"Violette?"

The young woman looked up from her sketch and smiled brightly, violet eyes twinkling. She lifted the sketch; it was a sunset. "Look, Mauri. I'm drawing a sunset for your brother. He's so often in meetings that he misses them." Violette smiled down at the sketch. "I've been saving my colored charcoal just for this."

Mauri, red priestess of Raculi and wife of Ronfar, sat beside the lovely blonde on the bench outside her home. "It's beautiful, Violette. Leo's sure to love it."

"Oh I do hope so." Violette's smile faded a bit as she refocused on Mauri's face. "Do you think he might come today?"

Mauri smiled and brushed some blonde wisps from her new friend's young and lovely face. Leo had called Violette his Forest Nymph. Mauri could see why. Age and life's experiences hadn't marred her innocence. Though Violette had confessed to being Mauri's age, she looked to be a child.

"I'm sure he's hurrying," Mauri assured softly.

Violette's eyes widened. "Oh I wouldn't want him to go to any trouble. He has such an important duty, I understand how hard he works to keep bad things from happening, and I wouldn't want him to hurry."

Mauri touched under the young woman's chin. "I know. Now, why don't you come into the garden and help me plant those new blooms Ronfar brought yesterday?"

"The lavender ones?" Violette asked, wide-eyed. Then she smiled. "Oh how lovely! I so want those in my hair on our wedding day." Her eyes widened again. "Do you think your brother would rather a different color?"

Mauri softly laughed. "Leo will not see the flowers for your eyes, dear."

Violette flushed and lowered her gaze to the sketch. "Mauri, I miss his eyes," she said softly. "And his voice and stories. His laugh and the way he calls me..."

"My lady Violette?"

Violette giggled as she looked over at the blue-haired priestess.

Mauri's eyes twinkled. "Leo never tries to be charming. He just is. Although Ronfar would disagree."

Violette giggled again. "Ronfar is a dear; charm itself."

Mauri laughed and stood, Violette following suit. "Leo would disagree with that."

Violette shook her head as her eyes widened. "Oh no. Your brother knows--"

Mauri laughed again. "Yes, dear. Leo knows that Ronfar took the initiative to bring you here to safety. But that has nothing to do with Ronfar's temperament, darling that he is."

"But that's why I think he's a dear," Violette told her, matter of fact.

Mauri nodded. "And it's also why I love him so deeply." She smiled. "We always love everything about the men our hearts and souls choose."

Violette slightly nodded. "Yes. Yes, we do."

Mauri wrapped an arm around Violette's shoulders. "Don't lets be glum, dear. Come. We'll celebrate this day with some work in the garden while we wait for Leo. All right? Ronfar's already at work on the foundation of the gazebo."

Violette's expression brightened as she clasped her hands. "Oh truly? How romantic! I must be sure to show Leo when he comes, it's so much more grandios than our little bench at home..." Her step halted, and her eyes held a wistful twinkle. "Home. I do so miss home and the memories there." Violette looked to Mauri with a surprisingly serious expression. "I would have gone to him if he had but asked me. I love him enough to leave that behind."

"And, instead, he leaves it for you." Mauri gave Violette's shoulders a squeeze. "Blessings on you both, dear."

Violette embraced the priestess. "I am so happy, Mauri. So very happy."

"Not nearly as happy as Leo, to be sure." Mauri pulled back. "Now. To work in the garden, dear. Before you realize a moment has passed, Leo will be here."

Violette smiled. "All right."

And Mauri had spoken the truth. No sooner had Violette begun humming a nameless tune while working within the flowers of the garden, than she heard a thundering sound.

Violette looked up, violet eyes alight with hope. "Leo..."

She struggled to her feet and rushed around to the front of the house, not hearing Ronfar or Mauri's questions. The thundering grew in volume just as did Violette's eagerness and anticipation while she hurried toward the entrance/exit of town and the road beyond, green skirt-front in hand.

Violette's face brightened with her smile at the approaching horse and rider, and her voice rang out with laughter and the name "Leo!"

Leo pulled up hard and propelled himself from the saddle. He strode forward and caught the running Violette into his arms with a hushed "Sweet lady."

Violette laughed and cried, embracing him as tight as he held her. "Darling Leo..." she whispered.

Ronfar and Mauri exchanged smiles as they set aside their equipment and moved away to enter the house. The couple didn't notice.

Leo released a deep and slow breath, still holding Violette close against him. "Please forgive my tardy arrival, Violette," he said softly. "The rogues and brigands were determined to work against me."

Violette adjusted her arms around him, eyes closed as she slightly smiled. "It's all right."

Leo pressed his lips lightly against her temple before pulling gently back. Their gazes met and held. Leo and Violette both smiled, and he brushed some hair from her face.

Violette took hold of his hand to kiss the palm. "Can we go home right away?" she asked softly.

Leo brought her knuckles to his lips. "Straight away, dearest. But first." He wrapped her hand around his arm and led her forward into the garden. "We would do well to wait until morning. Traveling under cover of darkness would prove too dangerous, and the journey is long."

Violette smiled up at him.

Leo's lips twitched upward. "What is it, my lady? Had you forgotten the face of your knight?"

Violette giggled. "No no." She wrapped her other arm around his. "Dear knight, I do love hearing your voice again. I've missed it so."

Leo chuckled. "As I've missed your melody, sweet lady."

Violette stood on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek, then she gestured ahead of them to the gardens and the young flowers freshly planted. "Do you see? Isn't it lovely? And it reminds me so of our garden at home." Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. Leo continued to softly smile. "They didn't hurt the flowers at home, did they? Or our bench?" Tears glimmered. "Please, Leo. Say they didn't hurt them."

Leo slightly shook his head. "No, Violette, they did not hurt your treasures. It seems they feared your wrath."

Violette smiled brightly up into his face. "I am glad-- Oh! Leo, you must see our tree! It's grown so tall since you saw it last!"

Violette took hold of his hand and led him around to the back of the house. Once the two had arrived at the back portion of the house, Violette halted and pointed with a collection of excited hops to a large wooden pot and a growing tree.

"Do you see? Do you see?" she breathed excitedly.

The tree instead of its original 8 inches of height, now stood closer to 24. It held a collection of six tightly closed blooms, and the branches - while gangly and young - were full of life and growing strength with wispy leaves that seemed more similar to hair.

"Isn't it lovely?" Violette giggled. "Do you remember how small and tiny it was when you first brought it?"

Leo smiled. "I do. It represented my heart before your presence within it."

Violette turned, eyes wide and rose lips parted as she gazed up at him. Then the deep purple glimmered and she stood on tiptoes to kiss Leo's cheek. "And mine, darling."

Leo drew her close.

They stood within the other's embrace for several moments; remembering their few meetings, the laughter shared, the letters and discovery of the other. All the wonder and beauty of their new emotion. Then Violette pulled slightly back and caressed Leo's cheek with her fingers. Leo did the same with hers.

"I missed your face, Leo," she confessed softly. "So much that I..." Violette lowered her gaze and kissed the palm of his hand that caressed her cheek. "I would have gone to you had you asked."

Leo gently lifted her face. "Dearest Violette. I will never give you cause to leave that which is a part of you."

Violette drew him close again, wrapping her arms tightly around him and pressing her cheek against his chest. She sighed deep. "I had thought it so long since you went away, but now... My darling Leo, now it's like you never left."

He caressed her hair. "Demons shall not part us again," he vowed.