The hot sun didn't bother her and she doubted it bothered any of the Burning Fist that had been gathered back in Istan. Vallen was not about though. He didn't do so well in full heat, though he did fair better then the average person. The steel dragon had taken his leave to who knew where. Ornell was in the mood to spar though, so when the pair practicing in the small area, that they were using like an arena, finished and were dusting themselves off, she hopped over the fence and walked to the center of the ring.

She wasn't armed, nor did she have any armor on at the moment. It was being checked over by the man she had bought it from in this very town. There was still a group of the Burning Fist out and about looking for any others who had gotten free of the temple alive. Now, now they were practicing their skills. All of them needed the practice and she wasn't about to exclude herself. So she looked around at the small crowd until her gaze fell on Sarin. She smiled, her blood red eyes glowing slightly like the embers of a fire. She motioned to him, calling him forward to spar with her. It wasn't a test. He wasn't a full ranking member yet and that would simply be unfair. She would never do that to him or anyone else. But she could fight without fire or magic or a blade just as well as she could with those things. It was always very satisfying to see the look on a foes face when they disarm you and you still can kick their butts. Sarin didn't even carry a blade.

She wanted to spar with him to see if he was going to try and go easy on her. She wanted to see where his skills were so she would be able to back him up if it was ever needed.

He smiled, standing from the sand where he was sitting, and brushed his hands off. "I'm not going to go easy on you, Ornell," he said, walking up to her and offering the customary handshake. "Dear one, if I go too far, I'm sorry ahead of time," he said, his muscles rippling slightly as he let go of her hand. This last bit was whispered, with a meaningful glance as he stepped back, shedding his shirt, the mark on his shoulder shining slightly as he did.

He dropped into a low stance, hands hanging loosely at his side, knees bent, and smiled. "Shall we dance?" he said with a laugh. "Your move, d-- Ornell," he said, realizing they were being watched by the other members of the Fist.

She watched him come forward and accepted the hand shake. This was a friendly spar after all and they kept things civil among the Burning Fist. "I don't expect you to." She said, her eyes still quite literally glowing, flickering like the embers of a fire in her eyes. She lifted her chin slightly as she was given the chance to see the mark. She then remembered what that meant. She smiled only more at that bit of knowledge.

He readied himself and spoke, catching himself before he said something that he might find embarrassing with everyone here. She would have laughed, but knew he had every right to his pride. She rose an eyebrow at the mention of dancing. "If you wish." She said and from where she was standing took a step forward, placing her foot at a slight angle out. She kept her knees slightly bent as she took one more step mirroring the first but twice the speed and brought the opposite hand forward, palm facing out. She was aiming for his shoulder with the heel of that hand, the other hand held slightly in front of her center of balance at her waist, relaxed but ready to block if needed. She wasn't expecting the blow to hit though, so she was ready to move in a completely different direction if needed. Her eyes never once left him though.

Sarin's eyes didn't move either, and he grinned when she opened with a sideways palm strike. He had been expecting something a bit more sophisticated, and he was pleasantly surprised that he was wrong. He merely stepped back out of her arms reach, until her hand went by, and stepped forward, grabbing her arm at the elbow, and pulling toward him, his lead foot planted in front of hers, right in the way of where she had to go. If she couldn't avoid that foot, she'd be on the ground, if she could, then she'd be inside of his guard, and cleared for a potentially painful strike. But Sarin was willing to take that risk, if only to prove to her that his training was good.

His own eyes flickered slightly, turning a tinge more red than orange, and then went back, as he stepped to the side so that if she did go down, he wouldn't go down with her. He was thinking at lightning speed, seeing all possible outcomes of each potential situation before it showed up. That was another part of his training, was to anticipate what was coming.

Her hit missed, just as she expected. Then he moved forward and grabbed her arm, attempting to propel her forward. She went with the motion, but not the way he had intended. Her smaller size had given her a different fighting style. His lead foot was before hers, so she left that foot exactly where it was and used it as a guide as she pushed off with her other foot and twisted her shoulders and hips just so to get the aim right.

