Darin was frankly surprised at Ridahne’s actions. Well, she wasn’t surprised that the Elf helped her up. However, the hug caught her completely of guard. For a moment she just stood there like a log before suddenly returning the hig with just as much strength as Ridahne; the muscles in her arms and back betraying the years of field work she had done. She pressed her face into the crook of Ridahne’s neck and did her best not to cry. When Ridahne pulled away Darin went with great reluctance. In her opinion the hug was over way to soon.

Darin was about to make a suggestion to go back to the Main Farmhouse to get some rest when Ridahne asked that favor of her. Darin was caught completely off guard. How in all of Astra was she supposed to answer that one? What had even possessed the Elf to ask that in the first place? Okay, that one was easy to answer. She was The Seed-Bearer. There was a reason to ask her to marry them. Still, what did Darin know about marrying anyone. She never personally knew anyone that was married. She knew that people in Lively got married. It had something to do with taxes or something like that. People in Darin’s village just promised to love and support each other. She guessed that was kind of like marriage, but Darin had a feeling that Ridahne had something a little grander in mind. Then there was another problem. Why would it have to be done in secret? Okay, Ridahne was an exile. Darin got that, justice and what not. That had left her free to become The Seed-Bearer’s Gaudian. Would Ajoran be proud to be married to The Guardian? If he wasn’t, he wasn’t good enough. That was that.

Darin shrugged as she gave the best answer she could, “I’ll be honest Ridahne, I’ll have to think about it. There are a lot of factors that are still up in the air. Besides, we would have to aske Ajoran about it. He might not want to be married in secret. He may want someone who actually understands the importance of marriage to do the ceremony.” She went on to explain, “Because I don’t understand it one bit. People don’t get married in my little village. They just agree to spend their lives together. There’s no formal ceremony. They just move in together and start a family.” Darin shrugged, “But if he’s okay with it I don’t see why not.” She waved in the vague direction of the Main Farmhouse, “For now we should get some rest.”

With that being said Darin started walking back in the direction of where her bed currently was. She made it about ten feet before collapsing in a heap. Her muscles felt like limp noodles or like she didn’t know how to get them to do what she wanted. She felt like she should be firmly planted. Moving was not something she was supposed to do except when there was a wind. She had been a part of The Tree for too long. She hoped she remembered how to be a person and soon.