“Oh.”
We walked the rest of the way in silence, through the garden and to the path that led into the woods. The tree’s canopies loomed over us, allowing for small beams of sunlight to filter through. Sounds of skirting animals happened around us. Each time I could, I followed the sound. Once, for a few squirrels chasing their love interest up a tree. They stopped every few seconds to bat their ruffled tails before continuing on into the branches. A few times, a couple of bunnies chased each other across the path.
“Spring is definitely in the air.” I giggled to myself as Marren’s arm tightened around my hand.
“It is, indeed.”
He led me down a path that forked to the right and opened into a small field of the most beautiful, tallest, red tulips bordered by trees, as if he had cut out a place for these flowers, and they grew with the magic that had won over my heart. I held my breath for fear that letting it out would make them fade.
“By the Gods, this is beautiful!”
“I thought you would like it. Go on.” He motioned toward the field.
I looked into his eyes, as if to make sure he wasn’t joking, and then stepped tentatively into the field of flowers. Their light scent danced in the air. It was sweet and mild. At about the halfway point, I looked over my shoulder at Marren, still standing on the path. I smiled, facing him and cocked my head to the side. I wondered what was taking him so long to join me. He nodded toward me a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. I turned back around taking another step, finding a rock that rolled underneath my foot. I fell to the ground and started laughing.
I was pulled up by Marren so fast it took my breath away. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
Slowly, he placed my hands on his shoulders then slid his down the side of my arms, along my back, and coming to a rest at my waist. He pulled me into him, pressing our bodies together. I took in a deep breath as a rush pulsed through my veins. The woods became silent, and the wind stopped blowing, as if the world stilled for us. We started to sway, slowly, from side to side. It was awkward, like he was nervous, which made a giggle bubble out of me, shaking my frame against his. He chuckled in response and started spinning me as we glided through the flowers, twirling one way and the other in motions that were graceful, magnificent, and magical. My feet barely touched the ground, like we floated in the air.
We dance in circles, through every inch of the flower field as we gazed into each other’s eyes, looking into forever. Eventually, we slowed, returning to the center of the field and shifting back into the sway before stopping completely.
“I want you to promise me something…” Marren said. I worried that there was something on his mind, a weight that burdened him.
“What?” I asked.
“Promise you’ll remember this day, no matter what decision you make.” His voice was sad and fearful.
“What decision am I to make?” I asked, twirling a strand of his hair around my finger and losing myself in his eyes.
He pressed his lips to mine. The sweetness in his kiss filled me, but his lips were almost too soft. “You’ll see…just promise me you’ll remember today.”
“I could never forget, but, I don’t understand. What is this about?”
He weaved his fingers through mine. “Come on. We need to get back.”
When we walked through the door, one of the servants ran up with a letter folded and sealed. Marren took it and read it to himself. I followed him into the dining hall and stared as he threw it into the fire. He stood, watching it burn while I stood by helpless and lost. He leaned an arm against the mantle and clenched his fist. The muscles in his jaw bulged. As he moved to the table and sat down, I took the seat next to him.
“Is everything okay?” I laid my hand over his. His eyes met mine, filling me with fear. I couldn’t be sure why fear overwhelmed me, nor entirely positive that it didn’t have anything to do with what was in that letter.
“We have company coming from the other world. They somehow know about you and my intentions.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best to impress them.”
A few servants walked in, placing goblets of wine and bowls of stew in front of us.
“They’re not wanting to be impressed Relena. They want to find out if I’ve broken the law.”
“What law?”
“Can we talk about something else, please?” He was clearly agitated. It didn’t seem like something that normally happened to him. He always seemed so composed.
“Of course.” I sat back in my chair, slouching with my legs crossed and my hair over my shoulder. “What is a Therianthrope?”
I knew it wasn’t the time to start that conversation, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.
He heaved a heavy sigh and sat back in his chair. “It is a person that can shape shift into different animals.”