_______

"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

_______

Annalee

A few days later, I find myself standing in front of the vanity Arahaelon had brought in for me. I run my brush through the tangles in my hair, sighing sleepily. These past few days have been packed with activities, from wandering through the forest with my husband and new siblings to teaching Lossenel and Almarëa how to sew. Nym has come to play every day this week, and I am beginning to feel like a weary mother.

I look down, searching through the drawers for hair ties and pins, and two very warm and inviting arms wrap around my waist. I am pulled against his chest, his deep laughter rumbling in my ears, and I grin, leaning into him.

"I have a surprise for you," he whispers excitedly, and my breath catches in my throat as his lips brush my ear.

"Really? I thought I told you no presents," I reply, turning to face him.

He searches my eyes, and I notice the way his gaze dips to my mouth for a moment. "I did not listen, of course."

With smiling eyes, he takes my hands, pulling me into the sitting room and handing me a wrapped package. "You deserve all of the jewels in the world and more, Annalee," he says, and I fight to keep from blushing. Lately, Arahaelon has become even more romantic- something I never thought possible! At every opportunity he is lavishing me with the sweetest compliments, and he manages to be as close as possible when we are alone. I do not think my cheeks have been anything but rosy since marrying him!

I unwrap the package, and gasp slightly in awe. "Oh, Arahaelon! Please, I cannot take this!"

I meet his gaze with wide eyes, refusing to take the gift.

He crosses his arms, and the corner of his lips quirks into a half grin. "I had the necklace made specifically for you."

I shake my head, staring at the jewelry in disbelief. "No, I really cannot," I whisper, caressing it as if it will break at the slightest touch. It is dainty and slim, but the dozens of white gems embedded inside of it catch even the faintest of light, causing it to twinkle and shine like a thousand stars.

Arahaelon steps forward and takes the necklace from my lap, and he pulls me to my feet gently. He turns me around, pushing my hair to the side, and he fastens the cool necklace around my neck. It falls across my collarbones with a simple, yet radiant jewel resting in the hollow of my neck. He turns me back to him, appraising me with those magnetic eyes. "You are stunning," he says lowly.

"'Tis the necklace," I say, kicking myself mentally for the stupid reply. But how can I think clearly when he is looking at me in this way?

He observes me for a moment, smiling mirthfully. "Of course."

Unable to hide my bashful smile, I change the subject and turn my back to him. "Will you braid my hair, Ar?" I question him, running my fingers through my hair, and they catch on the tangles.

I begin walking back into our room, but when I realize he is not following me, I turn to look at him in confusion. "Arahaelon?"

He stares at me, his expression uncharacteristically embarrassed, yet his eyes are fire. He watches me like a predator eyeing its prey, and I blush scarlet under his heated gaze.

He shifts, dropping his gaze. "Wait here. I will call Lossie."

I watch him in astonishment as he leaves the room. I plop down onto the vanity seat, eyebrows furrowed, and I bite my lip. What did I do to make him behave that way?

A few minutes later, Lossenel appears, and there is no trace of Arahaelon. She smiles pleasantly, looking absolutely gorgeous in her royal purple gown. Her hair is down, falling to her waist in loose waves, and as always, there are gems and pins tucked all throughout her perfect tresses.

"Good morning," she greets cheerily, yet her eyes hold a mischievous gleam.

"Good morning to you, as well," I reply quietly as she brushes through my hair with ease.

I watch as she begins to braid a section of my hair, and I make up my mind to ask her. "Lossie... is Arahaelon alright? He suddenly acted so strange a moment ago. All I asked was if he would braid my hair," I explain dejectedly.

She does the last thing I expect. A tinkling laugh escapes her lips, the sound as soft and gentle as the wind. "Dear Annalee, you never cease to amuse me," she says, still laughing heartily.

"What? What have I done?" I ask like a guilty elfling. "Did I hurt his feelings somehow?"

"No, no," she assures me, working through my hair expertly, "Forgive me for laughing. You, understandably, would not know about little traditions among royal families, so I should not tease you. You are just adorable, though, and Arahaelon! I have never seen him so embarrassed and at a loss of what to do!" She bursts into giggles again. "When he burst into my room, I thought he had lost his mind!"

I raise my eyebrows. "Traditions? Oh, I have done something foolish, have I not?"

