Becoming One [Yassia]

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

“Then you have just made me the happiest woman alive.”

"Oh, I'm not even done with you yet, woman." Oliver couldn't help but tease now that all the insane tension of the moment had passed. Her kiss, the way she responded to him was more than Oliver could ever ask for. He had not realized how terribly and desperately he missed and craved for her touch until now. To have her respond so openly and eagerly to his touch was the most wonderful thing to have ever happened to him since they had parted ways in the Forest of Balor. He was just so unbelievably happy right now that he knew nothing would destroy this day...and even the following days hereafter. Mercia could go to war now and Oliver wouldn't even worry because he knew with Yassia, everything will turn out better in the end. It was so amazing what love could do and how love could make you feel so many magnificent things all at one time. Not only was he joyously happy, he also felt so alive, so strong and so invincible that he could and would do anything that Yassia would ask him to. He would battle even the strongest army or hunt down the scariest beast in the forest, and he knew he would return victorious. For he had Yassia's love, he had all the armor and ammunition he needed.

When she whispered her words of love, Oliver felt it ring not just in his ears but all throughout his mind, his heart, his body, his entire being. To love and be loved as much in return was a dream he had never thought he would given. Then he remembered it, that wish he made once before when he was at his lowest of low after a rather painful break-up years ago. Pain could hardly pierce the happiness his heart was wrapped in now, but the memory of that one wish he made at a star that blazed brightly through the night skies--could this be it? Could this be the love he had heartily wished for? He had remembered that same wish when he first met Yassia, when she lay in his arms in the middle of a jungle after his arrow had wounded her. He had dismissed the wish knowing he could never be with her then. But here was Yassia now, loving him as much as he loved her back. Despite all the obstacles that they had to go through to get here, they have arrived, maybe not unscathed but not totally destroyed either.

"I have wished for this, you know," he spoke gently when they broke the kiss again. His eyes tenderly gazed at her as he reached a hand up and lovingly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "At a bright shooting star," he chuckled, feeling like a little kid confessing shyly to doing something to his parents. "When I first met you all grimy and ragged at the Forest of Balor, when you spoke of wanting me as much as I wanted you, I thought that was it. I thought that was all the stars would give me, and I was content. I had learned to prepare myself into being put into an arranged marriage should my father want it." There was so much to say, so much to tell her, and Oliver was just bursting with the words now. He wanted her to know everything that had happened since they had parted, wanted her to understand. "But I've never really forgotten you. I've never forgotten that feisty little nomad that had sneaked into my life and had stolen my heart all in one night. I knew I could never be with you then, but the thought that someone liked you felt just as strongly towards someone like me...it was what kept me going all these years."

Hidden fully by the darkness, Edmund listened in, seething in anger, his fist clenched tightly by his side as he watched his one and only brother and the woman he had planned to make his queen betray him. Having a hard time sleeping, Edmund had seen the letter Yassia had slipped under his door, and he had rushed as soon as he could to her chambers. When he didn't find her there, Edmund came down to the stables, but had never expected to be greeted by this scene before him. They were both players, yes, Oliver and Yassia, thinking all of this was but a petty game to them. And he thought his brother had changed! Oliver was only devising the greatest game plan of his life, to destroy him, to destroy Mercia. Hadn't he been doing that all his life? And Yassia...he had never thought her to be the kind to play along with his brother's games. Edmund had expected more of her. How wrong he was! It took all self-control not to pounce on them, but Edmund stayed hidden, wanting to get more information that would incriminate the two. Oh, there would be more than scars once Edmund had taken his revenge on Oliver and Yassia.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

With her immense relief washing away all tension of the previous hours, yeah, even days and weeks, it suddenly was so easy for Yassia to take this teasing and respond to it in her own mischievous way. It had always been Oliver able to bring out this carefree side in her, more than even Caitrin, and to her it was a sign of just how deeply she trusted him. Now that everything seemed how it should be, Yassia could finally let go of it all, and immerse herself fully into the happiness she was feeling. Teasing seemed a perfect outlet for her elation, and so she raised herself up to her tiptoes and whispered in his ear: “Is that so? Well, then I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.” Her bold, almost flirtatious remark sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine; this was also not how she usually acted, she had never been one for flirting. But again, with Oliver it all seemed perfectly normal. He was the one she wanted to belong to, with body and soul, and again shivering deep down, she wondered just how far they would go soon, in putting actions behind these words.

"I have wished for this, you know," "At a bright shooting star,"
Hie couldn’t have surprised her more with these words, and Yassia actually felt her heart skip a beat. For her, who bestowed so much religious meaning in the stars, this was a glimpse of the most amazing gnosis she had ever had. It was not only that she had done the same, even though much later and with a more decisive purpose, that took her breath away, it was the ultimate realization that the stars had indeed watched over them all along. This was a proof that could not be ignored. Two wishes had been made and both had been granted, that just couldn’t be mere coincidence!
”You did?!” she exclaimed, surprise and awe audible in her voice. “Do you know what this means for my people? Do you know that we believe in the stars to guide our fate? Because the stars are ever unchanging and set in their paths, but sometimes it can happen they alter a set fate, when something important happens, and then when you see a shooting star, you may be granted a wish for your own fate.” A bashful smile worked itself over her face. “You know… I wished on a star, too. Back in the Forest of Balor. I wished for us to meet again, no matter the time and the circumstances.” She gave a short laugh, but it was more amused than bitter. “They take such things literally, it seems. But… when was it you wished on a star? Can you tell me roughly when it was?”

Yassia blushed at his honest words, and again it felt like her heart would burst with glee. Leaning her forehead against his, she savored the feeling for a little while, then gave a quiet chuckle. “I never forgot you either. Stars, how I tried to be reasonable and couldn’t! You were with me every night. I just could not forget a word you said and I could not forget your smile and your touch. Not even after things went so wrong in Camelot. I said I was through with you once and for all… but even the moment I spoke these words they were nothing but a lie. You’ve made quite an impression, you know?”
Boldly, she reached up and stole another brief kiss, finding she had been refraining from doing that far too long. But there were still things she needed to say as well, things he should know to make their reconciliation complete. “I know it is unfair towards Edmund, but hands down, even if you had been the firstborn… I think for you I would have given up my kingdom. Or…” she snickered like a happy little girl, feeling so unlike herself it was almost scary. But not scary enough to make her reconsider. “… I would have kidnapped you. Like my mother was taken from Camelot, I would have kidnapped Mercia’s crown prince. Ever assumed you’d have agreed to it, of course.”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

“Is that so? Well, then I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.”

It was one of those things that make you feel like nothing bad could ever happen anymore. That finally, this was it, the culmination of things, the rainbow after the storm. And Oliver couldn't believe how easy it had been. Sure, they have both gone through the worst and arduous road to get here, but once they had confessed their true feelings to each other, once they had made that one important step, things just automatically fell into place. Of course, Yassia had her initial misgivings when Oliver practically proposed to her out of the blue, but it didn't take long for Oliver to turn her around, simply by being true to himself and his feelings for her. After realizing that they had both suffered enough, Oliver decided he was done with all the pretending and the sacrificing. He just hated the fact that it had to take the threat of Yassia leaving for him to see reason. Look what they're given now! "I can't wait to show them all to you. It will probably take forever though," he replied with a warm, loving smile.

He listened with awe and admiration as she told him about her people's regard for the stars when it comes to guiding their fates. He had never really put that much stock into them, to be honest, but listening to her now, it makes perfect sense. Since seeing that shooting star, Oliver's life had took on quite a turn. Someone had tipped him about the cockatrices in the Forest of Balor. Oliver had never gone that far south just to hunt, and yet he did. And while on that hunt, he shot Yassia, the first time he had shot a person ever since he started hunting. Now, the rest they say is history, but it was the kind of history that Oliver would not mind reliving over and over again for it marked the beginning of the rest of his life, with Yassia. And now she was telling him that she too had wished upon a star for them to meet again. And Oliver clearly remembered their one horrific but fateful meeting in Camelot a year after, during Arthur's birthday and coronation. "Who you met in Camelot was an infuriating prick. I deserved that dagger," he replied with a chuckle, laughing off the painful feelings of that encounter. It all felt so distant and trivial now to even matter one bit.

