[IC] Glass Shoes [GranoxFirewind/LalaKitty]

[Lala Kitty]

Ella closed her eyes as Marken held her close to his chest, greatly relaxed as she heard and felt Marken's heartbeat against her cheek. She was unable to stop her cheeks turning pink as he asked her to keep her hair down. Did he want her to walk around as some kind of trollop? Maybe fashions weren't as strict here as they were in Toren, but still, it just didn't seem right.

"If you do not mind, I'd like to keep my hair up in public," Ella mumbled weakly, "Even if only half of my hair is up... I was taught that having one's hair down is shameful. Only a lady's husband should see her in such an intimate way. I shouldn't even be allowing you to see me like this right now. But you don't seem very keep on following polite etiquette."

Looking Marken straight in the eyes, Ella forced herself to be a bit more serious, trying to steel herself to relax and talk more calmly. She was doing it again, allowing her emotions to drive her responses and actions. She was really going to have to work on not doing that anymore.

"You really scare me, you know that?" Ella murmured seriously, "I'm usually very logical with people, and I can fully control my actions. But around you, it's like I lose my self-control, and my common sense is nowhere to be found. You are the only person this has happened with."

[GranoxFirewind]

He laughed at her response, nodding his concession. "Very well, but behind closed doors, in times like this, I want to see your hair down. You say that only a ladies husband should see her like this, aren't I soon to be your husband?" He asked the question with an obvious facade of innocence, a large smile on his face ruining the illusion. Still, it was a curious point he raised, or atleast Marken thought so. He was marrying her, after all, and they were both clearly... In love with each other, even if Marken didn't want to admit it.

No, it wasn't that he didn't want to admit it, it was that he was embarrassed to tell Ella. He was embarrassed to speak it outloud, and she didn't seem to quite catch on through actions. Still, he would treat her as such, even if he didn't say it physically, there was nothing that said he couldn't act like it. A large smile crossed his face at her next words. So she was losing control of her actions in his very presence. He gently pulled her face to be only inches from his own, speaking in a calm, soft voice.

"That's called love Ella. Makes the mind weak, and you can't let it guide you through it. Only option is to simply do what your instincts and emotions tell you. Which is why I'm going to do things like this to you," He would suddenly lean in and press his lips to hers, allowing the kiss to linger for several seconds before breaking it apart. "All the time. Because I love doing them, and my emotions tell me that it's a good thing to do. Any questions?" He'd offer her a warm smile, his face once again only inches from her own.

[Lala Kitty]

"O-oh."

Ella couldn't reply with anything, just affirm that she understood Marken's words. She'd hoped that her feelings weren't anything more than affection or longing, but Marken's explanation did make since; but it didn't change that they barely knew each other. Ella would work hard to change that.

How did a man who claimed to be as inexperienced as she was know so much about intimacy? It frustrated her to no end that she was fumbling all over the place, and that he could just go with the motions. God, she hoped she wouldn't be this clumsy for too long.

"I don't know if I should be following my instincts blindly," Ella admitted, "I almost betrayed King George for you, and I allow you too many liberties, like seeing my hair down. While I know Rhal customs are looser than Toren's, I get the feeling that you intentionally cross lines of decency."

Looking at her fiancé a bit accusingly, Ella finally pulled free and climbed out of the bed. Turned away for modesty, Ella reached into the bodice of her dress and produced an old, deep emerald amulet dangling from black cord, going back to Marken and holding it out in front of his face.

"T-this was my Papa's," Ella announced, "I'm only supposed to give this to my future husband, and since you said our union won't be temporary anymore... j-just take care of it, okay? I won't forgive you if you lose it."

[GranoxFirewind]

He raised an eyebrow to her, before smiling widely. Marken found himself incredibly amused by her words, and the way she saw things. It was like she was trying to both accept the fact that they were to be married, and trying to force it away. "I don't think it's a liberty I shouldn't be allowed, considering I am your soon to be husband. I'm not crossing any lines of decency, that I know of. I'm simply acting how I know to. Besides, you can't tell me that you don't enjoy the compliments Ella. Or would you prefer I not call you pretty or beautiful?"

He smiled at his own words, before watching Ella pull away from him, turning away from his form. Had he embarrassed her with his words? It was certainly possible, given her reactions to everything else he did. However... Instead, she surprised him, turning around to offer him an amulet. His eyes widened at her words, as she explained that it was a token, supposed to symbolize affection. He instantly felt guilty, having nothing of the such to offer her.

