The young mage sat by the campfire in her thin, white shift running her fingers over the intricate words in her spell book. The night air was crisp and tossed the long blonde hair that draped over her shoulders. The routine was calming to her. She found that it helped her mind release the haunting images she carried within her. She mumbled a word and delicately waved her hand practicing her art. Dirt crunched nearby signaling approaching footsteps. She broke her eyes from the lines and gazed upward and saw him standing close to her. He wore a loose white tunic dirtied from years of use and tight brown breeches that shaped his legs nicely. He shifted his weight anxiously.
"I guess I don't really know how to ask you this," he sighed. She stood up, dropping the tome beside her.
"Ask me what? You're sweating! Are you alright?" She stared at him, confused. He wiped the glistening sweat from his brow, his hands folding over one another.
He chuckled shyly. "Yes...no...I mean...I'm fine. I just..." again he sighed. "You'd think this would be easier." He suddenly smiled brightening up his face, his blue eyes sparkling. His voice steadied finding a small ounce of confidence. "Every time I'm around you I feel like my head's going to explode, I can't think straight."
"I hope you mean that in a good way," she smiled trying to hide her anticipation and doubt.
"Hah. Yes...of course." He glanced down suddenly embarrassed by his awkwardness. He swallowed and once again gazed into her green eyes. "Being near you drives me crazy, but I can't imagine being without you. Not...ever. I don't know how to say this any other way. I want...I want to spend the night with you. Here in camp." He looked to the ground. "Maybe this is too fast, I don't know, but I know how I feel." His eyes held a vicious intensity she had never seen before. It took her breath away.
"I wanted to wait," he continued, "for the perfect time, the perfect place, but when will it be perfect? If things had been we wouldn't have even met." He boldly stepped forward closing the gap between them. "We sort of stumbled into each other and despite this being the least perfect time, I still found myself, falling for you. I don't want to wait anymore. I've...I've never done anything like this before you know that."
She nodded, "I know, neither have I." He grabbed her chin with a single finger, his grin growing wider.
"I remember." His smile dimmed slightly. "I was just thinking, what if something were to happen to one of us, or both of us. I'd like to be able to say that I threw caution to the wind at least once in my life." She grabbed his hand and pulled it around her waist. She kissed him lightly, with unexpected audacity.
"I suppose that's a yes, then," he grinned. She smiled back.
"Yes."