"Two years ago, I think, somewhere around the beginning of the harvest month," he replied as he tried to remember the exact moment when he wished upon that star, the first and only time he ever did. He was at his lowest of low then, heartbroken like never before. The woman he once loved had been taken away from him, and to know that his father and brother were behind it all only added more nails to that coffin. Feeling nothing but hopelessness and agony, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol as usual. He remembered looking out of the window from his room, out at the night sky, mistrusting and hating life, questioning its purpose for him. Then it came, like an answer to his burning question. And the words just flowed out of his heart without him meaning to. "I was down in the pits that time, so desperate and miserable, I asked the star never to make me fall again unless it was for keeps, unless it was for true and everlasting love. After I did that, I actually thought I had gone insane for talking to a shooting star," he added with a shy little chuckle.

Caught unaware by her brief kiss, Oliver felt that he must have sported a rather goofy grin when she reached up and touched her lips against his. Of course, his hand still stayed around her waist even though he wasn't sure if she was teasing him or not when she finished speaking. "That...is the...craziest..." he started, finding the words, looking at Yassia as if she had just sprouted another head. He didn't know what to say! There were no words to reply to that! Yassia seemed to have this habit, or more like power, to catch him unaware and render him speechless. Him. Oliver Leofric Strathmore. The Mercian prince who had won wars in the council room with his gift of tongue, of cunning speech. Who would have thought that only a woman, albeit an amazing one, could silence him? The expression on his face then turned soft and tender, even bordering on dreamy. "...most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. Well, second only to you telling me you love me," he added. He was so overwhelmed with love that words escape him, and all he could ever think of doing was to take Yassia's lips and give it another fervent and heartfelt kiss. "I'm just glad I'm not Crown Prince then, because I want you to have Ailantha, and I want to be there beside you."

Then, a dull and humorless clapping of hands suddenly sounded from one corner of the stables, and Edmund stepped out from his hiding place, looking livid, deciding to finally put an end to all the shenanigans. He had suffered enough listening to them relish their past together and gush about a future that Edmund was only too determined to thwart. Standing there, Edmund was shaking with anger at being betrayed by his own brother after all that he had done for him, after all the protection that he had afforded Oliver growing up.

"Well played, my dear brother, well played," he dangerously spoke, his voice full of venom and loathing. When he saw his brother, Oliver immediately pulled back from Yassia and moved to step between her and his brother, shielding her. He knew only too well how Edmund was seeing all this, and he feared that Edmund had heard enough to justify the anger that was emanating from him. "Edmund..." he started, thinking of nothing but to protect Yassia. In response, Edmund drew out a dagger.



ooc: carried away, much? you don't have to match the length of this one.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Finding her own excitement mirrored in both his eyes and his words, Yassia could hardly bear the feeling that seemed to wash over her. This was something new, something that even surpassed all the confusing sentiments she had experienced in the Forest of Balor, because this time she knew she was allowed to feel it, this time she was allowed to indulge in all of it. Together with Oliver. This was for them, and solely for them, finally no ifs or buts anymore. They had all the time in the world. Right here, in this moment, Yassia couldn’t be more convinced that everything would turn out just perfect. She would show the world what she really felt like; Oliver would convince the council of Mercia; they would leave with a decent band of soldiers at their command; she would win back her throne and Oliver would rule equally at her side. Seriously, what COULD go wrong? Because even if she didn’t manage to win back Ailantha from her uncle, she would never feel quite as helpless and alone with the love of her life by her side. They would find a way somehow. Of course they would.”The sweet pain of anticipation”, she whispered with a mischievous smile, still feeling oddly flirty. Was that really only the knowledge of loving someone and being loved in return making her so bold and straightforward with these things? Hmm… well, she probably would find out soon enough.

"Who you met in Camelot was an infuriating prick. I deserved that dagger,"
Yassia mimicked his chuckle, leaning against him and looking up into his smiling face, drinking in every line and curve of it as if she wanted to memorize it for all time to come. How peculiar such things could work out, really. A little bit of the pain was still there that had been connected to his face whenever she looked at it over the last few weeks, but it was merely a faint echo. Their bad times was as much a part of their history as their good times, and while they would need to move on, they surely should also never forget these times. They were a good warning. “Well, I’d be lying if I said you weren’t, and I’ll never lie to you again”, she said half teasing, half in earnest. “But stars, I wasn’t exactly innocent myself, don’t you dare take the full blame on this!”

"Two years ago, I think, somewhere around the beginning of the harvest month,"
Two years ago… the harvest month… the harvest month… Oliver’s words echoed in Yassia’s mind, but she felt too shocked to really process them. It could have been any other date, it SHOULD have been any other date by terms of logic, but… it wasn’t. She felt her knees go weak and gripped Oliver’s arm to steady herself, still dazed and slowly shaking her head. “It went that far north…” she whispered hoarsly, finally starting to believe her ears. But that… that was simply too much to be called anything near coincidence! Yassia remembered this day Oliver had mentioned like it had only been yesterday, and she could even name the exact hour. The moment the star had fallen from the sky, had been the moment her father, King Diodore, died. And everyone seeing the bright shooting star had known that someone’s fate had been changed forever. Yassia had long believed it to be her own fate. But no… someone else had wished upon the same star… and the moment her life had been changed, his had been to… The stars had intertwined their paths in all finality. And this was the last and best proof she could get.

Too late Yassia realized that her awestruck words would mean nothing to Oliver, and so she hastened to explain herself. “Now, you probably will call me completely crazy, but… The day you saw and wished on the star, must have been the same day my father died. His death changed my fate for sure… but it also changed yours, because you WISHED for it to change. You, Oliver… you made this happen. All of this. Us. With a simple, crazy wish.” Maybe he would not believe that, but Yassia surely was firmly convinced now. Still dazed, she couldn’t reply to his wonderful words about wanting to rule by her side, but she still responded to his fiery kiss, albeit with a little less intensity than before. She needed time to think about this.

But time, it seemed she was not granted. Just as everything seemed perfect, of course the stars or some devilish entity saw it fit to intervene again, threaten everything. Neither of them had seen Edmund enter, and when she heard his hateful voice, Yassia’s heart skipped a long, painful beat. Then she saw the weapon in his hands and her mouth went dry. For once, she didn’t complain being shielded, but then her greatest fear was that Edmund, in his senseless anger, would hurt Oliver, not herself. That could not happen, oh sweet stars, no!
”Sweet stars… you found the letter”, she croaked. Why was he even still awake?! “Edmund, please… let me explain…”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Yassia's light and mischievous behavior now was quite a pleasant surprise to Oliver. He had seen glimpses of this playful side of hers in their first encounter and even in their little outings thereafter. But to find them all boldly directed at him now with such bravado and coquetry, it was overwhelming in a delightful way. Only a fool would not want to be overwhelmed like this every second of every day. And somehow the thought made him even more excited to starting anew with Yassia. It made him unbelievably giddy like a child that he still couldn't believe that this wasn't all but a dream, that this was, in fact, reality. He managed a chuckle when she only affirmed his statement about being a prick back in Camelot. "Nor will I," he responded, making the same promise of never lying to her again himself. Too much lies had drove them apart, and Oliver was not going to let that happen again. Never. "Well, I wouldn't mind sharing accountability, not when I'm sharing it with you," he added as he leaned down and planted a soft peck on the tip of her nose.

“It went that far north…”

A quizzical look appeared on Oliver's face at Yassia's whispered words, and he looked with undisguised bemusement at the play of emotions on her face. He couldn't help but wonder what must be running inside that pretty little head of hers. It took quite a while, and Oliver wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not this silence that she had momentarily lapsed into. He wondered what it was about his shooting star that had her stumped like that.