Using her own momentum and his aided momentum, she brought up her hind leg knee first right toward his gut. She let her own hand catch the arm that had caught hers to make sure she would not be thrown and let her weight fall down and back just a bit by curling slightly.

If he attempted to shift back once more, she would let her weight drop her down to the ground, being careful to tuck in her wings tightly, with every intention of bringing him with her, and hopefully over her head so she would have enough time to return to her feet. Her bent leg would be enough to encourage him to keep moving there.

If not... her knee would hit and she only hoped it would hit as high as she wanted, as lower would hurt much, much more.

But he saw her maneuver, and crouched lower, her knee impacting with his breastbone. He grunted and let out his held breath in a whoosh, the expansion of his lungs having cushioned the blow slightly. He grabbed at her leg, and this time stepped FORWARD, pushing her off-balance again. "Nice try," he said softly in her ear as he bore her to the ground, and landed heavily beside her, rolling quickly to his feet, sand flying from beneath them as he spun. His hair had come partially out of the ponytail he normally kept it in, and there was a grin on his face as he stood to face her.

"Not quite good enough, though," he said with a laugh, and waved her onward. "C'mon. You can do better than that," he said with a laugh, and a shifting in his stance showed -- to the experienced eye -- that he wasn't planning on defending this time, but counterattacking.

Ornell pushed herself up into a crouch as he got back to his feet. She rose slowly and shook her head. "I can do much better then that, but I would rather have a fighter by my side in this coming battle than a cinder, but if you wish..." Ornell said and smiled, the embers in her eyes becoming much more as she started to move once more. She took a few steps away from him and dipped down low, swinging her leg in a steady arc. Fire came to life as she moved, starting at the arc she had made with her foot and heading toward him in an ever widening arc. She kept it a low wall of fire, not even a foot tall. It wasn't really an attack, but a reminder. He may not be holding back any punches against her, but she was holding back. She knew that he was not yet immune to fire while she could walk into Therab if she wished it, and had actually.

She had not used fire or her skills in magic and hadn't intended to. She still didn't, beyond this reminder to watch what he said or she might change her mind about that. She rose once more, placing one foot slightly back to ready herself for what ever his reaction was and said with a smile. "Besides, fire has reach."

He snorted, and performed a few backflips to land on the railing around the arena, perched like some mythical gargoyle of a fire elemental on the side of a building. "Ya know, sometimes reach isn't always a good thing," he said, well out of reach of the one foot high flames.

Dropping back to the ground once the flames went by, he took up a slightly different stance, switching sides slightly. If she did that again, he would have to go over it to get to her. And that would sting. But hey, what was life without a little pain?

He nodded to her. "Nice trick, though," he said with a grin. "But it's kind of hard to turn someone into a cinder when they won't stand still." With that, he seemed to explode into motion, very much resembling the fire that ran through his blood. A series of jabs lashed out at her, shoulders and hips mainly, with a couple at the midriff, none of which connected. He didn't want to. What he DID want to connect, however, was the lightning fast foot sweep that he pulled out against her, aiming not for her feet themselves, but just above the ankles, for more effect.

Ornell was relived when he avoided the fire. It would have been rather foolish to get burned by something like that. His tone didn’t change any though and he came at her this time. He didn’t strike her with his hands, so she waited for a single touch before acting. Then, the kick came, its aim true. Her feet were swept out from under her. She was knocked off her feet and in that same instant, she vanished.

The spell she used always gave her such an interesting sensation. She could feel him breathing as she had turned herself into the air itself. She rematerialized right behind him, letting her arms wrap around his own arms and across his chest as she did so. Her fingers linked together, her finger tips placed behind her knuckles to form a lock. Her chin rested on his shoulder as she whispered in his ear. “I really need to get you higher in the ranks, dear Sarin.” She said and let her hands and most of her lower arms catch on fire. “Then I wouldn’t have to heal you when we finish here. I might not have wanted you to go easy on me, but I had been going easy on you. I don’t want to hurt you with something you can’t counter, stop mocking my actions. I can burn this city to the ground. Please, don’t push me.” She let him go, taking a few measured steps back, her fists still on fire. A cheer rose from the group around the ring, fists of fire rising in the air in response to her using the burning fist. The few commoners in the area looked surprised by this. A few backed away uncertainly and others crept forward, attempting to see what was happening.

