Friendships Field

[saerwen]

The wind carried over the green, rolling hills, ruffling the water of the lake like a blanket. The lake was so quiet still and silent other than the slight noise of the wind rushing around. It was like being in a graveyard, a sanctuary for the dead, silent and respectful. The quiet was not unsettling, just peaceful. There is nothing so sweet as a reticent time to stealing yourself away from the all too busy world. When you look upon a beautiful sunset, what can you do but acknowledge your own insignificance and long for the beauty that is so far above your own earnest but futile efforts. When you are in a place of pulchritude, equanimity will follow unquestionably because you have no choice but to see that striving is futile.

The beauty of the lake was striking in this way, nostalgic and refreshing. To sit among such surroundings reflecting on things that were, are, and have yet to be was the only way to remind yourself to live. Busy lives invade the common man’s world with a willfulness that destroys all hope of living. Not existing, living. Reflection is often left for the peaceful times and so the lake was a cause of thought.

With the wind caressing the hills so it also caressed, with the same gentle and caring touch, a man who was sitting there. Still as a stone statue he sat on a small hill, at the base of it, remembering things that had taken place there. His white hair blew tenderly, but stayed mostly in front of his icy blue eyes, hiding the disturbance that was evident there. This lake had been the sight of so many things. It was where he had first met Miriel and Neron and where he had reconnected with Jaedon.

Just thinking about Jaedon made him pause. She had left for a while, and he couldn’t help but wonder what on earth she had been doing those 9 months that they had not seen each other. What kind of troubles had she faced alone? It was striking how her problems seemed to find her only when she was solitary, but perhaps that was because she wanted it that way. Jaedon had still yet to listen to his loving admonishments about asking for help. She would recall them soon enough when her trials became too hard for her to bare on her own shoulders.

This caused him to think of his friends, knowing that he would always have someone that would help him. Friends or foe, they all had something to offer. Jaedon had drilled that philosophy into his head by displaying that sometimes enmity can become empathy when you look at what the other has to give. He thought now of Neron, who he had disliked right up until a few days ago. That fight had been the last of his hatred for Neron...because it was a picture of how destructive hatred is. He would never do something like that ever again, this he vowed.

Then he thought of Miriel, the victim of his hatreds power. With her gentle nature viewing the enmity of her two friends had been far too great, and now she was blocking out all that she knew. The reasoning was that she would only remember the good, but all of her good memories were tainted to some end with failures. She remembered Damion only slightly, and she hardly knew the others...It broke his heart when he thought of it. He had purposely come to sit in the exact spot that he had been sitting when Miriel tried to heal Neron’s injured arm. She had been too weak but still she decided to try. Sometimes Damion wondered why she had been so foolish, and the only answer that he came to was because he had been foolish.

He was so caught up his reverie that he failed to notice how long he had been there. Since the sunrise, he had sat in that spot, thinking and reviewing his actions. How he wished that he had responded differently. He cared about nothing else at the moment but what was trapped inside his head. He was going to make sure that those mistakes stayed in the past. In this way, he was constructing another jar to seal up and keep as a reminder, praying that it would make him a better man, a man worthy of Miriel.

[»Míríel«]

The world was so beautiful. A breeze seemed to meander around the trees, brushing their proud tops with gentle fingers and then rustle the grass with its delicate tread. How could the grass be any greener, the sky more blue, the sun so bright, and the air so fresh? Miriel wondered these things as she walked the earth with bare feet, eyes closed, arms outstretched slightly. It was one of the only things she remembered, nature. But it was almost like nature didn’t remember her. She longed to feel the wind embrace her and swirl around her, playing with her hair, or the sound of birds cheering her onward. A sigh passed her rosy lips as her hands fell down to her side. It was like being a foreigner in a place that you knew very intimately, or seem to know.

Suddenly a different sound came to her ears, water. Pain rushed to her heart coupled with fear. Where was she? Why did this sound cause fear rise within her. It was just water. Opening one eye slightly to peek out at the world Miriel was astonished to see a beautiful lake. She must have created quite a figure on top of the hill. Black hair whipping around her face and body as her mint green dress fluttered around her legs , the flowing skirt catching some of the wind. It seemed like any moment she would be carried away with the wind. One of her hands reached up and clasped her other arm then ran up it until it stopped right below her shoulder. This place...Strange blurred flashes rang through her head. She knew this place. This was where it all happened, she had lost her memory here. But as her eyes scanned the area she had a feeling that a lot more had happened here. Her eyes began to water slightly, welling with tears. This place made her very uncomfortable, she felt like an ant among a host of looming memories, but they were all covered in a thick fog. What was going on with her mind? Why couldn’t she think straight anymore? But just as she was about to be overcome with despair her jade eyes rested on a familiar figure. Damion.

He seemed like a white rose among the hills, overlooking the lake. So strong, yet so gentle and tender. How she loved roses. A slight bit of color climbed to her cheeks as the tears left her eyes. He seemed to be there to give her strength and support when she needed him. Warmth spread over her chest as her hand dropped to her sides once more. It seemed like the wind was pushing her toward him, so she willingly allowed herself to go in that direction. Upon nearing him a slight awkwardness came over her. What should she say, he seemed lost in his thoughts. Should she leave now and let him ponder or should she break his meditation with her voice?

