Emelaide blushed, "S-sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you, nor did I mean to wake you with my shivering. Am I making you uncomfortable? I can move if you wish.."

"No, I don't really wish to move." Marreck said, pulling her against him. "Unless you wish, I don't wish to move at all."

Emelaide smiled as she leaned back against him, "Not at all, I'm perfectly content."

"Are you sure you're parents won't mind?" Marreck hesitated. He reached down and brushed his lips against her forehead. "I don't want you to be in trouble."

Emelaide laughed as she snuggled closer to him, "Not at all. My parents left this morning to visit our relatives across the Kingdom so they won't be back for a couple of weeks. Besides, this is much better than spending the night alone."

"Very true." Marreck said, resting his head against her's and watching the starry night. A lone star shot across the sky, leaving a silver trail. "Make a wish." He said with a smile.

Emelaide shook her head softly as she smiled, "No, you make the wish. You saw it first, after all. Besides, I've already gotten the wish I would have wished for, so it would be useless for me to waste the star."

"And what was your wish?" Marreck asked, looking down at Emelaide.

Emelaide blushed as she looked up and met Marreck's eyes, "To find someone I can fall in love with whom I trust completely; someone who will hold me out under the stars and let me fall asleep on their shoulder, yet expect nothing more to occur. Someone like you."

"Well, then I guess you did get your wish." Marreck said, giving her forehead a gentle kiss. "Of course I'll take you home whenever you like. Though, this tree is very comfortable with a beautiful elf next to me." He said.

Emelaide laughed as she snuggled closer to Marreck, her head resting once more on his chest, "I will return whenever you wish me to. I suspect you wish it to be soon for I'm sure your family is worried about you being out all night."

"There's no need to worry about my family." Marreck said. "They have already passed away."

"Oh Marreck.. I'm so sorry.. when did it happen?" Emelaide blushed as she stammered after realizing how nosy she was being, "F-forgive me, I-I didn't mean to-to pry or anything.. I.. I'm truly sorry, Marreck.."

"Don't worry so much." Marreck said with a small smile. "My parents died when I was very young. I think its less painful to have lost them without knowing them rather then live with the pain of knowing what it was like and losing it."

Emelaide sighed as she snuggled close to Marreck, "Don't say that Marreck. When you become a husband and have children, you'll see that you are wrong in your belief. You'll come to see that it's better to have had them and lost them, than to have not had them at all."

"Then I'll leave my depression to the future." Marreck said. "I think I'll just choose to have a joyful life until then." He wrapped his arms tightly around her, resting his chin on her head.

Emelaide couldn't help but smile as reached her hand towards his and clasped it gently, "Your future won't be depressing once you have children and realize your belief is mistaken. If anything, you will be happier once overcoming it."

"Perhaps your right." Marreck said. "However, talking of my parents' death is quite depressing itself. Let's talk about you." Marreck said.

Emelaide nodded, "Very well, what do you wish to know?"

"Tell me." Marreck said, taking a moment to think. "What's your favourite thing to do in Winterglade?"

Emelaide laughed, "That's an easy one, play cards in the forest - either alone or with the animals, doesn't matter to me as long as the temperature is right and the snow is gentle while I play."

"That does sound like fun." Marreck agreed. "Perhaps we'll have to play again someday." He said with a smile.

He noticed the sky becoming lighter as the sun began to rise. "I should take you home." Marreck said with a sigh. He moved out of her embrace, wrapping her legs around his waist as he pulled her on his back and leaped to the ground.

"Hold on tight sweetheart." He said.

Emelaide smiled, "That we shall. And this time I'll be sure to win!"

Wrapping her arms gently around his neck, she softly kissed his cheek before resting her own cheek against it, "I suppose I should be getting to bed. But you needn't take me past the border, I fear you'll freeze if you do."

"To the border it is." Marreck said, taking off for the woods. He dodged trees, running through the meadow where he had played hide and seek with Ariala the day she had met Dimitrius.

Dropping Emelaide on her feet, Marreck turned to face her. "Here we are." He said, pulling her closer by her waist to give her a tender kiss. "Sweet dreams." He said with a smile as he pulled his lips away from hers.

Emelaide blushed as she stammered, "S-sweet dreams. I-I'll see you t-tomorrow?"