Sarin dropped to his knees momentarily when she let him go, patting at the singe marks on his chest. He grimaced as he stood, and shook his head as he turned back to her. "Don't bother. A few burns might serve to keep me on my toes next time," he said wryly.

He shook his pant legs out, getting the sand out of them, and then raised his eyes. "Don't worry, I'm working on it, Ornell." He smiled, and backstepped to the edge of the ring. "But I do think we know EXACTLY who has the advantage here, and who is by FAR the superior warrior... For now," he said, leaping backward over the fence around the ring, landing ON the fence for a moment, and then springing backward to land outside with a bow.

"I yield to the superior fighter," he said, and smiled. "For the moment," he finished, and dropped into a meditation stance, eyes closed by straight ahead, legs folded, hands clasped in his lap.

His hair waved slightly in the breeze, but he still didn't move. He sat like that for a good five minutes, before finally rising to his feet once more with a peaceful look on his face. "Good fight," he said, smiling at her.

Ornell's need to make him take her warning seriously evaporated. She had a temper when she was pushed and she was truly afraid he would be harmed. The Burning Fist had no conflict with his exit and were soon declaring who should fight who among themselves again. Ornell took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she walked to the fence and hopped over it. Two more of the Burning Fist jumped in their make shift ring. They shook hands and took their places before starting.

Ornell retrieved Sarin's shirt for him and went over to where he sat. She was silent and still, not wanting to interrupt him. As she waited she heard the fighters in the ring behind her and smiled softly. This was a game to them, a place for many to show off. She couldn't do that though. Even weaker now without the divine magic at her fingertips, she really could destroy this place. It might take a little longer then before, but she could. She didn't want to though, she didn't want all of those people to die or loose their homes like that. That was why she had decided to do more study involving the air elemental half of her soul. She hadn't gotten very far in it yet, but it may prove useful against those creatures who were residing it what had been her temple.

Sarin moved then, rising to his feet and said it had been a good fight. Her gaze flickered to his chest, the singe marks had turned bright red. She shook her head. "I suppose. They thought so." She jerked her chin toward the others who were shouting suggestions to the two mid-level members who were going back and forth in the ring. She reached out her hand and brushed it over the red marks on his chest, letting her magic aid him this time while it had caused him to be harmed just moments before. "I can't see you like that, not knowing I caused it..." she said and let her hand drop to her side.

"Sarin, I've been meaning to ask," She gestured to the symbol on his shoulder, "What does that mean?" She though she knew, but she thought it best to ask. It seemed rude to just assume and not say anything after all.

"That's a question best answered by me," said a different voice, a more airy one, more refined. "I am Zarinock, Astral Deva, guardian of good and bond of Sarin here." He smiled. "Yes, it means he is a Celestial Infused, young Ornell," he said. "I've been watching you since the other night, and I must say, I'm impressed. He has chosen wisely, and I am VERY pleased with his choice."

"ZARINOCK!" Sarin's voice broke through. "Hush, the others aren't supposed to know yet," he said with a wry smile. "Zarinock doesn't always exercise tact in his conversations." He shook his head. "But he is a wonderful ally, and a great person all in all. Perceptive too. Met a young woman at the Taras Library a while back. Bit of an oddity for him, or so he said."

"A dual soul IS an oddity, Sarin."

"Cram it, Zarinock," he said jokingly. "I know it is. But after all, this is IMYTHESS. Oddity is the norm, Zarinock, no matter what the case may be where you come from."

"Hmph. I do have a question for you, though, Ornell. Why is it, in a sparring match, that you used magic, knowing your opponent has none?" he asked, an eyebrow quirking up in curiousity. "After all, it IS bad form to do such a thing. Though I'm sure you had a reason for doing so."

