"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.
Leo followed Ronfar to the room adjoining the dining room. They both sat in the stuffed armchairs across from the roaring fire within the stone fireplace.
Ronfar kicked his feet up onto the small table between. "That turn about in the garden was damn near the entire afternoon. Putting things to rights?"
Leo's lips twitched slightly. "Yes."
"Telling her about your different adventures, I bet."
"She insisted."
Ronfar laughed. "I bet. So, what happened out there, anyway? I hope you got to kick some brigand ass."
"The rogues are currently on their way to stand trial."
"You'll make sure the leader gets what for, right? I mean, he nearly cooked your goose just to get Violette."
Leo lowered his focus to his hand and an examination of his nails. "A report regarding the happenings that day has been offered forward to the Brotherhood for his trial. I have no proof as to their purpose regarding their attack."
"What do you mean? You have Violette." Ronfar examined Leo's expression, who continued to intensely scrutinize his cuticles, and raised an eyebrow. "You haven't had her make a report? Are you crazy, man? Her report will make or break your case!"
Leo met Ronfar's gaze. "I refuse to put her into more danger, Ronfar. We are not certain all the rogues and brigands have been captured. As it is they somehow knew of our connection and used that to their advantage. I will not have them use her--"
"Leo," Ronfar interrupted as he sat forward, "who's to say they won't use her anyway?" Leo looked away and clenched his jaw. "They know about your connection, you said so yourself, so you might as well have her tighten the noose around their necks with a legal and binding report. I'll be damned if Violette wouldn't be more than happy to do it."
"Do what?"
Ronfar and Leo both looked sharply toward the direction of the kitchen. Violette approached with a bright expression and her usual smile. They stood.
Violette took Leo's hand and gave it a brief squeeze. Then she urged them both to sit and sat in front of and a little to the right of Leo's chair, her legs tucked up underneath her as she leaned gently against Leo's.
Her eyes showed happiness and curiosity as they focused on Ronfar. "What would I be glad to do?"
Leo's brows furrowed slightly as he sent Ronfar a meaningful look.
Ronfar pointedly ignored him. "I was telling Leo here that you'd be more than happy to tell the Brotherhood about the attack."
Violette's expression grew serious, her eyes widening. "You mean in the forest? When they hurt him so badly? Why of course! Do they need me to do that?" She looked behind her to Leo, who very quickly changed his frown to a smile. "Leo, did you need me to go to the Brotherhood and tell them about that day? I'm glad to do it."
Leo caressed her cheek and touched her tenderly under her chin. "I know, my lady Violette, but it is not as necessary as Ronfar would assume."
"Leo, don't be an idiot," Ronfar protested strongly. Violette blinked and looked over at him. "He only says that because he thinks the blasted rogues will try to kidnap you again in order to keep you from saying anything against them." Ronfar refocused on Leo. "I'm telling you, man, I'll stop it same as I stopped it last time. Hell! Even you can stop it because of not being so blasted far away."
Violette nodded and looked again to Leo, eyes wide. "I don't mind the danger, Le--"
"I do," Leo interrupted firmly. Violette lowered her gaze. Leo intercepted Ronfar's dark glare and released a deep breath. "I apologize, Violette. I did not mean to sound short. It is my concern for you that causes me to forget courtesy."
Violette again met his eyes. "I know, darling, but my concern for you is why I want to help. I don't want these men to be able to hurt you again, or anyone else. They're bad men," she said passionately, hands clasped to her chest, "and the forest wants them to be punished."
Ronfar smirked and crossed his arms.
"If telling about how those men so horribly attacked you will make them be punished," Violette continued, "then I don't care what they do to me. I want you to be safe, Leo." She turned and changed her position to her knees, placing her hands over his that rested upon his knee. Her violet eyes were nearly black. "Please. Let me do this for you. I would never forgive myself if they were to be set free and hurt you again."
Leo leaned forward to cover her hands with his other. His tone was reassuring as he said, "Violette, don't suffer so over such a trivial thing."
A tear escaped. "But you weren't going to ask me to help," she protested, eyes wide. "And now you won't let me help."
"Peace, dearest. Peace." Leo sent Ronfar another hard glare as Violette buried her face in Leo's hand and cried.
Ronfar cleared his throat and stood, making a hasty and well-timed retreat to help Mauri set the table in the dining room.
Leo refocused his attention on Violette's head. "Dearest Violette..." He urged her head up and softly brushed the tears from her cheeks. "I wanted to keep you from this danger. For how would I survive the guilt if you yourself were injured or killed due to this great service you offered?"
Violette sniffled as she slightly shook her head. "But that isn't fair," she insisted. "Why should you take all the danger yourself?"
"It is my duty to protect. This was another way for me to do so. How could I not?"
Violette raised her eyes to Leo's; her lashes were wet and tears still fell a silent course down her cheeks. "Why do you think the forest led me to you that day?" She lowered her cheek to his knee and closed her eyes. "The forest knows how eager and determined you are to protect me, and asks me to do the same for you."
Leo released a slow breath. He tenderly stroked the silky softness of her blonde hair. "Forgive me for causing such distress, Violette," he said quietly.
Violette stood to her feet and threw herself against him, embracing him tightly as she pressed her face against the softness of his shirt. "Dearest darling knight, please let me protect you," she cried passionately.
Leo's arms surrounded her, and he pressed his lips lightly against her hair. "My sweet lady... You must do what it is your heart's duty to do. Just as I."
Leo felt a soft touch on his shoulder and looked up. Mauri smiled and motioned behind her to the dining room. Leo nodded briefly and returned his focus back to Violette.
"Violette." Violette straightened and met his gaze. Leo smiled and stood, taking hold of her hands to give them a gentle squeeze. "Violette, you must promise to follow my instruction."
She nodded, wide eyed. "Of course, darling." Then Violette smiled and pointed at him, pressing gently against his chest. "But you have to listen to me, too."
Leo chuckled. "As you wish, my lady Violette. I shall endeavor to follow your instruction to the very letter."
Violette wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "I love you, and I missed you so."
Leo adjusted his hold around her, caressing the skin of her neck with his lips. "And I you, dear lady."