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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lady Diamond" data-source="post: 119417" data-attributes="member: 216">Time passed very slowly as it often does in times of complete joy and peace, but soon the sun began to settle on the western horizon, and it was time for the two lovers to gather up the things they had brought to this sacred place and depart for home.Diamond tied her thick hair at the nape of her slender neck, it was still somewhat wet and heavy from the delightful dip in the crystal pond, she gazed at Vanor with a loving smile.  "This place is sacred to me now beloved, I haven't felt such joy and peace for quite some time.  Thank you for bringing us here."Vanor smiled in return, and looked at her thoughtfully.  "You know, I bless the gods for bringing us together."Diamond's smile broadened into an appreciative grin.  "I have a confession to make," she began.  "I won't even attempt to second-guess the fates for bringing us together, and for allowing us to become friends and lovers, I thank the stars every day myself for that first day, when you appeared to me.  You were everything I'd hoped for, and more."Vanor looked a bit puzzled.  "What do you mean?."She replied.  "Truth be told, I had heard of you on my travels to this realm.  People spoke of a valiant warrior, a man of honor, and respect.  I believe that had we not met on that first day, I would have sought you out to meet you, eventually."He chuckled wryly.  "Ah, my fame preceeded me.  You shouldn't believe all the things you hear from people second-hand beloved."  He thought about all the roads traveled to become the man he is, while replying "I was not always honorable you know, I spent some time as a sash, fighting for money, not honor."She nodded, "I remember beloved.  You said during that time that you had all the material things money could buy.  Everything but true happiness, and peace.  The journey, the ritual you undertook to find the honorable path again  nearly killed you.  How many would take that risk to find an intangible "something" that many do not even believe in?"They both continued to load up the horses and gather things as they spoke, she fell silent for a short while as is her way when she muses about fate and the workings of "luck".  They mounted the horses and set off for the short ride back to the dojos, the setting sun taking most of the heat of the day, and the air chilled.  With her still-wet hair drawing some of the chill towards her body, she shivered a bit, but just looking at the man she loved brought a warm glow to her entire body, and she smiled at him."Beloved, whether the things that were said about you were true or just exaggerated, I found the truth as I began to get to know you.  You are all the good things that were said about you."  She looked up to the sky and said a quick mental prayer, hopefully the gods wouldn't fault her for admitting that she had tried more than once to make a bit of her own "luck".  She turned to him, taking his hand as they rode.  "Fate smiled on us that first day, yes.  But I believe that sometimes people can have a bit of influence upon the kind of 'luck' they have.  A person can bemoan the hand the gods have dealt them and do nothing, or they can try to do something about it.  That 'something' can either turn out good or bad, but striving onward and picking yourself back up off the ground after you've been knocked down is the only thing a person can do."  She looked away briefly and rolled her eyes, thinking of trying to say things just the right way hadn't worked.  No matter how she'd  tried to phrase it, what she'd said sounded simplistic and trite. He squeezed her hand softly and brought it to his lips for a brief kiss.  Her hand was cool, one touch of his lips brought sweet warmth to her soul, and she looked at him and smiled again.  The darkening night enveloped them both, but at the crest of the last hill they saw the dojo lights shining out, guiding them home."You know," he said.  "We should plan to visit my parents soon beloved.  They'll want to see the woman who plotted and connived to meet me just on the basis of hearsay."  He grinned.She chuckled, her thoughtful mood uplifted once again, just with a few words from him.  "Oh yes, I hope they like 'schemers'."  She snickered.  "Or women who tempt fate by trying to make fate work for them, once in awhile." "I think I'm the lucky one to have you, my beloved," she said as they reached the stables.</blockquote>

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