And then she told him her story--of her father breathing his last two years ago, during the harvest month, during the same time he wished on his shooting star; of her life changing with his because he wished for it; of him making all of this happen. Oliver wasn't quite sure what to feel. Oh, he believed her right then and there all right. He had known now not to doubt Yassia for one bit when it comes to the stars. But to wrap his mind around the circumstances, around the fact, that was still taking quite a bit of work in his mind. Did he really make this all happen? That it was his wish that made the difference for both of their lives that night? He was at a loss for words, to be honest. Clearly, he was very happy to have the stars bless their fates, but he also felt rather sad that it had to remind her of the day her father had left this world. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to bring up the memory of your father's death," he apologized. He realized that those events that brought with them the shooting star may have been very sad, but they had also brought about this insane kind of happiness now that neither Oliver nor Yassia could hardly contain. After the storm really does come a beautiful rainbow. "But I'm glad that that star brought me to you, and you to me."

But trust the universe to throw in one more wrench into the already perfectly running mill. It seemed the test for Oliver and Yassia to prove their love to each other and to the world was not over yet. Oh, bring them on, Oliver would definitely say. Didn't he just promise to go through everything not to have Yassia taken away from him again? "Now, Edmund, there's no need to resort to violence. We can explain..," Oliver said taking his cue from Yassia. So it seemed that Yassia had left her refusal to Edmund's proposal in a letter so she could leave unnoticed. Quite a wise and cunning princess his lady was, Oliver couldn't help but think smugly. He would do exactly the same if he were in her place, steal away in the night. But then of course, the sight of the ugly menacing dagger in Edmund's hand was no joking matter and shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I've heard more than enough to know that you, two, have been playing me for a fool!" Edmund spat out as he advanced towards them. "Not just me, the entire Kingdom of Mercia!"

Oliver stepped back without stepping away from Yassia, fully shielding her from Edmund. "Edmund, Yassia is that woman, that nomad woman I have been telling you about."

"And why did neither of you tell me this before? You were enjoying yourselves playing this game, taking all of us for idiots with your playacting and drama!" he lashed out as he pointed the dagger at Oliver. There was so much anger and betrayal in Edmund's voice and eyes that Oliver almost felt for the pain his brother was suffering, almost forgot about the dagger that was but a few inches away from his face.

"Put down the dagger, Edmund, and let's talk. This is all my fault. Leave Yassia out of this," Oliver implored his brother yet again, while his one hand started to push Yassia farther away from him, away from Edmund and his dagger.

"Enough lies, you ungrateful bastard! You are still a good-for-nothing rebel who brought nothing but shame to this kingdom, to this family! I should have made sure my sword pierced your heart the first time I had the chance!" And before anybody else could move, Edmund lunged with the dagger towards Oliver.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

When Oliver said he was for sharing accountabilities, Yassia could only too heartily agree with the thought. She had suggested it, and she meant it, wholly and fully. But, like it seemed to be now between them, there was also a playful side to taking blame. Because blame could be a debt, something bad, something to make up for, but the means of ‘making up’ were entirely down to them, and in their current state, Yassia would be able to point out a thing or two about how debts could be paid. It was all about from which perspective you viewed it, and right now the happy perspective was so overwhelming that it didn’t take much to turn even the most serious topic into a playful banter. She registered his vow to never lie to her again with a dazzling smile, never doubting him for a second. After all, she had come to know him as a man who kept his promises, no matter what the consequences might be for him. There could be no better proof for her than their own twisted story.”If we both are to blame, then I think it’s only fair we share the punishment for it, yes?” she suggested with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Any suggestions you might have there?”

Of course it was much to take in. If it was already for her, then it would be even more for Oliver, who hadn’t been brought up in the belief that stars were more than glittering lights in the sky who could cause a mighty spectacle when they shot across the sky alone or in a group. The vague tradition to wish on a star might be present in his kingdom as well, but she knew from her mother that it was viewed on mostly as silly, almost a little childish superstition. She would give him all time needed to wrap his head around it and she wouldn’t even be mad at him, if he refused that belief. He didn’t have to start to believe in the stars for her sake, he just shouldn’t belittle her faith, that was all she would ever ask for – and in all honesty, she doubted that Oliver would ever stoop so low as to show scorn to something that obviously meant so much to her.
The time she would give him was also greatly needed for herself, and maybe it would take more than just a few days to fully come to terms with it all. The previous minutes had been just too much to take in, her life had taken a total turn out of the blue, and maybe she would only start to believe in it all, when a little time had passed.

”Don’t feel bad about it, please”, she implored him softly, shaking her head. “The wound my father’s death has caused had time to heal. I will still miss him and everything he could have still done for me, with guidance and counsel, but I no longer grief his loss too strongly. His death was what made me grow into the person I am now. His path had ended, and I am sure he is happy now.” When they last had talked about her father in length, back in the Forest of Balore, the wound had still been fresh. But also, being with Sir Kaye, as grumpy and bitter a person as he might be, had helped to heal this wound as well. Even though he was so different from her father, he had become a father FIGURE for her in all his difficulties, too. She had to smile suddenly. “If stars have a personality, I’d say that one must have felt very smug indeed, creating such a twist in both our lives at once. When I ever join the stars, far far in the future, I’ll have a word with that one for sure!”

It seemed though that the stars were truly not through with them yet, and also Edmund wasn’t through with them. He seemed in no mood to slow down and take a think, and that was what panicked Yassia most. In her opinion, Edmund had always been the one must susceptible to reason, far more than Oliver, and sometimes even a bit TOO reasonable for her liking. But now it seemed like reason was fleeing him entirely, and that was whart made the situation so dangerous and tense.
"Edmund, Yassia is that woman, that nomad woman I have been telling you about."
"And why did neither of you tell me this before? You were enjoying yourselves playing this game, taking all of us for idiots with your playacting and drama!"
Yassia shook her head, shocked. “No… that’s not… you’re getting it all wrong!”

But Edmund didn’t even seem to notice her, he was fully focused on his brother on which he seemed to cast the full blame. And Oliver even encouraged him! Yassia could only watch in horror as he stepped forward, still trying to shield her, either not seeing or not believing what seemed so evident in Edmund’s eyes: rage beyond sanity and a terrifying lust to kill. And then he said it: “I should have made sure my sword pierced your heart the first time I had the chance!"
Yassia’s eyes widened in pure horror as she had to watch Edmund raise the arm holding the dagger, but it all happened in slow motion for her almost, and suddenly she reacted without even thinking. “NO!” she heard herself scream and dashed forward, pulling Oliver back as she pushed herself past him. “Stop this, both of you!”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Oliver was still getting used to this mischievous side of Yassia's that he can't seem to be able to formulate a witty retort without blushing like a lovesick fool. Well, in essence, he was a lovesick fool. And he was just recovering from the amazing euphoria that real and true love was bringing him. He was technically still reeling from it. When he saw that impish twinkle in her eyes, he couldn't resist feeling like he had been given a dose of his own medicine. Wasn't this his usual line when courting or flirting with ladies of the court or maidens in the village? It felt strange to be on the receiving end of that teasing, but seeing as it was Yassia, the woman he's so smitten about, who was doing it to him, it magnified the feeling a hundred-fold. But of course, Oliver would not want to throw in the white flag. He was going to give his lady love exactly what she was asking for. "I know of only one," he started with an equally sly grin just as he had regained his surprise and composure at her unexpected yet welcome attack. "There is no greater punishment than to subject both of us to each other's insufferable company...all night..." he said as he lowered his head and planted a soft kiss on the back of her ear. "...for many nights..." he whispered before planting another on the crook of her neck. "...until we break." he finished with a long and lingering kiss down her throat.

Perhaps the stars had really planned it all from the start. Perhaps they truly had planned the events in his life in such a way that it would lead to that heartbreak, to that fateful day, the exact same day when the good King of Ailantha bid goodbye to this world and changed the life of his one and only daughter forever. Come to think about it, they had met not when Yassia was still reeling from the death of her family. They had met when she have had enough time to heal, when she have had enough time to open her heart to emotions other than grief. And even when the stars had crossed their paths that first time around, they continued to sharpen their feelings for each other even more by making them work their way to each other's hearts. It was cruel, sadistic even, but seeing the result now, it was all worth the pain and suffering. Oliver just wished he had met Yassia's father, her entire family, and had thanked them personally for giving him the love of his life. "I give my word to the memory of your father and your dear family that all your suffering is over now, my love. They can rest easy and assured that I will love you, cherish you, take care of you...until my dying day, until the day you join the stars...maybe even beyond that."

