[centre][b][h1][color=f7941d]Niesha[/color] and [color=0072bc]Zach[/color][/h1][/b] [@Wick][@dabombjk][/centre] Niesha was sitting on her bed, in her small rooms. She was ready, but found herself torn. While she was excited about this, she was worried that somehow, someway, her past would come up and bite her. She didn't want that coming down on Zach. She knew it had been two years, and there hadn't been any sign of her father or brother, but she couldn't help it.  A sudden flash of anger rose in her. Two years, and somehow her father was still controlling her. [i]No more[/i] she thought, and she rose. She drew in a deep breath, letting it out. Grabbing her shawl, she wrapped it around her shoulders, brushing her hair back. And then she was nervous for a whole other reason. She was going on a date. That was reason enough to be nervous. But it was with Zach.  She stood for a moment, pondering that, and hoping she didn't make a fool of herself, before heading out to meet with him.  Zach finished in the forge miraculously with no injuries. Sofia laughed at him as he came into the house to clean up and change his clothes. Sofia stood up and looked at her brother then she pulled out a bouquet of roses and handedd them to him. [color=f6989d]"I thought you might want to give her these, I sewed a few handkerchiefs for them."[/color] Zach looked at the roses and smiled. He took them from her and hugged his sister. [color=0072bc]"Thank you and you had best stay inside after dark."  [/color] [color=f6989d]"Aye aye captain." [/color]She saluted him and sat back down to her sewing. Sofia watched her brother trying not to laugh at his excitement. She got back up and straightened his collar and smoothed him out.[color=f6989d] "Ok you are all set. Go on and have fun."[/color] She laughed at him as he left all smiles. Zach walked across the road with a sword strapped to his hip as was his custom. He was proficient in swordsmanship for defense as well as it was a bit of good advertising. He had gotten more than one job from doing it. He opened the door to the office and when he got inside he called out. [color=0072bc]"Niesha? Are you ready?"[/color] Niesha slipped inside through the back door, which gave her clear access to her rooms, just as Zach called out. She smiled to herself, and came into the front room, nodding, [color=f7941d]"I'm ready"[/color] she said softly, nervously smoothing imaginary creases from her dress, before looking up at Zach, giving him a smile.  Zach smiled when he saw her. He pulled the roses out and handed them to her. [color=0072bc]"I hope you like roses."[/color] Niesha took the roses tentatively, bringing them to her nose, hoping they hid the blush as she sniffed them. He brought her flowers. She swallowed nervously, [color=f7941d]"They're beautiful"[/color] She said, color=f7941d]"Let me find a vase to put them in"[/color] She turned to a cupboard, crouching to retrieve a vase, pouring some water into it from the jug nearby, and carefully putting the roses in, she kept one back.  She held it turning back to him, smiling shyly, [color=f7941d]"Thank you, I love them"[/color] Zach smiled.[color=0072bc] "I'm glad of that but they pale in comparison to you. Are you ready?"[/color] He said taking her hand in his gently. He saw her blush and they walked outside. He waited while she locked up.  He automatically put his hand on his sword. Men outside in the evening was dangerous enough but for an unaccompanied lady it could be extremely dangerous in the city. He took her hand and led her to the fair activities in the main center of the town. There were musicians and people dancing in the street and lots of vendors. It put a smile on his face to see all of the festivities. Niesha looked about at everything, never really getting out, Niesha didn't truly know what the town had to offer. All the activites, the venders, [i]there was dancing in the street[/i], it blew her away slightly. In her fathers holds, the most they had had was singers, the occassional feast, there had never seem to be this...joy and freedom in it though.  [color=f7941d]"It's...it's amazing"[/color] She said, awed. [color=f7941d]"Can...do you think we could dance, later on?"[/color] Zach looked at her and smiled. [color=0072bc]"Certainly, would you like to get some food first?" [/color]He led her up to one of the street vendors and they got some chicken and veggies. After that he led her to a grassy area a little way off so they wouldn't get stepped on. He sat down and held her plate so she could sit down. Giving it to her he reached over and plucked a leaf out of her hair and grinned. Niesha rearranged the skirt of her dress, like a proper little lady, without thinking, before taking the plate, and balancing it on her lap, looking up when Zach reached over. She smiled, thinking that no doubt there'd be more leaves in her hair before the night was done, not caring about it. She shifted slightly, closer to Zach, letting her gaze wander over the festivities, before letting it fall back on Zach. She smiled again, wanting to talk, to ask him questions, but that might lead to dangerous questions of her own past. While she had a story, she didn't want to lie more than she had to.  She decided to stick to safe questions. [color=f7941d]"So....no injuries, today then?"[/color]  He chuckled and said, [color=0072bc]"I tried my best not to come over bleeding today. I thought it might ruin the mood."