She smiled and offered him his shirt. "I've meet infused before. Only one Celestial Infused though and that would be the God of Light. Though I have never been called young before, thank you. As for your question, there is more then one reason. I was born a Traveler, a native to the elemental planes who is created when the forces of one plane bleed into another. I was born of the Plane of Air bleeding into the Plane of Fire. I came to this plane not long after, but I am a naturally magical being, like an elemental is, so it comes to me as easily as breathing. That is only partly why though. I know I have a temper. That normally wouldn't bother me much with the exception that the fire inside me seems to follow my emotions more so then my thoughts. If I get mad, I become fire." She shook her head. "Sarin's words, though only meant in fun, caused the fire to grow. I had to out think it more then him, so he couldn't end up as a cinder. I took the form of air to calm the flames and that same chance to try to warn."

She looked up at him, knowing both could hear her. "Sarin, I was afraid I would hurt you beyond my minor skills of healing." She seemed upset and a little bit angry, but it was at herself. She should have known better and if he had been hurt any more then he had she would have only had herself to blame.

He took his shirt from her, pulling it over his head and covering the marks that she had letft on him, which were down to a light pink.

He smiled down at her, and shook his head. "Ornell," he said. "I've suffered more pain than you can imagine in my three hundred years of life. I've lost family, friends.... Loved ones..." He shook his head. "Pain only lasts for a moment, but memories last forever," he said quietly, looking into her eyes, his orange hues matching her embers. "I've seen mountains crumble, temples fall, races destroyed... I've been through hell, quite literally."

He shook his head. "Even if you HAD hurt me seriously, I would have forgiven you," he said, his voice dropping to a low tone, nearly a whisper. "I would have forgiven you, because I love you, Ornell." He smiled. "The only way you could inflict LASTING harm on me is by telling me to leave and never come back," he said, a hand on his heart. "THAT would be the ultimate injury."

He smiled at her. "As long as you don't do that, nothing you can say or do will every really pain me," he said softly, using the fact that she had her back direectly to the ring and the other Fists were busy to take her hand in both of his. "I love you that much, Ornell."

Ornell hadn’t had the chance to look up how long 200 years was, let alone 300. It wasn’t a concept she was used to dealing with. She was going to have to get used to it though and the question of how long she would live crossed her mind. How could one find that out though?

Her eyes kept his though as he spoke and when he took her hands in his the anger and worry seemed to fade. She squeezed his hands for just a moment and said, her voice dropping like his had, “But it would be hard for me to forgive myself if I lashed out in anger.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you though.”

She heard whistling as the next matched started. The other must of ended rather quickly to be over already. She turned to look over her shoulder and laughed. It was one of the few chaotically inclined of the Burning Fist, one who liked to get the crowd on her side, most likely because she was also a fire genasi. The other one was a quieter man but he was ready to go as soon as she was. The girl threw her hands up in the air to get the crowd going, both fists on fire. Like a cheer everyone rose at least one burning fist in the air in response with a shout. Ornell let one of her hands slip from Sarin’s grasp, the one closest to the ring and rose it with the others, wreathed in flame.

Sarin raised his own with a laugh, but the laugh cut off suddenly as they burst into flame as well. He grinned. "Well well. Look at that!" he said, bringing his flaming hands down to eye level. "Wasn't expecting that. Well, I was, but not just now," he said with a deep laugh.

He stared at his hands for a moment, and the flames went out, and he chuckled. "I think this calls for a celebration," he said with a grin. Taking the bull by the horns, he lifted Ornell in his arms and planted a kiss on her lips, spinning in a circle as he kissed her.

When he realized what he had just done, he set her back on her feet, blushing slightly. The blush increased when a couple of wolf whistles rang out from the other members of the Burning Fist. "Uh..."

He shook his head. "I don't know what came over me," he said quietly, his hands still on Ornell's shoulders, but his eyes on the ground. "I... If you want to slap me, I won't stop you," he said with an embarrassed look on his face. "And I'll forgive you for it, because I brought it on myself."

