Confessions+with+Yuki+and+Introductions+to+Yienshul

It was late morning when Wren walked down the hall, carrying a tray of little cakes and breakfast dishes. Her hair was still partly wet from the baths and she smelled like fresh roses like she just got up, but her eyes said that she was tired. Yuki had missed the whole ball, and the young witch felt she should check on her friend before she went to sleep.

A guard posted outside of Yuki's door greeted the young elven witch as she approached, "Good morning, miss Dreamspinner. Come to see if the young priestess is awake?" Wren nodded to him and knocked on the door, "Axton? Yuki? ...it's Wren. Are either of you awake?"

The handsome elven guard smiled at her, "You know it's been a long time since I've seen you around... I used to buy potions from you... Now I'm forced to go to the shops and they're never as flirty as you were..." He put an arm against the wall, leaning closer to her. Wren laughed softly, "Mmm yes... I remember you... Lanethil, I believe is your name." He nodded, "I believe you may have gotten even prettier since I seen you last..." Wren laughed, covering her smile loosely with her hand, "Such flattery when I've nothing to sell..." "Perhaps you'd like to see how the trees have grown since you've been gone? ...while your priestess rests of course." He smiled at her charmingly, leaning closer. "Aww... That's awfully sweet of you to offer, but I'm afraid I've promised that tour to Kale... besides... aren't you working?" she stepped back casually brushing him off, only to find Yuki's door at her back. He smiled at her, "Of course I'm working... and I'll let you know how it turns out..." He stepped closer and leaned down. Wren laughed and put an arm out to block him backwards, "Ah ah ah... not so fast... no one touches these lips without my permission..." "Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, taking her outstretched hand into his and pulling her closer, "...and what happens if I do?" He held her in his arms, supporting her back and dipping her backward slightly as he looked down at her charmingly. Wren's golden eyes sparkled as a devious smile spread out over her lips, "Oh... You really don't want to find out..." "Is that so? ...and if I asked your permission?" He still held her closely. Wren laughed softly, "Then I would say that it's sweet of you to ask, but it takes much more than that to win my kisses." "Mmmm... does it now..." he leaned closer. A tiny black spider skittered out over the witch's full red lips, joined by two more crawling out of the opposite corner of her lips. "What the...?!" He quickly released his arms from her and took several steps back, letting Wren fall back against Yuki's door with a thump. Wren rubbed her head, still leaning against the door that caught her. The spiders gone, she looked over at him innocently, "Something wrong?"

Before the stunned (and stupid) guard could say another word, the door suddenly opened up behind her and a number of things began happening all at once. The sound of Axton's surprised voice behind her, "Miss...Dream...spinner?"

Wren gasped as she followed the door in, not expecting it to open or to lose her support so quickly. ...and she was falling...backwards, the cake tray...with her...! ...only to feel Yuki's arms suddenly wrap around her waist from behind, "WREN!!!! OH WREN!!!" The young priestess cried, preventing her fall to the floor at Axton's feet with a tight hug, "I'VE MISSED...EVVVVVVERRRRRRRYTHING!!!!!! WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO MEEEEEEEEEE?!"

The young witch blinked in surprise as Yuki's arms wrapped around her and pushed her reflexively light-as-a-feather body back up to standing. She breathed a sigh of relief and giggled.

...The guard hastened back a step ...and another, but not before Axton's knowing eyes took in the scene entirely.

"OH Let me take that!" Yuki slipped the tray from Wren's hands, "CAKES! Oh Wren! You LOVE ME AFTERALL! NOW. TELL ME EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING! What did you wear?! And Kale?! And Erevin and...Sh...er...uhm...Azarius!? OH and Mali and Ursus and EVERYONE!! Did you see Amynta? She was SOOOO LOVELY! Quick! Inside! Inside!"

Wren laughed, smiling admirably at the cheerful priestess. It was so good to see her being herself! "Yuki! Of course I love you! For goodness sake!" Wren hugged her warmly, "Oh, how I've missed you!! You have to stop skipping out on me at the dances! Of course, of course... I'll tell you everything... that I can remember..." Wren giggled following the nudging of her dear friend.

As Yuki dragged Wren inside, Axton regarded the guard cooly and cleared his throat, "...I think we can both agree your...'duty' here is done. Report to Prince Erevin that Miss Ashdown is awake and..." Axton smiled a perfect, priestly smile, "...His...'good friend'...Miss Dreamspinner is with her now." The guard's eyes slowly widened as the not too subtle implication of the Prince of Sune's words hit him like a ton of stone... Inadvertently, he hopped to attention and saluted, "Y...Yes Sir." Axton nodded. Turning on his heel, the guard fled down the hall.

Wren glanced out the doorway just for a moment, hearing Axton speaking her name. She smiled softly at the fiery haired priest, Awww he's defending me! Not that I need it... she thought stubbornly, I can handle one strong and overly enamored man just fine on my own... but still... he certainly handled it all very well. Lanethil almost looked more afraid of Axton for that moment than he did of the spiders... She nodded, confident and commanding really did look good on him. She wondered for a moment if this was the Axton who sent Yuki to do all of those chores. She turned back to Yuki as they got comfortable on the bed and giggled at the cheerful priestess already eating cake. She seems happy... not traumatized at all like the saving her life from drowning moment... does she even remember what happened?

Somewhat satisfied, Axton turned back to see that the two young women were now sitting cross-legged on Yuki's bed, the dessert tray between them. He smiled...but there was no way he wanted to be anywhere near those two right now. It was only a matter of time before the cause...of Yuki's unconsciousness came up and he could ONLY imagine in what kind of excruciating detail those two would rake over the entire affair. Clearing his throat, he bowed to the ladies and excused himself as quickly and as quietly...as possible, closing the door behind him.

Surely...thought Axton, Kale...was around here somewhere. He'd know best...what to do about the guard. Military hierarchy and all that. But as the priest made his way back down the hall...somehow he didn't think Kale was the type of man to trust things like this to...the chain of command. Not where Wren was concerned. Whoever that man had been, Axton didn't envy him in the least...