But the rest of their happy lives, it seemed, have yet to start as Edmund was all determined to put an end to it right there and then. Oliver understood how his brother felt. He knew he would feel just as betrayed and played if he were in Edmund's shoes. And it didn't help that Edmund have had quite a lot to drink as well before coming down the stables.

“No… that’s not… you’re getting it all wrong!”

"Wrong!? How could I be wrong when everything is as clear as daylight between you two!" Edmund had momentarily turned his attention towards Yassia, he hated being told he was wrong, especially not by a woman who did nothing but exploit his and his family's kindness. "You are an ingrate and an opportunistic woman! But you are a dumb fool! Oliver cannot give you riches or an army! I can! You had chosen the wrong brother!" Oliver was ever so quick to plant himself steadily between Edmund and Yassia to keep his brother from moving any closer and hurting her. "Enough!" No one has any right to say those things to Yassia or lay a hand on her. Especially not Edmund, not when, truly, he had gotten everything all wrong. Had Yassia indeed been ungrateful and opportunistic, she would have chosen Edmund, not him.

At that moment, Oliver was ready, anticipating Edmund lunging forward with the dagger in his hand, dangerously aimed at his midsection. What he didn't anticipate though was Yassia pulling him back and rushing right past him, right into the path of Edmund's oncoming dagger! "YASSIA! NO!" Oliver yelled as he quickly seized her hand and yanked her back. Powered by the paralyzing fear for Yassia's safety, the force of his pull slammed the princess to the side, against the door to Arrow's stall, out of harm's way, but unfortunately not before Edmund's sharp dagger had dangerously grazed her arm.

Oliver himself had sidestepped his brother's onslaught, and Edmund came tumbling forward and down to the ground, the dagger clattering out of his hand and landing into a pile of hay nearby. Now, seething, purely red with anger at his brother's madness, Oliver rushed towards Edmund who was sprawled face down onto the ground. He angrily rolled him over, and pulled his brother's collar before landing a hard punch squarely onto Edmund's jaw.

But trust Edmund not be easily subdued by a mere punch. He quickly regained his senses and kicked Oliver by his feet, sending his younger brother down on all fours. Taking the opportunity, Edmund quickly stood up and rushed with a hard kick at Oliver's midsection, making the younger prince groan in agony. "You worthless piece of--" Edmund didn't get to finish his sentence, however, as Oliver pounced on him and sent them both slamming against the concrete wall. The horses had long waken up from all the raucous, and were now making frantic noises all around them.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Since Yassia was still very innocent in many aspects, she hadn’t fully thought through her actions and words, and had in consequence not expected Oliver to react quite so… readily to her suggestive comments. She had never been in such a situation before, not even with him at the first time, since then they had not been free to plan for the future. She had been holding back in means of self-preservation, and probably so had he. But now there was no fear of the future, no negation, no holding back. What that would mean, in full consequence, Yassia only discovered now, and it overwhelmed her."There is no greater punishment than to subject both of us to each other's insufferable company...all night..." "...for many nights..." "...until we break."There was no expecting and no describing the sentiments that rushed through Yassia’s body with surprising force at his bold and lingering kisses. This intimacy was so new, so indescribable that Yassia’s hands, who had been losely resting on his back, tightened in sudden shock as the waves of pleasure washed through her and her lips escaped a sound half way between a gasp and a breathless laugh.

”I have no idea where my breaking point is, but it can’t be that far off”, she mused, almost taken aback by her reactions. Was that really still her? What was Oliver doing to her, so easily, so quickly? Was that how it ought to be like? That you could hardyly wait for more, that you nearly forgot yourself and everything through such caress? It was surely not how she had heard it being talked about – on the very rare occasions the ladies of the court in Ailantha even talked about such things that was. They usually went by the policy that girls who were not yet married shouldn’t even know about what came to pass between man and wife and that they would learn soon enough. Dalliances before marriage were extremely frowned upon. In that respect, Albion seemed at least a little different. Yassia had gotten some glimpses mostly from comments Caitrin made, but she had pushed that topic far away from her, still being incredibly bashful. But right now there wasn’t much bashfulness left it seemed. Almost hungrily, she captured Oliver’s lips with her own and started to explore them curiosly. “I think I might accept this punishment…”

And now, it seemed, it was time for vows again. Oliver and her had seen quite a few vows made, broken and honored, but this one, she had a feeling, he would never break. At least not willingly. His words filled her with happiness all over, since they were so close to traditional wedding vows that there only was the authority missing to make them man and wife. But Yassia didn’t care about authorities this time. All other vows would only be repititions of this one, and it was made before her ancestors and the stars. There could be no higher authority.
”I am sure they heard you and approve”, she stated as soon as she had found her voice again. “But let’s not think about such a sad future, my love. The stars will have to wait for me for a very long time I hope. And for you. They ought to grant us years of happiness now.”

. "You are an ingrate and an opportunistic woman! But you are a dumb fool! Oliver cannot give you riches or an army! I can! You had chosen the wrong brother!"
Yassia couldn’t quite believe her ears. Edmund’s words were pure poison and as much as she tried to not let them get to her, they sliced a wound inside her. Ingrate and opportunistic… how peculiar that she should be insulted in such a manner twice, by both brothers… and all because they thought she had chosen one over the other. But then… Edmund did not love her, he only wanted her. And even if she wanted him, she could not have him. He needed to see that. “Edmund, you have no right to insult me”, she countered rather sternly, even though she was not sure he would even listen. “I’ve chosen Oliver long before I met you, only back then I did not know who he was. It is a long story, and you better listen instead of lashing out.”

She had no idea what she had been thinking when she threw herself in the knife’s way, only that she knew that Oliver could not be hurt. She could not lose him, she’d rather lose herself! But before she knew it, she was yanked back rather forcefully by Oliver and collided hard with the wooden door of the horse stall. All breath was drawn from her lungs and she felt momentarily dazed, not even realizing the knife had sliced her arm. For a few moments she could only watch in horror as a serious fight broke out between the two princes. The knife had been thrown away, but they still could inflict serious damage. “I said STOP!” she exclaimed, sounding more panicked than authoritative though and her voice nearly drowned in the loud whinnying of the horses around them. Sooner or later someone would notice the chaos, that was for sure, but then it could already be too late. Now Oliver slammed Edmund against the wall, not far from Yassia, and she thought she might give it another go. Her arm shooting forward, she found Oliver’s shoulder and tried to push him away from his brother.

”Come to your senses, both of you! This is. Not. Worth. It !”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

”I have no idea where my breaking point is, but it can’t be that far off”

"We can't have you breaking so soon, can we? We need to spend as many nights as we can, just you and me." Now, Oliver was teasing just as boldly back, fueled by the reaction that he had elicited from Yassia. From the tightening of her arms around his neck to the breathless gasp that had escaped her lips, Oliver could sure tell he was in the right direction and that he was doing the right thing to please his lady love. There was no stopping this horse now. And the thought only made the young prince much excited for the days ahead. Gone are crazy and lonely days of what-ifs and maybes. From here on out, Oliver was confident of the certainty of his future now, a future with Yassia. And he was going to do the best that he can to keep it and keep it growing and glowing. Forever.

A wide smile spread on Oliver's lips when Yassia accepted his promise on behalf of her ancestors and the stars above. He knew he had practically just given his life to her, for her, and Oliver couldn't have wanted it any other way. "You're right. We do deserve years and years of happiness after all that they have put us through," he replied. If Oliver were to have his way, he would literally drag her to the minister right now so they could be married by the laws of the land, but of course, he wouldn't do that to her. He would give her the most beautiful wedding, the kind of wedding that she would want.

