"I think that you're overanalyzing what I said." Marreck said, moving only an inch closer to her. "The only time I plan to leave at the drop of a hat is if you wish. You don't, do you?" Marreck asked, hoping she wouldn't say yes.

Emelaide shook her head as she smiled at Marreck, "Not at all. Quite the contrary, actually. I'd much rather you stay with me instead of leave me."

"Well I don't know..." Marreck teased with a grin. "You do have a nasty temper."

Emelaide rolled her eyes as she gently nudged him in the side, "Don't make me get Jenper after you. I'm quite sure he knows where you sleep and won't have to be told twice if I ask him to terrorize you."

"Nah, you wouldn't do that." Marreck said with a smile. "I'm far to much fun to terrorize." He said then noted the sun which was currently sinking. "Plus I do know the best spot to watch a sunset." He said, gesturing in front of him.

Emelaide laughed, "Don't tempt me, Marreck, I may just do it. Now come, let us go to this spot of yours and watch the sunset. I've never seen it from the Elimlee point of view, it'll surely be an interesting sight."

Marreck dropped to the ground, holding out his arms in a cradle. "Jump." He said.

Emelaide shook her head, "You'll drop me!"

Marreck rolled his eyes dramatacially. "Please. I have good reflexes. Jump, or you'll miss the sunset." He said, holding out his arms.

Biting her lip as she closed her eyes, Emelaide slid from the branch, not daring to open her eyes for fear she'll see her body plummeting to the ground out of Marreck's reach or some worse fate.

Marreck caught Emelaide in his arms gently, pressing her against his chest so he could stable himself. "You worry to much." He said with a smile. "Now close your eyes." He said, taking off at a sprint at risk of missing the sunset.

"Hard not to," Emelaide replied with a soft laugh as she closed her eyes and allowed Marreck to carry her to their destination.

Marreck ran through a forest, darting around trees and over roots until he finally reached a cliff. At the top Marreck sat down Emelaide next to him, "Okay. Look." Marreck said, revealing a view that stretched for miles with an orange glow settling over the fields and forests from the sun that was starting to set.

Emelaide opened her eyes and smiled, "It's so beautiful... Elimlee is full of such beautiful sights.. you're lucky you can see them every day.. Winterglade doesn't have anything this colorful nor this beautiful.."

"Well, us Spring Elves are amazing." Marreck teased, then became serious again. "We just love color and making everything beautiful."

Emelaide smiled, "Aye, but we Winter Elves do the same, just in a different way. The crystals we form reflect the light in a rainbow of color that dances across the freshly fallen snow. It's just.. not something that you can see anytime you wish; it can only be seen at certain times of the day, unlike here in Elimlee."

"That does sound beautiful." Marreck agreed. "Perhaps you'll have to show me sometime." He said, not realizing how forward he sounded as he stared into the sunset.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Emelaide smiled, "Aye, I'd like that."

Marreck's eyes widened with suprise as Emelaide rested her head on his shoulder, his face relaxing as quick as it had come shocked. Did she realize she was so close? Did it matter?

He decided it didn't it matter at all. He rested his own head on top of her's as he watched the sunset in a comfortable silence.

As the sun finally set and the stars began to shine bright, Emelaide fell asleep against Marreck's shoulder and unconsciously snuggled closer to him, her hand reaching out and clasping his as she slid close.

Marreck felt her hand slip through his, his eyes wide with alarm. He heard her even breathing and realized she was asleep. Did she know what she was doing? Marreck wondered. He wrapped his fingers around hers, gently carressing her hand with his thumb.

With his head resting against Emelaide's, his neck only a little uncomfortable, he closed his eyes, drifting lightly between sleep and being awake.

Shifting in her sleep, Emelaide let go of Marreck's hand, only to clasp his other as she reached her hand across his lap while her other hand slid around Marreck's waist to pull her self closer to him. As she rested her head against Marreck's chest, falling back asleep soon after, she mumbled softly, "I really must thank Ariala someday..."

Marreck, being a light sleeper, woke at her words. He smiled to himself, she did know what she was doing after all. He slipped his now free hand around her small waist and moved his head to give her a gentle kiss on the top of her head before resting it again, now unable to sleep at all.

Emelaide slept in the comfort of Marreck's arms for hours that evening; the warm night air and his gentle touch soothing her. Close to midnight, a large gust of wind blew against her, awaking her with a start. Unclasping Marreck's hand, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, but made no motions of moving from the position in which she was in. Sighing contently, she snuggled deeper into the embrace, if that was at all possible, and slid her hand back into Marreck's. Looking out at the starry scene, Emelaide was in complete bliss but dared not speak for fear she wake Marreck, whom she assumed had fallen asleep but dared not check for fear of altering the embrace in which they were in.

Marreck smiled as Emelaide woke and still cuddled close to him. "Cold?" He asked softly as she shivered, wrapping his arms around her tighter to keep her warm.