"I'm so sorry you missed the whole ball! It was spectacular! The best yet... Lady Horitsu really went all out. Beautiful colorful wisps lit up the dance floor! The ball room was AMAZING! I've never been in there before... and Queelest and the priestesses and priests of Eilistraee did this holy dance... all in perfect sync... Stunning! I've always enjoyed dancing... and ceremonies can be quite beautiful with a group of witches all dancing simultaneous moves... but... wow, I wish you could have seen them! It was like air and water dancing together." She sighed a little dreamily. Yuki sighed dreamily right along with her, little hearts dancing in her eyes!

"And the clothes! Everyone had something custom made by the elven tailors... everyone looked their best," Wren added. “Oh! Me too! Me too! Not that I...got to wear it...much... But...it was so PRETTY!” Yuki sighed,, “I got to see Myn’s a...and A...Axton’s...” Colour rose in her cheeks. “... but no one else’s! It’s been KILLING me!!!” "Aww! I bet you looked beautiful!" She looked the lovely priestess over for a minute, realizing that she wasn't in her ball dress... and recalling Axton was still in the room with her this morning... Did she and Axton... no, no... surely THAT would have been written all over both of them much more than this... She continued on, not mentioning the change in clothes, “Mali was sooo adorable in this fabulously wispy, layered with multiple shades of greens, gown and she was just glowing beside Ursus! You would have loved it! He was in leather and bear fur, all cleaned up and sparkly... “ “WOOOOW!” “Posy and Uther never made it out of their room though," Wren laughed. She picked up one of the perfectly flaky and light cheesy pastries and bit into it, sighing happily. “Those two... So PASSIONATE! Sune would be pleased!” Yuki had already finished off two berry tarts and was reaching for a lemon one.

"Oh!! Do you remember that elven mage who put up the ice wall in front of Mali when we were trying to get the treasure out of the volcano? She was there!" Wren nodded emphatically, "I saw her dancing with Azarius! He looked very happy... “Ooooh?!” Yuki perked up at the mention of a potentially new...love match... “Reeeeeaally? But...does she...ah know...about...?”  "His extra appendages? ...umm somehow I don't think it came up at the dance... but you never know... she is a mage of the sea..." Wren giggled, “He and Trieste dressed in a light green and yellow, much like his banner she's always carrying around."

Inali poked her head out of Wren's pack and yawned. “Inali! So cute!” She looked down at the pastry waving around in Wren's hand as she talked, the little fox's nose following it back and forth until it got just close enough that she leaned out and stole a bite, munching happily. Wren turned her head slowly to stare at the black fox munching on her shoulder. "I would have gotten you your own, you know..." she set Inali down on the bed beside her and handed her the rest of the pastry. She made all kinds of happy chittery noises, taking it and then leapt into Yuki's lap, settling in comfortably and eating. “Awwww...!” Yuki grinned happily down at her friend’s adorable familiar and stroked her fur lovingly, “YAY! I’m loved!” She picked out another pastry and set it down beside the little fox. Inali put her paw on Yuki's shoulder to lean up and lick her cheek before going to snatch the close pastry and settle back into the priestess's lap.

Wren shook her head and giggled, "Anyway..." "Thorn didn't come either... someone said he was out seeing the city... I wonder if he went back out with the pretty paladin..." “Paladin?! THORN?!” Yuki just shook her head laughing, “Noooo Way! How could I have missed SO MUCH in so LITTLE time!?” Yuki grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest. “Thorn with a paladin... NO WAY!” Wren laughed, "Well he didn't get to spend much time alone with her when Posy went with them for his tour... rumor has it that he kept trying to get rid of her, pawning her off to the places as they stopped." Wren giggled again, "so... just maybe he scored a private tour this time." She winked.

“Mmm... and you know... I don't recall seeing much of Amynta or Dominic... they must have found a nice romantic spot..." Wren giggled. “WHAT?! B...B...BUT HE PROMISED!?! HE was going to BEHAVE! That...THAT GUY! Poor Amynta! She looked so excited about the Ball too!” But when Yuki thought about it, wasn’t Amynta more excited about showing off her dress to Dominic than the ball itself. That was it! She would have to corner Myn for a long, heart to heart about what was going on with her and ‘that guy’!! As it was now, she felt like she knew nothing!  Wren giggled, "Oh I'm sure they were there... I think I seen them dancing... but they probably found one of the romantic balconies overlooking the city or maybe Dominic took her to a more special place. He lives here, you know... so I'm sure he knows some of the best."

"Erevin and Shri dressed to match..." She watched the priestess's face feign disinterest as she reached for another berry tart and smiled softly, "He looked ... like a shining moonbeam... all dressed in silver and white. Very handsome! And he was home... how I wish you could have danced with him once here. He was very charismatic on the dance floor last night. You would have loved it," she nodded to the beautiful woman in front of her. Yuki looked up at her friend, her chin perched on the fluffy pillow in her arms, and nodded. “Awww....Erevin...Mmm... I imagine he was VERY dashing, wasn’t he? A...And princely and...hating every moment of it?! His mother really is...amazing in her punishments, isn’t she?!” She laughed then smiled a really warm, beautiful, “all things are as they should be” smile, “It is good Shri was by his side to make it all bearable.” And she nodded again... “I would have liked to dance with him and...Everyone” And her eyes glanced towards the door...

Wren followed her gaze and smiled at Yuki. Hmm where did Axton run off to so fast? "Yeah ... the poor guy... Lady Horitsu embarrassed him mercilessly... she's very proud of him and I think she enjoyed showing him off... despite his desperate want to not be in the spotlight," Wren giggled.