Words were no longer holding any weight in this situation. Edmund was way past talking. The rage fueled by the alcohol and the misconceptions in his head brought him too far gone into madness to see reason. Even as the brothers both slammed themselves against the wall, Edmund don't seem to want to give up. His fists found Oliver's ribs and he jabbed hard at his younger brother's torso. But Oliver was just as far gone with anger at Edmund's inexcusable behavior. The way Edmund treated Yassia, calling her rude and cruel names, was something Oliver could not easily forgive his brother for, so he too found an opening and gave his brother a hard punch to the gut. With Edmund backed against the wall, Oliver found the upper hand as he gave his brother one hard hit after another--in the chest, on his face, anywhere his punches could land on.

Such was Oliver's anger that Yassia's hand on his shoulder might as well have been ignored if not for the panic that was clearly laced in her voice. It was her voice that momentarily brought Oliver back to his senses, and caused him to stop and step back from Edmund. Unfortunately, Edmund was waiting for this chance, any chance to retaliate. Just as soon as Oliver brought his hands down from Yassia's pleas, Edmund pounced and hit Oliver in the face sending the younger prince down to the ground. And before anybody could move, Edmund grabbed Yassia by the arm. "Father will know of this game you, two, are playing! The dark dungeons should be a good place for you both to rot!" he spat at his brother on the ground. And with that, he strode towards the entrance of the stables with Yassia held tightly in his hands. Badly bruised and beaten, blood on his lip, Edmund was still as consumed with fury as he literally dragged Yassia out.

But even before he could even reach the door, Edmund suddenly just slumped to the ground unconscious. Behind him stood Oliver, just as equally bruised and beaten as he was, holding a block of wood in his hand. Panting heavily, he stared coldly at his brother who was now lying on the ground, all fight finally gone out of him. "He was angry, and he was drunk," he spoke more to himself than to Yassia. "I have never seen him like this before."

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Oh, this was new, this was bold and it was also slightly scaring. Yassia certainly wouldn’t have thought she’d ever be so forthright as to say such things, not even to the man she loved. But it seems love gave you wings even on that, and really turned you into a different person, making you do crazy things. As long as Oliver could deal with this unexpected side of her, Yassia told herself there was no need to worry. Or was there? Hmm… time would probably tell, and since they had all the time in the world now, it shouldn’t be a problem. Once again, Yassia felt sheer overwhelmed with that new thought: All was well, all was perfect. The bad times were over, everything had worked out miraculously well. Oliver was hers and she was his. Until the end of time, however cheesy that might sound. Now was definitely a time to be cheesy, there were only the violins missing.”Well, and maybe what they say is true: with practice comes perfection”, she joked softly, still not feeling quite on terra firma, but surely willing to try. Somehow she had the impression Oliver could be an apt teacher.

What they deserved and what they would get of course were two entirely different things, but Yassia hoped the stars would be gracious. That was all you could ever hope for, and of course work for your happiness as best as you could. The stars would not grant anythign without effort, and as such it was a miracle how they had worked towards their re-unition when they both had done so much to negate it. It truly had taken them the hardest measures to finally make them see. Yassia in her current slightly giddy state imagined even a collective, huge sigh of relief echoing through the stars’ and spirit’s realm, as they could finally direct their massive efforts elsewhere, where they were surely direly needed.
”I’ll be looking forward to them”, she promised him with gleaming eyes. “But I do want to cherish the present more. How about that?”

At first Yassia feared her words might not have any effect at all, and she would have to watch Edmund beating Oliver senseless. She had thrown herself in harms way once for him, and she would do so again, but what would be gained by that? No… it might be more prudent to get help somewhere. Why weren’t the guards at the gate alarmed yet, anyway? A commotion in the stables at night usually meant trouble. There could even be a fire spreading when the animals went uneasy. But no one came, and Yassia couldn’t tear her gaze from the two fighting men, fear and shock in her heart. Someone else surely would know what to do, like Caitrin. Caitrin always knew what to do, but Yassia was not her, and right now she felt useless on top of utterly helpless.
But then Oliver seemed to listen to her as he stepped back and allowed his brother some space whereas he had maltreated him with punch over punch before. Both princes looked seriously disordered and hackly now, surely not the pride of their kingdom right now.

But Edmund, it seemd, wouldn’t have peace. His vile punch send Yassia gasping with shock. A mutual fight was one thing, but exploiting a combattants withdrawal like that went against every rule of chivalry there was. It was malevolent and cruel. And then he grabbed Yassia, right over the wound he had previously inflicted, with sent her screaming and trashing. Oh sweet stars no!
”Edmund!” she cried out, trying invane to fight against his iron grip as he dragged her along, sending her more stumbling than actually walking. “What demon possesses you?! Please, don’t DO this!” Another person seeking to throw her into the dungeons. Numbly Yassia thought that she by no must have reached some royal record. There couldn’t be any other princess in the world so familiar with various dungeon cells. Would a Mercian one now be added to the list? She’d never have expected such cruelty from Edmund, not in her wildest nightmares!

Suddenly, however, his hand went limb, and before she knew it, he was crashing on the floor beside her. Bewildered by this sudden, inexplicable turn of events, Yassia darted around, only to see Oliver, her Oliver, battered and bruised like he was with a piece of wood in his hands, telling her everything she needed to know. “Sweet stars…” she whispered, for a moment unable to cope with this situation, then hesitantly extended a hand towards him. “Are you alright?”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Could he really be hearing her right? Could she truly be talking about that moment when a man and a woman become one? Could she really be affirming his teasing by suggesting they do a lot of it to make it perfect? Oliver couldn't believe how bold and flirty Yassia had gotten in that respect and he couldn't help the amused laugh that issued from him. And here he thought she was the innocent one. But of course, who was he to complain? Oliver could only thank the stars for giving him a woman who wanted him as much as he wanted her. Oh, they would practice alright, and they would make it perfect, for as long and as often as they could.

Standing there, looking down at his brother now sprawled on the stable floor, Oliver felt completely out of breath. He had barely recovered from the breathless happiness brought about by finally "finding" Yassia and her love when Edmund had attacked them. And his brother was no easy adversary. In terms of combat and all sorts of fighting physically, Edmund had the upper hand. So it was a complete miracle that it was Edmund who was lying unconscious now and not Oliver.

It had probably taken forever before Oliver heard Yassia and saw her reaching out for him. He dropped the block of wood in his hand, and gave her a small smile before taking her hand. His arms immediately wrapped around her as he pulled her close burying his head against her still sweet-smelling hair. "I am alright, but I am so sorry you had to see all that," he breathed out raggedly. "I will sort everything out, I promise."

When he pulled back, he took her hand and saw the color red staining her arm. Oliver didn't have to ask when and how she got the wound, all that mattered now was to have it treated as soon as possible. And as if on cue, his servant Lot appeared running hurriedly and breathlessly into the stables. "I heard noises--" he had gushed, but then stopped when he saw the scene before him: his master Oliver holding Yassia, and the Crown Prince Edmund lying on the ground unconscious. "Find someone to take Edmund back to his chambers. Then get Marcus and send him to mine. Tell him the princess is wounded," Oliver told Lot in a weary voice that his servant simply nodded and went off without a word. Oliver didn't see the smug smile that appeared on his servant's lips as he left. Lot didn't need to be told what had transpired there. He already had a feeling about what happened, and he was going to spread the word, albeit furtively, all over the castle.

Oliver then turned to Yassia and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Come, love, let's get that wound taken cared of," he told her softly. And then without warning, he bent down and scooped Yassia into his arms.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Was it over? Could it be over… this time? Somehow Yassia just felt hesitant to really believe it, as her hopes had been thwarted one time too many. Edmund’s appearance and his freakout had shocked her to the brink of a trauma. Never in a thousand years would she have believed for him to react this way. To be surprised, yes. To be taken aback maybe. But to be this unforgiving, this hateful? He had completely lost it, gone all out on rage and fury… and it really had taken a log of wood from the hands of his own brother to stop him. Now he lay there on the ground, and even though Yassia knew it wasn’t healthy, she hoped he would be out of it long enough for them to make an escape. Or what else should they do? All her plans had been called off now… or had they? When Edmund woke up, would he still demand they be thrown into the dungeons? But on what grounds?! What had they done, really? Hid their feelings from everyone, presumably leading people on? That had first and foremost led each other on, hiding their emotions from everyone but themselves. This was an unfortunate turnout of things, but it was no crime. But what would she do now? She had to leave, if she wanted help for her kingdom, she had been away far too long. But she could not go without Oliver. Would he accompany her, then? There were simply too many questions still needing some answer or the other, and yet Yassia just couldn’t force herself to concentrate on them now. Maybe tomorrow… when she had calmed down a little.

