A Prophecy Fulfilled

Chapter Seven

What horrible circumstances! Vincent thought of what Lorenzo had told him all the next day. The incident was still on his mind the day after as he prepared to meet with Andromeda. Did she know what happened? And if she didn't, how would he tell her? It seemed like everything had been going so wonderfully between them, but now Vincent wondered if what had happened would have a negative effect on their relationship. He hoped not, but he saw little chance of it having a good effect either. Unless... Vincent had just come up with a plan, and he hoped that Andromeda would agree to it. He was once again anxious to see Andromeda and prepared to leave again.

Not long after that, Vincent was waiting for Andromeda to arrive, his mind still anxious. What would happen now? He knew that one way or another, something would unfold from the other night's events. Vincent wondered if Andromeda knew about what had happened. Now more than ever, Vincent felt a twinge of tenseness about what he was about to ask her. Would she agree to it? Only the moment when he asked would give him the answer. Vincent broke from his reverie as darkness covered his eyes. Andromeda's cheerful voice sounded from behind.

"Guess who."

Vincent turned to face her, and she removed her hands. They smiled to each other and silently embraced. As glad as they were to see each other, Andromeda knew about what had happened. Vincent could feel that she knew in the silence. But neither was willing to mention it just yet.

They sat, each with a small picnic basket. Both carried a water skin of blood, and between them, the couple had brought bread, cheese, grapes, slices of ham and strawberries. They laughed and talked, still unwilling to mention what had happened the other night. But in time, each knew it had to be done.

"I suppose you know what happened the other night." Vincent said. He leaned over, wiping strawberry juice from the corner of Andromeda's mouth with his thumb. Andromeda grinned, taking his hand and sucked the liquid from his thumb. Vincent sat still, trying very hard not to smile, and was unsuccessful. The tip of her tongue tickled his skin, briefly pressing over his thumbnail. And he noticed how tender the insides of her mouth were. Their game ended, and they were serious again.

"It's all over the corridors at home. Do you know who it was?"

"Lorenzo." Vincent answered simply. Andromeda was shocked.

"Your friend? Why would he do that?"

"He came to me the other night soaking wet, and told me what happened. It was completely accidental. Couldn't see the boundary line through the storm. Lorenzo has always been a troublemaker, but he's never meant harm to anyone."

"Nothing good can come from this."

"I know."

They were silent for a few moments. It occurred to Vincent that if he didn't ask Andromeda about his plan now, he might never have the chance to ask her again.

"You know, I was taught to hate you, Andromeda. But I don't. I've never hated you. You are quite different from what my parents think of your family." Vincent admitted. He couldn't think of a better way to start, and he was afraid to ask her straightforwardly.

"I don't hate you, Vincent. I love you." Andromeda revealed.

"I love you, too." He leaned in, and they kissed.

Their tongues overlapped, touching and withdrawing briefly. Vincent let his tongue carefully explore the tender insides of Andromeda's mouth. Andromeda breathed deeply, pressing her mouth harder against his. As Vincent wrapped his arms around her, she very carefully, tentatively slipped her hand beneath his shirt. His skin was soft under her fingers, the hard muscles of his stomach and chest just beneath that softness. Andromeda quietly rejoiced in feeling the softness of his skin, combined with the hard muscles beneath. Vincent held her head in his hand, silently delighting in the soft silky feel of her long brown tresses of her hair. He could feel the gentle press of her fingertips on his chest and stomach. As gentle and soft as the brush of feathers. He wanted her. To hold her in his arms and lay her down on the grass, tasting her skin. Kissing every inch of her body. He wanted her hands all over his body, exploring him as he would explore her.

As these thoughts went through his head, he pulled away. What had he been thinking? Vincent looked into her face, and saw that Andromeda was as breathless as he was. There was a curious light in her eyes that he had never seen before. Was it possible that she had been thinking the same things that he had? Possibly.

"Our parents would never accept this." Andromeda stated.

Vincent was silent once more in thought. Surely there would be a battle following his friend's honest mistake. If the two of them continued to meet like this, they would eventually be caught, and there would be hell to pay for it. It was then that Vincent knew that what he wanted to ask Andromeda was the right thing to do.

"Marry me, Andromeda."

Andromeda turned to look at him. Shock was written all over her face. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

"What?"

"Think about it. Our parents are going to cause a fight between each other. You were right; our parents would never accept this. But just because our parents hate each other, it has no effect on us. I love you. I'm asking you, with all sincerity, to marry me, Andromeda."

Andromeda thought for a few minutes, which seemed to stretch on forever. Vincent had a point. She loved him, and the way their parents behaved had nothing to do with how they felt about each other.

"How would we do that? Don't you think we'll be caught?"

"Not necessarily." Vincent answered. "Do you still have your costume from the Ball?"

"Yes."

"If we keep the hoods up while passing through town, we won't be recognized. No one will see our faces."

Andromeda smiled. "When?"

"Tonight."

"Are you sure you want to do this so soon?"

"Don't you?" There was a note of genuine hint of questioning and hurt in his voice.

"Yes. But don't you think our parents will notice if we're gone too often? Especially if we're gone in the middle of the night?" Not that she hadn't snuck off in the middle of the night, but she knew that a person could be caught sneaking out even if sneaking around was what they did best.

"If your parents are anything like mine, they don't really pay attention when I've gone to my chamber. They aren't around much; they just have guards surrounding me."

Andromeda thought of all the times she had slipped out of her room at night. She knew passages that lead out of the castle that were hardly ever used. A giddy feeling slipped over her as she thought of it.

"What time should we meet tonight?"

"Midnight. No one will catch us then."

"I'll be there."

They cleaned up their picnic in joyful silence. As they began walking home to make preparations for that night, Vincent suddenly felt unsure. As if he had asked her too soon. He knew that this was what he wanted. It was Andromeda's feelings he was uncertain of. He turned back.

"Andromeda, are you sure this is what you want?"

"I want this if you do." She answered. She gave him a reassuring smile, then turned again and ran home. Being reassured, Vincent turned to make his own preparations. There was a lot to be done before they met again.

Unaware of the romance between their children, the four parents were angrier than they had ever been. War had been declared between them. In two days time, they would meet at the boundary line. None except Vincent and Andromeda knew what had happened that night when Lorenzo had been caught, nor did they truly want to know. Vincent had urged Lorenzo to tell his parents about what had happened, but Lorenzo insisted that they keep it between them. But rumors had spread quickly through the two kingdoms. And now, what the families wanted, was blood. The four parents were sure their children would be there to support their covens.