[Thanal Manor] A simple night. (Keldon&Adriana)

[Adriana Sha'kaal]

The 4th Brightening of Cryxatum
Spring of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIII Post Fractum


Adriana ran her hand over the exspensive fabric of the dress, her eyes caught up in the wonder and beauty of it. The silk bodice shimmered in the fading light from the windows, richly gold in color. Embroidered with white and deep purple thread, intricate designs laced around the wide neckline and down the deep sleeves of the dress, cuffs graced with tiny flowering vines in decadent detail. The stiff bodice was laced at the back with a long white ribbon, and the ribs of the dress formed to her shape so that it was not uncomfortable at all. A young girl helped Adriana lace the back, and the Baijani thanked her when she was done.

Looking down in wonder, she took a small twirl, and watched the pleated skirt of the dress billow about her in rustles of warm velvet and cool silk. Wondering at her own reflection in the mirror, Adriana smiled at last, and tried to ignore the giddines of her stomach. This was just another night, to be spent dining with Keldon, chatting, sitting by the fire, sipping wine. But as she ran her fingers deftly through her hair, which had become much softer and healthy-looking after months of actually being taken care of, she knew she was decieving herself. As she loosely braided two sections of hair back and fastened them with a clip embossed with a delicate, shimmering stone, she admitted she was preparing herself for something far more special. The gift of this dress was astonishing, and had left her speechless when she saw it waiting for her in her room. She took it as an elegant invitation, and she intended to show Keldon just how beautiful she could be.

Done with her preperations, and light-hearted as a little girl, Adriana exited her room and walked the wide halls down to the garden entrance, where Keldon had asked her to meet with him. Stepping out, she saw that the sky had dressed to match. Early spring had borrowed the mantle of late summer, and the setting sun blazed the skyline with gold fire, touching clouds like the torch of gods. The air was cool and gentle, and Adriana was glad of the velvet lining of the skirt to keep her warm in the evening atmosphere.

Walking a little ways into the garden, Adriana inhaled a deep breath, and smiled, eyes closed serenly. The air smelled of flowers about to bloom, life about to burst open. And it was heaven to her.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon stood in the center of the rather large and now starting to bloom garden. In his hand a single white rose, many men would give a dozen, or perhaps more to the women they wished to court, however Keldon knew Adrianna was something special and wanted to show it to her in everyday possible, and perhaps one day, everyday.

It was sunset, and the sun was slowly setting, Keldons long golden hair softly moving in the wind as the soft spring breeze blew. As Keldon stood near the fountain of the garden, well perhaps one of the fountains in the thanal estate he smiled, he was standing up tall and at attention in a gentlemen type of fashion. As the seconds passed small flickers of light started to appear all over the garden as servants started to light the small candles that dotted the compound, they started to appear slowly then as if by magic they started to slight almost in sync, as the garden became illuminated by the soft glow of the flames of the candles, and the stunning hue of the setting suns.

Keldon had spent almost two candlemarks getting ready for this meeting, trying on almost everything the Thane had in his wardrobe, attempting to place his hair into various positions, and forms. But in the end he decided to pick something that complemented his eyes and hair. So once again the Lord Thane wore pure black pants and doublet, however his shirt was something a male in the Empire at times perhaps would not be caught seeing. It was a lovely purple hue, the cuffs lined with gentle golden thread around his wrists. The shirt made his sky-blue eyes appear even more remarkable, his complection this evening was very well tended to, making Keldon appear almost perfect in some respects. It had been sometime since he made himself look this well, and in truth the last time he even remotely looked so good he was referred to angelic creature, a pinical of elven beauty. Although every time he thinks about that statement he almost's start to laugh.

Standing at the fountain nervously, Keldon awaited the arrival of his own angel.

[Adriana Sha'kaal]

Soft slippers moved slowly through the garden, and Adriana found her stomach getting more and more nervous, or excited, she didn't know which. But it all washed away when she saw him. The sunset reached down a gentle hand to halo his hair in gold fire, and the deep purple of his shirt seemed to glow and move with a life its own. Adriana had thought herself silent, but she must have made a noise, for Keldon turned, and in Adriana's eyes the world slowed down.