Seeing Oliver still heaving with the heat of the battle he had just been going through, Yassia had not been sure at all, if he wanted her touch, or was in any way willing to accept comfort and give it, hence her hesitant approach. But he didn’t seem averse to it at all, and so she let herself being engulfed by his comforting embrace, relishing in the enormous relief that they seemed to have battled yet another storm. “This was not your fault”, she whispered softly against his chest. “Maybe it was mine, maybe it was no one’s fault. If I had known Edmund to be so… angry, I would have never just written a letter. But then… I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted away from it all.” Could he really sort this out? Was there still a chance of this not ending in a complete mess? “How will you sort this out?”, she asked doubtfully. “Do you really think Edmund will see sense? I… I don’t want him to hate us. He’s a good man. Just… just not the man for me.”

Suddenly Lot appeared, Oliver’s faithful servant. It would have almost been funny, him appearing when all the hassle was over, but Yassia just felt too tired to feel anything but mild indifference to anything. She didn’t even feel embarrassed to be caught in Oliver’s arms. After all… Lot knew at least part of their story. He had been there in the Forest of Balor. It turned him almost into a companion in crime in Yassia’s eyes. Surprised and a little bit impressed with how Oliver handled the situation, so sure of himself it seemed, she kept quiet and let him instruct Lot on what to do. Only when he spoke of Marcus and her being wounded, she perked up.
Following his gaze, Yassia gave a slight “Oh” and winced, since the mere sight of the wound brought the pain to the forefront of her mind. But she forced it down, and shook her head: “That’s nothing. No need to wake Marcus. Just a scratch, really!” A burning, hurting scratch more like, but she was not going to point that out to Oliver. He was already feeling guilty enough as it was.

When he scooped her up in his arms, Yassia squealed in surprise, but she quickly rested her head against his shoulder, feeling the weight of everything that had come to pass finally catching up with her. And she also realized she hadn’t got a minute of sleep tonight and how exhausting everything up until this moment had been. It felt like she could just rest her head and sleep for a thousand years. And yet, she knew she also didn’t want to sleep at all now. She was tired and worn out, and yet she was wide awake, not yet able to take anything she was experiencing with Oliver right now for granted. And she didn’t want to miss a thing. It was too new, too wonderfully new. “Now what?”, she asked, turning her head to look at him.

Lot had left the door open when he had left to take out Olivers orders he had been given, and through it a dim light was seeping into the stables. Yassia had been out and about before dawn often enough to read these signs, and so she extended her good arm towards the light. “Look”, she said softly, a smile playing around her lips, “The sun will be rising any moment. It’s a new day my love.” A new day indeed, the first day of their refound love. The dawning of a hopeful and bright future.

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Oliver planted a soft kiss on the top of her head even as he reveled in the feel of Yassia in his arms. She had accepted his warm embrace, and it only showed to Oliver how much Yassia would trust him with her safety, her life. And Oliver knew he would do anything to keep her out of harm's way from here on out. He was her sword and shield, and he will fight for her and defend her to the end. And she, well, Yassia was his strength, the wind beneath his wings, the one who makes things--anything and everything possible for him.

"No one's fault, my princess. Everything happens for a reason, and I could only hope that Edmund will see that reason," he replied just as softly as his eyes landed on his brother, still lying unconscious before them. Oliver didn't want to think about what all this was going to lead to now. He didn't even want think about what Bayard would even say. All he knew for sure was that he would do anything not to have Yassia taken from him anymore, even if it meant leaving and renouncing his kingdom, his home, he would. He had a new home now. Where Yassia was, there his heart and home is. "Don't worry you pretty little head about it. Everything will be fine," he reassured her, also at the same time reassuring himself.

With a small shake of his head, Oliver ignored her own protest at Marcus tending to her wound. He knew her enough to downplay anything that concerns her, and Oliver knew not to take them at face value so easily. Yassia was hurt, and Oliver was going to make sure she was well taken cared of. "Now what?" "Now, we get you back to bed so you can rest and get some sleep," he told her, trying so hard to keep a grin from his face. Oh, he had so many things in mind to do now that they are finally and truly together. But it seems those will have to wait until both of them had gotten their own strength back. While the night had totally brought a new and exciting kind of energy into both of their hearts, it had also taken quite a toll on their bodies.

As he stepped out of the stables, Yassia still in his arms, Oliver looked out at the horizon before them when Yassia pointed it out. He couldn't help the warm smile that appeared on his lips as he thought about the bright new things that this new day would bring them. Call it coincidence, call it fate, call it written in the stars...but it was interesting to note how so much had happened in the night and how it all sorted itself out just as a new day was dawning. As the sun would rise, so too would Oliver and Yassia's lives with each other. With the new day comes their love, a love they had once thought to have lost but have found again. "I know of a better view," he whispered as he turned towards the castle.

Along the way, a few servants and soldiers greeted them as they made their way to the stables, perhaps to help Edmund and fix things up there. Lot met them as they entered through the kitchens which was only just beginning to come to life. "Marcus is on his way, sire. I'll bring some food up to your room right away," Lot said with a smile. Then the servant turned to Yassia. "Rest well, my lady." Oliver smiled at Lot and turned towards the hallways. He walked the rest of the way up the staircase leading to the chambers, greeting the servants they meet and trying so hard to ignore the knowing smiles that he was seeing on their faces. A guard helped Oliver open the door to his chambers, and the prince proceeded towards the open balcony where he put Yassia down. The balcony offered them a better view of the horizon and the rays of the sun that had yet to start peeking out from behind the mountains. "I'll be right back," he told her as he turned towards one of the tables by his bed and took out something.

"Let me do this properly," he told her when he returned to her side, a rather shy grin playing on the corners of his lips. "I didn't exactly get a straight answer, so I just want to be sure," he added with a wink. He took a glance at the horizon and somehow tried to gather some strength from the rays of the sun that were now starting to shimmer out of their hiding place. Then he turned to look at Yassia, standing there a bit weary from all the night's events, but still looking all beautiful in his eyes. Then Oliver went down on one knee and held a rather old and well-worn ring out to her. "Yassia, el meu amor¹, will you do me the greatest honor of spending the rest of your life with me, com la meva dona²?" he asked as confidently as he could, trying not to stumble over the words from Yassia's own native tongue.


__________

¹ my love
² as my wife

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Everything happens for a reason… yes, that had always been Yassia’s belief, and she had applied it to her and Oliver’s relationship a couple of times. It had been a tangled mess most of the time, but apparently you only needed the right thread to pull to find out what a beautiful and intricate pattern it had been meant to create. But would the promise hold this time? Was it really possible even Edmund’s interference had some reason? And if so, was the reason needed for Edmund’s sake or their own? What would come out of this? Would having been hit on the head make Edmund see he had overreacted? Or had this merely been another, one last obstacle thrown in their way, something random to remind them the fates might still not be through with them, and they should always be aware? Well, they half had been succesful in making Yassia eytremely paranoid. She might not only never take their love for granted, she also might be in constant fear of losing him. But not tonight, she decided. Let the worries catch up with her tomorrow. She wanted nothing more than a few hours completely untainted of worry and future existances. To be in the present, wholly and gladly. In a present that involved Oliver and no one else.