"The tailors and seamstresses were all so wonderful! They worked with everything that I wanted! Kale and I both went in green... and he looked so..." she shivered for a moment, "spicy... so... provokingly majestic... Yuki’s eyes widened and she leaned forward, delighting in the gushiness of her friend!  “...everything fell and hugged him to accentuate his strength and it was embroidered with this depiction of a large dragon spread out from his shoulder down to wrapping it's tail around his waist...”  “Dr...Dragon...?” Her eyes widened... What were the chances... But green dragons were different than black dragons, right? And clothes were a completely different thing than the REAL thing!  “Oh Yuki! He was SO handsome!  Yuki clapped her hands together, “I BET!!! And yours?! ”  “.. and mine was tailored to look like shiny, little dragon scales... and these big pretty wings..." Wren held her arms out to show the height of the wings... “OOOOOOOOoooh!” ...and then she sighed softly, "I couldn't let him tear that one off...” Yuki’s eyes widened and she burst out laughing, “WREEEEEEN!!!!”

The pretty elven witch blushed and then laughed with her, “I had to keep it! It was so perfect! ... and we danced... and there was beautiful music... and the moon was all bright out on the balconies..." She leaned back against one of the big posts on the bed and sighed, munching on one of the fruit slices from the tray. Yuki sighed too, her face filled with dreamy envy! “...it sounds...SO WONDERFUL! ALL of it!”

She sat forward and took Yuki's hands in hers, "I wish you got to be there! We were all so worried about you! What happened?!" “It’s a bit...complicated.” Yuki smiled bracingly! And upon closer inspection, Wren noticed her friend’s eyes seemed a little red. Wren watched her closely, starting to worry. “Ah! Axton made tea. Want some?” The breakfast tray teetered dangerously as the priestess dislodged a cozy Inali and bounced off the bed. Wren laid her hand to steady the tray and silently turned to study the priestess with concern.

She moved over to a nearby table and turned over two cups, “...I...REALLY wanted to go! I was even dressed! All in a soft and shimmery dusky pink and...and everything!” She poured tea into two cups out and brought them over to the bed, handing one to Wren and setting the other down on the tray between them. She accepted the cup, nodding gratefully and smiled, "Aww I bet you looked like spring rose petals..." She sighed softly.

“Mynta and I got ready together AND she had just left with Dominic...when...Axton walked through my door...!” Yuki walked back over to the table and took up some sugar cubes, a small creamer of milk and a little saucer for Inali and came back. “I was...so surprised! He...” She blushed deeply... “...was very handsome. Did you see him, Wren?! In his black coat? He... Mmm...”

Wren nodded, smiling. She recalled seeing Axton guarding Yuki's door and trying to explain what happened... he had been sincere despite his defensive awkwardness.

Yuki filled the little saucer full of milk and set it down in front of Inali then picked up her own. She seemed a little...flustered... Inali happily drank from the little saucer, her tail wagging. Wren set a soft hand on Yuki's arm and nodded for her to go on. “We talked a little and then he...asked me to dance and then...he...he...” Her voice trailed off and she seemed to be staring at nothing...her own tea forgotten in her lovely hands. The golden-eyed elven woman frowned, surely he didn't force the kiss... he seemed truthful... and after his reaction to Lanethil... but... Wren stood up to hug her warmly, "Are you alright?" She released her hug to peer at Yuki curiously. Inali tilted her head head at the two of them, little drops of milk dripping off of her whiskers.

“AH! R...Right about then I...started hearing a voice calling out in my mind. A woman’s voice, crying ‘Heart. Power. Make Up!’ It was quiet at first but...it grew louder and more and more urgent. Desperate! As her voice grew louder everything here went sort of...dark and it was as if I was sucked out of my body and put right into hers! I guess that’s when I went unconscious here. I could feel everything she felt. And even see through her eyes!

Wren eyes grew wide in surprise as she listened. She sat back down on the edge of the bed and patted Yuki's spot across from her. “She...she...was...embattled. A priestess of GREAT power but so very...sad and grieving! All her friends, those fighting with her,...even her...Lover...had fallen.” Yuki exhaled softly, carefully... This was the second time she’d retold this story since waking... It was getting...easier... The distance...between the priestess’ feelings and her own was getting wider... But she still felt them...sharply, “So...she was like that! Fighting all alone... The last. She had no hope of winning. She was so tired. And SO DESPERATE! But so BRAVE! She swore she would not let it win.”

Yuki set her teacup back down untouched and smiled at Wren, “Surprising, right?! I...I’ve never had anything like THAT happen before! It was really quite a...shock! Something like that...” Wren nodded at her, "It sounds amazing... and ... and frightening!" “Wel! And then...I saw the THING she fought...” The priestess grabbed her pillow again and hugged it tightly. “Oh Wren... It was a great and TERRIBLE, BLACK...DRAGON! She stood alone on those cold, icy slopes against a DRAGON! Wings unfurling... Eyes...black. How it MOCKED her! It was...SO MEAN!” "A black dragon?" Wren stared at her, even more intrigued. "On cold, icy slopes?" She tilted her head suddenly, that didn't seem right. All the talks she had with Argent about dragons... black didn't like the cold, did they? Did it chase this woman and her companions then? or... is this ... dream vision... all metaphoric and there wasn't really another person? ...but then what would all of this mean?

“But she was AMAZING! So BRAVE and FEARLESS! As he leaned forward to spew great streams of ACID at her, she drew on my power...and...OH! She had a red ribbon too! Just like mine! Can you believe that?! Who knew there were two in the world! ...Or was this the past...OR THE FUTURE!?” Her brow wrinkled, overwhelmed again by the possibilities. "So... you think it's possible that this wasn't really going on at that moment and it might have just been a glimpse of something else? a vision crossing time? ...And she had a ribbon... like yours? Well that's awfully coincidental..." Wren looked thoughtful.

“Anyway..! THIS...BIG NASTY, AWFUL MEAN, SCARY, BLACK DRAGON SPIT HORRIBLE, BURNING ACID AT HER AND SHE USED HER RIBBON TO PROTECT HERSELF, deflecting the acid AWAY! I wish I had thought of doing something like that! I’m going to try it too THE FIRST CHANCE I GET!” The elven woman nodded, hoping it would work, but that they wouldn't have to face an angry black dragon any time soon to find out.