Ornell’s hand dropped down as she turned to look at his own hand wreathed in flame. She found herself grinning and was about to reply when she found herself swept up into a kiss. Her feet were no longer on the ground as she was spun around. She was a bit surprised by that and when she was on her feet again she heard the Burning Fist, but only in the background. He was blushing so bright red that she was tempted to say that it matched his hair or that he looked incredibly cute and apologizing wasn’t necessary. She didn’t say a word though. Her look was blank, unreadable for just a moment.

One hand came up to her face, her index and middle finger brushing her lips. She shook her head. A few stray strands crossing her features. She tucked the stray hair behind her ear, shrugged his hands off her shoulders, and took a step forward. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she had to stand on her toes to return the kiss she had not been expecting in the slightest. She felt him breathing again, this time without having to be the air itself, as she returned the kiss.

He was taken a bit aback when she kissed him, but he wrapped his arms around her waist when she did, lifting her slightly so she didn't have to strain as much, shutting out the yells of delight from the other members as he kissed the woman he loved, not caring that they were being stared at, just thanking the gods that he had managed to work up enough courage -- or insanity -- to kiss her to begin with.

When he felt himself starting to get dizzy, he broke the kiss, setting her back on her feet once again, and smiling down at her. "Well... I have to say... that was a bit... unexpected." He laughed lightly, and pulled her close for an embrace. Should I ask her?

Do you think she'd say yes?

I don't know. I'd LIKE to THINK she would... but I don't know.

Only one way to find out.

He shook his head, and pulled back from her, his eyes averted for a moment. "Ornell, I...." He shook his head, and grimaced.

"Dammit. I hate not being able to find the words to ask a simple question." He sighed, and shook his head again. "Ornell... I know there's a lot going on right now," he began in a low voice, looking into her eyes. "But I'd really like you to be my wife, please."

For a moment she had forgotten about what was going on around her and what she was here for, she just let herself fall into his kiss and embrace. She found herself thrust back into reality all too quickly. Everything just crashed down on her and the light feeling she had felt was pinned back to the earth. At that moment, more then anything, she had wanted to fly. But this body couldn’t do that. It was not every lifetime could she fly.

The sounds of the Burning Fist echoed in her mind along with his hesitant words. She sighed and wished she didn’t have to still do what she needed to do. But she needed to keep her part of the deal or Era’s sacrifice of her divinity would mean nothing. She looked down, then back up.

“There is more going on then you know, but I can’t tell you here.” She eyes flickered over to their comrades, “I can’t answer you yet. It’s not because I don’t want to though. You mean so much to me, I just… I can’t tell you here with everyone. I’m sorry.” She was going to have to tell him what she knew, make sure he took the time to think about it, and then she might be able to answer him.

He nodded, and took a step back. "As soon as you get a chance, I want to know what is going on. Though I doubt it will change my mind," he said with a soft smile.

He moved into the ranks of the Fist, accepting their congratulations on managing to use the ability that they were named for, his eyes constantly going over his shoulder to steal long looks with Ornell. Each time, he smiled.

At one point, he was challenged by another member, and gleefully accepted the challenge. This fight, he left his shirt on, and the fight commenced, sand flying, fists impacting with each other. When they finished, both of them doubled over, hands on knees, with a grin on their faces.

He clambered slowly over the fence, went back over to Ornell. "Fun stuff," he said, nursing a small bruise that was forming on his shoulder opposite his Infused mark. "Keeps you on your toes, sparring does," he said, kissing her on the cheek.

He shook his head, and looked over at the ring, where another pair were already sparring. Then he turned and looked at Ornell again. He gestured to a small alcove out of sight and hearing range. "Shall we step over there, so that you can tell me what's going on?"

Ornell let him wander off and she stayed off to the side, sitting on the fence and watching. She was thinking more then watching though. They were having fun, and were stronger as a group. This, this kept them as a group. But what about her? Even before coming to this plane of existence, the Material Plane as they called it, she had never really planned on staying. Even after becoming divine, she hadn't planned on staying. her main goal for coming here, to find out why when her people died on this plane they were reborn as one of it's creatures and only lived one more lifetime. She herself was now both the Traveler Era and the mortal Material Being called Ornell. At least, she had been. The moment they had decided to abandon their divinity had been the moment they became divided. Their contact was gone. Both of them were different entities from that point on. Era, Era had gone back. She went home and Ornell?

