[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/o9dOh2x.png[/img]
[h3][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP3-op5wsko&t=61s&ab_channel=Lu%C3%ADsCosta]♪♪[/url][/h3][/center]
[center][h3][color=#64323b][b]Location: East of the Main Road - Leading to the Valley[/b] [/color][color=#32645b]||[/color][color=#64323b] [b]Waiting/Speaking with Narcissa.[/b] [/color][color=#32645b]||[/color][color=#64323b]  [b]Mood: Somber.[/b][/color][/h3][/center]

Persephone drove her knife into the heart of the near-silent doe. It breathed calmly letting its soul escape its mortal shell as her shaky hand dragged the blade along the doe’s side and began to empty it. She was going to be making a stew for Nissa. The one she’d always offer her lover, after all, it was quite the journey to make it out to Persephone, and she needed nourishment afterwards. Persephone skillfully removed the meat she would use and impaled it on a small stick with a knife tied on to it.
 
Now it was time to make a fire. She set aside the meat and found a small tree. It was skinnier than the rest, just asking to be toppled. Persephone wondered if she looked a little like that tree right now. After all. Today was the day.
 
She charge the tree, feeling some progress on pushing the roots. She didn’t want to stay tied to the ground, rooted to her current position. She could go somewhere with Nissa. They could run away leave the politics behind. 
 
But Nissa had already testified as to why she was getting married. It wasn’t an option, it was the path she had been set upon since she was born. A path that didn’t leave room for Persephone to walk with her, side by side. She’d have to walk ahead or behind and make sure she was having an alright time. Persephone’s tear soaked eyes closed as she finally managed to knock over the small tree. She got to work, sawing on it with her knife. She typically went through two knives in the process of building a fire. She couldn’t quite think of a better way to go about building one though.
 
Once her logs were prepared, she created a tinder nest, the bark small sticks anything that could keep a spark alive and turn it into a fledgling fire. Next she found a decent-enough stick to rub her log with and got to work. Thirty sweat-soaked minutes later she managed to get a reliable enough spark. She nourished that into a flame. 
 
She reached behind her to a pot of water. Nissa had given her the pot some time ago, along with some other basic luxury items, like two bowls and spoons. She propped the meat up so that she could rotate it over the fire, also hanging her pot of soup from the same large branch, suspending it above the fire. At certain points she would add herbs, but other than that she just had to let the fire cook her meal.
 
Perhaps she had to let Nissa do her own thing as well? Was there a lesson to be found in the monotony of everyday life? Some kind of answer that eluded her for some reason. Once the stew had finished boiling she added the beef to it. Cutting it away from the bone that was suspended above the fire into the pot. 
 
It smelled nice. 
 
Before long the stew was ready and rustling could be heard in the woods. She wasn’t sure if it was Nissa or not, so she held onto her knife, ready.

Narcissa was rather happy after she had managed to sneak out of the karill encampment The only thing lovely about the place was her own tent, nothing else. There was nothing enchanting about the many near-corpses of slaves surrounding their tents. Efficient they were, but they lacked style of all sorts. Narcissa had changed into a rather simple gown, with less frills to ease movement. There were times where she wished she could surprise her love with something more ravishing, but that would make her journey far too troublesome. Furthermore, she knew that Phe was happy enough just with her presence. 

As Narcissa drew closer, she caught the scent of the stew to lead her the way. It was stunning to remember this tradition had already lasted for half a decade, ever since Phe had made stew for her after finding her in the woods. How her father had scolded her the day after for leaving the camp to play in the woods, but it had all been worth it. The smell grew stronger as she closed in, her stomach rumbling slightly. She quickened her pace, her heart skipping a beat, as she was certain that it was her. She leapt from the bushes and squeezed herself against Persephone. [color=d264de]"Phe!"[/color] She squeaked [color=d264de]"I've missed you."[/color]

Is an instant Nissa embraced Phe. It took her off guard, perhaps her reflexes were slowed, perhaps she was dulled by Nissa's scent or her presence. It was hard to tell. When she was alone she was Persephone, but with Nissa... She was more and less at the same time.

She was Phe, it was simpler than most things. She hugged her back. 

[color=#32645b]"It's good to see you Nissa, your trip was safe?"[/color] She asked squeezing the girl as tight as she could without harming her. She felt her eyes dampen, but she managed to shake it off, stroking Nissa's beautiful hair once before separating. She lead the heiress to a small, cleaner section of the woods. It was nicest there. Right by the fire, by the freshly made stew.

She poured some of the stew into a bowl for her and handed her the bowl and a spoon to eat it with.

[color=#32645b]"I've missed you. It's been... A long few months."[/color]

Narcissa softly confirmed her question as she enjoyed their reunion, It had been a while since she had felt any true joy. This was the only thing she had been looking forward to since the last time. The past few months had simply been preparation for the gathering... for tomorrow. No, she didn't want to think about that right now, she was with Phe, for what she thought would be their last time. After they separated she sat down at the fire and graceously took the bowl from Phe's hands. In the light of the fire, the fact that she had been crying became very apparent. This sight alone created an enormous pit in her stomach, Why did she have to make Phe suffer? She was the best thing that had ever happened to Narcissa. But the princess was promised to another man, and would have to marry hours after the next sunrise. [color=d264de]"I've brought something for you."[/color] Narcissa said, trying to recover her joyful self as she took a beautiful brooch from her tiny pouch, Inlaid was what was likely one of the largest amethysts this side of the land had ever seen. [color=d264de]"I had it made for you..."[/color] She choked a little in these words, knowing that this gift was so grandiose because it would be her last one.

