Zelinnia glared at the sunrise. She wrapped the blanket back over her head.
"Nuh uh." Renwa yanked the blanket off of her. "You're not going to hide in here."
She curled up, the cold air crossing her body. "You can't make me." She muttered.
"I need my secretary. I have a busy day today; paperwork is just going to hold me back."
"Fine!" She slid out of the bed and picked up both of her dresses. "I never replaced the torn one." She muttered.
"Oh, then it's a good thing I had them go ahead and send over the first part of my order."
"Huh?"
He opened the cabinet and she dropped both dresses. Half of the cabinet was now taken over by an array of colors. She approached it with some trepidation and ran her hand along the sleeves. She looked back. "These are mine?"
"Eloise had them delivered yesterday morning. I didn't get a chance to show you... after."
She pulled out one and looked at it. "It's lovely."
He shifted his feet. "I sort of ordered an array. I didn't know what you'd like."
She threw her arms around him, tears in her eyes. "They're amazing. Thank you."
He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm glad." He looked up. "Though I'm going to need entirely more furniture once they all get here."
"All?" She squeaked.
"Good thing I requisitioned some land for a house." He considered. "Forgot to ask Elunara for a floor plan. Also, I'm having my office expanded. It's getting crowded."
She literally hit the floor.
When she next awoke, he was peering into her face with concern. "Too much at once?" He asked.
"A little." She squeaked out.
"Is it too much to explain my plan?"
She shook her head, still clinging to the pretty blue dress.
He began to get ready for the day. "Well, we're looking at taking the office building and the apartment and clearing the area, making a nice little house with a connected Office for me. We'll make it much bigger, with room for many in the office space but still having room for our desks. I'm hoping Elunara will design some shelf space; I like how hers is set up. I am very serious about asking Elunara for floor plan ideas, but I have a guy who will do it anyway."
"Why are you doing all this?"
"Because I love you, and I think it's time to move my life in this direction, with you." He laughed. "Now, are you going to actually wear that dress? Or just hold on to it?"
She jumped up and slid it over her head. "No one has ever done so much for me before. Well, Elunara did what she did, but that's not even close to the same thing." She wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you... So much." She laughed and wiped her eyes. "Next thing I know, you'll be asking me to marry you, and I'll have to say yes, then things will get really complicated." She sighed and shook her head, not seeing the stunned expression on his face. She opened the door and smiled at Jordan, who held his hand up to knock. "Hello, Captain Jordan." She briefly bowed before scooting around him.
"Uh, sir?" Jordan raised an eyebrow at Renwa.
"I'm marrying that woman." Renwa murmured before stepping outside.
Zelinnia made her way down to General Grogek's training yard. She waved at her various tail points, deciding that maybe they were useful. She looked around at the troops, wondering how many of them believed Kathleen's vicious lies. She shook her head and watched Grogek rip into one of the newer recruits. A fresh wave had arrived overnight, she remembered the paperwork. Elunara sat at the top of the hill, drawing away, Darguni at her feet. She spotted Zelinnia and waved.
"El! El!" Darguni cried.
Zelinnia hefted the child into her lap. "Good gravy, you're big for your age."
"He's growing rapidly. Some days he slows, but then the next morning he's huge." Elunara shook her head. "Tulani has more experience with children than I do, and she's concerned."
"Not good."
"I just hope his development stays up with his body."
"Still only the one fang, huh?" She fingered it. "Sharp. The only orcs I knew of with only one fang had broken the other, or was old and lost it at some point."
"That's what Grogek says."
"Well, he's a proud papa anyway. Some can't even say that."
"He was prepared to claim him, even if his parentage wasn't so obvious."
"So I've heard."
"I heard about your... issue yesterday."
"Yeah. It's ok though. I've decided that, I feel more humiliated that I ran, than I did sitting there listening to her raving."
"Good girl." Elunara patted her leg. "Nice dress." She winked.
"Renwa just gave me a closet full, and said some more is on the way." Her head shook. "He's baffling and... Oh, Gods!"
"What?!" Elunara asked, alarmed. "What happened?"
"Oh, Gods, I ran my mouth again." She slapped her forehead. "I agreed to marry Renwa... and then totally walked out, thinking the statement was all in my head."
Elunara started laughing so hard, she smacked her head into her board. "Zelinnia you are a riot."
Darguni began to laugh, not really caring what the joke was.
Zelinnia pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. "Gods, I am an idiot."
"I'm not sure I can argue." Elunara snickered.
"ANYWAY!" Zelinnia sighed. "I came to ask you if you could help us design a house and some furniture. He likes your library system for his office."
"Alright, I'll see what I can come up with. However, you better let Eloise design your wedding dress, or she'll kill me."
"Fine, fine. I'll even let Tulani get in on it." She grumbled.
"Tulani would wet herself with joy. She still feels bad, you know."
Zelinnia sighed. "I don't know what to do about that."
"The dress will help. Here she comes now." Elunara waved.
Tulani made her way up the hill, clutching her basket. "Good of you to join us." She smiled.
"Hey, Tulani I want to ask you a favor." Zelinnia scooted over to make room.