He gently took the amulet from her, sliding it around his neck, making certain that the actual amulet was visible from outside of his clothing. He would wear it with pride, or he wouldn't wear it at all. "I'm not quite sure what to say, other than thank you. It's beautiful, Ella. Just like you." The best he could offer her at this moment was a compliment, so he intended to do so. Atleast he could try to make her know that she was the one he had picked, out of the hundreds of possibly matches, she was the one. That was no small feat, Marken would imagine.

[Lala Kitty]

Ella grew rigid for a moment, unprepared for Marken's compliments and the way he put on the amulet, completely unashamed of her gift. There he went again, winding her with his kind words and affection. How did people learn such methods of flattery? Toren men weren't nearly as smooth as Marken; maybe one day Ella would sit down and discuss how different Rhal was from her old home.

"W-well, with all of this settled, I suppose we should move on to helping your mother," Ella sighed quietly, "From what I can tell, the royal gardens should have any ingredients I would need for an antidote. All we need to do is find out her ailment. I will assume that the poison was concocted in Toren since none of your father's physicians know what is wrong with her."

Reaching out, Ella gently held Marken's hand, holding the palm against her lips and kissing it. This was going to be hard on Marken, but she was confident that if they worked quickly, his mother could be recovering by the evening.

"If we work quickly, I should be able to slip in the antidote with her evening meal," Ella continued optimistically, giving Marken a smile, "Let's get to it, okay? I want your mama to give us her full blessing before we marry."

[GranoxFirewind]

He had completely forgotten about helping his mother, and the state she was in, his face falling immediately. Still, Ella's words brought Marken hope. She clearly knew what she was talking about, far more than he did, at any rate. Nodding to Ella, he picked up the piece of paper that she had written down the symptoms on, having dropped it when they had wrapped themselves in each others arms. He began to look over it, committing them to memory so that he could know what was wrong with his mother. If what she said was true, his mother could be fully recovered by the end of the week.

He gave her his own beaming smile, one that completely reflected his hope, and the trust he placed in Ella as well. Strange, that he was entrusting his mothers life to a woman who had four days ago held him at knife point. He supposed it couldn't be helped, that he had fallen in love with the girl. "I'll go see her now then, Ella. Just... I'm trusting you here with my heart, try not to break it?" He sounded vulnerable again, suddenly pulling Ella into a hug and gripping her tightly. "I don't think I could forgive you if you did..." The words were barely whispered into her ear, before Marken let her go, standing up and straightening out his clothing.

With that, he walked out of Ella's room, putting on a very passive face by the time he was in the hall, making sure that it wouldn't be obvious to anyone what had occurred in the room. His stride was purposeful, taking him down the hall, past several armed guards. Clearly, security had been increased with the poisoning of his mother, the closer he got to his parents bedchamber, the more guards he encountered, until entire squadrons of royal soldiers were seen walking through the halls. Of course, given his own status, they allowed him through without so much as a second glance. He was the prince, afterall, who was to tell him that he couldn't visit his parents in their bedchambers?

[Lala Kitty]

After Marken left to visit his mother, Ella picked up her letter from King George and read it over again. His words hurt less now, and she found herself not as sad that he was abandoning her here in Rhal. After all, she had Marken now. Her gaze flickered to the fireplace at the corner of her room, burning invitingly and then down at the note again. None of this felt real yet. It was like she was watching someone else's life unfold before her, like in her dreams.

"I am... not alone," Ella told herself aloud. Saying it made things feel more real, like she wasn't on the cusp of despair anymore. Smiling, Ella went over to her fireplace and proceeded to rip the note into tiny pieces and toss those pieces into the fire. She didn't care to keep this letter with her, especially if it could hurt her and her fiancé in the future.

With a small sigh, Ella watched the paper shrivel up and burn away before she pulled her long hair back up and walked through Marken's room, then the royal apartment, and then out into the hall, in search of a library. While Marken visited his mother, she would brush up on Rhal herbs and decide which indigenous species were synonymous with the herbs back home.

..._..._...

Once in the library, Ella was able to quickly locate several books that pointed towards herbal medication. There were household guides, journals from the orient, and even several books that border-lined on witchcraft, with medicines that supposedly made someone fall in love. Ella quickly sifted through the stupid sources and found herself journals filled with helpful information. She was so busy looking through the books that she barely registered the same maid from earlier entering the library, but only barely.

"Milady, may I help you with something?" the maid requested as she drew near. Ella looked up at her, wondering what her game was, and why she was here. If the maid was sent to kill her, she wasn't going down without a fight. Keeping her back away from the maid, Ella put down the current journal she was leafing through and watched her more seriously.

