Meesei showed no signs of budging in her answer. She stared into her eyes with a familiar, unshaking resolve. "Lunise, the very fact that you are having those fears is a sign enough that we should remain together for as long as life allow. People do change over time, but tell me then how Elven couples manage to forge marriages that last centuries? I know very well such couples exist. Why, I once met a vampire that, from all I have been able to gather, has been with her husband since the late Second Era."

Shifting herself over next to Lunise, Meesei put her arm around her and held her close. "You have never had a mate, or a marriage as you might consider it. I can tell by the way you act. Sure, you may have loved before, may have entered into relationships, but I can see that you have never found a true, long-term mate until now. The world changes, and all people change with it, but two souls bound closely together will change along with one another. It is always possible that we are mistaken, but I think that we are meant for one another. If that is true, then we will shape each other, whether it be for another year, a hundred years, or a thousand."

---

There was silence among the council for a short time, with each of its members looking patiently at once another as they awaited any further comments. Eventually, Ri'vashi spoke reluctantly. "Okay, so we have a plan. Ri'vashi will still have some warriors prepare themselves, on the off-chance they are needed." 

Ahnasha nodded. "Yes, we can, of course, have more forces waiting outside the range of the life-detection enchantments. Whether it be undead or automatons, they need only make time for further reinforcements. Just...Darahil, be careful not to overdo it, yes? Not only for your own health, but because overworked people make more mistakes."