to go.. I've never wanted anything more than I want you, Ariala. You are the only thing that matter right now; not Marreck, not Emelaide, not the horrible things they may say - just you and me, us together, that's the only important thing."

Ariala was done talking, for now she just wanted to be with Dimitrius and forget everything else. She wrapped her arms up around his neck and pulled him into a kiss, gently carressing his bottom lip with her own before slipping her tongue between his lips and giving a passionate kiss.

Dimitrius simply returned her kisses as he pulled her closer to him, not wanting to let her go for even a moment. As they kissed, his hand traveled down her side and slipped around her waist to join the other; one caressing the small of her back, the other tracing lines on her back and side.

Ariala's hand moved up the back his neck, tangling into his hair as the other pressed tightly to the small of his back. She moved her lips to his jaw, tracing his jawline with her lips before moving her kisses to his cheek and nose. "Dimitrius." She sighed, moving her lips back onto his.

Dimitrius moaned softly as she spoke his name. After a few more kisses, his lips broke from hers to gently caress her cheek, her jaw, and finally make their way to her neck, where they lingered; his tongue seductively brushing against her neck with each kiss.

Ariala felt shivers shoot down her spine as Dimitrius moved his tongue against her skin. The moonlight was filtering through the window and when Ariala looked she realized that the pale light made her skin glow the same shade as Dimitrius, a perfect match.

She leaned back against the wall, pulling Dimitius tight against her then moved her lips to meet his own.

"We should stop." Ariala said between kisses, though she made no move to stop herself.

Dimitrius made a sound of agreement while kissing her though he himself made no efforts to stop, but instead kept kissing her, his hands gently roaming and caressing her thin waist and back.

Ariala knew that she should stop but instead she moved her hand to gently carress his chest, gripping his shirt lightly whenever he kissed her deeply. She moved her lips to trail to his throat, leaving a trail of kisses. When she reached his lips again it took all her willpower to push against him, leaving an inch between their faces.

"I love you." Ariala said. "But we need to stop before we do something stupid." She said, though her hands were still locked around him.

Dimitrius nodded as he broke away from her lips, taking her hands in his as he rested his forehead against the wall to the right of her head, his chin resting on her shoulder, his breathing hard, his face flushed, "You're right. Things will go too fast if we don't calm ourselves down now.."

Placing a gentle kiss on her shoulder, he shifted his head so his forehead was resting against her shoulder, trying his best to calm his breathing, his beating heart, and not notice Ariala's hard breathing as her chest pressed against his.

"Pie." Ariala said, slipping out of his embrace and moving to the table, her face flushed. "Nothing distracts you like extreme amounts of suger." She said with a smile, slicing the pie and placing a slice on each plate.

Handing one plate to Dimitrius, Ariala led the way to her small living room with a fire already lit and keeping the room warm. She settled into an end of the small couch and took a bite of the apple pie. Delicious... Ariala thought, scooping another bite in her mouth.

"Food, always the best distraction when it comes to you," Dimitrius chuckled as he followed her. Sitting down next to her, he set the pie down beside him and took off his jacket. Laying it across the other arm of the couch, he picked his plate and took a bite. "If you think this is delicious, wait until you eat the strawberry and blueberry turnovers. They're even better."

"Your aunt is amazing." Ariala said, taking another bite of pie. "It may take a while for me to ever be able to cook like this." She said.

Gently patting her knee, Dimitrius smiled, "I very much look forward to that. But with a teacher like my Aunt, that day will be sooner than you think."