"You may be able to return home," the maid announced, almost entirely unprovoked, "But Milady will have to prove her worth to the king first, of course." Ella eyed the woman uncertainly, but kept her ground. What the hell was she going on about?

[GranoxFirewind]

Soon enough, Marken found himself in front of the door that led straight to his parents bedchamber. It was a large ornate door, made from quality oak and forged iron. It looked like it could withstand a small siege, and likely could under the right circumstances. Afterall, in the event that the palace was assaulted, their bedroom was one of the places the king and his family would usually be sent, though it wasn't the most secure. There were areas specifically designed for such occasions, however that wasn't what Marken was after this time.

His knuckles rapped heavily against the door, three times, before waiting silently. It only took ten seconds for the door to open. Normally, a maid or someone similar would have opened the door, but given the state of affairs, it was a large man, wearing a suit of painted red armor. All of the soldiers within the palace were above the paygrade, and skill, of the average warrior in their military, however there were a specific order. Twenty would always serve, no more, no less. They held many names, The Elite, the Bodyguard, but officially, they were known as the paladins. Every one held the highest order of respect among the military, and held loyalty to the royal family only, not to the generals in the military. They were above the law, if they broke it, the king himself, or the next highest rank, would judge whether or not it was justified.

The man looked Marken over, as if forgetting who he was for a moment, before nodding his head respectfully and opening the door fully, stepping aside to allow the prince inside. Glenn must be paranoid then, if he had ordered a Paladin to directly guard their bedchamber. Granted, it was rightfully so, given the condition his mother was in. However... Hopefully, Ella would prove to be capable of countering the effects of whatever poison they had thrown at her was. Marken walked inside, glancing around the room, forcing himself to remember which of the rooms would be his mothers. While their parents shared a bed, as any married couple in Rhal would, however they still had their own rooms, for occasions such as this. Her door was directly guarded by another two Paladins, gleaming swords at their side. "I wish to see my mother, open the door."

His words carried the authority of a true prince, despite how rarely he actually used such a tone. However, the guards responded immediately, opening the door for Marken without so much as a second glance. He walked inside, glancing around the room carefully. His father was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was speaking with his generals about the war, or some other event. Perfect. His face immediately took on a worried look as he noticed the condition his mother was in. She was bedridden, her eyes closed. His expression wasn't faked in the least, true overwhelming worry overcoming him.

He knelt down next to her side, looking straight at her face, about to speak before he noticed her breathing. It wasn't even, but it had a very repetitive rhythm, and Marken realized she was sleeping. Her breathing was very weak, however. She sounded like it could stop altogether at any moment. A sudden coughing fit startled him, his mother hacking out her lungs for what felt like hours, before calming back down. He imagined she would be feeling a great deal of pain right now, if she was awake to feel it. Her breathing was erratic, as erratic as it could be while she was sleeping, and there were likely other symptoms too, though none he could see openly. Gently, Marken placed a hand on her forehead, noticing the fever immediately. Coughing fits, a fever, erratic breathing... He sighed. Hopefully, Ella would recognize the symptoms.

Standing up, Marken made his way out of the room, a very solemn look on his face. He would find out who was responsible for this, and he would make them pay in equal. Their life depended on his mothers, only this time... They wouldn't simply die peacefully in their sleep. He set off to find Ella.

[Lala Kitty]

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Ella told the maid quietly, "I have never done anything but prove my loyalty to King George."

The woman smiled a little in response to Ella's seething reply, walking closer and pulling a small vial from her pocket. Ella felt her stomach lurch as she recognized as "One Night Ivy," a liquid, almost undetectable poison that killed slowly and painfully. And she had a sinking feeling that was what had been slipped to Marken's mother.

"Coat your blade with this poison and drive through the meddlesome Rhal prince," the maid instructed as she forcefully grabbed Ella's hand and shoved the vial into her palm and backed Ella into a bookshelf. Books clattered onto the floor as Ella held the cold liquid in her palm and tried to comprehend fully what the maid was telling her.

"If your blade doesn't end him, the poison will," the woman explained more quietly, "As soon as you complete this task, an arranged entourage will bring you back to the king, and then you can forget this whole nightmare of being engaged to a disgusting Rhal for his convenience."

Ella stared down at the vial dumbly as the maid released her and let her rest back against the bookshelf, making her way out of the room now. This couldn't be real, she'd just made peace with Marken, and the two of them were going to be happy. But if this was true, King George hadn't really abandoned her, right? Damn it all, she just couldn't be content for a few hours before something else happened.