“Okay…” she murmured and nodded, trying to come off as convincing as she could. If she wanted to stop worrying, she better started right now. “Let’s care for that tomorrow, right? I think you hit him hard enough he might sleep sometime, and maybe when he awakes, the world will be different.” Hopefully a positive different for Edmund as well. Yassia didn’t want to build her happiness on someone else’s misery. This was not what the stars could want, right? Edmund would find someone more suitable, someone who would give him the credit he deserved. Because even if his advances had been rather unloving and calculating, she didn’t want him to end up alone and bitter. Somewhere out there would be just the woman for him, and hopefully the stars would grant him a glimpse of her. They had made her journey through kingdoms and realms towards the one man they had wanted for her, and they also made it he could come with her. So, all mean sideplots aside, the stars truly were generous.

Somehow she doubted it was really sleep Oliver had in mind there, and the sheer thought made her heartbeat accelerate and her breath quicken. She felt airheaded all of a sudden, slightly dizzy, and so was glad he carried her. She wouldn’t want to run away of course, she had dreamt of this, even if her dreams had been rather low on details. It was just the unknown part of it all that scared her, that she didn’t know what exactly lay ahead of her, and how it would be. But she trusted him, trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone before. Because instead of just having her trust to begin with, he had won it back in what had seemed an unwinnable battle.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her voice a mixture of mild teasing and genuine interest. It was true, if he really intended to do this, watch the sunrise with her, if he reall undestood the symbolism of their first sunrise together, then where would it be? One of the towers maybe?

Everyone they met on their way inside was smiling at them, which confused Yassia to no end. What were they all thinking? Had maybe… had they maybe all waited for something like this to happen? Sweet stars, had she and Oliver been the talk of the castle?! Or had Lot been saying something even in the short time he had gathered people together? Well, in any way, there he was, giving her a very warm good night wish. It must be one of the first times he actually addressed her personally. Before, he hadn’t had much reason for it, what with being Oliver’s servant and herself and Oliver being so openly at odds. She decided he deserved a little smugness about the outcome of things… and what was wrong with everyone knowing? They would know soon enough anyway!
“Thank you, Lot. For taking care of everything”, she said, throwing him a meaningful glance.
Then they entered Oliver’s chambers. She had been here before of course, to check on his wound… but how different had it been then! Then they just had settled for a fragile truce of friendship, and even that like she knew now had been continously assaulted by both their feelings for each other.

Even though she was curious as what Oliver might be doing, Yassia couldn’t tear her gaze away from the Eastern horizon, where the red glow turned more and more fiery. Only moments now… only very split seconds and the first real rays would graze her face, eagerly awaiting them. But as she had not really been paying attention, nothing could have prepared her for what happened next. Even though a part of her had known it must be coming somehow, she felt like being in a dream, when Oliver dropped to his knees, presenting her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. The blue stone seemed to glow from the inside, catching the early morning light and turning it into something wonderfully mysterious. And then the words… sweet stars, the words!
He spoke her native tongue! With an audible accent maybe, but these were the words of an Ailanthan proposal!
“How do you--?!” she exclaimed impulsively, but then clasped a hand over her mouth, feeling tears glistening in her eyes. Now was not the time for questions. Now was the time for answers. And only one answer.

“Si… si!” she got out between the fingers that still covered her mouth, but then she removed her shaking hand and took a deep breath, her next words coming strong. “Sempre si! Forever yes, my love!”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Although Yassia had already practically given Oliver her answer back at the stables, the young prince somehow still felt a bit nervous about doing this proposal right here, as properly as he could do it. The first proposal had been a major blunder. Even though it was heartfelt and sincere, it didn't really come off as such to Yassia. She had seen it as a last ditch effort of the brothers to play with her emotions. Oliver admitted that had been a mistake. But of course, he didn't allow it to stay that way. He had remedied it as much as he could, bared his heart and soul to her, with the horses as witnesses no less. It took a while, but Yassia finally believed him. And with painstaking care, they relieved the heartaches of the past and tried to charge them to experience, to learn from them as they face their new life ahead together.

But for Oliver, who still felt that the proposal hadn't been truly proper mainly because it lacked a ring, he thought he might as well propose yet again. While Edmund had not exactly asked for his help on his own proposal to Yassia, Oliver had taken it upon himself to start learning bits and pieces of the Ailanthan tongue. He would be a hypocrite not to admit that he had specifically looked up the translations for "my love" and "my wife." He had not expected to use them with Yassia, but it came in handy now. And from the look on her face, she seemed to love the fact that he took the effort.

"Sempre si! Forever yes, my love!"

Oliver couldn't explain how her words affected him. If he had been happy earlier in the stables for having finally found their love for each other again, he was far happier now that she had practically blurted out her gleeful "yes" when he properly asked for her hand in marriage. And she wasn't just saying "yes" to the now, she was saying "yes" to forever. Forever with Yassia. Oliver couldn't believe how such a thing would be possible, but he knew it was. Yassia was his soulmate, the one and only person he was fated to spend the rest of his life with, and maybe even beyond that.

With a smile, he took her left hand and gently slipped the ring on her ring finger. It was his mother's engagement ring, the Strathmore heirloom that Edmund had refused to use for his supposed engagement to Yassia. Oliver had his mother's blessing to use it however he wanted to. Oliver hadn't expected to be the one to give it to Yassia, but he had kept the ring nevertheless. Like learning the Ailanthan native tongue, keeping the ring had come in handy now. He would have wanted to say something, anything, but he feared that words would only undermine the beauty and importance of this moment. Words were not enough. They never were, never will be, when it comes to his love for Yassia.

Still kneeling there, Oliver brought her hand to his lips and planted a long kiss there. As his lips touched the soft skin of her hand, the first rays of the rising sun finally crawled out of its hiding place and gloriously lit the horizon before them in spellbinding shades of yellow, orange, and white. The cold atmosphere that is characteristic of Mercian mornings lent a cool and soft feel to the world around them. Even the sound of the forest, of birds chirping, deers bleating, leaves rustling, the wind whistling...they all sang in harmony to the song in Oliver's heart. To the young prince, it was the most perfect and beautiful morning he had ever experienced in all his life.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Something about this whole incident only slowly caught up with Yassia’s mind, but when they finally made ‘click’ in her head, it felt like the bacony she was standing on was wavering under her feet, and she quickly grabbed the wooden railing to steady herself. First, there was the words. He had used the right words in her own tongue. It shouldn’t surprise her, since he had tried to show her on earlier occasions that he was apparently looking into her language, the first word she had ever taught him had been a curse. Maleeixo. He had remembered that with ease, and so Yassia had figured out he must have a natural talent for languages, or he just had to be very interested in HER language of all. But never in a thousand years would she have thought he would look up these words. Wife… my love… that meant he must have wanted this for longer than just his impulsive, badly timed first proposal in the stables. And the ring… the ring spoke of the same story. He had hid it in his room, for the stars knew how long, and by the looks of it, the ring was not fashionably new, it seemed to be an old heirloom, maybe from his mother. Why else than to give it to someone would he have kept it in his room, and who else but her had there been recently? All this time, while she still had been mad at him, trying to keep her distance for her heart’s sake, all this time when they had been repeatedly clashing, tearing at each other’s souls, he had wanted her. It was true, everything he had said: He had never stopped loving her, and that was the ultimate proof, if she ever had needed any.

The ring wasn’t a perfect fit, as it of course had not been made especially to her, but when Oliver slid it on her finger, and the blue stone started to gleam and glisten, it was like no other ring should ever be there, at least for now. It was their engagement ring, meant as a symbol for the union she had always wanted. It would leave her finger only to make room for a new one, and that was how it was supposed to be, how she wanted it to be. Still Yassia couldn’t quite say if she wasn’t maybe dreaming all this, because it was too much to take in, to come from writhing on the ground to soaring in the highest skies in a matter of hours. And yet here she was, wide awake and yet dead tired, in this peculiar stage where you didn’t even question things anymore, because there seemed to be no use in questioning anything. It was like feeling in the first moments of your life, completely trusting that everything would work out somehow, completely safe in the knowledge of being loved and looked after.

