The Dark One

FOURTEEN: JADE

A few weeks later, I was sat in a room with a circle of chairs in the center and a single chair in the corner upon which I sat. "Stay here and don't do anything."
"I won't." I replied, holding Tissaia's hand and squeezing it gently.
Tissaia moved back to her seat as the room began filling up with the members; Yennefer was put in the middle and began arguing her case about a conclave. "Yennefer has my full support." Tissaia muttered as Vilgefortz agreed and soon the sound of thudding on the chairs filled the room. "I'll sort the invitations with Jade."
The room fell silent as Tissaia mentally scolded herself, Vilgefortz tensed considerably; "She's here?"
"Mmm. I am actually." I muttered, getting up from the chair in the corner which was covered by shadow. "I have been for a few weeks. I'm surprised you haven't noticed me." I muttered as Tissaia stood up.
"You haven't exactly been seeking attention Jade." Tissaia muttered, as I nodded and walked towards her.
"I think we'll take our leave." The members muttered as Tissaia stood opposite one of the windows.
I looked over at her inquisitively, "You're thinking about something."
"I'm glad you've observed that."
"What are you thinking about?" I asked, looking at the lady as she turned around. She walked over to the door and locked it before she turned around and walked over to me. She wrapped her hands around my waist and embraced me; I kissed her on the neck and nuzzled into her.
"I'm thinking about what you said, about marrying me."
I pulled my head away and looked at her, "It wasn't serious, at the time."
"At the time? So it's serious now?"
"Maybe." 
"Jade, I don't have rings or plans; but the only thing I know is I want to marry you. Do you want to marry me?" Tissaia asked as the breath in my throat halted.
"Come again?" I breathed, my mouth hanging slightly open.
"Will you marry me?"
"I heard you the first time then. And yes I will." I swallowed, smirking slightly as she sighed with relief.
"Thank the gods. I thought you'd have said no."
"I'm not that mean. And I knew you were going to ask me."
"Of course you did, mind reader." She chuckled.

The wedding was a quiet affair, one in which only two people were in attendance; Triss and Sabrina, both students of Tissaia's and who were loyal to her and me. "Thus do I take you, to have and to hold, for the most wondrous and terrible of times, for the best and the worst of times, by day and by night, in sickness and in health. For I love you with all my heart and swear to love you eternally, until death do us part." Tissaia and I both said in unison.
"I now pronounce you married." Triss and Sabrina stated, and clapped with joy as Tissaia pulled me in for what looked like to be a hug but was actually a kiss at which point the two women screamed with joy and had to drag each other from the room.
We walked up the stairs, talking softly with out hands intertwined, I opened the door to Tissaia's chambers and picked her up, as she let out a quick shriek in surprise. "I wondered if you were heavy."
She chuckled and rested her head on my shoulder. I carried her to the bed on which I laid her, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down onto the bed next to her. She rolled over to face me and before I could even comprehend what was happening, she was running her fingers through my hair until her hand was resting at the back of my neck. She slowly pulled me closer to her, and I could feel the warmth of her breath against my face.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as she inched closer towards me; I found myself surrendering to her, my eyes closed slowly as the gap was closed. I felt the warmth of her lips pressed onto mine; the kiss was long and slow; and it soon ignited a flame that had been dormant inside my heart for centuries. "I'm glad I married you, you amazing mage."
She chuckled and gently kissed me again. "No, I'm glad you accepted to marry me, my darling." Tissaia propped herself up and wrapped her arms around me. I rested my head on her shoulder and gently kissed her collarbone and neck. "I love you Tissaia De Vries."
She chuckled at the fact I had used her last name. "And I love you Jade, now are we adding 'de Vries' to your name or keeping it simple?" She whispered, closing her eyes.
"Mmm. In our own company I don't mind. If this ends well and the Brotherhood don't find out, I'll be more than happy to add your name to mine."
I smiled and rolled over to slide out of the bed, I felt her arms wrap around my torso and pulled me slowly back onto the bed, "Stay with me for a while." I nodded and laid down again, I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep.

In the morning, I rolled out of bed and slowly stood up. I glanced at Tissaia; her hair was splayed over the pillow, her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell slowly. I sighed softly, and moved to the chairs that sat opposite a now glowing fireplace. "You're awake early." I heard from the bed.
I turned and looked at my new wife, "Sleep."
"I don't need it."
"Join me?"
"We both got the same amount of sleep." I replied, smirking slightly.
"Mmm. We did didn't we." She chuckled and got out from under the covers before padding over to me and resting her hands on my shoulders.

The idea of accompanying my new wife to the banquet preceding the sorcerers' conclave humbled me, to the point where I didn't talk about anything else in my time with Tissaia. We had a great issue trying to decide on the clothing to wear, Tissaia chose an iridescent green dress with gold bands that had been added into it, while I was undecided. "Tiss, is this too much?" I asked, turning around in a blood red dress with a revealing cleavage that stopped just below my ribs.
"I should to see what's mine but not let others ogle, thank you." She replied, looking at my cleavage a second longer than she should.
"Mmm. What about this?" I asked turning around in a black dress with flames that licked the bottom of it.
"Again. Not a spectacle, something less of a statement and yet practical."
"This?" I asked, as she looked at me in the mirror.
"I'm not even looking at you and I can tell it will be worse than the other two."
"No. I took what you said and have made a dress from it."
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Tissaia muttered as she turned around to see a skintight black dress with red lace along the side of a slit that ran up my thigh, halting just below my panty-line; it had a floor length black cloak attached to the back. "Wow." She whispered, letting her eyes roam my body. "I like that. Keep it."
"Yes, ma'am."