When Ella looked up again, the mysterious woman was gone, leaving her with her choice. But what choice was there really? She had to kill Marken tonight, and just go home. As much as she didn't want to do it, killing Marken was the only way for her to redeem herself. Trembling, she shoved the vial deep into her bodice, where it would be protected, and picked up her journals, so she could go hide in Marken's apartments again.

[GranoxFirewind]

Marken had the symptoms memorized as he made his way back to his room. Hopefully, Ella would know what was needed, and then they could deliver the antidote to whatever she was suffering from. The walk back was much brisker. Every second counted, and now Marken was filled with a strict conviction, now that he knew just how bad his mothers condition was. Even his father seemed affected, a man that seemed to relish the oncoming war, who now looked haggard and sleepless. Still, anything that could pull an emotion like that from the man was good, right?

Soon enough, he reached the door, opening it up with a small smile on his face. They could help his mother, and then all would be well. Ella would marry him, and he could be with someone who he actually loved. It was a complete victory, in his own mind, and it made the smile all the wider. He called out into the rooms, loudly enough that Ella would almost certainly be able to hear him, if she was present in the rooms.

"I've got the symptoms that she's suffering from, beautiful!" He said as the door was closed behind him. Now that he could truly express his feelings for Ella, he intended to fully, walking in with a beaming smile, despite the circumstances. Because the circumstances were to be changed. "Where are you, so I don't have to shout them across the room?" With that, Marken would begin walking from room to room, looking for Ella, unless she called out to him, inwhich case he would rush to her immediately.

[Lala Kitty]

Ella returned to the apartments a few moments after Marken, hearing him calling her in the far rooms. He sounded so happy, she almost just wanted to run away from the castle, damn the consequences. Maybe she could get away with running away forever, especially if it meant that she didn't have to kill him.

"Marken, I'm in here," Ella called, despite her wishes not to. She dumped her books onto the nearby table and sat on a chair, leaning back into it. Damn it all, she needed to get her head together. Marken was a means to an end from the beginning, and this situation was just throwing it back into her face. She just wished that she could have been happy like she was earlier, just for a little bit longer.

For now, Ella decided to focus only on helping Marken's mother. She wanted him to at least be happy when he died tonight. That was the only parting gift she could give him.

[GranoxFirewind]

He had responded to her voice immediately, walking into the room and beaming her a wide smile. It faded slightly as he looked at her. Something felt wrong in the air, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He shrugged it off entirely, deciding it was just worry for his mother, something that was very soon to be alleviated. Before he sat down at the table, however, Marken walked over to a small cabinet, opening it up. Two small bottles of wine, intended for drinking throughout the day, were on a rack, the rest of the slots empty or holding empty, though pretty looking, bottles. He chose on at random, pulling it out and retrieving two glasses.

"Figured we could celebrate curing my mothers illness with a couple glasses of wine!" He set a glass in front of Ella, and the other near it, indicating that he intended to sit right next to her. With a clearly practiced hand, he pulled the cork out of the bottle, allowing it to drop to the table with a light clicking of wood bouncing around, before pouring them both a glass halfway to the top. The prince set the bottle down then, before pulling a chair up to be near Ella, close enough that he could reach over and touch her, or something similar.

He took a long draft of his wine, savoring the almost too sweet taste of it, before swallowing it down with a satisfied "Ah." Looking to Ella, his face took on a more serious tone. "Her symptoms, from what I could tell in her sleep, are simple. Coughing fits, erratic, and weak, breathing, fever, and I would guarantee pain and exhaustion are there too. She was out cold when I walked into her room. Does it sound familiar?" He had a very hesitant tone in his voice, bringing his hand up to fiddle with the amulet around his neck, displayed proudly to the world.

[Lala Kitty]

"Damn it."

It was "One Night Ivy" after all. She should have guessed so, after the woman from earlier gave her that vial. The only good news about this situation was that Ella knew exactly how to cure that poison, and it was essentially pretty easy to take care of. Realizing her attitude was too sour for the situation, Ella looked up and gave Marken a reassuring smile, reaching over to lightly squeeze his hand.

"You have nothing to worry about," Ella told Marken softly, "Your mama was poisoned with something called 'One Night Ivy.' Since she didn't pass away overnight, it is fair to say she got a very small dosage, probably nonlethal. We could probably wait for the poison to work through her system at this rate, but it would be very painful."