"Of course not. You are just so innocent and sweet; it warms my heart," she says, smiling affectionately at me through the mirror. "Well, I guess I will tell you, though, you best not speak of it to my brother. 'Twill only embarrass him further. There is this tradition among royal families, you see. When a couple marries, the husband should braid his wife's hair in the same style as his the day after they spend their first night together. 'Tis a silly tradition, I know, but it is a symbol for our people. It shows that there is hope for an heir to be arriving in the near future."

I practically blush right down to my toes, and Lossenel finds my awkwardness to be the most hilarious thing in existence. "But Arahaelon and I- we have not-," I cut my sentence off, covering my face with my hands, "And Itylra told me we were to make the kingdom believe we had! He did not braid my hair the day after our wedding!"

She pulls the finished braid around the front of my head, covering my hairline, and it sits upon me like a crown. She pins the bottom of the braid underneath my curls to hide it.

"That is perfectly fine, Annalee. You have not bonded completely, so there is no need to pretend. Plus, that is an old tradition. The only ones who would be likely to notice are the elves living in the palace. You did not know about the tradition, so I doubt anyone outside of these walls knows either. There is no need to be upset," she soothes, and she searches the drawers for accessories. She begins to stick pins with all sorts of gems on them into my hair, mainly into the braid.

"I know, but I practically asked him to-," I stop, groaning loudly, and Lossie continues to laugh.

"You had him rather shaken up," she teases, raising her eyebrow, and she winks at me. "I believe that, for a moment, he thought you were asking him for something much more than a braid."

"You are not making me feel better at all," I mutter, laughing despite my mortification. "Poor, Ar. I was so confused by his behavior, and now I am ashamed of my ignorance."

Lossie pats my shoulders. "''Tis all perfectly fine. Now, Arahaelon is down at the practice fields with our brothers and the twins. Would you like to watch them train? I am sure Alwin is there, too."

I nod excitedly, forgetting my embarrassment for a moment. "I would love that!"

I follow her down to the practice fields, the two of us chatting easily with one another.

"Do you think Elladan will propose to Almarëa soon?" I ask as we step out into the warm day. The clashing sound of metal on metal echoes on the wind, and the shouts and laughter from the elves brings a smile to my lips.

Lossenel laughs lightly. "I believe so. He and Almarëa are so in love," she says with a slightly dreamy sigh.

I lick my lips, preparing to open up to her more. "Honestly, I am quite jealous of the love they share," I practically whisper, and she turns to look at me with raised brows.

"Really? What about your own love?" she asks, no judgement in her expression or tone, only patience.

I look at the soft grass as we walk, refusing to meet her gaze. "Almarëa and Elladan are so sure of their love for one another. The feelings they possess are so raw and pure. I-I want to have that same love with Arahaelon."

"What is holding you back?" she questions.

My gaze finds Arahaelon in the crowd of warriors, his white hair flashing in the sunlight as he attacks a younger elf with the expertise of a most skilled fighter. "I do not know," I answer honestly.

She places her hand on my shoulder. "Everything will work out in the end," she says positively, and I smile in return.

When we reach the practice fields, I notice several gazes trailing over to Lossenel and I, and I am relieved to spot Legolas motioning us over. He throws his arm around my shoulders, smiling merrily. "Annalee! You have never seen us train before. You will get to see me beat everyone else in a duel," he says with a laugh.

"I am excited," I reply, grinning, "And I am sure you are an excellent fighter."

Elrohir rolls his eyes. "Do not listen to him. Arahaelon is the best warrior here. No one ever beats him."

"Ever?" I repeat, eyes widening.

He grins and shakes his head. "Watch, and you will see."

My gaze travels to the action. Everyone is circled around Arahaelon and the dark haired ellon that he is fighting. They both twirl and jab at one another gracefully, but it is a most deadly dance they perform. Their swords catch the light of the sun, and they clash together with enough force to send an amature flying backward. Arahaelon looks exquisite, and I cannot keep my eyes off of his lithe figure. His tunic is completely unbuttoned and practically hanging off of him, and I cannot help but ogle him. I have never in my life seen an ellon without his shirt, so the sight of my very tempting husband throws me completely off-guard.

He turns, kicking the other elf in the chest, and the force sends the poor ellon flying. He stumbles, falling to the ground, and he smiles tiredly as Arahaelon points the tip of his blade to his neck. "Another victory, my king," the elf says good-naturedly, and Arahaelon helps him to his feet. "You have yet to be beaten."