“Mmm...And then...And then...it felt as if she was gathering the last her strength...All of it. AND every ounce of mine! AND...her fallen friends - I could see their spirits standing all around her, lending her their strength! AND THEN SHE DID THE MOST AMAZING THING! She stared down the big, AWFUL MONSTER and said, “DARKNESS! BE GONE!” AND THIS LANCE OF PINK ENERGY SHOT OUT FROM HER BODY LIKE A SPEAR!” Extremely animated, as if she was reliving the whole thing again, Yuki gestured excitedly, describing the scene to Wren, “AND IT IMPALED THE DRAGON! LIKE THAT! THUNK!! ALL THIS PINK ENERGY FLOWED OUT OF ITS EYES AND NOSE AND MOUTH AND IT EXPLODED IN A GREAT SPHERE OF PINK THAT FLOWED OUT ALL OVER THE SNOWY CLIFF FACE!” Wren's eyes grew wider, lost in Yuki's excitement as she told her legendary tale. “SHE WON, Wren! It was so...AMAZING! She WON! I was so happy!!!” Wren grinned at her broadly, "She defeated it... almost like the dragon wasn't real... like it was made of magic that she shattered with her own... fascinating!"

Yuki frowned, confused for a moment by what Wren was saying, and then, she shook her head, “...there was nothing about this that felt...not real, Wren... Nothing. I...hope we never, NEVER have to face...something like THAT.” The priestess shuddered as she remembered again, the terrifying voice...the great wings unfurling... Those eyes. “But!... But...” Her eyes filled with sudden tears and shook her head, trying to fight them off, “GAh! I can’t seem to get through this part without crying!” Yuki wiped the tears away, “Wren...she was SOOOOO tired...AND so exhausted...spent. She fell forward into the snow. She... Her last thoughts...The last ones I felt through her...were of her desire to join her lover... ‘Tyrian’.” Yuki reached out and squeezed Wren’s hand, “B...But...I thought...I was SURE he...had died in the fight with her companions. Her grief was like that when I first entered her mind. Wren? ...didn’t she want to die too? Feeling that? Thinking that then? Didn’t she want to die...too?” Yuki hugged her pillow more tightly, wiping the tears from her face, “...I d...don’t even know her n...name. It’s so...frustrating! I...could feel everything she felt... All her feelings... The depth of her Love...for her friends... For her “Tyrian”. Her fear. Her despair... But I don’t...even know her name. I...I don’t know...if she was saved...or if...if...she died...Or maybe, with no one to gather her up, she froze to death there on the cold cliff...ALONE?! I...I didn’t even see her face! I told Axton I...can’t stand it! ...I...want to know...what happened...after that. I just want to know...if she made it. I want to know...that their sacrifices weren’t...for nothing.”

Wren moved the tray to the table and scooted closer, putting an arm around Yuki and leaning against her for comfort, "Did it feel like she died?” “I...I don’t know.”  “...Maybe ... she was already dead...”  Yuki began shaking her head...  “...and you helped her fight back the demons that wanted to claim her... and you helped her heart find it's way back to her love? ... I know that sounds a little crazy, especially now that I say it out loud... but isn't helping to bring lovers together what you do?”  “Y...yes but...”  “...and Axton mentioned that you were doing something for Sune... maybe this was the only way to reach this girl? Maybe it was just a lost soul that she needed your help to bring back to her?"

Yuki ran her fingers through her hair, giving the matter some thought, and then she shook her head again, “I...saw souls though... The souls of her friends surrounding her. I... She felt so alive. The way people only battling for their very lives and for the live of the people they love can feel...alive... I... There’s so much I don’t know! It’s...very...troubling!!! But...B... Nothing about her felt not alive. Nothing about being inside her, feeling her feelings, the cold...that...terrible thing. None of it feels...not real.” Wren nodded, "Did it seem like a real place?” Yuki nodded.  “Did you actually recognize where you were?”  Yuki shook her head, despairingly, “Not at all!”  “...or was it kind of hazy and dream-like?  Yuki shook her head, “I..It felt VERY real. Very... I...felt like I was there, living it and...I thought I could die too. I wasn’t sure what would happen if she died with my...spirit?...inside her. I felt...like we were both battling for our lives. And...all I wanted to do was...help her win. She was so....admirable. I wanted her to live. It was all crisp and clear and...and...powerful.

“...if it was just a glimpse of a past or future event that happened or will happen, it does seem interesting that you could feel her draw from your strength..." she peered at Yuki curiously as waves of thoughts and questions washed through her mind. Yuki burrowed her face into her pillow, “I...just don’t know! There’s just SOOOOO MUCH I don’t understand! ...When we return to Lyrabar, I...will tell the High Priest everything. Perhaps...he will have answers. I MEAN HOW IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS EVEN POSSIBLE! And for Sune to choose ME for such a thing!?! WHY?! I’m just...Yuki. I...I... It makes my head spin. But most of all, I...want to figure out who she is. At least...rule out the Past and ah maybe even the present! Then I can know whether it’s the future.”

Wren shook her head in thought, "Of course, maybe it was all just a dream... something that you were reflecting on within yourself... I mean this girl did have your ribbon... Do you suppose it was all just shock from your... first kiss?" Yuki’s eyes widened with surprise, “Y...YOU KNOW?!” She blushed a brilliant scarlet! Wren laughed softly and raised an eyebrow at her, "Did you want him to kiss you?" Confusion clouded her lovely face, as the young woman struggled to understand what exactly her friend was asking. Want to kiss him? Who...wouldn’t WANT to kiss...him? “...you...YOU did ‘SEE’ HIM, right? Wren? I...I mean. That...black coat...was...” And the girl seemed to melt before the elven woman’s eyes...

