Not even bothering to shake the snow from her hair, Emelaide grinned as she threw another snowball, which just barely hit Marreck's ear.

The two continued on like this for nearly an hour before Emelaide knocked Marreck to the ground, her knees pinning against his chest. Her breathing hard, Emelaide held a snowball ready for fire. "Give up?" she inquired breathlessly with a small laugh and a teasing grin, her face flushed from all the excitement.

"Fine." Marreck said, laughing. "You win." He said, staring up at Emelaide.

"I told you; you can't beat me," Emelaide said teasingly, tossing the snowball to the side as she spoke. Just as their eyes locked, Emelaide blushed and turned her gaze to the snow beside her as she started to move off of his chest, "S-sorry about that."

"About what?" Marreck asked, sitting up and moving close to her.

Sitting back on her heels, Emelaide blushed, "F-for sitting on you as I did of course. I must have been heavy; not to mention how improper it was of me to do so."

"Now, now." Marreck chided, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Don't be silly. You're light as a feather." He said then quickly he wrapped his arm under her knees and pulled her to his chest as he stood up. "Now this is my afternoon. So now you have to close your eyes. I want you to see something but you have to be suprised for the full effect."

"Oh very well," Emelaide laughed as she wrapped her arms loosely around Marreck's neck and her head softly rested against his chest. Listening to the soft beating of his heart, Emelaide obligingly closed her eyes as she inquired, "Where are you taking me, anyway? Into Elimlee?"

"Yes. Its not very far away but its beautiful and I think you'll like it." He said. Then, without another word, Marreck began to run at an inhuman speed, darting through the trees at a fast pace. "No peeking." He reminded her, his breathing even despite the run.

"Okay." He said after only a few minutes. Marreck set her down to stand, moving his hands over her eyes as she faced what was known to the Spring Elves as the Field. "Open your eyes." He moved his hand, revealing miles of flowers of all shades.

Reds, blues, purples, yellows, and many different shades of flowers swayed gently in the breeze. The flowers grew taller in some areas, shorter in others but they all seemed to belong as if each was made with a purpose rather then just for fun. But in the middle was the tallest tree in Elimlee, reaching far over all of the elves' heads. The very tree that had been there longer then any elf could remember, only enhancing the beauty of the field of flowers.

When Emelaide opened her eyes, she couldn't help but smile as she took off her jacket, letting the jacket fall to the ground beside her and the warm sun dance across her pale skin as she tip-toed through the flowers until she reached the open area surrounding the tree. Laying down under the tree, stretching out in the grass beside the flowers, Emelaide looked up into the treetops and watched as she sun slipped through the trees and sparkled upon her skin.

"It's so magical.. the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she whispered softly, her eyes a tad glossy as if tears were forming, yet none fell.

"You've got that right." Marreck said, laying down beside her. "Its by far the second most beautiful thing I've seen."

Emelaide laughed, "Marreck, how could it be second? What could possibly be first? Nothing can get more perfect than this scene right here. I've seen more scenes than you can imagine, both in Winterglade and down on Earth, and none come close to what I see here."

"Oh, I beg to differ." Marreck said with a sly smile. "I have something far more beautiful sitting right next to me." He said, nudging her elbow playfully.

Emelaide blushed a deep scarlet and looked back into the sky, avoiding eye contact with Marreck, "Y-you jest; surely you say this to all your friends. Y-you shouldn't say things so lightly, one may get the wrong impression."

"I can assure that I am being serious when I tell you that you're beautiful." Marreck said, resting on his elbows. "Perhaps a little more self esteem would do you some good." He added with a smile, standing up and offering his hand to her. "Now how about I show you a better view?"

Emelaide's blush remained as she took Marreck's hand and stood up, "What could be better than this?"

"You'll see." Marreck said, moving to the tree and beginning to climb. He glanced back at the ground where Emelaide stood. "Coming?"