"You are a strong warrior, Galaeron. You will beat me soon enough," he encourages, and my heart warms to see how much he genuinely cares for these elves and their confidence. He does not gloat in his victory. Instead, he inclines his head humbly, waiting for the next elf to challenge him, and I watch as he pulls his tunic completely off, throwing it to the side.

I glance at Lossie, wondering what she thinks about being surrounded by shirtless ellyn, and I bite my tongue to keep from laughing as she secretly eyes the handsome brown haired ellon to her left.

Tadion pushes through the elves toward me, shirtless and covered in sweat, and I wrinkle my nose as he throws his arm around my shoulders roughly. "Annalee, you should duel Arahaelon!" he exclaims, and the others around him cheer, laughing boyishly.

I remove his arm as if it is the most disgusting thing I have ever touched, and I fix him with a glare. "You know that I have never even held a sword," I tell him uneasily.

"That is what the practice fields are for! There are plenty of elves here who are just learning," he says, gesturing to a bunch of young elves who are all barely older than elflings.

"You are so cruel," I whisper to him fiercely, as the elves around us laugh at his joke, "I will not embarrass myself in front of my people."

He has the decency to look concerned, as if he is afraid he has wounded me, but I am not hurt by his teasing, just scared of what will come of it. I will look like a fool if I even attempt to hold a sword, and he knows this of course. Tadion thrives off of the embarrassment of others.

"Come, Queen Annalee," a blue eyed ellon says with a warm smile, "Arahaelon is the best instructor in the kingdom. No one is here to judge. We are all here to learn, and I think we would all love to see our king and queen battle one another."

The elves around me begin to cheer me on, and I look at Lossenel desperately. She just grins, as if this has happened to her before, and she gives me an encouraging nod. Arahaelon appears through the dozens of bodies, and I allow myself to drown in his eyes, finding a place of comfort and safety in them. He takes my hand with a sweet smile, leading me to the center of the crowd, and I follow after him nervously, knowing I will make a fool of myself.

Whereas Tadion's sweaty body was gross, Arahaelon is pure glistening beauty. He is all muscle, yet he is slim and not bulky. Surely any female in her right mind would fall all over herself if she was in the position that I am, yet I have to concentrate. I cannot look stupid in front of all of these elves.

"Give her a sword," Arahaelon says in his quiet, commanding voice, and I am given a small sword that feels surprising light in my hands.

He turns to me, his expression full of love and tenderness as he looks me over. He teaches me a few basic moves and they are easy enough, but I know that actually fighting against someone else will be much different.

The other elves cheer me on, seeming to find so much delight in getting a glimpse at my personality since I basically popped out of nowhere and married their beloved crown prince-now king. The more they shout encouragement, the less nervous I feel, and pretty soon Arahaelon is teaching me offensive and defensive moves. I find it hard to move around in my flowy, yellow dress, but Arahaelon's wandering gaze tells me he likes it just fine. I guess fighting your wife must be more enjoyable than fighting another ellon, and the thought makes me smile shyly.

"You are a natural," Arahaelon praises, and my heart flutters in my chest at his proud expression.

"I wish he was that kind to us," someone mutters with a smirk, and everyone laughs as Arahaelon glares at him.

"Elred, if you looked anything like my wife, I might be a bit nicer to you," he quips, and laughter roars around the practice fields.

The elf shifts, still smirking, and I get the feeling that he and Ar must be pretty close friends.

"Annalee," Ar calls, gaining my attention, and I turn my gaze back to him, trying not to openly ogle him. Even after fighting and sweating, his hair falls down his back beautifully, and his pants cling to every muscle in his strong legs, showing off much and leaving little to the imagination. If I ever thought he was gorgeous, it was nothing compared to how he looks right now. Luckily, my furious blushing is covered by my already flushed cheeks. "Now, we spar. You do the same things I just taught you, but faster of course."

I make a face that clearly says I am not comfortable with this, and I am surrounded by laughter once again.

"Come, Annalee, you will do fine," Arahaelon encourages, and his mesmerising smile could make me do anything.

Tadion smirks when I meet his gaze, and I narrow my eyes at him. "If I ever get better at this, you better watch your back," I vow, pointing the sword in his direction, and the other elves seem to find my threat funny. Tadion just grins, perfectly used to death threats.

