"B-but-but that me-mean-meanie hurt you-you!" Dimeria gasped through tears.

--

Dimitrius sighed, "There's nothing to fix, the effect will wear off in about five minutes. A child's magic has this side-effect when it's used. It's part of the growing process."

Looking up at Marreck, Dimitrius' tone became worried, "Marreck, what did Adan do to cause Ariala to become so angry that Dimeria felt they were being threatened? That's the only way she could use her magic.."

"I know he's mean. But we can't hurt him, Dimeria." Ariala soothed. "Please don't be upset. We're not angry with you."

~-~-~

"I-I don't know. I wasn't there. They just came in and then it was cold then they started a fire." Marreck shrugged, the cold beginning to lessen and his body sagged from relief. "You're sister has some serious power though. We should go get them." Marreck said, standing up.

Dimeria simply continued to cry, eventually falling asleep in Ariala's arms.

--

Dimitrius sighed as he walked along side Marreck, "You're right, the sooner we get Ria calmed down, the sooner the magic should release itself.. I'm sorry about all this.. I didn't think we had anything to worry about when it came to her and magic.. I probably still should have warned you all.. I guess my sister nearly freezing you has made things worse between us, huh.."

Ariala cradled Dimeria in her arms, her body starting to become warmer. Ariala gently brushed the hair out of Dimeria's face as the young elf slept.

"She's a very beautiful girl." Erreminette said, the shivers subsiding. "Powerful too. I bet Dimitrius is going to have to fight off the boys when she gets older." She laughed.

~-~-~

"Nah, you telling Emelaide that she should've died in the forest made things worse between us." Marreck said coldly.

Dimitrius sighed, "I didn't mean to say that.. It's a Cordei curse, when we lose our tempers, we say things we don't mean. I simply wanted to hurt her as much as she was hurting me.. I.. I didn't think before I spoke.. I just.. acted.. Forgive me, please.."

"I guess I can't hold a grudge against you forever." Marreck sighed, rolling his eyes. "But if you hurt her like that again I'll hurt you." He warned. "I'm sure you understand that?"

Dimitrius nodded, "I know, and I don't blame you.. I don't want to hurt her again, ever. I promise you I won't."

"Alright then." Marreck said. "Consider yourself forgiven. And speaking of hurting I think we should hurt Adan." He suggested. "I don't understand why he'd come back after what happened. He's an idiot to think that Ariala will ever take him back. Especially with her being all googly eyes for you."

Dimitrius nodded in agreement, "I believe you're right. Though, if even Dimeria can beat him, I don't believe he'll prove to be much of a challenge. Especially if you get hurt. If you thought what Em did to Erreminette was bad, you'll hate to see Adan once Em's finished with him if he even moves one hair on your head out of place."

"Adan won't touch me." Marreck said. "The only thing he wants is Ariala and he's wise enough to know that if he touches me his chances are ruined. Not that he has any chances." Marreck laughed as they reached Erreminette's door. Going inside, Marreck saw Erreminette and Ariala still huddled near the fire with Dimeria asleep in Ariala's arms.

"Dimitrius!" Ariala whispered excitedly, getting off the floor to go over to him and wrap the arm that wasn't holdin Dimeria around his shoulder and place a small kiss on his cheek.

Dimitrius smiled as he wrapped his arms around Ariala's waist returning her kiss with a tender one upon her lips. "Sorry about Ria," he whispered, "I should have warned you.. I didn't think we'd have to worry about it happening until we had children of our own.."

"She was so upset she just fell asleep. I didn't know what to do." Ariala frowned. "She thought I was angry with her for what happened with Adan." She said. "She was crying and she's so sweet it horrible to see her cry." She admitted, looking up at Dimitrius and feeling like an idiot.

Dimitrius chuckled as he gently caressed Dimeria's cheek, "She probably felt you were angry with her because she thought she ended up causing you pain, as well as Adan, in her attempts to defend you from whatever he did. She didn't know the effects of her magic, she can't feel them herself. I don't think she realized it only made you, Erreminette, and Marreck cold. I think she believed she was causing you all pain as well, when her only intent was to cause Adan pain. I'm sure once she realizes you all are alright and no harm was done, she'll be fine. Just give her a bit of time, love, let her sleep it off."

Ariala sighed as she looked down at the sleeping child. "We should head for Winterglade if we want to be there for lunch." She said. "Would you carry her?" She asked Dimitrius. "I think I'll wake her if I try. And Erre, do you have those Winterglade clothes I brought over earlier?" Ariala asked, handing Dimeria to Dimitrius.

"Yes, give a moment." Erreminette said before disappearing into her bedroom and reappearing a few seconds later dressed in one of Ariala's Winterglade outfits.

