The Fires of Esus - Ranger's Apprentice

Chapter 10: With All Her Heart

Jenny's diner was packed to the rafters.

It was a warm evening in Redmont, with a cool sweet breeze and a striking sunset that made the windows of her establishment glow orange. The walk over from their home had been pleasant and lovely, and Alyss had picked a bouquet of flowers fresh from a meadow along their stroll. As they got closer to the diner, one of the flowers had broken off and had a very short stem, making it ill-suited for her artistically arranged bouquet. She had looked so disappointed for a moment that, even when she turned away from him and tried to pretend like nothing happened, Will had let her tuck it behind his ear, into a curl of his hair, just to cheer her up.

They had entered the restaurant and were met immediately by Jenny, who gave each a huge hug and pecks on the cheek, and Alyss gave her the bouquet. That bunch of flowers now sat in a short vase in the center of their table, which felt very lonely because there were five chairs and only two occupied so far at what had been officially dubbed 'the seat of honor', the largest round table in the center of the restaurant. Candles danced merrily in wooden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and lanterns all along the walls lit each table.

Alyss leaned into Will's warm side, scooting her chair so that it touched his, and her hand drifted up to finger the curls of hair along his hairline on the back of his neck. "I can still scarcely believe that any of this is even real, Will."

"I know," he breathed, rubbing his thumb against the back of her other hand that was clasped between both of his. "Every night I think I'm going to never fall asleep, and then realize that I've been living one long lovely dream, and then wake up and it'll all be the same as before."

"It wouldn't be the worst thing, you know. If this is a dream, it's the best I've ever had." She leaned in, her nose brushing against his. "It would be a shame if it were to end, I was just getting used to this."

He smiled and closed his eyes as her warm breath fanned gently across his face. The people, the hustle and bustle of Jenny's diner, the dinner they were about to enjoy with their closest friends and family, the upcoming mission, the fires, the magic... All of it faded like mist bathed in a warm sunrise when Alyss smiled at him like she was right now. If there was anyone in the world who could calm him, who could heal him, make feel like he had a home, make him feel like he was loved, desired, and needed, it was Alyss. No one, not even Halt, could come close to the feeling of her wrapping him in her arms and telling him that she loved him with all her heart.

But perhaps this was all intensified by the fact that she was now pregnant. Now, when she embraced him, he felt a giddy delight at the idea of a child, their child, inside her, and even embracing him too. It was a feeling he had never known before, and one that he had looked forward to for years.

She gave him the gentlest of kisses, and then she leaned away and Will realized he had been looking at her stomach instinctively. She smiled knowingly at him. "I can't stop thinking about it either." She brought their clasped hands down to rest on her stomach, which was still perfectly flat, but it didn't matter to either of them. Even the idea of their son or daughter, no matter if she had a bump or not, was enough for them.

He kissed her deeply, numb to the world, happy in their shadow of torchlight, with life bustling around them, oblivious to their joy.

It was perfect.

At least, it would have been, if a certain person didn't come stomping up to the table, determined to ruin the moment.

"Alright, break it up, you two. You're making me miss my wife and leaving Maddie was already hard enough."

A chair screeched sharply as Horace pulled out a seat on the other side of the table, purposefully dragging the legs across the floor to try to startle the two lovers from their trance. But Horace always forgot that he was dealing with a Ranger and a Courier, two of the most unstartle-able people in the kingdom.