Arahaelon gets my attention again, and we begin. I aim for his side, and he blocks my sword quicker than lightning. His return blow comes quickly. I manage to sidestep it, purely out of fear of that sharp blade, but apparently I did something right because those around us begin to clap and shout encouragement to me again.

Arahaelon is smiling now, clearly very proud of me, but I know that he will only go easy on me for so long. He may love me, but he has a reputation to uphold as the best fighter. Little does he know, I can be quite competitive, and even if I cannot win this match with skill or experience, I will find another way.

He lunges toward me once again, and I block, pushing his sword back with as much force as I can muster. It surprises him, and he stumbles back a little, staring at me with wide eyes as everyone laughs and shouts. His shock wears off quickly, realizing that I intend to actually fight and not be treated like an elfling, and his eyes narrow slightly in determination.

This time he waits for me to make the first move, and I slash at him, a move he anticipates and blocks with ease. Before I can process it, he knocks my sword from my hand, and with a deadly twirl, he has me pulled flush against him, sword at my neck.

I raise my eyebrow at him as everyone claps and hoots, and he smiles handsomely, making it impossible for me to be angry with him. With everyone thinking the fight is over, they begin talking and laughing with one another, but a sudden idea pops into my head. This is not over. I will win. No experience or skill with the sword needed.

My fingers brush against his bare stomach with the lightest touch, and I lean toward him ever-so-slightly, never diverting my gaze. My heart pounds violently in my chest, but I am determined to push past my shyness, just this once. His eyebrows furrow in confusion for a moment, but when I whisper his name, I know I have the upper hand. "Arahaelon," I say softly, almost like a plea, and he eagerly leans closer, nose brushing mine. He lets his arm fall to his side, the blade no longer at my neck. I watch as his eyes flutter shut, expecting a sweet kiss, but I give him something very different.

Grabbing the sword's hilt from his slackened grip, I place my other hand on his chest, pushing him back as hard as I can. As he stumbles back, I mimic his graceful twirl, the skirts of my dress whirling around my legs. I strike a pose in perfect imitation of his victory stance from his earlier battle with that ellon, but I am the victor this time, his sword now in my hand and pointed right at his heart.

There is a stunned silence, before the clapping and whistling begins.

"Did you see that?"

"Arahaelon has lost!"

I grin in triumph as Ar stares at me, completely taken aback.

Tadion runs at me, wrapping his arms around my waist and twirling me around, and I drop the sword, laughing. "You did it! I knew you would find a way," he says, setting me back on my feet with a huge grin.

Legolas and Elrohir follow up with the sweetest congratulations, but I turn to Arahaelon as his arm encircles my waist.

"You sly fox," he teases, leaning in and kissing my cheek, and my pulse picks up speed. "I am proud of you."

"You are not angry with me? I have ruined your reputation now."

He shakes his head. "I will allow such a thing from you. You really must let me teach you, so that you can beat me properly."

A bashful smile makes its way to my lips, and I blush at all the praise I am receiving. "I am no good with the sword. I just have one thing that the others do not."

He raises his eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"Your love," I reply simply.

He stares at me for a moment, smiling contentedly, and he leans in to kiss my temple chastely.

"You two are so cute," Lossie says, appearing next to us. She then eyes her brother. "Ar, put your shirt back on. Annalee's face is too red to be healthy."

Tadion roars with laughter, wrapping his arm around my shoulders for the hundredth time today and steering me toward the palace as Arahaelon does what his sister instructed. "That was wonderful. Since you won, I assume that your threat to kill me no longer holds?"

I laugh. "I would not be too sure about that. My heart is still racing," I reply, my voice shaking slightly, "I do not like to be the center of attention."

"Well, you are now queen, so you better get used to it," he says, leading me away from the practice fields.

We are silent for a moment before he smiles sweetly. "You know, Arahaelon is so different because of you."

I look at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"He is very quiet, very reserved. He never really used to smile or open up around anyone other than his family," he explains, turning his blue eyes to me, "But now he is always smiling. He is always cheerful and filled with laughter. You have brought out the best in him, and I thank you for that. I guess that is why I like to tease you so much. You mean a great deal to me and to our family."

I stare at him, feeling very emotional after his speech. "Tadion," I whisper, at a loss for words, but footsteps drawing closer makes me stop.

Arahaelon catches up to us, extracting me from Tadion's hold. "I will take her from here."

Tadion smiles, kissing my cheek. "I may tease you, 'Lee, but it is because you are my sister."