A slow smile spread over the witch’s face, “Mmm I did see him... very handsome...” she nodded, “This coming from the girl who’s all about epic love and the heart... not just a handsome face.” she teased her, grinning, knowing full well that she’s seen more than a physical attraction between the two before. Yuki glanced away, clearly embarrassed, and reached out to fiddle with the cake tray, “...yes...I...Yes... BUT I NEVER THOUGHT HE WOULD ACTUALLY DO IT!! I...I...MEAN!! It’s...It’s AXTON...Axton... Demon... Devil...SLAVE MASTER! Oh SWEET GODDESS! WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD?! THAT GUY KISSED... ME!!!?” Wren giggled, “so... it’s …”

Yuki threw her face into a pillow then peeked up at Wren, “...It...doesn’t seem real.” She laughed and glanced back towards the door. The girl was confused...still trying to make sense out of what exactly happened. How long had she been awake? Minutes? An hour? But there was no doubt in Wren’s mind that she was also...happy. “...it feels less real...than being yanked into a strange, embattled priestess and killing a BIG, HUGE DRAGON!” Wren laughed softly and hugged her, looking about to say something else, but paused as Yuki continued. Her eyes widened, “...what am I going to do, Wren...? He...He...kissed me... HE KISSED ME! M...My first kiss... AND HE MEANT IT!” “but that... that’s good right? ...that he meant it?”

Her eyes sparkled...shimmered, as if remembering the exact...moment his lips melted into hers, “He...meant it... H...How is that...possible... HE’S BEEN SO MEAN!? It’s so...” She shook her head, clearly...overwhelmed more by the kiss than...the strange priestess in the snow... “...what...happens now...?” “Well... ummm... you’re finally free of your first kiss moment... was it as epic as you had hoped? I have to say... I’ve never fainted to a kiss or have been pulled into some dream vision where my spirit embodies another to help them fight off a magic dragon... so it sounds like a pretty epic kiss to me...” Wren giggled.

Yuki eyes widened as if suddenly realizing something...HORRIBLE, and she groaned, “W...WAIT! I...I... IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE I FAINTED FROM HIS KISS, DOESN’T IT?! OH....Oh no.... Oh SWEET GODDESS!!!! HE’LL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BE AROUND NOW!! I... Oh sweet goddess...” Yuki clutched at the elven woman’s hand, “WHO KNOWS, WREN?! Who all knows?!” Releasing her hand as suddenly as she had grabbed it, Yuki hid her face back in the pillow and cried something that sounded like a string of curses and prayers and petitions, “...Oh sweet Sune...” Wren could just make out, “I’ll be THE priestess who fainted when the Prince kissed her. It’ll be EVERYWHERE! I won’t even be able to show my face at Temple! AND HE’LL NEVER LET ME FORGET IT!”

Wren blinked at her in surprise, "Whoa, whoa... I'm sure it will all be fine... He wouldn't really spread that around the temple like that, would he? “As to what happens next? … there’s a world of endless possibilities... do you think you want to kiss him again?”  “...wha...at?” Yuki seemed to stop her pillow dampened tirade of embarrassment and woe enough to look up at her friend again, “...do I...er... ...want to... Again? I...ah...Well...I...ye...uhm...” The permanent blush spreading from her cheeks down her graceful neck told Wren everything she needed to know but Yuki’s wishes but the little priestess couldn’t help but finish up lamely, “...it ‘was’ a very...nice kiss...”

Somehow ‘nice’ didn’t seem to capture the kind of kiss that would turn Yuki into the...embarrassed, flustered, flat out melting pool of goo in front of her... Wren raised an eyebrow at her skeptically and started to giggle. “I DID SAY ‘VERY’!!! ...OK OK! BETTER than very nice! WAY BETTER! It w...was...TENDER AND...AND...SWEET! And...And...I FELT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MY TOES! ...IT MADE MY HEART....RACE AND MY PALMS SWEATY AND MY...HEAD...My...head....sooooooo dizzy. It was... ...he was... …so...” The priestess tried to catch her breath, “...I...didn’t want it to end...” Wren practically bounced with excitement for her and hugged the enthusiastic priestess, "Awww! Yuki, that sounds like a WONDERFUL first kiss! I'm so happy for you!"

“Do you think it changed how you feel about him... or maybe how you see him?” “Oh SWEET GODDESS DID IT EVER?!?!! I mean...Wren?! WREN?!!! Axton...AXTON.... ‘THAT’...AXTON ...KISSED ME?! He...He’s...always been so mean. A TYRANT! I’ve told him to GO BALD soooooo many times! And he...he...Why did he do that?! Why has he ALWAYS been SOOOOOOO MEAN if...if he...” Yuki shook her head, “I don’t understand him...AT ALL! But...But..I...want...to... I...want to.”

Wren nodded to her smiling, "Does he stir your heart like Harbinger or Quill?" Yuki hugged the pillow tight again, pulling her knees up against it, “...Mr. Harbinger...” A conflicted look flickered across her face before she hazarded, “...don’t you think,Wren, that he’s not serious? About me...in that way...I mean.” Yuki sighed, trying to explain, “I...I’m nothing like him...I...don’t know mysteries or secrets. I...don’t worship...his goddess... Sure I am beautiful and all that but...Mr. Harbinger doesn’t strike me as someone who...values that most. I don’t...think he looks at me in that way at all. As a...’lover’. Not...really. Doesn’t it seem like I’m just a friend he enjoys playing with? Someone to...talk to? Someone who doesn’t treat him like he’s...an evil person like everyone else does? I...I don’t think he loves me.” Yuki nodded to herself, “I think...I’m...just someone he enjoys...uhm...teasing... A...And...I’ll take that.” Wren pondered it for a moment and nodded, "It does sort of seem that way... Though he's very mysterious and difficult for me to read... Still planning to attend another date with him when we return to Lyrabar then?"

“I...don’t know...” Yuki bit her lip, “...I...” She shook her head, “This is all so... I never thought in a MILLLION, KAZILLION years that...he...” Yuki glanced towards the door and lowered her voice, “...that Axton...would do something like that...AND FOR IT TO FEEL LIKE THAT! SWEET GODDESS!!! HOW COULD I NOT SEE THIS COMING!?! LOVE IS MY THING!!” Wren giggled and shook her head, she sure is getting carried away over one kiss...

