[I]I am always proud of you.[/I]

Her hand lifted from the trunk of the Great Tree and she felt a part of her cut off, like the awareness she had gained with the Tree had always been hers, and she was now brought to something less, when in reality she was just back to herself. It wasn't unpleasant, not an empty, unwhole feeling, but sort of...numb. Like running for miles and then suddenly laying down perfectly still. 

But her mind wasn't on that. Her mind was on those last words. Those words she'd always secretly wanted to hear from anyone, but especially from the Tree. As she knelt there, and as Darin came back to herself with a bit of surprise at being so close, Ridahne's lower lip trembled and some tears spilled from her eyes. Not anguished, bitter tears. Just relief. Like she'd been holding onto a thorn for so long and could finally let it go. Her body language was somewhat withdrawn and for a moment she just knelt there, taking a moment. But when Darin spoke Ridahne looked up. Her inked face was wet but herlips were twisted  into an odd, quivering smile. 

"Um..." her voice was shaky but not necessarily upset. She gained a little more control over herself and very slowly and clearly (so that Darin could follow) said, [I]"Talei-da.[/I] Thank you." Her eyes were bright in the moonlight and something about her seemed a little less heavy than ever before. Ridahne stepped over and reached a hand down to help Darin up, but when the girl did get up, Ridahne suddenly wrapped her long arms around the human in a very heartfelt, rather intense hug. It wasn't a back-breaking kind of squeeze, though it was tight and strong, but her long fingers curled around the fabric of Darin's shirt. For someone who was generally standoffish like Ridahne, it was a rather strong gesture.

"Yes," she finally answered her question as she let go. "I am alright. For the first time in a long time." She wiped her face, then suddenly realized something. "Ai! I have something to ask you! You can say no and I won't be offended, promise, but well, I had this thought and it's kind of crazy but I'd be honored if you'd--well you see, I don't know if, you know, when I go home, if anyone there with any kind of authority would marry Ajoran and I, not with my current status. It's sort of a security risk," She laughed, then continued speaking at a wild, excited pace. "But I had this wild idea, and maybe it's stupid and maybe he won't agree to it but maybe Ajoran and I could marry sort of in secret and you, as Seed Bearer, you could, I mean, if you wanted to, you could be the one to do the honor and see us married? I can teach you the customs and give you the words so you can practice them and everything! What do you say? It's a long way from now but, you know, when we get there... would you do us the honor?"