"I know. I will not actually kill you, so there is no need to worry," I say with a smile, pretending our conversation never happened, and he laughs.

"Try not to get into too much trouble," he calls to us with a wink as he turns to go who-knows-where.

I turn to Arahaelon as he caresses the necklace he gave me this morning, his skin brushing against mine. I meet his gaze, allowing him to stare at me as long as he wants, and he smiles amusedly, twirling one of my curls around his finger.

"I must bathe, but you can do whatever you wish," he says, taking my hand and leading me to our room. "If you want, you can go back down to the practice fields, or you can visit your sister in town, as long as you have an escort."

I shake my head. "I wish to stay with you," I reply quietly, and I do not miss his pleased expression.

When we get to our room, I sit down on the bed and watch as he rummages through his dresser for clean clothes. The sunlight from the balcony caresses his snowy hair, and his perfect features. His blonde eyelashes seem to catch every ray of light, framing his dazzling, light green eyes flawlessly. His skin is like gold when touched by the light, and I cannot help but recall the image of him when we were fighting. He is simply the most handsome elf I have ever laid eyes on, and being around him is beginning to feel quite like a task. He makes me feel so many things at once, I am sure I will one day explode. My soul longs for him in every way, but my heart is afraid of being broken. One day, he may leave. One day, he may be taken from me the way that my mother was. That is why I cannot allow myself to fall in love with him, but I fear that I am already in too deep.

"I can draw your bath for you," I suggest, wanting something to do to distract myself.

He gazes at me and raises his eyebrows, and I know by the slight smirk on his face that he knows I was watching him. "If you wish-"

I hop up, scurrying into the washroom, and I hear his laughter as I begin to fill the bath with warm water. I add in oils and a tiny piece of soap that adds bubbles to the water as it rushes into the tub. Once the water is high enough, I shut it off, and I take his bathrobe from the hook on the wall and place it beside the tub for him.

The door creaks open, and I turn to see him as he enters. Our eyes meet for a moment, neither of us moving or speaking. I feel a strange sensation in my chest, realizing that it is his emotions I am receiving through our bond. I feel his need to hold me close and his tender love blossoming inside of me like a delicate flower. As I stand from the floor, he approaches me and comes to a stop just inches from me.

I close my eyes as he touches my cheek, and I hear his soft exhale. "Annalee," he begins, speaking in his usual quiet and gentle tone, "I am sorry about this morning. Will you please forgive me?"

I open my eyes, not surprised to see that he has leaned closer. I feel warmth pool in my cheeks. "There is no need to apologize. Lossie explained everything to me."

"I should have been the one to tell you. There are so many things that I have not been open with you about," he says, eyes tightening.

I drop my gaze. "'Tis nothing to worry over. I had forgotten all about it," I reply honestly.

"Would you like for me to train you?" he asks, shifting topics when he senses my discomfort. "You were wonderful with the sword."

I laugh. "Ar, I did not last three seconds when you stopped going easy on me. I only won because I can distract you. I doubt I could distract any other warrior in the same way."

He laughs softly. "You could easily take any of those elves off guard, but I hope you would not try."

I shake my head, smiling. "Nay, only one person has ever kissed me, and I intend to keep it that way."

"I do not forgive you for tricking me," he says with a very slight smirk, eyes dancing with mirth.

"It was unfair, I know, but I can be quite competitive sometimes. I knew I had to outsmart you, since my skill with the sword is very questionable."

"You owe me a kiss, then," he answers determinedly. "That is the payment for such trickery."

I brush past him, heading toward the door. "Once you are bathed, I will consider the offer," I reply, glancing back at him, and I cannot contain a giggle.

He is grinning when I shut the door, and my heart is pounding in my chest. I stand there for a moment, my quick breaths the only sound in our bedroom, and I place my hands on my cheeks, willing them to cool down.

I quickly pull off the dress I am wearing, and I pull on a fresh white one. Its sleeves billow to the floor, and the fabric is loose, giving me room to move and to breathe freely. I twirl once, relishing in the feeling of the soft fabric against my flushed skin, and I sashay to the balcony, opening up the doors and stepping out onto it. The wind is cool and relaxing from this high up off the ground, and I can overlook the vast forest with ease. The trees sing to each other, the melody sweet and filled with love and security.