The priestess ran her fingers through her hair, “er...a...and Quill... “Quill... ...My...Kindest...Dearest..Quill...” And the young priestess got a faraway look in her eye, “...now that I’ve met him...I...don’t know... He’s so much more amazing that I could ever imagine! Quill...is so precious to me. Wh...When I awoke from this...uhm...sleep, he was the first person...I...wanted to spill all my feelings to...All...this confusion and...warmth and...desire...I wanted to write it all down. Everything that happened w...with Axton and...the priestess... Everything! And ask him...what to do. THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLICATED FEELINGS RUSHING THROUGH ME! I...really didn’t know what to do...with...them or what they even meant or how they SHOULD mean. I felt so confused! MY ARCH NEMESIS HAD JUST KISSED ME! Out of the blue. LIKE THAT! I... Everything was twisting around inside me. AND THEN the priestess...and her love for her “Tyrian”. Where her feelings ended and mine began.. It was a little muddled...when I first woke up. And...I...wanted to tell Quill ALL of it.” She glanced up at her friend’s face, “Ah! Sorry Wren. I...That should have been you...and Amynta. Forgive me... I don’t even know why Quill came to mind first. I just...thought...he could make it all make sense... The way he always does...”

"It's alright... I'm very glad that you have such a trusted friend that you can turn to for everything," Wren nodded and smiled softly, "It sounds like you turn to Quill as a trusted adviser ... but does he make your heart race?" Yuki nodded slowly, laying her her head on the top of her knees... “...he d...did...” Yuki sighs, “...but all I can think about ‘right now’ is...is...” Her voice trailed off, “...Axton...” "I'm guessing that you haven't talked to Axton about the kiss at all...Was he nice to you this morning?" The priestess nodded and awe...flickered across her face, “...v...very... I... Mm...” Suddenly she sat up straight and slapped both her blushing cheeks, squeezing her own face between her palms, shaking her head, “AIY-YAI-YAI!! My world is a topsy turvy, upside down place!”

Wren laughed softly and nodded, “I can see that... just a couple of days ago... you were telling me Harbinger was the one who made you feel special... treats you like a woman... someone that you wanted to kiss you... I believe you said you even felt a little untrue because of the feelings stirred up inside you after meeting Quill... and now... all you can think about is Axton. It must have been quite the kiss...” “...kiss...ses”, Yuki murmured quietly and then hid her happy face in her pillow! Peeking out she added, “And Yes... Yes...they were SO MUCH BETTER THAN MY PILLOW! If I had known it would be that...that...WOW I would have started kissing Axton AGES ago! Not...that he would have let me... I think. GAH! That man.”

“Mmm...” Yuki’s voice grew gentle and quiet...earnest...but she didn't let go of the pillow, “...I must seem awfully fickle to you, Wren... For all your play and teasing and flirtations, you’re a very loyal and single-minded person. Y...You met Kale right at the beginning of our adventure together and he’s always...been...by your side. I think that’s...such a beautiful thing. To find your most important person so easily and quickly. It’s so wonderful! Wren stared at her wide-eyed. S-single minded? Easy? Quickly? Her head started to spin. All the of the battles she had had to fight between her head and her heart for months...

And then...there’s me...with all these silly puppy loves. ...Erevin, Lillarthi...Azarius...Quill... HARBINGER and now...Axton. What is wrong with me?! I...don’t understand it...myself. I’m like a child...in a candy store. Was it because I never had loves in acolyte training? No liaisons....in Waterdeep... Not once. Sure, there was dancing and talking but the boys kept their distance. And suddenly...suddenly...there are all these...really BEAUTIFUL men...and they’re all so kind. And...funny! And...charming! And AMAZING... They’re all so shining!” Wren's mouth dropped open as she continued to stare at her. B-but but... isn't that what I told her in the beginning?! That boys are like shiny new toys? What is going on?! Have I become Yuki and she became me? How did this happen?! It's true! I couldn't even get through kissing poor sweet Vhoori...

She frowned, “I...understand love in others so well. Sense it even... See it with my own eyes the threads that bind them to their special ones before even they do... But this heart...” And she touches her hand to her left breast, “...beats wildly...over and over...in so many different directions Axton. Quill... Harbinger. Are my feelings really so...so...shallow. The bewildered witch closed her mouth and finally blinked, shallow? Is shallow really so bad? Isn't that how you're supposed to be? ...but compared to this? ...this deep, drowning, consuming love that i'm in now... I think I can give up shallow.... let her play... and hopefully she'll find what she's looking for.

She laughed a little, “...but then...it would be strange, wouldn’t it... For one’s mind not to be occupied for at least one day...with the man who plucked your first kiss... Especially that one...” She smiled, “...with all his scoundrely, stealth tactics making me think he HATED me and that I was only WORTHY enough to clean his boots and run his errands AND THEN, OUT OF THE BLUE....AMBUSHING ME LIKE THAT! HOW IS THAT FAIR?! OOH! That DEVIL! He’s so...SO....tricksy!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">"I'm very happy for you... and I know it's all confusing and complicated in your head right now... but your first kiss... just... savor and enjoy the moment. It sounds like everything a kiss should make you feel," Wren smiled at her, "I hope you get many many more... I hope you get to try them all... soft, tender, romantic, heart-melting... passionate, stirring, fire igniting... hard, demanding, primal... I hope you get to enjoy many kisses and many first moments... I hope you find your epic love dream." Wren leaned back against the bedpost and sighed softly.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">She daydreamed for a moment, leaning back, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">until Yuki threw a pillow at her! “OOOH! SHEESH! Whaaaaat DID you TWO DO the night of the BALL to have SUCH a SAPPY, HAPPY, DELIRIOUS, DREAMY look on your face!” She threw another pillow at her, laughing, “Isn’t LOVE wonderful, Wren?! Praise Sune!” The young witch laughed and nodded, blushing, “I was just thinking about how Kale makes me feel... and how different it is than anyone else... or any other kiss...it’s all very strange to me... confusing... and yet... blissful.”