Standing, Ella went over to one of the journals, pleased that all of the ingredients required to cure the poison were available in this country. That would make this job so much easier. She then made another list, this one only having four items on it: ginger, mint, basil, and fresh green onions.

"Marken, do we have these herbs in the kitchen?" Ella asked after making another list, this one only four items long, "Thankfully, all of these items are commonly found in soups, so we could just make an Oriental soup called curry and have her eat a little bit. She could be showing signs of improvement as soon as six hours later."

[GranoxFirewind]

Her words brought Marken even more hope. He knew that, given her sickness, she would already be eating soup. This wouldn't even require a great deal of effort to slip a cure to her then, just a note to the kitchens to tell them that his mother was to be fed curry. While he hadn't personally had the dish, he'd read about it, in some book or another, and so he was certain that if he knew about the dish, the cooks in the kitchen certainly would. His smile widened with the news. So she would be alright then.

"I'll have send a servant down to the kitchens with a note then, with instructions on what to feed her. If only our physicians knew it would be that easy to cure from the beginning." He let out a soft chuckle at how simple the situation honestly was, yet how deadly it could've been. She wasn't even going to die at this point, according to Ella, they were only helping to speed her along the path to recovery. Atleast she was going to survive, even if their cure did fail, since she wasn't fatally poisoned.

He decided that Ella deserved something, for the gift she'd given him and for helping him with his mother. He thought for a moment, considering the possibilities before his eyes lit up happily. He knew that a proper gift like this should be a surprise, however the thought didn't sit well with him. Still, a design came into his mind as he studied Ellas face, taking in her bright blue eyes... Yes, that was what he would do. A golden amulet, with a sapphire inset into the center. It would be forged to match the one she gave him, and he knew just the man to talk to. It likely wouldn't even take an entire day, all of the materials would be available right from the start.

"Ella, I must say... Thank you, again. Even if she wasn't mortally poisoned, you're still helping my mother avoid a great deal of pain. Tomorrow, I want you to meet her too. She's much... Nicer than my father." He decided to elaborate, given her first impression of his father. The man needed to keep up a great appearance to anyone, but the kingdom well... There was a reason it was at war, and a reason it was being run into the ground. Marken had a great deal to accomplish, once he took up the throne. "Glenn isn't quite as pleasant as he would have you think. This is the first time he's given any emotion other than anger in weeks, and it took his wife nearly passing in front of him to do that." Marken took her hand in both of his, bringing it up to his lips and pressing them to it lightly. It was a kind gesture, one that was used to compliment a lady, or so he had been taught, and yet he had somehow missed doing it until now.

[Lala Kitty]

Ella stayed quiet as Marken explained his father's true nature and fervently thanked her again. It made her feel sick to her stomach, like she'd been punched in the gut every time Marken said something kind. Where was the distrusting man who watched her like a hawk and didn't trust her at all? Maybe he was an idiot after all.

Leaning forward, Ella hugged her unsuspecting fiancé, burying her face into his shoulder. Damn it all, she didn't want to kill Marken. Ella understood what was on the line, but her conscience and her emotions clearly weren't going to make things easier on her. Was it because she had never killed before? No, it was more than that.

Ella kept trying to convince herself otherwise, but she was in love with Marken, wasn't she? It wasn't deep, and she was certain it was impulsive, but no one had been her equal before. Men tended to back down from her once she displayed her tough exterior, but Marken challenged her, and even won against her.

"I don't care if your papa mean or not," Ella mumbled quietly, "As far as I'm concerned, you're all I need."

[GranoxFirewind]

Marken was taken completely off guard by her hug, but still wrapped his own arms around Ella, pulling her close to his form. He found himself curious at her suddenly display of affection, usually he was the one who began anything, but it was a welcome surprise. He nuzzled his forehead into the crook of her neck, finding himself simply enjoying the feeling of being entwined like this.

"If I'm all you need, then I'll be sure to keep it that way..." His own words were soft as he kept Ella pulled to his form. Gently, however, he pulled himself out of her arms when he felt enough time had passed. Then, he stood up, walking out of the room. "I'll return shortly, I have to send the order for my mothers dinner." He walked out into the hallway, looking around, before finding a servant roaming. They always did, near the royal bedrooms, in order to be nearby incase an order needed to be given. He wrote out a note and began walking to him.

