They setup camp in a nearby shady grove of aspen and fir trees. Ceres slept curled up under a blanket as Alden kept watch over her. Yorg grunted as Eira sat teaching him how to play one of her many marble games. Waithe took the opportunity to venture to a nearby stream, hoping to catch some fish for dinner.

Waithe's mind drifted as he lounged at the stream's edge. The piece of bark that served as a bobber floated lazily in a still pool, dangling a baited hook below.

With the Darkness now gone, the volcanic rock field surrounding Mt. Grimmur became more a place of rugged beauty than of dread. Ceres had bravely faced down the desolate Darkness infesting that place, but it drained her of strength. Despite the Darkness, and all the struggles of her young life, she still retained much of the heart and innocence of the little girl he once lost. Perhaps, more than anything else, that was why she succeeded.

Ceres' original quest to rid the Realm of the Taint evolved as they learned that it was really about the Darkness. They had won a battle here, but the war was far from over. Waithe pushed aside concerns of the future that would have twisted his gut. For now, it was a time of rest and rejuvenation.

Alden plopped down next to him. Waithe spoke while still keeping an eye on the bobber. "How fares Ceres?"

"She still sleeps." Alden gazed at the bobber. "Any fish yet?"

Waithe shook his head. "Nay. We may need to dip into our supplies for dinner."

Alden sat in silence. His breath deepened as he opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Waithe lifted an eyebrow. "Something weighs on your mind, Alden?"

"I wish..." He paused for a moment. "I wish to ask Ceres to marry me. I plead your permission."

Waithe smiled. "As a suitor, I would ask if you love her and she you, but that I know. I would ask of your devotion to her, but demonstrated that you have. I would even ask if you would support and protect her, but of that, I have no doubt. For too long had I been absent in her life, I feel it not my place now to screen a suitor, to her be the choice. But Alden, if permission you need, that I would happily grant."

Alden nodded with a smile of his own.

Waithe's smile faded. "But be this the right time to ask? Understand do you the quest to which we pledged be more important than any of our lives? Much peril may we still face. Astounding be Ceres in the ways of Magic, but I fear for her, and for all of us."

Alden cast his face down, his expression solemn. "That I do understand." He looked Waithe in the eyes. "Which is precisely why I wish to ask her to wed me. I must tell her how I feel."

Waithe nodded. "Your words be insightful, my dear Alden, but know that the heart does not always follow the path of wisdom."

A movement of the bobber caught Alden's eye. "Perhaps we may have fish for dinner after all."

*****

"Our Lady awakens." Alden took hold of Ceres' hands as her eyelids fluttered open. He returned her smile as he helped her sit up.

Waithe smirked. "And just in time for dinner."

She pulled a deep breath through her nose. "What is that wonderful aroma?"

Alden responded, "Fish roasting over the fire, courtesy of your father."

Eira bound over and landed in Ceres' lap, nearly knocking them both back. Ceres drew the girl in for a hug.

Alden continued, "Oh, and there are blackberries, courtesy of Eira."

Ceres grinned at the dark purple stains that surrounded the little girl's mouth. "I see that not all of the berries made it to dinner."

Waithe bowed as he handed Ceres a steaming cup. "Your medicinal tonic, my Lady of the Order."

"My dear protector, you know my needs well." Her expression changed to a sour grimace as she took a sip. She looked up to Waithe's grin. "Too much pleasure take you in having me drink such foul tasting concoctions."

Waithe turned back to the fire and returned with a fish sizzling on a skewer, a few wraps of a grapevine held it firm to the stick. Ceres blew on it until cool enough to peel off a few flaky morsels with her fingers and pop them in her mouth, followed by a couple of berries. She closed her eyes and savored the flavor.

Alden came back with a skewer and gave it to Eira. "Be careful little one, this is hot."

He knelt before Ceres. "You did it, my dear Ceres. You defeated the Darkness!"

She replied after finishing a bite. "Nay, we did it, all of us! But it was not all the Darkness of the Realm, much exists still. We purged only that what surrounded Grimmur, that likely left years ago by the dark Shaman of the North Lands. I must admit, deeper was it than I had imagined." She looked up at Waithe. "You are right, Father. The Darkness cannot stand against such love."

Waithe asked, "Be it also the Tau that allowed you to resist the Darkness?"

Ceres shook her head. "Nay. The End Times does it resist, an anchor to the timelines. But it provides no strength itself."

Alden said, "Still, a blow you struck for all the Realm! If it is true the more Darkness that exists in the world, then the easier it is to call forth additional amounts, then the converse would also be true. The world is that much more secure now."

"Aye. If Shaman Raste tries to call on the Darkness, he would find it more difficult. We have weakened him."

*****

After dinner, Alden led Ceres by the hand to the edge of the tree grove where the moonlight touched the ground. He caressed her cheek and pulled her lips to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and folded into him as the kiss continued. Slowly, Alden stepped back and dropped to one knee. Waithe turned his gaze away, this moment for them alone.

Several moments later Alden returned without Ceres. He said nothing as he sat down before the campfire and stared at the flames. He looked up to catch Waithe's gaze. Alden's expression was emotionless, but the stillness of his eyes told Waithe how Ceres had answered.

Waithe nodded and walked out into the dark. Ceres sat on a boulder in the moonlight, her head downcast. Waithe sat down next to her. For a moment the only sounds were those of the night.

He spoke gently. "You said no?"

The moisture that had welled in her eyes escaped, tracing her cheeks in thin rivulets. "You knew he would ask, Father?"

"Aye. He came to me first."

She shook her head. "At times like these how can we think of marriage? This quest may yet demand a sacrifice, mine, or worse, his. I could not do this to him, nor me."

He pulled her head to his shoulder and kissed her forehead. "I think Alden does understand. Your words be the silent fear of us all. Nearly two decades had I to think about the loss of my Fera, your mother. Some times did I blame myself for her death, but not once did I regret marrying her. My dear daughter, do not regret love."

Alden rose as Ceres returned to the campsite. He held his breath as their eyes held each other for a moment. She ran in to embrace him. His arms took her in as she laid her head into his shoulder.

She whispered to him. "Alden, I do love you deeply. When all this is done, ask me again."