And They Lived Happily Ever After?

[Kender Bard]

Mina had come home early, light of heart and in a good mood. She'd made a quick stop over in the market to get some fresh food and set to work.

By the time Nathan had returned home, candles had been lit and a quaint, pretty dinner lay on the table. Mina had put on her best outfit and even used a little of the small bottle of perfume she hoarded, as well as a pinch of wing-dust.

[Darastrix]

Nathan took in the scene with a surprised, but pleased, smile. "What's the occasion?" he asked, taking Mina into his arms to kiss her gently.

[Kender Bard]

Mina smiled and returned his kiss lovingly. "A couple things," she replied. "Chiefmost would be that the High Priest of Etaf, Leonidas, was visiting briefly. He saw my robes and inquired to my tale, which I told to him in full. He demanded I be reinstated fully back into the Church of Etaf. Being that I serve two Forces, now, though, he said there would be allowance for me to go to either branch whenever it pleases me."

[Darastrix]

"That's great, Mina!" Nathan exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "Did he give Regina a dressing-down in the process?" he asked hopefully. Goodness knew the old biddy deserved it for the way she'd treated Mina.

[Kender Bard]

"Yes," Mina responded with smug satisfaction. "She was very contrite afterwards." She snuggled closely with her beloved and favored him with a second kiss. "I thought that called for a dinner - that and, well, I wanted to do something special for you..."

[Darastrix]

Nathan smiled and cupped her cheek gently. "Every moment spent with you is something special," he said earnestly.

[Kender Bard]

Mina's happiness at his words was almost a discernible glow as she flushed joyfully and smiled back at him, radiant. "Come, before the food grows cold." She drew him to the table and sat down for dinner, talking idly of lighter things.

Around dinner, she struck upon a more bold question. "You're happy with how we are, right?" she asked, glancing up from the small slice of cake on her plate. "Us, like this?"

[Darastrix]

Nathan gave Mina a puzzled look and set his glass down. "Of course I'm happy. Have I given you some cause to think I'm not?" he asked, wondering what she meant by "like this," exactly. Was she ready to try to start a family? The thought didn't displease him, though since they had discussed the matter before (though, admittedly, it had been a while ago) it was an odd way of bringing it up again.

[Kender Bard]

"No, no, no," she said hastily and smiled, hoping not to dampen the mood of the night. "I meant only to ask if you could picture you and I living together like this for, well, indefinitely." She tucked some of her hair behind her ear, and added, "Perhaps someday wedded?"

She felt she needed to broach the subject tentatively. If Nathan truly wanted no ceremony, then she would relent, but it felt odd to the priestess to not have something formal - even if it's vows exchanged, promises before the Forces.

[Darastrix]

'Oh.'

Nathan ran a hand back through his bangs. "I can see us together like this, but I haven't really given marriage much thought," he said honestly. "I've never seen the point of it. If two people love each other, why can't that be enough?"

[Kender Bard]

"It's just odd to me," Mina professed. "I always thought that the vows given between husband and wife were special, and made the marriage special." She gave him a small smile. "But if you wish not, then worry not. I was just curious."

She fiddled with her napkin slightly. "There is another matter that occurs to me. With my new position I will make twice as much money as before. I think between the two of us, we can live even more comfortably, if that is your wish. Not only-"

She was interrupted by a knock at the door.

[Darastrix]

Nathan looked toward the door leading to their home's entrance, puzzled. "Now, who could be visiting at this hour?" he wondered, rising to answer the door.

[Kender Bard]

A rather short man stood, well dressed in the manner of a clerk. He adjusted his spectacles and gave a slight bow of his head. "You must be Nathan Leannán. I'm informed this is also the residence of Mina Proferta?"

Mina rose and came to stand beside Nathan. "That is me."

The man glanced at her and gave a slight nod again. "Your mother has passed away. You're being asked to come to the Council of the Four Winds building tomorrow midday to look over an unusual clause in your father's will over this event."

"My father?" Mina repeated, struck stunned by the news. "Mother?"

"Your sister will be in attendance as well," the man went on. "I'm sorry for this news - I thought you knew."

[Darastrix]

Nathan placed a hand on Mina's shoulder. "Mina, are you all right?"

He couldn't stand Mina's mother himself (or her sister, for that matter) for how she'd treated Mina, but for some people, family was family.

[Kender Bard]

Mina gave a numb nod. "I'll be there," she said, in a far-off way. The little man nodded again and took his leave. Mina quietly shut the door.

"I can't believe she's dead," she whispered, then turned and hugged Nathan. "I... Nathan, I should be sad, but I'm not... Is that bad?" She wasn't happy either. She was just numb.