Rejoice!|Haven, Ilyamen

[Kender Bard]

Raina grinned at him, a returning smile in her eyes as she led the way to her 'suite'. It wasn't anything elaborate. Most likely, it had only gained its name because there were two beds instead of one. One bed was pushed up against the window so it got sunlight whenever possible, and the other had a small, potted plant next to it on the table. It wasn't hard to distinguish which side of the room was Raina's and which side was Fauna's. Pulling up a chair for him, and settling into one herself, Raina said, "So what's the matter, Adris?"

[adris]

Adris turned to her, this was his moment, he had her attention and he had her in private. Now all he had to do was brace himself for however she reacted.

"Lady Raina... before I met you I was listless, wondering whether or not my life had any meaning. But suddenly, you crossed my paths one day and all of a sudden, I feel like there is reason for moving on. With you I can't seem to take my eyes off you, afraid my stare would embarass you, without you I can't take my thoughts off you, afraid I will never see you again. I feel very strongly for you Raina, and I know in my heart that is an understatement, but I fear how you will take these words."

He kept his eyes on her, his eyes show a very honest, yet very serious feeling. He is ready to run, ready to sprint from the room and never see Raina again... nothing in the world could scare this man as much as this moment did.

[Kender Bard]

Raina, for her part, did not bother to hide her emotions and so laid them bare - her face was the epitome of surprise. While the shock faded, she chose her words quite carefully. "I had no idea, Adris. Perhaps I should have, but I'm a bit naiive in the ways of love. I always thought that true love was for fairy tales, and that I'd wind up married to whomever made the best deal to my father. He and I are both comfortable with the idea. However, you have taken me out of my little world and shown me so much more! I'm not sure what to think anymore" Tilting her head and regarding him with a thoughtful, she adds, "Nor what to think of this. I care very much for you Adris. I don't know if it's love or not though. We travel well together, and I have fun in your presence. I feel as though I can trust you with anything. That makes a great companion, but I won't know if I love you or not unless we spent more time together. Does that seem reasonable?"

[adris]

Adris looks at her, happy that she actually wanted to spend more time with him. He shook his head affirmingly, yet slowly. Things were going to turn out all right... at least he hoped that is what it sounded like.

"Of course that is Lady Raina, and as such I would be happy to spend more time with you. I just wanted to tell you how I felt now because..."

He trailed there, now this was something even more difficult for him to brong himself to saying. To tell her on such a breakthrough that next time he leaves he might not be coming back.

[Kender Bard]

Raina leans forward and says, slowly, "Because..." She would have been impatient with him if she wasn't an Earth-Plant affinity. They're so used to coaxing things that it pratically becomes second nature.

[adris]

Adris looks back into Raina's stare, the look within his eyes turned from the nervous yet elated temperment from before to something of sadness. The smile that usually adorned his face also disappeared... but he knew he couldn't lie to her.

"I had to tell you because of the reason Osric and I have returned to Ilyamen. We are trying to coax the city into moving against the clears, strike a crippling blow to their numbers. I want to accompany Osric in this quest... which will eventually lead to the battlefield... and as is with wr I may not return."

He coughed at the end of this and couldn't bring himself to look into the woman's eyes anymore, things are happening too fast, the truth even from his lips is hitting him like a ton of bricks even though he is the one uttering them.

[Kender Bard]

Raina blinked a moment, trying to absorb this chunk of news alongside with what he had just told her. It was almost too much at one time, but the woman bolstered her resolve. "If that is the case, then perhaps I should return home with only Fauna after all. You will be needed in the war, and if there is one, then I wish to not be involved or anywhere where trouble is."

[adris]

Adris found the strength to look into her eyes again, and seeing her made him smile one quick smile before he lost it once again.

"Maybe you should, I want you to stay safe under any circumstances... the reason I am choosing to fight for this now is so tomarrow can be safe for everyone, I pray you understand. The second the fighting ends I will seek you out... for I don't feel I can be without you for long."

This woman is strong... stronger then him in many ways. Even her abilities with her element far surpass his even though she had just worked with her father all of these years. He feels he could learn a lot from Raina, even if she decided in the future that he is not the one.

[Kender Bard]

"If you believe that it is the right path, then I will walk it," Raina replied softly, though there was a trace of pain in her voice. "I was getting quite cozy in this place too. Humontis may be my home, but after growing up with only the Earths and spotting an ocassional Beast, Ilyamen is like.. A bunch of exotic and rare flowers! But safety comes first... I'll leave if Ilyamen decides to go to war."

[adris]

Adris had a thought... dismissed it for a moment, but it came back and nagged at him enough. This plus the pain in her voice was enough to put it over the edge. He decided he would ask.

"To care for someone... is to want them to be happy over all else, including one's own fears. And you do have a power in your symbol that I believe rivals my own. Do what will make you happy Raina... And I promise I will support you."

He smiled weak at what he just said, he believed it all, but there was part of him that feared for her life... but whether she go back to Humontis or even went straight to the battlefield the fear would be there. He wishes for her to be her own person.

[Kender Bard]

"I've made my choice," Raina said with quiet firmness. "Are you personally going to go speak with Emera in hopes of convincing her to go to war with the Clears?"

[adris]

Adris nodded his head affirmingly, that was the real reason he had come back to town. He was feeling much more comfortable talking now too, and loosened up the rigid way he was sitting.

"Yes, I have to meet up with mister Osric and see if we can't get Ilyamen involved. If all works as it should, Ilyamen can very well be the hammer that drives the nail home."

He thought about what he said, and was really starting to believe it himself. The clears have really trapped themselves in a prison when they took the city in the middle of a lake. If they can be pressured strong enough in the upcoming battle, they will have nowhere else to run to.

[Kender Bard]

"Then will you tell me what the answer is after you find out?" Raina pressed. If Emera wasn't going to take up arms, then there would be no reason to leave Ilyamen. That idea pleased Raina greatly, and deep down inside she really did hope that would be the case.

[adris]

Adris smiled and nodded towards Raina.

"Of course, I will be sure you know long before anyone else does. But whatever the case, do what you want in your heart most."

He rose from his seat and stood next to the door. He was waiting to be excused from the ladies company... mainly for the reason that he hated the idea of ever having to part with her again. He smiled a strong smile and nothing else ran through his mind except for his thoughts of how beautiful she is.

[Kender Bard]

Raina looked at him, her soft eyes just a touch misty, as she kept him in her gaze. A more sadistic woman would say that she was trapping him in her look, and a compassionate one would claim she was holding his image in her mind for later. The latter was more truthful. Raina broke her gaze and then gave an imperceptible nod, excusing him.