Romance is in the Air!

[Joyau delaLune]

1st cycle Month of Aperitus, Era XV Post Fractum.

Joyau in her exploration of the Henges had found a small glen, surrounded by thousands of spring flowers. She sat on the soft green grass making a chain of bright yellow daisies. She had crowned herself with a crown of yellow and white wildflowers, reveling in the joy and freedom of one of those perfect Spring days where the world is perfect and joy abounds. Natura was a mystical place in the Spring. She felt its charism in every cell in her body. How could one have a sad thought, a bad thought or fear anything in the midst of such perfection.

Her yellow dress was spread about her. Her golden slippers peaked out from under the folds. Her hair was loose, streaming down in waves after being released from their usual braid. Her eyes were bright with joy as she picked up one and then another flower and wove it into her chain. Her slender hands were white, and through the dappled light peeking through the tree tops onto her skin, which seemed like beautiful polished marble.

She wondered if Uriel would find her. He was due to arrive any time now, and she had told those in town if they should see him that she woudl be out here in this magical place. No other place seemed more right to her, than the beautiful forest. She remembered the day almost a month ago when she had first met him, a small smile flitted across her lips remembering his eyes, his brief touch which had stirred up such passionate feelings within her. She had not known why she felt the way she did then, but in the ensuing month she had had time to reflect and she knew what it was. It was the first awakening of passion in her. The passion of a woman. She had never felt anything like it before, but she knew it was something she wanted to remember. Remember feeling the joy of discovery, and the pain of separation. It made her feel alive and filled her with such longing the magic had stayed alive for these many cycles.

[Malvoitre]

Malvoitre bounded forth on Diana's gift, letting the wind pull him through the surrounded forests on Natura. The people spoke quietly of groups hiding among the forest shadows. Rangers, Paladins, Singers all populated the stories of these outlying stands. He knew not whether they really existed, or if they were simply legends to keep small children dreaming of heroes walking ever so close to their village. Either way, such wardens of the forest made Natura feel safer somehow. And these warriors' presence, mythical or not, did nothing to the natural beauty of these forest.

The lush green of spring mingled with the vibrant colors of now blooming windflowers. Their scent were a heady reminder that life persisted just under the soil, even in the darkest of times. It wasn't simply Carmelya's spring that made Natura what it was. No, daily reminders of life's sanctity bloomed everywhere in this realm.

He came upon her suddenly, lost in quiet contemplation. The sun shone on her then, highlighting her straw-colored hair and the golden flower crown that adorned it. Malvoitre sank to the ground, his knees almost buckling. Was this Carmelya before him? He had come upon her as she enjoyed some enchanted glen, reveling in her own creations. He walked closer, preparing himself to speak with a goddess.

The illusion slowly shifted in his mind. There were wings on her back that he recognized. The delicate tracery, the shimmer of colors...now he remember Joyau's features, the colors of her hair. Cycles apart had blurred the details. He remembered only feelings of deep longing coupled with the soft melody in her voice. By the gods, she was beautiful. No wonder he had mistaken her for...no, it was to embarrassing to reconsider.

Slowly he approached, his bare feet enjoying the warm earth as he took in the vision with his eyes. His heart raced. He lamented breaking the spell that now enraptured his senses, but the rewards of her voice and smile made his lips part.

"Joyau."

[Joyau delaLune]

Joyau knew he was there before he spoke, but she was afraid to look. Suddenly she felt vunerable, as if the so-oft thoughts about meeting him again would be emblazzened upon her soul, the soul he seemed able to read. Suddenly shy, when he did speak her name, softly, the way she had imagined it, it was hard to turn her eyes upon him. What if all she had imagined, in the odd moments when she was alone, wasn't true. What if he wasn't who she thought he was, or the way he affected her before in Silrosia was gone, and when she looked at him it would fade away as a dream in the light of day.

She had said she would meet him, but what if when they looked into each other's eyes, there was an uncomfortable embarrassment there which even their hopes and dreams could not surmount. But he had come to her. Somehow the fact that he was here meant that he too had thought about her, awaiting the day when they would be able to explore the essense of what it was that drew them together. Was the magic still there?

Joyau dropped the daisy chain in her lap and turned her head. Slowly she lifted her eyes from the ground until they met his. The blue eyes framed by his black hair, yes, he was really there and in his eyes she thought she saw a little of his caution as if he was saying, are you really there too.

All she could say was his name, "Uriel." She saw the need in his eyes, again, as she looked into his eyes. She looked down at her lap at her hands. All she could say was, "will you sit with me."

[Malvoitre]

The ground barely rustled under his light feet. Time seemed to stand still. Light trickling through the forest branches appeared as beams from heaven, forever frozen to their place. Wind rustled his hair lightly, moving raven locks across his translucent forehead. He wondered what to say, how to sit, what to do. In the end, it didn't seem to matter. Something beyond himself was pulling him along. He could feel the powerful tug, like magnetized iron, forcing him to act.

Slowly he crouched beside her, a hand moving to the daisies in her lap. The weave between them was solid, he thought, the petals soft under his thumb. Perhaps it was enough to simply sit and enjoy the beauty of this place and revel in the tiny interior battles that came with natural attraction. Words would come. There was time for long talks, light caresses, learning to make her smile. For now, being together...that was what mattered. Together he had a chance to learn about her, read the delicate words from all the pages of her life. Maybe then they would author a few chapters together. Maybe then...an epic.

Slowly he released the flowers and raised his eyes to meet hers. The face he beheld was almost too much, her natural lines angled so perfectly. Bewitching, that's what the humans called it. For the first time he understood why.

"Beautiful," he said, then flicked his eyes about, blushing only slightly. "This forest is a special place."

[Joyau delaLune]

Joyau realized she had been holding her breath. As he dropped beside her and reached for the flowers, it slowly came out in a soft sigh. The magic it seemed remained. She looked at his touseled hair, part of it in his eyes, the beautiful blue eyes which mezmerized her. She longed to reach up and smooth it back from his face. Instead she reached to touch the hand upon the bright yellow petals cradling it in her lap. The hand was warm, its power to comfort her surprised her. That first contact relaxed Joyau. The physical attraction had disconcerted her having had no experience in managing those type of feelings, however, the contact with his hand was tangible. It was something she used to ground her, holding it lightly in her own.

"I'm not accustomed to these feelings," she said honestly. "I have never even had a boyfriend." She blushed, knowing that her words were awkward. She somehow knew she understood, and that this was a new experience for him also.

"What do you do, I mean, what is your profession. Mine is a healer. I work at the infirmary of the Temple of the Blessed Hand." She did not tell him she was the Head of Medicine and Herbology there. She still didn't feel she was experienced enough to hold such a responsible position. She was not even a priestess yet.