Flowers

In the days since you helped restore Lyhe Mheg--the dream world where pixies, children and dreamers came to play--you often visited with the Crystal Exarch. Sometimes you came while awake, and others you came while dreaming. Today, you decided to venture there in the flesh, bringing G'raha Tia along with you.

"Come on, G'raha! Let's play!" You exclaimed, leading him by the hand farther into the amusement park-like place. "What do you want to do first?"

"'Tis my first time being here in the flesh..." He sighed. "It amazes me to see just how vivid dreams could be, but being here like this..." G'raha took a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air and sighed before smiling up at you. "Glad I am you brought me." 

He paused in thought, his ears bobbing thoughtfully. "However... as for where to start..." He brought a hand to his chin, unsure. "In the waking world I am certain I cannot move as easily as through a dream. Though I must admit... I am curious how the sweets taste."

"Having a sweet tooth, are you?" You asked with a giggle, and he squeezed your hand. You went along with him to one of the candied houses and took a seat on one of the macaroon chairs beside him, picking up a plate that held a massive cake. "Feeling hungry, G'raha? Say ahh..." You took a fork and took a piece from the cake, bringing it to his mouth.

His ears gently drooped as his face flushed. "M-Must you tease me so...?"

Somewhat reluctantly, he opened his mouth and allowed you to feed him. "See, that wasn't so hard now was it, G'raha?" 

"Mm... The taste is even sweeter now. 'Tis truly delightful." With a chuckle, he reached for another fork and took a piece to feed to you. "'Tis only fair I do the same for you, my love. Have a taste..." He grinned when you blushed, but you opened your mouth and let him feed you. For a while, you shared the cake until moving on, deciding to enjoy the coaster next.

Thankfully, the rollercoaster didn't move quickly enough to make one nauseous, but picked up just enough speed to be amusing. After that, you insisted on playing on the slide. He went first, getting drenched in the water, then you followed. He held open his arms, catching you when you slid to the bottom and lifted you into his arms as water splashed everywhere.

"That was fun!" You hugged him tightly, feeling as though you had never had this much fun in your life--of course, that was always how you felt when G'raha Tia was at your side.

He smiled, his ears waggling as he leaned up to kiss you softly. "My heart swells to see you so full of joy, Beth. I truly..." G'raha sighed, slowly carrying you to a field of flowers and sitting down with you. He held you close in his arms, nuzzling his face in your neck. "...I truly love you." He murmured in your ear, his warm breath on your skin giving you goosebumps.

"I love you too, G'raha," you said warmly, playfully pushing him down onto his back and crawling onto him. You laughed happily when he made a bashful expression and leaned down to press your lips to his. He embraced you firmly and suddenly rolled on top of you, kissing you a little deeper. "Haha! G'raha, what's with you today?"

"Hmm?" The Exarch looked at you with a soft, loving gaze. "You are not the only one who can be playful, Warrior of Light. I may be an old man...but with you I feel young again." He slipped his hands into yours, leaning down to kiss you again with such passion that you closed your eyes and felt like you really were dreaming. "'Tis not a dream. Not this time, Beth. Open your eyes..." His breath tickled your lips, and when you opened your eyes he smiled.

The two of you sat up together, surrounded by beautiful flowers of all colors, and you saw a flower crown nearby; perhaps it had appeared with pixie magic, or perhaps it had been waiting for this very moment. "Ah, hold still, G'raha..." You picked up the flower crown and sat behind him. "Hehe. Let's see..." You held the crown over his head before placing it.

"What are you doing, Beth?" G'raha laughed as you adjusted the crown countless times.

"There, it's perfect now," you said, placing your hands on his shoulders. "A crown for the prince of my dreamland." You slowly draped your arms around him, hugging his neck. He placed his hands on yours with a soft sigh before bringing them to his lips to kiss.

"Well now... I suppose that makes you the princess of my dreams, hm?" G'raha turned his head back slightly to smirk at you. "If I may be so bold, I hope to one day make you my queen." G'raha blushed as he spoke the words, but your reaction made it worth it.

You moved away suddenly, your face turning beet red as your heart raced faster. "Y-Your queen...?" You blinked and smiled nervously as G'raha slowly turned to face you, again taking your hands and gently lifting them, pressing his palms into yours before folding his fingers with your own. "G'raha..." Is he talking about...what I think he is?"

"It seems I have managed to fluster the invincible Warrior of Light," he grinned slightly, stealing a kiss from your lips. "Aye, I would take you as my queen someday. You are, after all, the only woman I love...and wish to spend my life with. Eternally."

"Oh... I feel the same way..." You smiled shyly. "Truly... I would love to marry you."

G'raha's face flushed as he slowly moved his hands away, plucking a single blue flower which he nestled carefully in your hair. "Then let this flower be my promise... that my heart ever belongs to you, and someday... I shall make you mine. It will no longer be a dream, my love."

"On these flowers grown from blossoming and endless love, I vow I shall make it a reality..."