"You there, come here." The servant stopped in his tracks, before practically running over to Marken, standing in front of him silently, respectfully. "Take this note to the kitchens, give it to the head chef. Tell him to speak to me if he has an issue with the contents." The servant opened his mouth to speak, before deciding better of it. When the prince gave you an order, you damn well followed it. Instead, he took off at a full run down the halls, off towards the kitchens. Good.

With that, Marken walked back into his own apartment, hunting down Ella once more, and taking another drink of his glass. "I honestly don't know what I would be doing without you here Ella. I'd have a girl whom I wouldn't want a thing to do with in my bedchamber, and my mother would be suffering for days to come."

[Lala Kitty]

When Marken left the apartments, Ella went over to his wine cabinet and poured herself a glass from the bottle he opened, downing the glass quickly. It was just as dreadfully weak as the last wines Marken had given her, so it did little but burn a little as she swallowed.

Great. All Ella wanted right now was drink her problems away, and all Marken had was desert wine. Topping her drink off with a small sigh, Ella went to a nearby sofa and pulled her hair down, letting it rest at her shoulders.

When Marken came back inside, she gave him a smile, curling her feet under her dress as he complimented her. Hearing his words of genuine excitement twisted the knife in her heart, but she stayed silent and drank her wine.

Damn it, how was Ella going to kill Marken at this rate? Every time she thought that she could convince herself to kill him, he went and praised her, or reminded her that she wasn't as wonderful as he thought she was.

[GranoxFirewind]

Marken found himself in a very happy mood, though it was slightly dampened by Ellas silence. He noticed the glass of wine in her hands and smiled again, taking another draft of his own glass, before thinking. Suddenly, he stood up again, looking to Ella with his soft smile. "Come on, I'm not a big fan of this room. Feels too formal." He stretched out his arms, letting out a soft yawn, before turning around to leave the room.

He stopped in the doorway, glancing back to Ella. If she was following him, he'd continue on, until he reached the couch that they had spent the night on, laying down on top of it with a content sigh. "I feel like I've grown lazy around you... However, I imagine it's justified, seeing our new relationship. This is supposed to be my duty to my kingdom and all..." He chuckled softly, before pulling himself up, just enough to allow Ella room on the couch, though she would clearly be snuggling up against Marken.

"Come'ere." He said nothing else, instead looking to Ella expectantly, resting his hands behind his head, closing his eyes slightly. He felt more tired than he should at the moment, letting out another yawn. Once she was on the couch, and curled up against his form, Marken would bring his right hand down to run it through her hair once more. "You know, I feel like you're spoiling me. At this rate, I won't be able to sleep in a bed alone, it's far too comfortable having you next to me."

[Lala Kitty]

As Marken left the main room to go back to the private drawing room, Ella drained her glass and then followed after him. When he laid back on the sofa they shared the night before, she smiled despite herself. If it was only for a little while, she wanted to indulge herself and be close to her fiancé.

Climbing onto the sofa as Marken offered her a seat, Ella curled against him and closed her eyes as his fingers ran through her hair. His gentle mood was contagious, even with Ella's inner turmoil. For the moment, she was able to forget her worries over her test of loyalty from George and just enjoy being close to Marken. Honestly, with her finally relaxed, it occurred to her that she could just... not kill Marken.

"You would share a bed with me, even though it isn't proper for Royal couples to sleep in the same room?," Ella asked, pushing her mutinous thoughts away long enough to tease Marken, "I just hope your father won't be pushing for grandchildren within the year; I'd like to enjoy the bed-sharing first, if that's the case."

[GranoxFirewind]

As she curled up against him, Marken smiled down at her, simply enjoying her presence for what it was. It hadn't been forced, it hadn't been coerced, she had willingly crawled into his arms, and it made him all the happier. So then they were a couple, if they were anything less, she wouldn't have been so ready to curl up against his body. He planted a kiss on the top of her head, before chuckling softly at her words.

"I would stop trying to apply the customs you were raised by here... Things are clearly much more different, it's generally accepted for a loving couple to sleep in the same bed, and you're worried about staying in the same room? Maybe you should've considered that when we fell asleep in each others arms last night, or again this afternoon. No, I think I'm going to enjoy pulling you closer to me." Marken gave a small frown at her next words. Grandchildren? He certainly hoped that children weren't coming so quickly, that would be rather stressful to deal with.

He decided to pull her closer to him in response. "I don't think he's that eager for my own children to roam the halls. As it stands, I already threaten to take his throne. So no, it will just be sharing beds... For now." He couldn't contain a grin as he spoke to last words, leaning his head back as his hand returned to sifting through her hair, again purposely pulling it free of anything she may have had it wrapped in.