I take a seat on one of the reclined chairs, and I lay back, closing my eyes and allowing the sun's warmth to pool onto my skin. The birds chirp to one another, telling secrets of the utmost importance, and I imagine what they could possibly be saying to one another. Distantly, I can hear voices from the practice fields, and I briefly wonder if Tadion and the others are there, causing mischief.

I stay there with my eyes closed for I do not know how long, until I feel the presence of someone sitting on the reclined chair with me. I open my eyes, slowly blinking, and Arahaelon is there, gazing down at me with the faintest of smiles. His hair is damp, some places already completely dry, and his eyes are ablaze with deep affection and love. His new silver tunic is unbuttoned, moving slightly in the wind. Without thinking, I reach up and touch a strand of his hair, marveling over the way the sun reflects off of it.

"Ar, may I tell you a secret?" I whisper, my eyes trailing over every feature of his, drinking him in.

He takes my other hand that is lying over my stomach and lifts it to his mouth, kissing my wedding ring. He nods, holding my gaze.

I do not know what possesses me to say it, to be so honest with him, but my mouth is moving before I can stop it. "You are the most perfect being in existence," I say quietly, still playing with his hair, "I can barely think straight when you look at me with your beautiful eyes, and when you are near, I am breathless."

"Annalee," he murmurs my name, his expression pained, and he kisses my ring once again.

"'Tis not easy for me to share such feelings, but you so easily share yours. I thought I would at least tell you once, so that you know how much I care for you."

He reaches forward, wiping away tears that I did not know were there. He then places his hands underneath my shoulders, pulling me up, and he embraces me tightly. I wind my arms around his waist, burying my face in the crook of his neck. We stay this way for quite sometime, neither of us wanting to be anywhere but here, in each other's arms.

He eventually pulls me back, so that he can look into my eyes. "I love you, you know this," he says lowly, brushing his nose against mine.

A shy smile pulls at my lips. "Yes, I know."

His lips gently brush mine, and I know that I have lost my internal battle against my emotions. I wrap one arm around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, and he obliges, kissing me with a bit more force. He tangles his fingers in my hair at the base of my neck, and his lips move slowly against mine, sending chills up and down my spine in waves. For the first time ever, I allow my thoughts to slowly drift away, consuming my senses with only Arahaelon.

I believe he senses my sudden desire for him because he deepens the kiss, pouring every thought and feeling into it, and I feel myself melting against him. None of our previous kisses has felt like this. This kiss- 'tis indescribable. I feel completely lost, yet at home at the same time, and I can think of nothing but his touch as his fingers trail down my neck.

A sensation of warmth begins to flicker in my chest, extending to every part of my body, and I am momentarily confused by it. As Arahaelon's hands trail down my arms, the sensation grows, and he sighs against my lips, sending chills throughout my body once again.

I pull away from him, breathing heavily. "Ar, what was that?" I ask him quietly as he runs his fingers across my cheek.

His smile sends all kinds of feelings throughout my chest. "Our bond. It was growing stronger, moving deeper into our souls," he explains patiently, his low voice sending my heart into a frenzy.

"Our bond?" I repeat softly.

He responds with a mirthful smile, his eyes drowning me with love and emotion. "Yes."

I play with my fingers, suddenly feeling quite nervous and shy under his intense gaze. "Our kiss... it was different this time," I state, meeting his gaze fleetingly.

"Did you not like it?" he questions, taking my hands in his.

I am unable to stifle the laugh that bubbles up inside of me. "I certainly did not mean that," I explain, feeling very hot all of a sudden as I fumble for words, "I just meant that it was very different from all of our other kisses. This one was..." I trail off, trying to find the right words.

"I understand what you mean," he says with a slight smirk, "I just wanted to hear you say you liked it."

"Oh, Ar," I complain, swinging my legs over the seat to stand, but he wraps his arms around my waist, keeping me from moving.

"Stay here with me for a while," he murmurs, and I lay my head against his chest, knowing that this is exactly where I want to be, "I do not want this moment to end."

The two of us lie down together on the seat, my body wrapped up in his warm arms, and for once, there is real peace in my heart- a feeling that only Arahaelon, out of everyone I know, can give to me.

___________

A/N: Awweeeee cuties xxx

Hope y'all enjoy this chapter! It waas finished HOURS ago, but the stupid power is out at my house. That tropical storm is killing me, man. Anyway, much love and God bless to all of my lovely readers!! <3

Love,

Josie :)