The latter was chosen and quietly, but brightly, her voice carried on the wind. “Hello Damion. Beautiful day don’t you think?” Looking down at him she smiled and then gently lowered herself down on the ground and stared out at the lake. The nearness caused her heart to flutter, but why? It was only water. Turning her face to the white figure beside her she continued, “What brings you here?”

[saerwen]

Damion had not noticed Miriel standing there until she spoke. He turned his head slowly, gazing at her as though he didn’t know her and then the blue depths filled with recognition. It was the ever lovely Miriel, come to this place that had been the sight of her loss. Damion wondered if she remembered anything that had happened here now that she was so close to the very sight. Probably not...he had given up on the hope that she would remember at all, there was nothing to save her memory now, other than the power of the ever willful Jaedon who had still decided that she would not help her friends plight.

He looked at Miriel with a strange gleam in his eyes. They were misty, but clear at the same time. It was like looking out of a window while it was raining. You could see what was outside, but it was covered with the thick mist of the drops. Miriel had never seen this look before, because it was one that he rarely showed to anyone. This was not of remembering, it was of deep regret, and longing. The last time that he had had this look in his eyes was after World War II. He remembered it like it was yesterday. He had looked into the large brown eyes of a beautiful young woman with curled blonde hair and thick red lips. She had just told him that she was breaking their 4 year engagement. She had left him sitting in that silly little park, on that silly little bench trying to pick up the pieces of a shattered and worn heart. After the war, he had wanted to come back, start a family, and be happy. This had never come true though, because she had grown tired of waiting for an endless war to end. He had lost his greatest treasure that day, and the only thing that had kept him going that day, and now he thought about how he had lost Miriel in a way. She was still there with him, it was true, but her mind was lost, and she would likely never regain it. So again, his heart was shattering into a billion little pieces when Miriel appeared at the lake with the tools to repair it.

He smiled gently, watching as she came over and sat down beside him. She was so beautiful. Her green dress seemed to make her eyes glow, the perfect accent to her already perfect figure. Bare foot and wistful, that was now his favorite picture of Miriel, like she should be, soaring in the wind. “Aye, it is a lovely day. The perfect day do come out and think.” he was speaking quietly, like he was trying to soothe a wild animal. “I came for some time of retrospect. What about you?” he smiled and looked at her bare feet against the grass, and with a twinkle in his eye said, “I see that fashion left itself far behind so as to render you all natural today.”

[»Míríel«]

Miriel watched as recognition glittered in his stormy eyes. Those beautiful eyes were so hard to read and see behind that white hair of his. But she could see a sense of sadness in them, well before she had come, but even still there was a hint of it. His voice was so gentle. “It is, that it is. It is freeing in a sense isn’t it? The wind is perfectly wild.” Her eyes grew bright.

She sighed as she pondered how to explain her wandering. Her lips puckered with thoughtfulness. “I just...” Her brow furrowed. “Felt the need to be free. To let the wind carry away everything. For once I felt like myself, or what I believed to be myself.” A smile wiped away her worried expression, “It was like nature was calling me. It’s spring, when the birth of the world is happening. I couldn’t stay inside feeling sorry for myself and miss this time.” With a slight laugh she finished, “Unlike you I came to clear my mind, and you came to fill or reflect with yours...”

At the mention of fashion Miriel looked at him with a puzzled look across her face. Fashion? Then she remembered her feet. A bright red color flashed across her face as she dress her knees up to her chest and covered her bare feet with the skirt. “Oh..” She was flustered. “I just got lost in the beauty of the world. I just couldn’t stand to keep shoes on, it seemed positively sinful.” Resting her chin on her knees she averted her gaze to the lake. With a sigh she tried to turn the attention from herself to him. “So, what were you thinking about?” She blinked as she realized how forward she had been. “I..I mean if you don’t mind telling.” She flushed pink again and turned her face to him with wide eyes of shock with herself. She felt rude, pressing him about his thoughts.

[saerwen]

“yes, the wind is wild, and the sky is blue, there are no clouds, so what on earth could be wrong with a day just like today?” He smiled. “The only thing that could be wrong would be being alone and not having anyone to enjoy such a day with you.” He spoke with joviality, trying to brush off his uninviting thoughts and fill his mind with more agreeable things. Right now though, the only thing that he could think about other than his problems were how the beauty of the day compared only slightly to Miriel. He had been enraptured with her from the moment that she had appeared next to him. He found it hard to tear his eyes from her, knowing that the reason was because he felt like he had yet to lose her.

He grinned when she talked about needing to be free. “Yes Miriel, being caged is the last thing that you need. You need to fly.” He closed his eyes as a gust of wind came over them. He had to admit that he had made the area around him colder so that he would not have to worry about the sun being to hot, and so he knew when the wind would blow a little harder than normal. As it came over them he lifted his head slightly, smiling, letting the wind blow his hair back from his eyes and flow over him like water from a river, fast and smooth.

He looked back at her as she ashamedly drew her feet closer to her and covered them with her skirt. He grinned and then said, “Now I didn’t mean to make you self conscious... I was not ridiculing you.” he paused a moment and stuck his bottom lip out slightly in a sign of a pout, his blue eyes getting really big, like a kitty begging for milk, and then he stopped and the ever present smile broke out again. “I agree, it would have been more than sinful, it would have been awful.” He chuckled as she started tripping all over herself, her cheeks flushing pink after she realized that she had spoken freely. He didn’t mind it really. In fact, he thought for a moment, It is high time that she hear what I was thinking about. She ought to know that there was another before she came...