Emelaide nodded and began to follow. Unlike Dimitrius, Emelaide had been fond of climbing trees was often found in the higher middle branches of the trees near the border reading or playing cards with the animals who lived just across the border in Elimlee.

In moments, Emelaide had caught up to Marreck, "Why are we climbing this tree? Surely it's forbidden seeing as how it's such an important part of your history."

"Nonsense." Marreck said. "Climbing trees is a very respectable hobby." He said as he reached the top branch, sitting on the branch. "Beautiful isn't it?" Marreck asked, gesturing to the view of the flowers.

"It's a good thing I wore leggings beneath this skirt," mumbled Emelaide as she sat down next to Marreck. Looking out over the field, Emelaide couldn't help but grin, "Very.. I wish things like this could grow in Winterglade. I love the snow, the ice-crystals, and the winter scenes; but a part of me just craves all the wildlife and the color here."

A few moments later, Emelaide burst out laughing, "S-stop that! It t-tickles!" As Emelaide laughed, a tiny chipmunk poked it's head around her neck and looked up at her. Smiling, she nuzzled the chipmunk's cheek with her own, "You devious little thing."

After a few "squeek"s and "chip"s from the chipmunk, Emelaide laughed and gently patted the creature on the head with her fingertip, "Of course I do, your Carlie's son Jenper; she brought you to our game two months ago, did she not?"

A few more "chip"s and "squeek"s were heard from the chipmunk and Emelaide laughed once more. Noticing Marreck's odd look, Emelaide blushed, "Forgive me. Marreck, this is Jenper; Jenper, Marreck. Y-you see, I'm able to talk to the creatures of the trees. You may find this hard to believe, but they're quite the card players."

"Which is more then you can say." Marreck teased with a laugh. "Hi there." He said to the chipmunk, petting the chipmunk's head gently. "I may not understand anything you say but it is a pleasure meeting you."

Emelaide laughed as Jenper pushed away Marreck's fingers and turned his back on him, "chip"ing away into Emelaide's ear all the while.

"Forgive Jenper, Marreck. It seems he's jealous and believes you monopolize all my time, which is why I haven't seen him in so long. Jenper, dear, Marreck is someone I've only just made friends with. Now quit being silly and make nice with Marreck before I'm forced to send you on your way until you can behave yourself."

Jenper "chip"ed a bit more but after Emelaide scolded him a little harder, Jenper scrambled onto Emelaide's head and looked at Marreck, his tiny little arms crossed as he "squeek"ed and "chip"ed an apology.

"Thank you, Jenper. He says he's quite sorry for being so rude. He's the only one who's allowed to monopolize my time, apparently; it's been that way since he was a tiny thing still being nursed by his mother."

"Well." Marreck said. "I apologize for taking all of Emelaide's time. If Emelaide wishes that I should stop then I will. Though I do enjoy spending time with her." He added with a smile at Emelaide.

Emelaide blushed as she stammered, "D-don't be silly Marreck! Jenper isn't one bit right about such things. I-I like spending time with you as well, more than you know apparently, and I don't wish for our meetings to end; unless you'd rather them end that is.."

"Did I not just say that I enjoy spending time with you Emelaide?" Marreck teased. To Jenper he said, "Thank you for understanding."

~-~-~

Ariala stumbled out of her lesson, her energy all but drained. She glanced at the sky which was only moments from sunset and took off for her cottage to change her clothes.

Jenper grumbled a bit at Marreck before scampering down to to Emelaide's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek, and then running into the tree and running off towards his home in the woods.

Emelaide smiled as she watched Jenper run off, avoiding eye contact with Marreck, "Aye, I heard you; but I also heard you say you'd stop seeing me at the drop of a hat. I simply wanted to relieve you of any unwanted contact with me, that's all."

----------

Dimitrius stretched as he walked home from his Aunt's house. Thinking about tomorrow's adventure with Ariala, Dimitrius decided to head into the woods to practice climbing trees so that he didn't look completely ridiculous in front of Ariala.