Yuki nodded and smiled right along with her until...something about what Wren struck her as being...rather...wrong and her eyes widened slowly, “WREN?! Y...You didn’t?! Did you?” She practically pounced on her friend, searching her eyes, “OH WREN! B...BUT Wh...WHY?!” Yuki threw up her hands, “You said...‘How different it is than any...other kiss’?!?! JUST WHO HAVE YOU BEEN KISSING BESIDES KALE TO KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT!! OH SWEET SUNE and I said "loyal and single minded"! NOT THAT I'M JUDGING BUT...er... WHO?! W...Was it Dominic? Or...Or that witchhunter guy? NOT VHOORI!?

Wren threw up her arms with a pillow defensively, "WHAT?! Who said I did?! ...Kale wasn't my first kiss, you know! ...and ... and... are you not allowed to kiss someone else...?! i mean..." She blushed crimson and looked suddenly guilty, "it was terrible! I didn't understand it at all!! Since I've fallen so in love with Kale... I... I... just couldn't... I tried... and failed miserably... I started crying because I missed him... and only wanted him... and he wasn't there... it was just a kiss... more like sort of a kiss... our lips touched" She sighed, "...but it wasn't him... it didn't have his magic... and he was all I wanted."

“...oh...Wren...” breathed Yuki softly... Quietly listening to her friend’s confession, the priestess of Love’s dismayed, disapproval melted into a shimmering and happy warmth. At the end, she threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly, “...you’ve...worked hard, haven’t you, Wren...?” She whispered, “You’ve worked...really, really hard...all on your own...” And she squeezed her tightly again, “...proud of you... A beautiful...epic Love...has found you...and you, it.” Wren returned her hug warmly and sighed with a little relief. “B...But, “ A thought gnawed worriedly on Yuki’s mind as she let Wren go. Clasping her hands, she searched the elven woman’s eyes, “Everything really is ok, right? er....You still LOVE Kale, right? D...Does he know?”

"Oh my gosh, Yuki! More than ever! That... sort of kiss... taught me a lot... that's never happened to me before...I love him so much... I still get surprised by how much I love him... He ... doesn't know... Is... Is that something he should know? No one knows besides you and... Vhoori... we were alone... Do... do you think he'd be mad if he knew...?" She suddenly looked very worried. Yuki shook her head... “...what makes you think he doesn’t?” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren stared at her as Kale's accusing voice echoed in her ears, "You smell like a cat... " of course he knew... he just doesn't know all of it...

The priestess tilted her head just a little and looked into Wren’s eyes, “...Sweetie...a man does not lay down his life for a woman...because she has pretty eyes... Not even in Romances! So...” Yuki smiled and squeezed her friend’s hands tightly, “...does he really need to know the details? That only serves your heart...not his. Because...well...” The young witch nodded as she sat quietly listening to the priestess, who moments ago was talking about boys like they were candy, school her heart gently in the ways of love. And she released Wren’s hands, “OF COURSE HE’D BE ANGRY!!!!” And she thwapped her with a pillow,

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">She squealed and held up a pillow for defense, just in case another was coming. She didn't think she'd really seen Kale angry... except maybe once... when they were chained to the posts in that cult tower... and he broke the chains trying to get out to protect them both... he must've been angry then... “THE WOMAN HE LOVES WAS KISSED BY ANOTHER MAN! HE’D WANT TO ERASE THAT FOREVER!!! SCRUB IT CLEAN!!” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">E-erase it? Forever? Scrub it clean? What is that supposed to mean? She peeked back over the pillow, a hand going to her lips. “SILLY!!!! MEN...EVEN ELVEN MEN...ARE POSSESSIVE!!! YOU CAN’T TELL ME DIFFERENTLY!! I WON’T BELIEVE IT! SHEESH! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!?!” Yuki laughed and thwapped Wren again,

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren grabbed her pillow, bracing for defense and giggling, "Okay! Okay! You're right!! I'm sorry!!" “...but...But...good came out of this... Yup! You know your heart...and you know your body... And both agree. It can only be him... Right?!” Wren could detect a little TRUE LOVE RULES OVER ALL smugness in all of Yuki’s happiness. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">She peeked back out from her pillow and nodded emphatically.

“So...uhm...Telling him that much...will do... That only ‘he’ will do. And no one else...” Yuki wrapped her arms around her knees and she smiled this huge radiant smile,, “...WHAT that does to a man’s pride! ...especially when that man is Kale...and the woman is as bewitching and seductive and as...universally admired as you! Surely...that’s all that needs...to be said.” She threw her arms around Yuki and hugged her warmly, "I really don't know what I would do without you..."