“Don’t fret, my dear. The rosy hue is going to soil your fun.” he picked up a pebble and threw it into the lake, causing it to skip over the water. He sobered slightly, but still let a gentle smile play upon his face. “I was thinking of former friends.” he started out, about to go in a round about way that would avoid the all too painful story. “No, that is not true.” he looked back to Miriel from the lake with guilty eyes. “With you I will speak my mind. I was thinking of someone that was very close to me. She wounded me very deeply.” He gazed out over the lake again, going back in time to picture the little park outside out the city that had been one of his favorite retreats before the wars. “I doubt that you remember this or not, but I have told you that I fought in the World Wars. I mentioned the first I know, but I think I left out mention of the second simply for this reason. In between war time I went home and wrote home and thought of home which was a little place of no consequence in North America. I am sure that it was so small no one but the inhabitants knew anything of it.

“I left there no one but a woman. Her name was Rachel, and she was quite different from any girl that I had known. She didn’t mind that I had strange powers that could turn her skin cold the second that I stepped in the room. She didn’t care. Before I went off to war I proposed to her, and she accepted me. But the war was long and she was swept away with the times. I came back expecting her to run into my arms. She had been the only thing that I thought about while I was gone, the only thing that gave me the will to keep going when I saw hundreds upon thousands of my comrades die. When I came home I wanted to marry her, start a new life, and a family, but she had different plans.

“No one was there at the train station to meet me...no one came at all. I went to the park where we usually met and found her there with another man. She had not expected to see me and had thought that I was still over seas. When I gave her a chance to explain what was going, she told me that she was tired of waiting for me, and that she had already given herself to someone else. She gave me back the ring and left me with no solace but the words ‘I don’t love you anymore.’” Damion paused as he looked at the ground as he pulled up some grass and turned it to ice, then threw it into the lake as he had done with the pebble. “I gave up on all hopes of ever loving someone again. I still miss Rachel, but the fact of the matter is that she is gone. I lived to watch her die just as I have done with so many other people. I don’t want to do that anymore, but I really don’t have a choice.” Then he smirked. “Unless I love someone that is going to live for a really long time like me.” He then became silent, pulling at the grass.

[»Míríel«]

“Well then.” Miriel laughed. “I’m glad I came along.” She never understood how people could just pass the world by in a city or focus their attention on other things then nature. How could people not see the beauty of it? The world was so intricate, so delicate, so strong, so wonderful. The wind seemed to be pulling Damion’s hair back, revealing his face. She smiled and was pleased to see a sort of peace on his face. Then her eyes turned back to the lake. The churning waters, the rough surface, it seemed wild, hungry. Miriel tore her eyes away from it to stop the uncomfortable feeling that had been creeping into her senses.

“Oh..I’m not self-conscious.” She lied as she wriggled her toes in the grass. “I’m just...embarressed.” She turned to see his pitiful look and nearly lost it to laughing. “Oh stop it.” She started giggling. Then his smile broke through. IT was so radiant, like the sun breaking through the clouds. Without thinking she herself found herself smiling back. How could she not? It was contagious.

“Yes, it may soil my fun.” She glared playfully at him, “But I believe it will only increase your fun. The nerve.” Miriel tried to hide the smile that was trying to peek through, but was failing miserably. Then his smile faded and Miriel tilted her head slightly in curiosity. Something was weighing on his mind. Then he started speaking. A story from his past. Those eyes of hers softened as she listened but her heart, it didn’t know what to think. At first it felt betrayed, then like someone stabbed her. She wasn’t the only one. She hadn’t been his first love. “What am I thinking? I care for him and me for me. But we aren’t a couple..are we? No...I would have remembered.”

It wasn’t until he finished that she stared at him in shock for a moment. Then standing up she paced around him, her face contorted in anger. Not at him, but the woman. “‘How could she?! That....” Her fists balled. “That...oh I can’t say it.” Her fists unballed and she twisted a piece of hair around her finger, wrapping it around and around as she brooded. Then dropping the hair she turned to Damion, her eyes ablaze. “She didn’t deserve you. She couldn’t after all she just threw away the best person for someone else. Humans...” She shook her head, tossing her hair slightly and she turned away from him. “ I don’t understand them.” With a sigh she settled down once more beside him. Placing her hand on top of his she looked into his face intently. “ Don’t worry you will find her...She won’t turn you down and she will see your worth as who you are.” She turned back to Damion. “Whoever that girl is, which she will have to be some girl to deserve you, she will make you the happiest you have ever been.” Letting go of his hand with a final squeeze she tucked her knees up under her chin again and stared off into the distance, her arms wrapped around her legs. Unbeknownst to her, her cheeks were flushed again, but not just from the shock of finding out about his past. The black hair blew about her like visible wind. Her heart was going wild, beating a tattoo into her chest. Miriel could tell that she felt deeply for Damion. Little did Miriel know that her heart was revealing things her mind wouldn’t allow, a memory of something that was before. Love.

[saerwen]

Damion laughed at her with glee in his eyes, making them twinkle like the moon. “If you are embarrassed then you are self-conscious.” He looked at her and spoke, “I think I like you when you are embarrassed. It is so much easier to tease you now!” He did not think to move away from her in case she retaliated, because he did not think that she would. He leaned towards her and gave her a nudge, strong enough to push her off balance.

