[RPG] Ariana and Morthwyl ~ Yes

[Timothy Collett]

Ariana sits in her new office in the palace at Ipsosez, going over  
the same trade reports for the fourth time.  There is a crease  
between her brows from squinting at the writing, and a headache is  
forming just above her temples.  She looks up at a tentative knock on  
her door.  "Yes, come in," she says, slurring her words slightly with  
fatigue.

The sight that meets her eyes banishes all fatigue from her, at least  
temporarily.  "Morthwyl!"  She stands and comes out from behind the  
desk, her eyes shining as she takes in his carefully pulled-back hair  
and unaccustomed finery.  "By Arelien, you look formal tonight,  
love.  You never dress up like this; what's the occasion?"

Morthwyl smiles warmly, if somewhat nervously.  "I would have sought  
out a more fitting location my dearest, but we have both been busy.   
I..."
He breathes deeply.  "I have come to do something I should have d- 
done a long time ago..."

Ariana notices how nervous Morthwyl is, and her face shifts to  
concern.  "Is everything OK?  Nighthelm is still occupying Palnasos,  
aren't they?"

Morthwyl sighs. "Unfortunately so, but that is not why I'm here.  Not  
directly at least..."
Ariana cocks her head on one side, as she often does when waiting for  
Morthwyl to respond.
Zisa help me, he whispers almost invisibly.
He moves closer to Ariana and takes her hand in his.  He brushes his  
left hand gently though the hair at the back of her neck and kisses  
her softly.

She leans into the kiss longingly, before breaking it and running her  
hand through the couple of wisps of his hair that escaped Wynne's  
attentions.  She looks into his eyes, and her own eyes widen at what  
she sees there.
"Morthwyl...?" she asks.

Morthwyl breaks the embrace slowly.

He releases her hand, revealing the ring he had placed there.  It is  
a white gold band with a single oval-cut ruby.

Her other hand goes to her heart as she sees it, and her lips part as  
she looks up into his face again.  "Is this...?"
Morthwyl, who never knelt before anyone, sinks to one knee before  
Ariana, smiling warmly.  Ariana waits, breathless with anticipation.

"Ariana, my beloved, I should have done this a long time ago.
"In all the years of my life I have never met anyone who has touched  
me as you have. I realize now that I never will again, for there can  
be only one.
"Will you grant me that greatest of gifts? Will you let me share my  
life with you?"
He takes a deep breath.

"Ariana, will you marry me?"

Tears spring immediately to her eyes, and she cannot speak for a  
moment...but her face says it all, shining with a joy she had never  
thought to know.  "Oh..." she breathes, in and out, to steady her voice.
"Oh, Morthwyl, yes; yes, I will marry you!"

She puts the ring on her ring finger, pulls him up from the floor,  
and kisses him firmly, tears streaming down both cheeks.

Stunned at first, Morthwyl quickly regains his balance and answers  
Ariana’s kiss passionately, with a warm feeling of happiness filling  
every fibre of his being.

Morthwyl finally breaks off the kiss and whispers softly in Ariana's  
ear.
"When I pray, I thank the gods for you."
She murmurs back, "As I thank them every day for you, my love.  You  
found me, you healed me, and you make my life worth living, every  
day.  I can't imagine spending a day without you."
He holds her in his arms, silently wishing that this moment would  
last forever.

--

"The only thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart."
  ~ Miles Naismith Vorkosigan

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