"Oh... did I tell you I saw Samira and Sergei at the dance? ...the couple from the bakery in Lyrabar. “The pink haired sorceress with the sexy, steamy husband! I remember! What are they doing here?!” At the mention of the bakery, Yuki reached out for another fruity pastry and popped it in her mouth! “Swustewance!” She grinned, crumbs, falling onto the blankets.  Wren burst out laughing and shook her head, “It must’ve been hard work fighting back a dragon!  Yuki shook her head, still chewing on her springy pastry, “Iws wasn’ mwe who did the fwightn’... I...jwust...prowided the extwra powr.”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">"...I guess they decided to go adventuring up here after Lady Horitsu invited them to visit... They're staying here in the city currently, in Hero's Rest..." she giggled, "What are the odds, right? She invited me to come see them there... though I told her I wasn't sure we'd have time... cause I wasn't sure how soon we'd be leaving."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">“Owoh!" Yuki swallowed, "Me neither! But...” Yuki arched her neck to see through the gorgeous high glass windows, “I wooooould really like to explore the city a little! All I’ve seen is the Temple of Hanilil and...this AMAZING castle?! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS EREVIN’S?! I...I just can’t get over it. ‘Our’ Erevin really is a prince! WITH A CASTLE AND SERVANTS AND POMP AND EVERYTHING!” Yuki sighed, happily, obviously enjoying being a princess for a day or two, “I would have REALLY liked to have seen him at a courtly ball... I bet...he shone!” And her eyes...sparkled with the kind of pride that comes from watching your friends do well, “EVEN IF he hated it! Hee! Soooo....do you REALLY think Lady Horitsu will...let him go so easily now that he’s here?” Yuki licked cream off her fingers, “...I bet she has PILES of paperwork for him to do! You know he’ll be busy FOR DAYS! Moooooore than enough time for us to visit Miss Samira and her Sergei! Maybe we can even tour all the SHOPS!?” Yuki laughed, she seemed to be rebounding from her most recent shock. “...Axton...told me to rest but...I really am feeling lots better! What say you Wren? Wanna go shopping?!” And she reached for her scarlet ribbon, setting neatly on the bedside table...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren laughed softly, “Well... I can’t really imagine Erevin filling out paperwork... but she might have him busy with a few things... and I do have to go pick up an order from one of the shops anyway... and I’m sure you would love to meet Master Demus and his fairies... if you want a better tour of the beauty the city has to offer though... I should really go and get Kale, he knows this place far better than I do... he’ll just have to wait outside when I pick up his gift.” Wren giggled, “It’s a surprise.” “Awwwwwwww, Wren! You DO LOVE HIM! You’re SPOILING HIM LACK MAD!” Yuki threw herself back down on the bed, “...But shouldn't you let him buy YOU things too! I mean...HE should be SPOILING YOU! Like with...ah....DIAMONDS! OR Emeralds. You’d Look SO AMAZING DRIPPING in emeralds! Or....Or Sapphires and Amethysts! What I couldn’t do with Amethysts! Yeah!” Yuki beamed at her friend, “Like that! He needs to spoil you!” Wren laughed, "Aww... he does spoil me... he comes to save me whenever i get myself into trouble... which is all the time! ...he lets me be me, despite all of my faults... he gives me all of the kisses that I want... and he makes me so happy... I'm very spoiled."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">“Did you want to invite anyone else? or should we just meet up with everyone for lunch or something?” Yuki gnawed on a lush lip for a moment, “...well...he DID say ‘later’... Ah... But then he might get mad at me for not resting. Mmm. Mmm... But if he’s with you and Kale, it should be no problem! OH! WAIT! THIS WOULD BE LIKE A....A....” And her eyes GLEAM, “A DOUBLE DATE!!!!!!! YES! er.... I’ll ask...Axton if he wants to come too!” Yuki jumped out of bed and then stopped dead, looking down at her eyelet linen nightie, “Ah...er...after I get dressed!” She laughed and picked up her scarlet ribbon. Waving it around, she imagined one of those beautiful day dresses she saw one of the elves wearing...the day she wandered around the Temple of Hanilil with Axton...and...what was his name?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">“HEART! POWER! MAKE....UP!!!!!!” Wren giggled, "That sounds fun... I don't think I've ever been on a "double date" ... is this a special custom thing?" She tilted her head. Yuki babbled happily on and on about the joys of a double date which she has “never ACTUALLY gone on but heard ALL ABOUT from LOTS AND LOTS of reliable sources! YUP!” She complemented her short elven dress of light and shimmering gold with a simple sapphire pendant of great beauty and...worth, and ran a brush through her hair til it shone, chatting all the while. She slipped a pretty sapphire flower pin into her hair and turned, looking every inch a fresh and natural beauty, “OH...K!” She beamed at Wren, and the elven woman could feel the girl’s excitement...and anticipation for the day ahead, “Let’s go find those...guys!”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren giggled and nodded, taking in all of the strange customs of double dating as she wove 2 long, narrow braids of hair down the side of her face, the rest of it hanging loosely. She applied her cherry lip gloss to her lips and smoothed a very light spicy oil over her skin. She nodded to Yuki, and headed out the door with her in search of Kale and Axton... not really thinking they'd find them together.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Kale, of course, was the easiest to find....a quick few queries around the palace from the pair of giggling girls swiftly led them to a small house on the outskirts of the town. Yuki was grateful that it was...one of those houses that was on the ground, rather than high up in the air. She didn't even want to think of what could happen on one of those baskets that went up and down among the trees. And those...bridges...that crisscrossed through the air...like wooden spiderwebs. Were those even safe! Yuki didn't think so!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">But the pair saw that there were some...older houses on the ground...some thickly overgrown with foilage. Some even were in somewhat of a state of disrepair...but the house that the two girls approached was nestled right up against one of the great oaks. Small...but...quaint it looked well and lovingly tended...a picket fence and lush garden inside greeted them as they walked up to the door, where they heard a female voice...singing.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren knocked on the front door politely "Hello! Kale?". She put her hands on her hips...was he...in there with...another woman? The singing voice stopped and the door opened to reveal a pretty young elven maid with dark hair. "Oh...you must be Wren! I'm Kale's sister....please come in you two...he'll be back soon, I took advantage of his return to get him...to do some work around the house." The young women smiled, and pointed to a nearby window where the two grils could see Kale chopping up some wood in the back...his bare chest glistening with sweat....

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The young witch gazed out the window for a moment and was instantly brighter and smiling just seeing him, "Aww I'm sure he's happy to be helping." She watched the muscles in his arms and back flex as he chopped the wood as a spark of desire made her feel a lot warmer. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Yuki nudged Wren with a low whistle and a wink and whispered gleeful for her friend, "JUST...look at 'those' muscles..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Wren giggled and nudged Yuki, shaking her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">She giggled and turned innocently to face Kale's sister, executing a beautiful priestessy bow, "Hello! I'm her...er their friend, Yuki Ashdown! Magical Priestess of Love and er...Beauty and healing and other things! Say! I didn't know Kale had a sister! Nice to meet you!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline;">She turned from the window and curtsied gracefully in greeting, "You must be Yienshul then? It's a great pleasure to finally meet you! ...and yes, I'm Wren." She nodded and smiled, "You have such a beautiful home! And Kale didn't tell me that you could sing... Has he been telling you all about how heroic he's been?" They young witch grinned, "Or has he been modest? I'm sure whatever he's told you, it's not nearly enough..." she glanced back out the window and smiled, longing to go embrace him and feel his arms around her. She turned her eyes back to the elven woman in front of them and smiled, "Of course, I've heard that you know your way around a blade very well yourself."