The Battlefield

The Question

Miriam trudged through the overgrown rose plants. It's stems reached out and brushed Miriam's dress, as if trying to console her with their beautiful buds.

Miriam sped up, her dress getting caught beneath her feet, when she heard Luca's footsteps behind her.

"Miriam, what's  wrong?" Luca yelled out behind her, struggling to escape the thorns of the plants.

"I'm not talking to you right now!" She called back, her frown faltering when she heard him swear.

She turned around while still walking forward. She could see Luca trying to untangle himself from the stems. Miriam felt lucky that she walked through the row of roses which were neater than the others.

"You deserve it!" She retorted referring to his dilemma while stopping to consider whether she should help him or not. Luca broke through and stalked up to her. Miriam started walking backwards, keeping a distance, so he wouldn't try anything behind her back.

"I thought you weren't talking to me?" He asked a smirk gracing his face. Miriam scowled.

"But how would you ever survive without your beloved's voice guiding you on?" She asked dramatically.

Luca pretended to think. "True. I need you every step of the way. And the first one is not keeping secrets from each other. So tell me, what is bothering you?"

Miriam debated on whether to tell him or not. 'Why not?', she thought.

"I'm not ready for my heart break yet! And I understand you have your ways but please don't useful them on me." She said close to tears. "I've had enough heartbreaks to last me a lifetime. You're a kind man as far as I know and I love you for that, but please, don't put your habits in use for me." She said a tear falling down her flushed cheek.

Luca stared at her, surprised, confused. What was he going to do now?

The wind picked up, whipping Miriam's hair and her tears fell faster. Luca's hair fell in his eyes, obscuring his emotions. Miriam felt like she lost everything.

"N..no. I won't do that. I love you! I would never do that to you. I'll look after you as if you're a delicate rose."

She considered his words. "Prove it," she whispered almost emotionless.

Luca ran his hand through his hair and stepped towards her. He placed his plan flat on her cheek, lifting her head up slightly so she was looking in his eyes.

"Will you marry me?"
Luca produced a cricket from behind his back. The cricket was in captured in his hands. Miriam looked at it expectantly. Finally, it gave a series of chirps before jumping off.

A cricket chirping at the time of proposal meant good luck and a noise of agreement. So if it chirped and the girl accepted, the couple could look forward to a prosperous and happy married life. 

"Y...yes!" Miriam said hugging him tightly, tears if mirth now falling from her eyes. He reciprocated her actions, holding her tightly against his chest, her answer still sinking into him.
"I love you," they said together in unison and laughed at the coincidence, resting their forehead against each other's while grinning.

"At last! I thought my son would never get married!" Julian said walking out with a beaming Alena being him as well as a clueless Mia followed them.
(///▽///)

"Miriam?" Her aunt called Miriam as she and Luca sat on the bench in the yard, chatting merrily, while looking at the mountain stream. It had been three days after the proposal and the wedding was less than a month away. She lifted her head off Luca's shoulder and turned around to her aunt.

"Hi darlings I'm going home now." She told the duo.

"Of course aunty, bye!" She told her aunt. Miriam's stay at Luca's house was extended until as long as they live.

"See you next time Chiara, just be back in time for the wedding!" Luca bid her while smiling warmly.

"Of course dear," said her aunt leaving the house.

And off the couple went again, into a land of their own, together, in peace and in love, trying to plan their future.

But in their opinion, it should probably be out of the public eye.

Yes. That includes you too.