[/color] They finished eating and he got up and lifted her to her feet and then led her closer to the minstrels and musicians.  He was on guard and stopped. He leaned over and whispered to her. [color=0072bc]"Make sure your money and key are safe. There are pick pockets here who will steel your purse."[/color] He waited while she adjusted things and hid her valuables on her person. Once she was finished he took her hand and swung her out onto the dance 'area'. Niesha kept her hand in Zach's as they reached what seemed to be the designated dancing area. Which was, to say, everywhere. Or so it seemed to her. There just seemed so much freedom here...the atmosphere just felt...fun. She found herself enjoying it utterly, and she turned to look at Zach, thinking that maybe it wasn't just the festivities. She thought that they could have gone anywhere, and she would have been happy.  [color=f7941d]"None of the dances I know are suitable for this music"[/color] As the daughter of a nobleman, she learned the songs and dances that proper little ladies did, and more often than not, she danced with her brother, or whatever suitor came along. This was completely different, and it both terrified her, and excited her.  Zach couldn't help himself, he was having so much fun dancing and he got caught up in the moment and he was already holding her by the waist and her hand and he leaned in and kissed her on the lips gently and whisked her into a circle with others. He hoped she didn't box his ears for it and when they finished dancing they were in a darker part of the area. He smiled at her and went to take them back into the more lit area when a man with a knife approached them, [b]"Gimme yer money or I'll hurt your lady friend 'ere."[/b] Zach pulled the hammer out of the loop on his pants and swung it . The crook jumped back but not fast enough to avoid being hit in the shoulder. He screamed and ran off in a hurry. Zach turned around and made sure there were no more of them. He turned to Niesha and put his arm around her and kept her close to him.[color=0072bc] "I hope he didn't scare you too much. I'm only violent when I need to be."[/color] When Zach kissed her, Niesha thought her heart might explode, it was beating so fast. She didn't think it was from the dancing. She smiled shyly as they finished dancing, but that seemed to all disappear in an instant, as the knife-weilding thug appeared. At the threat to her, Niesha reached for the dagger she kept hidden on her, ready to use it if necessary, but she didn't need to.  She watched Zach swing at the thief, wincing at the sound the hammer made as it hit flesh and bone. She slid the dagger back where it belong as the man ran off, letting herself lean into Zach when he pulled her close. [color=f7941d]"I'm okay. Thank you for protecting me, I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here"[/color] Which was true, she had no idea if she would have been able to do anything-the training she had begged for was one thing. Using it against someone was another.  She shivered slightly, and said [color=f7941d]"Maybe we should go back to the lighter areas. There might be more"[/color] She knew that the darker areas of the town, of any town really, held a darker sort of people. Those that would hurt others for even a couple of coins. Who would take what they wanted, without any fear. And in the darker area's, rumors began, and sometimes ended. [color=f7941d]"And I don't want to see you hurt, if there's a lot of them"[/color] Zach grinned, "[color=0072bc]They wouldn't hurt me. They don't have the skill. I would be more concerned tht one would hurt you while I was fighting. And I can't let that happen."[/color]  He pulled her back into the dancing area and they danced. When the music became slower he pulled her into his embrace and looked into her eyes. He was truly happy. His eyes locked onto hers and he smiled and said, [color=0072bc]"I think we should head back now. It's getting late." [/color]He was smiling. Niesha gave a nod, finding she didn't trust her voice right then. She knew there was more than simple liking here, and for a moment she felt a little overwhelmed, and she knew she couldn't keep her past a secret. So as they walked back, she began to pick up her courage, finally saying softly [color=f7941d]"I...I need to tell you something, Zach"[/color] Zach felt her nervousness and he found it a little refreshing. When they got to her office door and she pulled out the key he took it from her and opened her door allowing her in first and stepping in behind her. He smiled and handed her key to her. "[color=0072bc]What is it that you must tell me? Why do you appear so nervous? There is nothing you could say to me that would change the way I feel about you. Just say it.[/color]" He was curious what was so obviously upsetting her. She knew she should be reassured by Zach's words, but she was terrifed that what she told him would change the way he felt. She shifted, having to grab a hold of her courage again. [color=f7941d]"I don't want to keep anything from you. I ran away from home when I was 16. I didn't want to marry who my father wanted me to, and...I didn't want the life I'd grown up with, forever. My father is a noble"[/color]  She found it easier to get out quickly, and without looking at Zach, terrified she'd see something bad there.  Zach smirked and then he thought a moment and took his hands and held her arms so she was looking at him. He tipped her chin up so he could see her eyes. Niesha would have seen nothing but love as she stood there.  "[color=0072bc]You are an adult now, even though technically your father has the right to do what he wants to I have to be happy that you ran away. If you hadn't, the woman I've been in love with for six months would be married to another.[/color]" He looked for permission in her eyes and he leaned in to kiss her. He went slow in case she decided to whack him upside the head. [color=0072bc] "I'll tell you a secret. Sofia keeps threatening to tell you because she thinks its funny.[/color]" He grinned a little sheepishly. [color=0072bc]"I've been purposely allowing myself to get hurt so that I would have an excuse to come and see you nearly every day. May I kiss you again?"[/color] What...what was this, this acceptance? Without hesitation? Most would be frightened at her fathers wrath, if she was ever found again. Zach wasn't. And she found that that meant more than anything to her. Something made her stop, rewind what he had said. He loved her? She stared at him, taken aback. He...there was no buffer, to reason for him to lie about that. He loved her, simply for her.  For a moment, her thoughts seemed completely jumbled, as she tried to make sense of that. At the rest of his words, she closed the distance, and kissed him herself, before whispering [color=f7941d]"That's not really a secret"[/color] Zach laughed and kissed her deeply until her legs felt weak. "[color=0072bc]So tell me something.[/color]" He said breathing heavily. [color=0072bc]"Do you want me to ask your father or you? I have every intention of marrying you."[/color] Marry her? That thought seemed to take longer to process then it should have, as if her brain had to reboot. A marriage, of her own choosing? And to Zach. For a minute, she thought she might hyperventilate. She gathered herself, letting her thoughts roam as she made sure she didn't pass out or something else that would be embarrassing.  Niesha knew she wouldn't go back to her father, for any reason. She knew he would take one look at Zach, and imprison him, leaving her back in her fathers grasp, and this time she was certain she'd be confined to a room, until whatever man her father wanted to marry her to was in his halls. She knew that if that happened, she'd never see Zach again, and she didn't want that. [color=f7941d]"If we care about being proper, you could ask my teacher, because aside from the fact my father thinks I'm dead, he'd never let me go if I turned back up. But I don't care about being proper"[/color] Zach grinned, he hadn't expected to do this tonight but he wasn't willing to wait if she wasn't already running for the hills. [color=0072bc]"Niesha? Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I know it seems sudden but it's been a long time to me."[/color] He blushed a little bit and looked into her eyes. Niesha watched Zack curiously as he blushed, sure she had never seen him do so before. She smiled, and nodded, not trusting herself if she spoke. She wasn't a particularly emotional woman, but knew the way she was feeling, she might just break down into a puddle of feelings. But she knew there was something she hadn't said yet, and so she mastered herself, [color=f7941d]"I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you"[/color] Zach pulled her in and kissed her deeply and said, "[color=0072bc]I love you and I'm pretty sure everyone already knows it. Sofia can help you with a dress. I've already made the rings.[/color]" He admitted rather quickly and then he blushed. "[color=0072bc]I have to admit that I was worried that you might say no, but only for a minute. Someone that patient with six months of injuries couldn't be so cruel as to break my heart."[/color] "[color=0072bc]Can we marry soon? It kills me a little more each time I have to leave you alone. I want you beside me every night until we are old and you kick me out of bed for snoring too loudly.[/color]" He grinned teasing her. [color=f7941d]"How could I ever reject you? You make me smile, and laugh, and feel...special"[/color] She said, wondering just how long he had thought to ask her, if he had made rings. Maybe he had just been waiting for some sign, or something. [color=f7941d]"I'd marry you tomorrow, if possible"[/color] she said, wrapping her arms around him, so she was just about as close to him as she could get, [color=f7941d]"And I'd never kick you out of bed"[/color] She sighed softly, happily [color=f7941d]"I don't want you to go"[/color] Zach looked at her and he didn't know what to say. So he kissed her and whispered into her ear. "[color=0072bc]Are you sure you want me to share your bed tonight?"[/color] Niesha returned the kiss, sure she was blushing ferociously, [color=f7941d]"Yes, I'm sure. More than sure"[/color] She said softly.  Zach reached around and locked the door to the outside and he followed her into her private rooms. When they reached her room he followed her in, he kicked off his shoes and put his arms around her and pulled her to hi[color=0072bc]m. "We don't have to do anything tonight. I'd be happy just having you in my arms tonight.[/color]" He looked her in the eyes, he was smiling at her. Niesha slid off her own shoes, and would have taken her shawl off, but then Zack pulled her into his arms. She thought on his words, and she realised something. She didn't need some words from a priest, to tell her what she already knew, felt. [color=f7941d]"You're already mine."[/color] Zach kissed her and they began undressing each other.....