His hair kept that touch of golden fire, and his eyes glowed with an intensity of emotion. Adriana might have stopped breathing. That deep purple now framed his skin, making it seem to glow as well. All of him, seemed to glow in a spell that Adriana was afraid to break. Scared that if she made a sound it would all dissapear. She just gazed at him, letting this incredible sight fill her vision. Moments streatched, yet still the Baijani didn't move, her eyes wide, her hair gently swaying in the sighing breeze.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Time froze for both of them, the flickering candlelight all around them almost came to a motionless state in each of there eyes. Both locked onto each other the rest of the world motionless and none existent. The time they had first met ran through Keldons mind, the dinner in Paxia the appearance of his love standing on the balcony of the Rainbow Citadel, the fear of losing her during the siege. Feelings of passion coming over him when he found out she was alive and being brought to his estate, chasing her around the manor where he now lived... all led to this evening. Keldon was going to make his love apparent and open for the gentle spring wind to carry throughout the Empire.

On the otherside of the Estate two fine stallions were waiting on the request of Keldon. Adriana did not know a thing about there presence but in his mind he knew why they were there. As Keldon looked over Adriana features he to was also breathless. Her hair now soft, fine, and silky in the dimming sun, gently blowing forward past her face in the breeze highlighted her eyes which Keldon remained locked onto. But once and awhile he moved them over his figure to admire the womens body, it was truly remarkable. He had seen her in clothing that would do very little for anyone yet he found her attractive then, and now with clothing that was made specifically for her she was remarkable. The most stunning creature in the world in his eyes.

Keldon moved towards her slowly at first, almost with a sense of prosperity. He moved as if lighter then air walking with utmost grace towards the women his heart, mind, body and soul had fallen in love with. Holding the rose in his hand he raised it slightly higher then his waste as he approached. Adriana still remaining silent looking at him, he cast a soft warm smile over his face his eyes not leaving hers the emotion of his souls spinning around the ocean blue gems in his head as if a whirlpool of emotion at sea. Almost infront of Adriana looking downwards into her eyes he took her hand into his own and moved it to the flower wrapping it around the stem all the time still looking into her eyes. The rose had no thorns, they were removed or never present. As he wrapped one hand around the stem he took the other into his own hand taking her hand on the rose. Holding both there hands around the stem of the rose which was now at level with her chest he began to speak gracefully. His voice soft, warm with a sense of loving coming with it.

"No matter where I look in this world I see hundreds, thousands of souls who look alike, who are different in there own small way, some who were graced with beauty, others with talent.I see the beauty of nature all around us. Yet my eyes fall to a single creature, ones who's beauty surpasses anything I could ever fathom. A women, who can lift my soul in the darkest times with only a thought of her, a soul who can revive an extinguished flame." Keldon kept speaking. However he moved his hands around to feel there skin touch one another softly over the rose as he moved her hands upwards to cup around the white rose itself. "In a world fill with thousands of red roses there is only one white, one who dares to be unique, and the only one out of them all who my heart urns for...." Keldon finished speaking and remained silent looking at Adriana for any sign of emotion, something to assure him that the collation of feelings surging through his body where returned.

[Adriana Sha'kaal]

Adriana could barely find the wits to breath as Keldon approached. Her eyes alighted on the white rose; it glowed against the deep purple shirt. When the tall elf drew to a halt in front of her, she gazed into his eyes. His touch on her hand sent shivers through her, sent her mind realing, and her eyes glanced down to the rose, then back to those blue orbs that were the window to Keldon's soul. She couldn't look away then, and felt his hands move hers until she felt the soft petals of the rose in her hands. When he spoke, Adriana couldn't keep her own emotion from her face.

Love glowed there, emanating from her clear eyes and gold-tinged skin. The words that Keldon spoke wove a web around her, closing out the world, a spell that Adriana had no interest in resisting. She wanted to melt into Keldon's arms, let the spell take her in, but now was not the time to close one's eyes. Now was the time to follow a spell, an ancient, many times tested spell, whose purpose was the capturing of souls, binding them in the bonds of love. It was not a wicked spell. It was beautiful, and wonderful. More so when one was a part of it.