Dimitrius chuckled as he held Dimeria, "The amount of time it takes you girls to change is ridiculous. You walk in, you're in there no more than two seconds, and you're back out again fully dressed. It's rather unantronesialy if you ask me," he teased, "You sure you females don't come from Earth?"

Shifting Dimeria so he had a better hold on her, he looked over at Ariala, Marreck, and Erreminette, "Ready?"

Erreminette shrugged at his comment, she'd taken her time to. Boys... She thought.

"Ready." Ariala said as the three left the house, heading for the rope ladder that reached to the ground.

"Ar-ar-iala?" Adan's voice asked tentatively from behind them, causing all three to tense.

Dimitrius tried his best to hold back a laugh as he turned towards Adan and saw him shivering. "You must be Adan, I see you had a run in with my seventy year old sister, how's it feel to be completely outwitted by a toddler? It must make your parents very proud. You'd better leave and stay away from my fiancee," he added as he stood between Ariala and Adan, "You're not welcome here, you never will be, so leave. Oh, and if you wake my sister? I don't think she'll be very happy. If you're not careful, she may just give you more than just a cold, she may give you pneumonia," he added with a wicked smirk.

Adan rolled his eyes at the Winter Elf's threats. "Actually I wasn't speaking to you but that's very noble of you." He sighed before turning to Ariala, his arms wrapped around himself. "What are your p-parents going to th-think?" He asked. "Your new beau giving me a cold and what not. They miss us." He sighed. "I miss us. Please just talk to me Ariala. I'll understand if you hate for what I did but I can't forgive myself. P-please." He begged pitifully through his shivers.

"I think you should go now, Adan." Ariala said evenly, her face not allowing any emotion. Adan dropped his head, turning on his heels before turning off away from the group. He threw one last glance back at Ariala, a glance that made her shake slightly. She remembered the same look he'd given her the day before the wedding. He looked horrible and she felt a small amount of pity despite herself. The wedding... She reminded herself. Bastard...

"Let's go." Erreminette said, tugging on Ariala's elbow. Ariala turned quickly and worked her way down the rope ladder without question, the Spring Elves following her.

His mouth set in a straight line, his jaw clenched, Dimitrius turned his back on Adan. Following Ariala, Dimitrius paused at the rope ladder and called down softly to the group, "Ari, love. How are we to get Dimeria down without waking her? Is there anything you, Erreminette, or Marreck can do to take her while I climb?"

Ariala turned, her face expressionless, and grew a tree that reached the rope bridges. Marreck climbed up the branches quickly, swingng from the branches. Reaching Dimitrius, Marreck held out his arms.

"Marreck's the best climber. He'll be gentle." Ariala called up, Erreminette's arm around her shoulder.

"You alright?" Erreminette whispered quietly so that the boys couldn't hear.

"I'm fine. Just a little shaken." Ariala admitted quietly before turning back to Dimitrius above them.

Hesitantly, Dimitrius handed Dimeria to Marreck, his voice and eyes full of worry and concern, "Promise me you won't drop her.."

Marreck rolled his eyes playfully before becoming serious. "I wouldn't hurt her." He said, taking Dimeria in his arms. He wove through the branches quickly, never jostling the small elven girl in his arms. Landing with his feet on the ground, Marreck smiled up at Dimitrius. "Perfect." He grinned. "Still sleeping."

Finally breathing in relief, having held his breath as Marreck climbed through the tree with Dimeria. Quickly climbing down the rope ladder, Dimitrius took Dimeria back from Marreck, "Thanks."

With a smile, Dimitrius looked at Ariala, "Ari, love, when we have children and visit your parents, we're building a new way to get the kids up and down from that tree. I'm not sure how many more trees you can grow to get us up there," he added with a chuckle.

Sighing as he saw her expression and knowing it was due to Adan, Dimitrius' fears of Ariala possibly having feeling for Adan returned to him. "Ari, are you alright? Are you... angry with me?" he asked shyly as a blush crept into his cheeks.

"Forget it.. never mind.. that was a stupid question," he said softly, embarrassed. Shaking his head lightly, Dimitrius headed in the direction of the Meadow and Winterglade.

"I'm alright." Ariala smiled weakly, lacing her fingers through Dimitrius's as they walked.

"Want to race?" Erreminette asked Marreck, trying to subtly give a few moments to the couple.

"You're on." Marreck laughed, running off towards the meadow.

"Meet you guys at the meadow." Erreminette laughed as she ran after Marreck and quickly caught up with him.

"Ari, I know you, you're lying. But if you don't want to talk about it, I understand, I won't force you," Dimitrius said softly with a sigh.