He smiled and then grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, I am going to enjoy every ounce of this fun. Even though it is at your expense I find myself eager to indulge and torture you.” He noticed how hard she was trying to keep a smile off her face, and how she continued to keep a rather rosy appearance. “I must say that you are doing yourself no favors today. You are wide open. With a continued rosy appearance that I know is not from such mild weather, and such an alluring dress that seems to highlight you rather well, I could comment on you all day.” then he looked up at the sky, “Or at least what is left of the day.” IT was probably 1 o’clock now.

Damion saw the shock rush through Miriel’s eyes in a haze and then she stood up, actions jerking and unpolished, showing that she was upset. He listened to her silently, looking at the ground and then to Miriel. He chuckled at her when she said “The best person” with slight irony in his voice. “My dear Miriel, I am hardly the best person. Perfection is a long way away for most all of us, but most especially for me.” then under his breath he muttered, “If I were perfect then you wouldn’t be in this mess.” The second that she touched his hand he could feel her heat. His ice instantly started to counter it, causing his hand to become cold so that her warmth wouldn’t burn him. The second that it started he made it stop, causing the cold not to grow any worse. He didn’t really care if she burnt him, he would get over it.

He listened to her, his eyes starting to become very gentle, gazing at her with a strange sort of peace. “If everything goes well, then she already does see me for who I am, hopefully, if I have been as honest as I think.” Then he paused and looked at Miriel with very serious eyes. “She still doesn’t know my worth, for it is little, and she will be foolish to consider me, but I will admit, I am more happy then I have been in a long time.” He had spoken very quietly for his words were for no one else’s ears, but Miriel, for she was the only one to which they applied. He longed to just take Miriel in his arms, to hold her as tightly as he could. He longed to...With all of these thoughts pouring through his mind he had not noticed himself moving slightly closer towards Miriel...His only thoughts were of wanting to kiss her.

[»Míríel«]

“How dare you torment a maiden like that.” Miriel laughed. “What has happened to chivalry these days.” Her face sobered as her chin rested on her raised knees. Looking at the grass she wriggled her toes in the grass once more. “Though I am a bit self-conscious...” Her voice had lowered. But the clouds didn't hover over her face for long and another smile broke free. “Don't tell anyone.” With another laugh she smoothed the skirt of the dress out. She was not expecting a nudge, considering her attention was focused on the grass before her. When he leaned against her she tipped to the side. “What the...” She fell to the side, but quickly regained her former position and shot Damion a death glare. Settling her eyes on the Lake she suddenly gave him a hard shove. “Take that!” She laughed.

“You truly are terrible.” Miriel made a mock pout on her face, it was extremely exaggerated. Then turning to him her green eyes grew wide and innocent. “How can I help it if I am remarkably beautiful.” Then she fell to laughing . “You joke Damion. After all I don't even have shoes on. Quite wild don't you think. Perhaps you should be calling me Pocahontas or something besides making me feel like a fairytale princess.” Yet her rosy appearance didn't fade but instead grew a shade deeper at this. “Ah..” She tried to hide her cheeks behind her hands. “Yes.... it is a beautiful day...” Her gaze looked at the horizon, it was so beautiful. No beautiful didn't describe it. She sighed and rested her chin on her knees once more as she circled her arms around her folded legs. A dreamy expression came to her face. How she wished every day was like this.

“You Sir, are the closest thing to perfection that I have known.” She let out a little laugh and continued, “Though that might be because I can't remember anything about you.” Her face smiled at him but when she turned away from him. It grew slightly somber. What if she could never remember? No, she couldn't think of it...even if she couldn't she knew enough, and she knew Damion. “I don't know what you mean by this mess. Nothing is your fault I am sure.. I'm in this mess because of my own silly fault, I'm sure.”

She had turned her gaze from him and didn't see his eyes soften and turn gentle like a cooling stream. Miriel heard him speak, but his voice was very quiet. It took her a moment and she blinked, had she just imagined him speaking? Or had he really uttered those words. Her face turned to his with a shocked, curious expression. “What?” She whispered gently. He had moved closer and now she noticed his eye's softness. “What are you -” Talking about? She wanted to finish but she couldn't. Her mind was lost in those icy blue depths. A blush flushed her pale cheeks, making her eyes look like deep pools of green. She imagined that this is what it was like to be in a tractor beam, you couldn't pull away, and you had to give in. But she wanted to, she really did. Her eyes were veiled behind black lashes for a moment. “Damion....” Then her eyes lifted once more as her breathing grew a bit shorter. How had the cool air turned so warm all of a sudden? Letting her eyes flicker shut she gave in and leaned forward to meet him.

[saerwen]

“Ah, who needs chivalry? It takes too much of the fun away.” He smiled and then laughed a little. “You girls really don’t know how badly chivalry restricts us men. We have to always be so proper and fine for you gentle little things so that we can have a slight chance at perhaps marrying one of you at some point. You are so harsh...” he was mocking her completely. “Not that we guys don’t like a good chase or anything.” he gave her a mischievous side glance and then looked away.

“Now why would I tell anyone? That would mean they too would have the pleasure of teasing you. I want that pleasure to myself. You might think me selfish but when you consider the fact that I hardly ever get to display the upper hand that I have over anyone, then you can see why I have a reason to be selfish. I can’t really say that I regret the fact that you are the one that my torture falls upon.” Then, after he has given her a slight nudge that practically knocked her over, she shoved him. He hadn’t really been expecting it, so when it came all he could do was place his hand to the side to keep him from tumbling like she did. If he could escape with a joke. He regained himself as quickly as he could and then looked at her laughing face. “I took it...You’re really weak.” This time he made sure that he was ready for anything that might have come his way.