Yassia felt ready to burst with bliss when Oliver brought his hand to her lips and adorned it with a long, loving kiss. They would probably butt heads often enough, since they both had a temper to show, but she didn’t fear it. Underneath their differences was exactly this, the foundation being a loving adoration that would stand true through many storms to come, she firmly believed it. Then the first rays of sun sneaked over the horizon, in perfect harmony with that special moment, reminding Yassia of an old Ailanthan story she had been told by Suzannah once. She couldn’t quite recall all the details, but in that story a young girl had made a list of what she wanted to feel for her husband once. ‘I want to feel like flying without wings, I want to wake up beside him and watch the sunrise on his face. I want to know that I can say I love him, in any given time or place. And that there are small things about him only I know… and those will be the things that make him mine.’ Back then, Yassia had always brushed this off as hopeless romanticism, nothing she should ever waste a thought about, cause that was not how her life would work out. And yet here she was now, watching the sunrise on the face of her love… and knowing that all the other points on that list would most likely come true soon.

But something was off in this picture of perfect harmony, and Yassia soon realized what it was. Oliver was still on his knees in front of her, like she was some higher creature and he just a low servant. But they were equals! And even if he hadn’t been her equal in status, she would never want her love to beneath her!
”Oliver…” she murmured lowly, tugging at his hand. “For the love of the stars, please get off your knees! I told you before that I want you at my side, not at my feet. It makes me uncomfortable… like I’m a statue that is worshipped. I’m not a goddess, I’m just a young woman with flaws and faults. You soon will learn about all of those you don’t know already.”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Trust Yassia to call him out again for continuing to kneel before her even after she had said yes to his proposal. Trust her to always make him know that they were equals. Oliver admired her greatly for that. Though he had been brought up with a strong father ruling over the family as he does over the entire kingdom, his mother had always been a prominent and significant fixture beside him. Although not starkly clear and evident to many, Lord Bayard does seek the counsel of his beloved wife with matters that both concern the kingdom of Mercia as well as their little brood of four. But Oliver, the mischievous kid that he could be, couldn't help but squeeze in a little joke.

He couldn't resist it. Yassia did have the tendency to take things very seriously at times. Though she does have streaks of naughtiness about her, Oliver will have to make her do better. After all, the second prince of Mercia was not called the Rebel Prince for nothing. "Oh, but I do worship you, el meu amor. I worship the ground you walk on, the objects your fingers touch, the creatures your eyes lay upon. I am not worthy. Oh to me, you are--umm...perfecte!" he replied, adding a rather poetic lilt to the words as he spoke them, but then chuckling as he stumbled on the last word as he tried to remember "perfect" in her tongue. And still he didn't move. Oliver just knelt there for a good few seconds, looking up at her like an adoring, lovesick admirer.

Then of course, knowing he can never really resist his beloved's sweet plea or simply the look on her beautiful face, he slowly stood up. Without a word, he cupped her cheeks in the palm of his hands and brought his lips to capture hers in another deep and heartfelt kiss just as the sun continued to spread its rays over the horizon, over the land, waking all of Mercia up to this glorious morning.

When they pulled back, he then brought the hand with the ring before them, and saw how the rays of the sun struck the huge blue diamond that adorned it. He shifted her finger so the light could bounce off the stone and saw hues of green reflecting off of it. "This was my mother's engagement ring. It is an old Strathmore heirloom, centuries old. I hope you like old things," he added with his trademark grin. It may not be as grandiose as the diamond-studded engagement ring that Edmund had had fashioned for Yassia, but it spoke of generations and generations of love in the Strathmore family. He hoped Yassia appreciated that, and he had a feeling she would. "Can you see the hints of green there? Your green," he couldn't help but express. Reflecting Mercian blue and Ailanthan green, the ring itself was already a marriage of the colors of the two kingdoms. Though he earlier regretted Edmund's decision not to use this ring for his proposal, Oliver was happy it turned out that way now. Yes, things really do happen for a reason, and all of them had already been written in the stars.

Oliver then turned Yassia so she could watch the steadily rising sun before them and stood a little bit behind her. He wrapped his hands around her and pulled her close willing her to rest her head against his chest. With a relieved and happy sigh, he watched the serene yet breathtaking scene before them, the symbol of a new day, the symbol of the love they had once again found in each other. "I look forward to more mornings like this with you, Lady Strathmore," he expressed with a smile as he planted a gentle and loving kiss on her temple. "I love you."

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

He was teasing her, he must be! Oh, sometimes she would like to kill him for taking next to nothing seriously, but then, it might also help her. Caitrin had told her often enough that she was far too uptight about some things, and took things way too seriously, and before Caitrin, Mircea had said the same thing. It was part of who Yassia was, but she knew it to be a flaw as well. Maybe Oliver could help her with that, if she let him, and in return she could teach him to be a little less rebellious sometimes? She loved this streak about him, make no mistake, it might be what had made her fall so deeply, madly and quickly in love with him, because she just could not resist him. In nothing. Even his laughter and smile were contagious and so even though she’d like to smack him for making fun of her, she found herself shaking her head and laughing against her will. “Well then start worshipping yourself, meu promét estimat, because you will be the one I want to lay my eyes on… and maybe also the one my fingers touch”, she finished, smiling as he finally stood.

Sometimes she wondered if she would ever get used to his kisses. They were ever changing, ever surprising, but certainly not in a bad way. It was like getting to know him all over again, even though a part of it was also wonderfully familiar by now. This was her Oliver, and though he might never cease to take her off guard in one way or the other, she also thought she knew him now. They had seen each other in the highest highs and lowest lows, had walked through figurative fire in a matter of few days, experiencing the tantalizing feeling of presumably rejected love. They deserved this, this closeness, this familiarity. They might go through some hells again in the future, but knowing that they would do it together made it seem so much better. And so, closing her eyes and letting the rays of sunlight dance on her closed lids, she gave in fully to Oliver’s kiss, hoping that she was getting better at this slowly. It surely made for some fun already, and them as a couple already had a head start from their times in the Forest of Balor. Apparently, kissing someone you loved was something you could not unlearn, even if it felt so much better now that she was sure she would not lose him after just one night together. Oh no… they would be together for many nights to come… and the sheer thought of it made her happily dizzy.

Yassia was overjoyed to hear that this ring had once belonged to Lady Adelaide, Oliver’s mother, the woman she held in such high regards. Having her as a mother-in-law would be the perfect thing, even though they would be seperated by so many miles. Having this ring somehow told Yassia that Adelaide approved of their union and it made her wonder how much Oliver’s mother had actually guessed and known. Had she maybe seen it in them long before they realized it themselves, how inevitable their love was? For such a wise woman, it wouldn’t surprise Yassia much, but she still had to make sure somehow.
“It has a long history of happy unions I am sure, and I am honored to wear it”, she mused, regarding the ring now with different eyes. She was not only marrying someone FROM a dynasty, she also was marrying INTO it, Yassia realized, even though it was not so strong a bond as if Oliver had been the first born. “Did your mother know it… of us, I mean? Or are we going to surprise her altogether? Did she maybe give you the ring? Or…” he smile turned mischievous, “did you steal it?” Then she looked closer at the ring, moving her hand to make the sunlight fall on it in different shades. And yes, indeed, she could see it, the green fire that seemed to burn inside of it. “Like it waited for me…” she mused. “It certainly makes this ring even more beautiful and precious to me.”

Leaning into his embrace, resting her head on the certain spot between his neck and his shoulder which she now claimed as ‘hers’ for all time to come because it was so wonderfully comfortable, she gave a long, relieved sigh that quickly turned into a yawn. “I definitely do too… but let’s hope I’ll get at least a little more sleep in the future. Staying up ALL night forever could be a little… tiresome.” She snuggled deeper into his caring, comfortable hold, exploring the sound and taste of what he just had called her on her lips and her tongue. “Lady Strathmore… I like that a lot, you know. Definitely sounds like an honorable title.” And just for him, she would be content to be nothing more than Lady Strathmore. “May the Lady Strathmore request something of her Prince?”, she then asked, craning her neck so she could look at him. “I used you as a pillow once before… and you said you didn’t mind. Would you be my pillow and my bed once again, Mylord? I shall promise you enough food this time.”