"...my heart yearns for," Keldon's words caressed her, and Adriana's eyes were clear, moisture making them shine. She pressed the rose, her hands and Keldon's with it, to her chest. Slowly, she turned her hand and took Keldon's in it, pressing his hand over her heart. "Keldon... I have never met anyone like you. I have never met anyone who would go to such lengths to make me happy. I...." Her words faltered, she couldn't find the way to express her feelings. "Keldon, I... I love you. As a mortal loves a god, I love you. As a student loves a mentor, I love you. As a friend loves a friend, I love you. Yet, I love you too, as only I, Adriana Sha'Kaal, could love you, Keldon Elsdragon. You've made my life extraordinary. You've scented it with roses, inspired it with beauty, and warmed it with affection. And...enriched it with love. Thank you," she said, lashes falling over her eyes breifly, "for all you've done for me."

"I love you."

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon watched her eyes softly, listening to her words as his mind raced. His soul felt as if he was floating. The two of them, in his mind there was nothing but her in this world. Standing infront of him. He had found a women after all this time that he can love. They had played with one another, there hearts testing each other and now there tests had begun to reach a climax, and Keldon was willing to take the leap of faith.

Moving his hands off hers he slowly slid them up the sides of her arms as she spoke softly his eyes locked onto hers... "I love you..." was her last sentance. Keldons hends softly touched the side of her neck. His other hand moved around her back down to her hip. "Adriana..." he said as he started to move forward to kiss her softly. As he moved his eyes started to close his lips going for hers.

---- Click Here For To Listen To The Song Played ----

Ironicly as he did the sound of music softly enchanted the garden. Keldon had arranged for the ansomable of tunes before hand and they choose now to begin playing. The music was soft at first a violin started to play, then a second began. The tune searched out ears all over the garden. If anyone looked they could see the band standing atop one of the walls near a guard tower. It only was a short moment until a piano began to play, which sent a surge of tune throughout the grounds and beyond the compound walls.

Should Adriana kiss Keldon in return for a brief duration both of them sharing the emotion of love racing between there lips. As there skin separated Keldon would look into her eyes and smile softly. Which to his luck was the exact moment a female voice from the walls standing on the other side of the compound began to sing, accompanying by the music on the corner wall. He would just silently move his hands down her cheek. "I love you Adriana... more then any word or tune could ever describe..." his voice was soft and his face filled with love and emotion. A single tear ran down his cheek as he gazed into her eyes.

[Adriana Sha'kaal]

She met his lips, fearless in her kiss. The music wrapped around them both, and she could barely believe this man had chosen her to love. This was not what she had expected of her life. This was not at all...

Don't break the spell, her mind whispered softly. Don't tamper, don't meddle. This is your enchantment. She Looked into his eyes, and raised a hand to wipe away the tear she saw gliding down his cheek. "Thank you for loving me," she whispered.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

As her hand touched his skin Keldons lips curled upwards into a soft smile, his head turned to move into her hand as a tear gently came down from his other eye his hand met hers on his face and he paused briefly. "Adrianna in all this would I could look at women and not have a emotional attachment. Only there beauty captured me, but when I look at you my heart comes to life feelings of the soul stir inside me... Adrianna... allow me to take your hand in marriage..." Keldons voice trailed off, surprised at himself that he acutaly said it.

[Adriana Sha'kaal]

Adriana felt her heart stop.

She did not know she was not breathing.

She did not realize her eyes had widened to impossible saucer-like diameter.

Her mind was swept blank, like the tolling of a bell sweeping through a land of mist and fog.

With a jolt, she gasped. Her heart thudded dully. Her eyes blinked rapidly, seeing not the angelic and statuesque elf in front of her, but deep chocolate eyes, set deep in a face of grey fur. She shivered in the memory of snow and ice-clear skies.

Kerine, her heart beat. Kerine, Kerine, Kerine it whispered to her.

Her eyes were filled and spilling with tears, and yet she took no notice. For a long moment, her mind was lost in a mass of fog that circled around her in ever constricting closness, her heart like a bell shaking the substance of her mind.

With an effort, she saw Keldon before her. Yet the world had paled. It seemed unreal, as if she dreamed what she saw from behind her eyes. His words were distant memories, and Adriana could not completely recall if he had said those words, or if they were a figment of her imagination.

"Oh Keldon..." was all she managed to vocalize.

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon blinked and froze while looking at Adrianna "Sh.... Should I take that as a no milady..."

[Keldon Elsdragon]

OOC: Well Adriana it has been almost a month since you checked Alleria last and I miss you. If you come back and would like to finish this thread as I know I really would love to let me know. I am flagging it as inactive and subscribing it from my list. *Sniffles and gives you a big hug*