He just put a little smile on his face as she spoke, chuckling slightly every now and again. He didn’t speak until she had finished talking about being a fairytale princess. “I thought that you wanted chivalry...It is the job of the chivalrous man to make a girl feel like a princess. I promise you that if you ever did find the ‘Man’s Guide to Being Chivalrous’, then the key definition that you would find would be that we are to make all girls feel like princess’.” Then he cocked his head to the side and shrugged his shoulders. “However, since I have already admitted to not being fond of chivalry I suppose that I should confess that I like the wilder side of life.”

Damion really made no response to what she said about him being perfect and her not remembering. He was glad that she had reminded him. This whole conversation had seemed like it was still the regular old MIriel. It reminded him that this was Miriel. The Miriel that he had come to love and adore. She wished that she could remember, and he did too, but he knew that everything would go on even if she couldn't remember. There was no reason that it wouldn’t. So what if she didn’t remember how they met, they could survive, because Miriel was still...Miriel.

When she turned to him, Damion focused on those green gems. So beautiful, and right now, he was taking the liberty of admiring them with freedom. He didn’t think that there was anything that could make him stop. He hardly even paid attention to what she was saying other than the fact that she was obviously confused. She continued in her dazed speech and then fell short, her face flushed pink. Damion knew that he had lost all hope of stopping himself now, unless she completely pulled away, he was not going to even try. As she said his name he slowly turned his head slightly. Every sound seemed amplified by a hundred times and he was sure that Miriel could hear the pounding of his heart just as he could hear her breathing becoming faster. Just as she came to meet him, he wrapped an strong but tender arm around her back, pulling her slightly against him, the other hand a little behind him propping him up. When their lips met he felt like his entire body was on fire. He made sure not to hold her too tightly, or press to hard against her, not wanting to get too carried away, but he was having so much trouble controlling anything of himself right now he really didn’t know what to do. For now he was just going to enjoy it, praying that it would never end.

[»Míríel«]

“You rebel.” She smiled crookedly at him. Looking at the horizon once more she drew herself closer. “It's every girls dream to have someone to be chivalrous.” She laughed again. “Even a wild thing like me.” Casting a glance at him for a moment she continued, “You can than the fairytales. ” It was true, ever since she was young her mind had been filled with stories of princesses meeting the perfect prince and having a perfect life. Miriel wondered what that would be like, living a perfect life. Would it be fulfilling, or empty?

“Ah, well I don't know whether I should be glad to have one tyrant in my life or if I should be sad that the job can't be evened out a bit.” She smirked. “Though if you tease to much I might just leave your presence forever.” A laugh rang out. “If I could stand it.” When she saw that Damion wasn't knocked over Miriel was disappointed, after all she wanted revenge. “Ah, not fair!” With a pout she turned from him. “Weak...” She scoffed. “Weak.. well at least I have the excuse of being a girl. You sir,” She faced him with an impish grin, “Have no such excuse. So the next time you mess up you better watch it.”

“I do want chivalry you ogre.” She smiled. “But I believe Pocahantas was a princess, but a more wild one, one with the freedom of those restraining corsets and rules. She could run barefoot around the world and live the way she wanted. The world was hers to explore.” Miriel stretched out her legs and nudged him slightly once more, without the intention of pushing him over. “Of course you would Damion, of course you would. Which is why we never would be a good match. I'm much to delicate and fragile for such things.” She smoothed out her dress once more and straightened up trying to look all prime and proper, though it was exaggerated to such a point that it was an obvious mocking of such things.

The closeness of Damion sent her head up in a buzz and when their lips touched, it was like the world had started spinning around them. How safe she felt, how secure in Damion's arms. Her worries about the past, about her memories, about her friends, all melted away. All she could think about was now, and all she could dream about was the future. Even though his arm and touch were cold to the bone, there was a type of refreshing quality to them. What was he doing, kissing her? How could he like her? Even though Miriel was shocked by his affection, she was comforted by it. Just this little talk had made Damion look so carefree. Perhaps this is what he was like before I lost my memory. He has been released of worries just like me. Reaching up she placed her hand on his chest and pulled closer. Careful of pressing up to much against him she left her touch as gentle as a feather.

Breaking the kiss to look into his eyes she smiled. “You know I really like you.” That impish grin returned and she placed another kiss on his lips. “Or should I say I love you?” Parting again she drew closer to him and rested her head on his cold shoulder. It was still in kissing distance, but she didn't want to draw it out to much if he wasn't comfortable with it. How wonderful life was right now.

[saerwen]

“That is why we are trained to be chivalrous, until you girls buy us and take us home, then we fall to pieces like a cheap toy from a yard sale.” He chuckled and then gave her a mocking glance. “You couldn’t stand to be without me for more than a few days together.” he was purely playing, knowing that Miriel was fully capable of surviving on her own. “Who says that there will be a next time. The next time that you try I will already know that it is coming so it will be purely useless, and besides, I doubt that you could even make a dent, especially if I was standing up.” The he scoffed, “I don’t need an excuse because I already am.”