Persephone took the brooch in her delicate hands. It was beautiful, an amethyst the size of which Persephone didn't even know was possible. She held it close to her heart for a moment. It felt warm somehow. 

[color=#32645b]"Thank you Nissa it's lovely."[/color] She said pecking the top of Nissa's head. She sat down beside her while shet ate and placed her head on Nissa's shoulder. Cooing sweetly. [color=#32645b]"Let's just enjoy this right now, okay?"[/color]

Persephone said wrapping her arms around Nissa's left arm and cuddling in closer. She looked up to the morning sky it was the same as always, if not slightly brighter. It was if the heavens had no idea what a bad day today was going to be. 

[color=#32645b]"I bought a dress. To attend your wedding."[/color] Persephone said motioning over to a dress that hung from a branch. It was beautiful, she had to trade a bear's pelt for it to a merchant and that wasn't easy to obtain.

Narcissa genuinely smiled as Phe thanked her, a rarity amongst other people. But around Phe she found herself quickly dropping any pretense. Being in the larger woman's hold was soothing, as if she was protecting her for the evil spirits that loomed over tomorrow. Her own head gently touched hers as it laid on her shoulder. 

Narcissa was clearly startled for a moment when she mentioned the dress. [color=d264de]"Are... are you certain?"[/color] She asserted.[color=d264de]"I will have to look happy with him... kiss him..."[/color] She paused for a few seconds. [color=d264de]"I wanted to at least save you from that sight."[/color] At this point her own tears started to arise from the corners of her eyes, only slightly. [color=d264de]"I don't want that to be the last thing you see of me."[/color] She said as her breathing became clearly more stifled.

[color=#32645b]"I appreciate that, NIssa."[/color] Persephone said bringing her head up from the girl's shoulder. [color=#32645b]"But I'm sorry, it is not up to you."[/color] She said with a small smile on her slightly restrained features. "I will be happy too, you start a new life soon, it's exciting." Persephone said as convincingly as she could.

[color=#32645b]"You shouldn't stay too long today. They will notice your absence more today than ever before."[/color] She said stroking NIssa's hair and looking deep into her eyes. She knew that the wedding was going to be difficult for Nissa, more difficult than even for her. So she had to support her lover through this. It was what a good partner would do.

It was what was right for Nissa. She deserved to have someone in her corner for once.

Even though Narcissa resigned herself to the fact that she wasn't going to talk Phe out of coming to her wedding, she fervently shook her head as she suggested she'd go. Instead she latched onto her lover and dug herself into her chest. [color=d264de]"A little longer... please..."[/color] She begged her. Even if it was going to be someone else holding her from now on, she did not want to forget the touch of her Phe.[color=d264de]"I'm sorry, Phe. I'm so, so sorry."[/color] She murmurred through hushed sobbing.

Phe hugged her. [color=#32645b]"Of course Nissa, whatever you need."[/color] Persephone said holding onto the trembling girl. She was in a lot of pain. Both of them were. Persephone would hold onto Nissa until she had to leave. Maybe a little past that. She wasn't sure, she wasn't ready to be sure.

Narcissa didn't need anything. She just wanted this moment for the rest of their lifetimes; to just gently stay in her embrace until they were both old. But no, despite all she had, Narcissa's wishes had never truly been granted. Her small hands slowly worked their way upward, latching onto the fabrid of her clothing. [color=d264de]"I wish I could say the same to you."[/color] She wriggled herself upward in Phe's hold to make her own lips meet hers.

[color=#32645b]"Well it will certainly be a new experience for me as well."[/color] Phe began slinking away from Nissa's grip as she knew she was going to have... A mixed reaction. 

[color=#32645b]"I'm going to join the Wolfrahg tribe, I will follow you, Nissa"[/color] Persephone said, assuredly. She knew that this was the path that would suit them the most. Because worst case scenario she would at least see more of Niss from now on. Even if it wasn't in the sense that she wished it could be.

[color=#32645b]"We'll still have a life together, just not the one we wished it could be."[/color]

[color=d264de]"What are you..."[/color] Narcissa gasped. [color=d264de]"I can't let you! You'd have to see me be his wife 'till the end of our days."[/color] She paused for a second. [color=d264de]"I know we'd still be together... but are you sure? Hiding us away?"[/color] The more she thought about it, the more it suited her needs. But could she force Phe into a lifestyle that she'd loathe, just for her? She knew very well that Phe didn't do well in groups. [color=d264de]"You deserve better than this... but I can't give you anything better."[/color] She said defeated. [color=d264de]"I'll ask you one last time. Are you sure you don't just want to find someone better than me?"[/color] 

[color=#32645b]"Unfortunately, I don't believe that's in my hand. right now."[/color] Persephone said in a joking yet still somber voice. [color=#32645b]"This is my plan and I don't have any other thoughts about it."[/color]

[color=#32645b]"I hope you'll put in a good word for me, Nissa."[/color]