What about her? The choice was still there, for her to go back. She could do it, at least to the Plane of Fire, but did she want to? Others had always treated her different then the Goddess. They hadn't treated her like she was so much higher them. She didn't want them to. If she married though, she would have a very strong tie to this world, to a single life and all that it meant. She sat up straight as another thought came to mind. Could she even have a family? Travelers were born of magical phenomenon. They didn't have parents or children. Was it even possible and… and should she even worry about it?

She saw Sarin was fighting then, only noticing after he had started. She hopped off the fence as they finished and waited for him to climb back over the fence too. He kissed her on the cheek and started talking. She let him finish before shaking her head and saying. “I would rather walk if you don’t mind. It’s still a little too hot out for too many people and most of the caravans have packed up already. If we stay off the main streets, it should be rather quiet.” She wanted to move, even if that was at a slow pace.

He nodded, and smiled at her, rolling his shoulders back slightly. "That's fine," he said, noticing the look on her face, but not commenting on it just yet. He would wait for the opportune moment to ask what she was thinking about.

He nodded to the other Fists, raising his own fist aflame, and then turned. "Well, I don't come to Istan often. So you'll have to lead the way," he said, hands going to the pockets on his pants as he headed for one of the exits of the arena, watching her as he did.

"So what were you thinking about just now?" he asked quietly once they were far enough out of earshot of the other Fists. "I mean when I came out of the ring. You had that pensive expression on your face."

He smiled at her. "I have to admit, I love that look. Makes me wonder if there isn't a LOT more to you than I thought there was," he said with a smile. "And by that, I mean more than just being the former avatar of the Goddess of Fire," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "Something.... Not altogether normal about you, something deeper than even what ZARINOCK can see."

Ornell walked beside him, though was leading the way still along the side roads. They were rather empty, for the time being, her tone was still very quiet, forcing him to stay close just to hear her. <insert text from PM here. Shhh! No giving away the plot yet! :P >

Ornell paused, catching his hand so that she faced him. “Normal people can't know Sarin. The populace, they can't know. If they do, they will start seeing foes that aren't there. A rumor like that will have us killing each other long before anything real attack comes, and that may be just what our foe is counting on. If we turn on each other first, we all will die. Do you understand?” Her tone was a bit sharper now. She was trying to drive home the importance of what she was saying. Her blood red eyes searched his gaze, needing him to understand.

Sarin listened silently, patiently, to her entire explanation. His face did not move, but deep within his eyes, a long forgotten flame seemed to flicker for a moment, and then roar forth into true flame.

He shook his head. "You're too right. News like that, people LOVE to see enemies in those that were once friends. Something like that is best kept under wraps for the moment." He sighed, and glanced forward again. "I must say that in all my years, I NEVER expected ANYONE to be this stupid. Don't they know that even the GODS will oppose them for this?"

He shook his head, and pulled her to a halt. "Ornell, if you told me this to try and make me change my mind, it won't work. I still want you to be my bride, and nothing will change that. Uncertainty, dissent, strife, nothing. I want to be the one at your side for the rest of this life," he said, his eyes locking to hers intensely. "And no matter what you do, you're not going to make me change my mind, dear one," he said softly, unwittingly reverting to High Elven. "I love you. I always will. And I'll never go anywhere."

He smiled softly, and knelt before her, taking her hands in his. As he knelt there in front of her, his hand reached into a small pocket on the front of his tunic, pulling out the diamond ring he had bought just the other day, keeping it hidden in his closed fist.

“Ornell, I know there’s no one watching, but I’d like to make this as proper as possible. Ornell, I would like you to marry me. I swear that so long as both of us live, no other woman shall hold a higher place in my heart than you. Will you take me to be yours?” he asked softly, shifting the ring using his fingers until it was clasped by the band between his thumb and forefinger. His heart gave a little skip when he asked, and then all time seemed to stop, and he shivered slightly, waiting for her answer. If she said no this time, he would simply wait, and ask her again at a later date.