“Ogre? What right do you have to call me an ogre you little snipe?” he played with her. Then he heard her next statements and became indignant right away. “What?! What is this? Miriel you are jumping to conclusions far too quickly. I must train you now. You have already displayed that you think very highly of this Pocahantas, which means that you view her as a role model which is made even more clear by the fact that you described her as wearing no shoes,” he pointed to her feet which were now in plain sight because they were stretched out. “and you are following in those steps. You also mentioned that she was very wild. So I can only conclude that you also must be wild, and in being so, you are definitely to my likings. Just because you are fragile doesn’t mean that you are not wild.” He spoke as though talking to a group of high school students that simply wasn’t grasping a concept.

Damion was melting, he knew it. How could he be so close to Miriel and not melt. She was so warm but it was gentle and comforting, the comfort that he had always wondered how it felt. His heart seemed to stop at her touch, like she was controlling it. When she put her hand on him and pulled closer he knew that he had stopped breathing, thinking, or even imagining. There was no need to imagine what could happen, no need to put a guard on himself, no need at all. Miriel was as willing to love him as he was willing to love her.

When she broke the kiss he was completely unwilling to let go of her, so his arm tightened around her, ensuring that she couldn’t go anywhere, even should she try. He longed to kiss her again, and he knew that nothing short of Miriel rejecting him would make him break his hold. When she smiled up at him he knew that he didn’t have to worry about letting her go. She wouldn’t ask that of him yet. His breathing was slow and relaxed as he listened to her he chuckled. This was a side of Miriel that he had been missing for a while and it was finally back... Her feisty side came alive. If kissing her made that happen he would do it every time he saw her. She kissed him lightly again, and then laid her head on his shoulder. This was so hard to choose between, as much as he loved having her head there, he really liked kissing her too, so it was time to figure out which one he wanted more. He let out another slight laugh as he made up his mind. He pulled her closer, and then as he looked down at her said, “Do you really think that is enough to satisfy me?” With that he pushed his lips against hers again, but this time a lot harder. He wasn’t going to ever stop loving Miriel, never...And this time, he knew that she loved him too, so he didn’t really have to worry about being guarded. He eventually let his arm go slack and he sunk to the ground pulling Miriel down with him. He broke the kiss for only a moment and then attacked again. He was not paying attention to anything else, so he neglected to hear a slight muffled noise nearby.

Jaedon had been walking around the lake. She had not wanted to go anywhere else for various reasons. It seemed that the longer she stayed indoors the more irritable she became. She didn’t want to go into the woods because all of the woodland animals, and she didn’t want to go to the garden. The town was too far, and the meadows were aimless, so she came to the lake. She was depressed and upset, knowing that she was thinking of doing something that would push her over the edge, but her logic kept telling her that it was right. She came pacing around the lake, trying to draw her attention away from the delicious looking fish that were sprinkled around. She was still not eating any meat, sick and tired of killing everything. She was trying to stop that, but it really wasn’t working, it just made her worse.

Right as she got around to the other side of the lake, she came across a sight that hit her in the stomach like a baseball bat. Damion was laying on the ground with Miriel slightly on top of him. They were kissing, and looked like they hadn’t started too long ago. By the time that she saw them she was pretty close. She didn’t want to mess this up for either one because she knew that it was probably what both had wanted for a long time. She turned away, fixing to head back the way she came, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. On her way back though, her left leg gave out on her and she fell to the ground with a slight thud and a muffled curse.

[»Míríel«]

” Which is why I will never buy a man. My man must be priceless.” She smiled at him. “I don’t know if I could stand a day without seeing you. I might just curl up an die.” She smirked at him. “Poor old weak me. Though...” Her eyes drifted once more to the horizon and the lake before falling and looking at her feet. “You are the only person I feel like I know.” She was silent for a moment, her face going serene like a smooth river. It was obvious that she was thinking about something and all the laughter had drained from her face. Yet as those green pools turned to him she started to smile, “Whether I like it or not.” The carefree look returned and she let all of her thoughts drift away. It was perfect right now, she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.

“No, not at all.” Miriel laughed. “I admire Pocahontas's’ freedom more than who she is. But you are right about the wild.” Miriel gave him another smile. “Though thanks for the lecture Professor Damion.” How peaceful it was with all the playful banter that she and Damion were exchanging.

As she felt Damion’s arm tighten about her she just relaxed. Heaven, it must feel like this, secure, peaceful, strong, comfortable, blissful. It had to be. After all how could it get better than this right now. Never in her life did Miriel think that she would have willingly given her heart to a man of ice. Just the touch from his fingers cooled her wild fire within, but not in a bad way. If she was the summer and he was the winter, it would be the wonderful autumn when they were so close, the perfect balance of warm and cool. Even so she unconsciously kept herself from blazing with passion. She didn’t want to ruin this time with Damion by burning him.

When he pulled her down with him she inched closer and kept one hand on his chest while the other crept up to his head. “You are too good for me.” She murmured to him before answering his question, “ If it did satisfy you I would be disappointed,” Miriel received the “attack” with a murmur of pleasure and matched it. A slight thud caught her attention, but didn’t divert it. “Did you hear something?” She murmured.

--

Ares had been enjoying the nice weather. It was so pleasant right now. His red hair blazed like the fiery sunset and his blue eyes peered from his face like the sky. Just as his feet were carrying him around the lake he paid attention to the lake. HE didn’t see Miriel, Damion, or Jaedon until he was right upon them. The sound of quiet curses caught his attention.

