Tiger Wings

Chapter 17

The next two weeks passed quickly for everyone. Especially the crown prince of Tain. He spent his time with Quinn whenever he could and he found himself learning more about her every time he saw her. He also came to realize that he couldn't keep feelings out of it. It wasn't possible, but he didn't mention it to her just yet.

When the two weeks had come and gone, the king arrived. Jravic allowed him two days to catch up with his daughters and they with him before he requested a meeting with him. By then the king had converted the second story into his own space, full of books and papers he took with him everywhere. They met in the study.

Jravic felt nervous, an unusual feeling for him, but he ignored it as he greeted the king. "Good day, sir."

"Such a good day," Gideon agreed cheerily, not sitting exactly straight in his chair. "There's nothing like family. You know, I haven't spent this long away from them in their entire lives. Once, almost, when some of them weren't born yet, but a month? It's unheard of. And their mother! Poor thing, she's going out of her mind."

The speech did some good clearing the discomfort away. Jravic smiled as he entered the room further. "There is certainly nothing like family."

Gideon motioned to a chair. "Have a seat. People standing around make me uncomfortable."

He gave a nod and sat down. "I hope your journey was comfortable?" They had greeted each other when the king had arrived, but nothing more than a "Hello, I hope all is well. Goodbye."

"Quite, if a little slow. I'm not a very patient person." The king cocked his head as if waiting for something or driving at it.

Jravic nodded again. He wasn't sure how to approach the topic delicately, so he plunged ahead. "Sir, I do have  a reason for wanting to see you. I would like to ask for your daughter's, Quinn's, hand in marriage."

Gideon smiled and leaned back further, pressing his fingertips together. "Concise. Quick. You're a good man. I just have a few questions, you understand. How do you plan to support my daughter?"

From a man like Gideon, Jravic had expected there to be more than just a yes answer. He was prepared for questioning. "As you well know, I will soon receive the kingdom from my father and with it more than enough funds to support a wife, and a family."

"See, I was prepared to waive that question, considering who you are, but you just take everything so seriously and it's fun to watch you go," the king replied, shaking his head. "I'd give her to you if you hadn't a place to lay your head or a friend in the world, provided you answer one thing right. Do you love her?"

"Yes." There wasn't a doubt left in Jravic's mind that he didn't. "I love Quinn."

Gideon studied him a moment before he said, "I was wrong. Of course you do. Anyone would. My question isn't that. Here's the question. Does Quinn love you?"

Now he paused. "She hasn't told me in those exact words, but I feel she does."

"How?" Gideon felt slightly as if he was abusing his powers, but he wanted to know too badly.

"I've gotten to know her better over the last few weeks and she doesn't shy away from me like she used to. She actually smiles when she sees me and will talk to me freely, something I've noticed she doesn't do with everybody." It was apparent that Jravic wasn't seeing the study anymore. "Besides that she hasn't objected to any of this so far even though she knows what's going on."

Gideon put his elbows on the table and hid his smile behind his intertwined fingers. "You have my permission to ask her permission. And understand something. We both know the state of our countries, but believe me, if there had been something I saw I didn't like about you, you didn't have a chance, regardless."

Jravic's smile was one of relief and understanding. "I respect you for that," he said and he meant it. "Thank you." He stood up to go.

"My daughters aren't bartering chips," the king continued. "So if either of you don't make them happy, I'll be leading the cavalry somewhere northward further than usual and bringing her back."

That stopped him. "Either of us?"

"Either one of you." Then Gideon smiled like his old witty self. "He was quicker than you were. More concise, too."

Jravic laughed a little. "So Klyde was in here, hmm? I have to say that doesn't surprise me, and definitely not that he was concise." He shook his head. "Thank you, sir," he said again before leaving the study.

"I wasn't even done packing yet," Gideon muttered. "And he didn't sit down."

Jravic went downstairs from the study and out the kitchen's back door. Since the first night they had taken a walk, it had become a tradition between them. He knew he was a little earlier than usual, so he stuffed his hands in his pockets and waited. He was even more nervous now than in the king's study, but he knew he didn't want to wait for an answer.

The door opened once for a servant, startling him into a fit of fear about not being ready. He calmed down when he realized it wasn't her and reminded himself that he was ready. The next time the door opened, Quinn appeared, and a smile spread over her face before she tried to erase it unsuccessfully, leaving it obvious that she felt awkward because of it.

Jravic didn't care, he smiled back all the same. "Good evening." He offered his arm as usual.

"You were waiting." It didn't seem to be a question or an accusation. Simply a pleased, almost flustered statement.

"Yes, I was," he agreed. "Impatiently." He started walking down the very familiar path. "How has your day been since I saw you at dinner?"

She laughed childishly, then shook her head and covered her mouth with her hand. "How much can happen after dinner?" she wondered.

"Very much," he remarked, thinking about what he had done. "What would you like to do for the rest of the day after dinner?"

Quinn groaned at all his questioning. "I don't know." She shrugged. "Be with you." She put her other hand through his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder, as much to hide her face as because it was comfortable.

Jravic's smile was especially pleased as he looked down at her. "I'm glad. I like being with you, too." He quickened his pace a little, guiding her along. "Is there a specific place you'd like to be with me?"

"No, Jravic," she answered with a roll of her eyes.

"Hmm. Because there's a place that I can think of where I'd like to be." He turned the corner and stopped, grabbing her hands from his arm and pulling her in front of him close. The smile hadn't left his face.

Quinn stared at him in surprise and almost fear. Her lips parted but no sound came out. "I have a question for you. I know you asked to keep feelings out for now, but I can't. I'm in love with you, Quinn. Deeply and truly. Will you marry me?" He clasped her hands between his, holding them to his heart.

Her eyes were wider than ever before. "Marry you?" she breathed.

Jravic's smile only widened. "Marry me."

"I want to... I want to..." but she couldn't think of anything that said she loved him more, so she said, "I'll marry you."

The words were barely out of her mouth before he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.