Ornell Paused, her mind racing. Why did he think she was trying to change his mind? Why was he saying that he wouldn't go anywhere? Then she realized what he ment and the first thing she wanted to do was pull him back to his feet. He thought she was worried that he would leave her, or she would want him to leave. She couldn't pull him up though, not without answering him first. He had said...

The ex-avatar hands caught the hand he held the ring in. How long had he been planing this? How long had he been wanting to ask her? Tears came to her eyes. "Saring, there are some places I may have to go that you can't yet, but you can learn to, I promise." She said, worried that he might try to go into the Elemental Plane of Fire before he was ready.

She closed her eyes for a moment, to steady herself and give herself a moment to think. This was the choice. To give up ever being a Traveler again, to only have this one single mortal life. Was it worth it? Yes, yes it was. For love... for love it was more then worth it. Her hands relaxed, letting his hand go, as she opened her eyes. She smiled and said softly, "Sarin... Yes."

Sarin sighed in relief, a smile gracing his face as he took her left hand in his, and carefully slipped the ring onto her finger, standing once he had done so. His eyes seemed to flicker and then the fire that had sparked in them moments earlier seemed to blaze, flicker, and then burst into the beginnings of a true flame.

He pulled her close, gently holding her as he pressed his lips to hers, his arms wrapping lightly around her shoulders. After all the worry, all the planning, all the distress, the moment of truth had come, and she had said yes! He felt like his heart was about to explode, and he pulled back, smiling into her eyes.

"I'm not going to quote the cliches about you've made me the happiest man in the world. But I WILL say this. As long as I'm alive, you'll never want for ANYTHING," he said softly. He threw his head back for a moment, staring up at the sky, laughter building and bubbling out of his lungs as he did a small jig in the middle of the alleyway. He felt no embarrassment, however. All cliches aside, she HAD made him happy.

She watched as he placed the ring on her finger, her heart pounding, and was relieved when he finally rose to his feet. Ornell kissed him in return, wrappings her arms around him as she did so. When he pulled back from the kiss, she found herself smiling That was it then, her choice was made. Let Era go home and be without love, she had found it and wasn't going to walk away from it.

There was also no way she was going to loose him now. She needed to learn more, she needed to be able to heal better. Then, then if he was hurt, she would be able to help him. That was what she had to do here now, if she got the chance. While they were waiting for everyone to show up she would...

Ornell gave herself a mental shake. Would she really be able to learn a spell she had yet to find in that few days? With what just happened... her thumb rubbed against the ring on her finger and she was grinning for no logical reason. She was going to be lucky if she found any time to study before then. Perhaps she could ask Valen to find the spell for her. Speaking of which, she wanted to tell her friend! Reaching out for Sarin's hand she pulled him back toward the tavern. "Come on Sarin!" She urged, making her way toward to Tavern as the temperature was dropping enough to allow the average person to brave the outside. She felt light and, well, almost like she was an air elemental form again, but without changeling at all.

His eyebrows quirked slightly when there was no immediate reaction to him placing the ring on her finger, but he waited. He knew quite a bit about Ornell, and knew something had probably just occurred to her. His own mind was busy anyway. It was racing, pulling up all the information he knew about the Temple of Fire. There was something he had missed that had just clicked, and he couldn't figure it out. There was something that was a bit out of place with the way the attack had gone down.

When she jerked on his hand, he grunted. "HEY! Warn me next time you plan on doing that!" he said with a laugh. He didn't care that she had suddenly pulled him along behind her, because he was at a point where she could have done anything and he wouldn't have cared. He shook his head.

He got his feet back under him and kept pace with her, smiling. "So what's the hurry, dear one?" he said with no sign of exertion and no break in pace. "Why did you take off like a spooked goat?" He smiled and laughed, tugging on her hand and pulling her around another person that had just stepped onto the sidewalk. “And THAT is why we shouldn’t be running like this.”