Turning his gaze from the lake he almost stepped on Jaedon, but stopped himself soon enough. “Jaedon what are you doing here?” His voice showed a layer of surprise. “ Are you ok?” She seemed to have deteriorated since had last seen her. What was it with Neron and Jaedon recently? Then looking up the two figures on the grass caught his attention. “Oh..” An embarrassed look flashed across his face as he slid his gaze back to Jaedon. “Um..” He lifted a hand and ruffled his own hair. What an awkward position to find himself in.

[saerwen]

“Your man will be priceless.” Damion said with a smile, “Because he knows that no one else would take you, so he has to be kind.” He looked at her very serious, until he could hold it in no longer and then let a grin burst onto his face. “You could do very well without me. You are friendly and sweet enough to attract attention wherever you might go. And you will never have to worry a day in your life for male attention.” he chuckled and looked away. “I might be jealous though...” He noticed her discomforted look, and then knew what was on her mind. “You will remember Miriel, I know it will come back soon. And even if it doesn’t, why not try and start over?”

“I am open for lectures every day of the week as long as I am not sleeping. I can even multitask and lecture while I eat. It is very hard, let me tell you, but I can do it.” He was making fun now, but it was well worth it. “The only thing is, you have to thank me really well after I give the lecture. IF not, then I will never give you a lecture ever again. In fact, I might shun you, so you did well young pupil.” He was acting very professional, simply because he knew how. He had done lectures in colleges before, but he didn’t like them. He felt like he was preaching too much.

Damion was in a world that he had never known. He had never kissed anyone ever before, not even Rachel. It was true that they had been engaged, but he had decided that he was not going kiss Rachel, partially because he had always been fearful she would run. She had been the biggest flirt in the town. Beautiful and desirable, she was impossible to overcome, but she was also very beguiling. Even when they had been engaged, his main quarrel with her was that she had flirted with other men, and this had made him angry. When he looked back on it, it might have been his fault because he didn’t show her the attention that she wanted sometimes. He was not going to make that mistake with Miriel, and after kissing her, he was sure that this was the way to go. Perhaps it was his own selfish pleasure saying so, but he was going to listen to it.

“If I am too good for you, then you have been very deceived. I am going to tell you right now Miriel, I am not without fault, and I am likely to mess up again and again, but all I can ask is that you show me your love over again and forgive me. I will try harder each day to become perfect for you.” His loose hand went up to her face, his palm resting on her cheek, his icy hands yet again reacting to her all to warm skin, but he yet again had to restrain it a little, but he knew that it could not be greatly, or he would get burned. He wondered what Miriel really knew about how easy it would be for him to burn. Perhaps it was better that she not know, that way, she would never want to stop herself. Yes, that was something that he was not going to share, at least, not yet.

When she mentioned the thud, Damion struggled to pull himself away from her, having a great deal of trouble with it. He did eventually turn his head to where the sound had come from after placing another kiss on her lips gently. To his surprise, he saw a dark form struggling to get up. At first he thought that it might have been Neron, in which case he would turn red, but it wasn’t, he knew as soon as the figure finally stood up with much effort. It was too slender, it must have been a girl. It only hit him after a few moments that it was Jaedon, and not far away, Ares was turned away from them. He knew that his happiest moments in his life thus far were over. His hands went to Miriels waist and he gently brought her up into a sitting position along with himself. He would be sure to continue this later, but for now, it was over, and his heart rejoiced as well as mourned.

“I’m fine.” Jaedon bit out as she felt pain shooting up her leg. Using her right to support most of her weight, she pushed herself up slowly, struggling greatly to make it. Right as she was reaching her full height, she felt another sting of pain rush through her left leg again. She clenched her teeth and finished pulling herself to her feet after much effort. She knew that it would not be long before she fell again, but she would just get back up, and keep going. That was what she had been doing so far, and that was what she would keep doing. She didn’t mean to sound angry towards Ares. She wasn’t angry with him, but more embarrassed with herself. She wanted no one’s pity.

She noticed his discomfort when she finally finished her struggle, still standing mostly on her right leg, unable to put much force on her left. She chuckled and jerked her head back towards the couple that were now sitting up. “Yeah, you and me both.” she whispered loud enough for Ares to here only. “I guess Miriel is doing just fine without her memory. She certainly didn’t seem to forget him.” She spoke with slight irony in her voice. “The second that they notice us, they will stop though. Just wait a moment.” she said as she looked at him with a forced smile on her face. It was time to put up the mask again. Her stomach rumbled slightly, longing for some substantial food other than fruits, vegetables, and breads, which she could barely stomach.She was not going to let him see that she was not really all well and dandy, she was going to stay prideful. She looked him in the eyes, a darkness seemed to fill them, “I came for some fresh air. And what about you? Seeking something interesting, or just wandering?”

[»Míríel«]

Miriel let out a little laugh. “Well then I have to be careful.. but I doubt you have to worry about me finding the right man anymore...I’ve already found him. Or I guess you could say he found me.” Her green gaze locked on his blue one as a shy smile fluttered on her lips. But as he talked about her memories she grew more solemn. He was trying to comfort her, she could tell. But she didn’t feel reassured. Miriel wanted to know her memories, but it was no longer for her own purposes, but she wanted them back for him. She loved him.

The image of Damion eating and speaking made Miriel laugh. The mental image in her head was quite amusing. “I imagine you could.” Her eyes got a glimmer of sarcasm. “Though if you ignore me it might hurt my feelings mighty bad. Though I’m sure I can conjure up a way to thank you...” She smirked at him.

“You have very few faults as far as I’m concerned. But as for you correcting them...” Miriel’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile, “We have all eternity darling.” As he reached up to her face she reached down and touched him. She was careful not to have the heat too hot. Leaning down she kissed him gently. So this is what true love felt like, a blazing fire, burning within. How could she have lived without Damion, how could she have been a second away from him and not miss his presence? She knew that this would probably be a draw back, after all she had given him her heart and now wherever he went he would take it with him and she would wait and long for him to come back to see her.

When Damion started to struggle up to see what the thud was Miriel reluctantly moved aside. Why couldn’t they just ignore the sound and continue. Sitting down now she still remained close to Damion’s white form. Her head turned slightly as curiosity filled her heart. Who was that dark figure? It took a moment before she realized it was Jaedon, the girl who was supposed to be a friend. She didn’t seem to be very steady and was with the man called...Ares...yes Ares. What were they doing here? Suddenly the realization that they probably saw her and Damion caused a deep blush to come across her face as she bowed her head, looking at her hands in her lap. How embarrassing, though she would do it all again even if she knew they would be seen. Her blush was that of innocence and virtue, not of shame.

---

Ares dropped his hand from his fiery hair and scoffed, “Fine, you look far from fine if you don’t mind me saying... A bit unsteady...you haven’t been drinking have you?” The last part was said in a slight jest. Feeling Jaedon not wanting the attention to be drawn to her Ares turned to face the couple once more. Looked like they had realized they had been discovered and stopped their...kissing. He smiled slightly. “I have to say...that was the most...interesting and surprising thing that has happened to me all day. ” He lowered his voice, “Couldn’t say I was expecting that one..” He laughed slightly, “Though it is spring.” The sound of a stomach caused him to raise his eyebrow and look at Jaedon. “Hungry?”

[saerwen]

Damion raised an eyebrow as he listened to her. What was she hinting at? He thought that he knew, but there weren’t going to be any presuppositions clouding his day. He would take it for what it was when she said it verbally. A little smirk came to his face, “He found you huh? You wouldn’t mind telling me his name so that I can go and kill him would you?” Damion then laughed at what she said, “Yes, there are many things that you could do to thank me that would be plenty acceptable. I am sure that you will discover them eventually.”

When she spoke of eternity, he smiled. This was another pro about falling in love a phoenix. It was true, there were not many pro’s to his falling in love with Miriel other than the fact that he would go mad if he didn’t love her and that it was forcing him to get over his fear of phoenix’s. However, this one fact remained...He would never live to watch Miriel die, and that was blessing enough, if it weren’t enough that she loved him at all. “Yes...” he whispered. “But do you think that you will be able to stand me for eternity?” His blues eyes looked into her green ones with a seriousness, but a smile played on his face. “Eternity is an awfully long time you know.” He felt her heat begin to burn the moment that she touched him, but his skin reacted instantly, becoming freezing cold, like fresh ice sitting in your hands. He wished that it didn’t have to be like that, but it was... He wanted to know what Miriel’s warmth felt like, he wanted to know that joy. Every time that she had kissed him, his skin had reacted again and again, blocking this foreign substance called heat. All he knew of heat was that which burned. Even a body at normal temperature of 98.6 was a little too hot, it felt like scalding water that had been removed from the stove only a few minutes ago. He was so tempted every time to just take his reaction away and follow with what he wanted, but he knew that it would not go well, so, the cold continued to reign. He hoped that it wouldn’t always be that way. One day he would learn to cope with Miriel’s heat.

Damion looked to Jaedon and Ares for a moment, and then back to Miriel who was blushing a violent red. He was about to chuckle, but instead let his amusement come out in the form of a large grin. He leaned in and gave her a little nudge, very gentle unlike his last one. He whispered in her ear, “That rosy color is still doing great things.” he teased and then became serious. “Time to talk to our friends.” He rose, and then offered her his hand. “Will you come?”

Jaedon looked at him with a stoic face, not one of dislike, or of anger, just...stoic. “I hate the taste of alcohol. Reminds me too much of dad.” It was true. He father liked wines a lot. When she had seen him when she was younger and when she had gone into his apartment, the smell of wines was overpowering to her acute senses. “And thanks for the complement.” she spoke sarcastically now, showing a little of her old self. “I will take it to heart for sure.”

Jaedon then scoffed at Ares. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You didn’t see that one coming?” She gave an impish grin. “Damion was head over heals for Miriel three days in to knowing her. I can almost say the same thing for her.” She shook her head in amusement and then sobered. “I am glad that she can be happy, and that he no longer has to wait.” Then she looked at him with confusion, “And what has spring to do with it?” She wasn’t being smart, she was really clueless.

She put a hand to her stomach unconsciously as he asked if she was hungry. A sigh of agitation came from her with little sound to it. “No...” she lied very unconvincingly, but then made up for it. “I’m starving. I really don’t understand the good of breads. They just make you more hungry than you were before you ate them. Worthless...” she was muttering, but it was audible. She was going to turn to see if Damion and Miriel were going to come and talk to them or not, but as she tried she unwittingly put a bit of weight on her left leg in order to use it as a pivot. Pain went shooting through her again, and she let out a curse that would make a sailor blush as her leg almost buckled again. She forced herself to stay up even though it caused her even more pain, but she was not going to fall and let Ares, and possibly Miriel and Damion see it. She started to wish that she wasn’t there.