Griffa made her way to her home in the forest. She had gathered all the ingredients she could in the forest. She would need to check her supply in her tree dwelling to see if she had what she needed. She was making more potion for Ansel, and she was out of many of the ingredients in the Valley and in Abscon. She could find a few of the ingredients in the marketplace in the Valley, but some were harder to find.

She was almost certain she had what she needed in her tree dwelling, but it had been a while since she had visited. She would just run in and check before going back to Abscon. She looked around as she walked with her basket on her arm and her staff in her hand. She was careful in the forest, but she was not scared. Guards had been sent two days ago to scout for Aurumist soldiers.

The soldiers were found and dealt with quickly. Though, Griffa was still hesitant about using extreme force, her tangle with Aurumist soldiers had help harden her resolve. Griffa still brought four guards with her today. She would glimpse them every now and then. They stayed closer to her since the incident on the mountain pass.

Griffa was almost to the large tree that was home to her dwelling when she felt a change in the air. She stopped and looked around. She almost called the guards over when she realized what she was feeling. More accurately she realized who was near. She smiled and walked over closer to her forest home.

Ansel was leaning against the tree with a small smile on his face. His hat was low on his head. She could barely see his eyes looking at her. She walked over close to him.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked as she drew near.

“Looking for you, what else could it be?”

“How did you even know I was out here? Why aren’t you in the Valley with Max?”

Ansel grabbed her free hand and puller her close to him. He raised his hat a little and looked down at her. “First off, Max is in Abscon at your house. I’m not sure why, but he was desperate to look for something. Maybelle told us you were out in the forest looking for potion ingredients. I figured out where to find you.”

Griffa looked up at Ansel confused. “What did Max need to find in the manor so urgently? He could have just asked me to send him whatever he needed.”

Ansel gave a little shrug. “I’m not sure, but I wasn’t going to argue if it meant I could see you.” He touched the red mark on her check. “At least that looks better. Does it hurt?”

“No. I’m afraid it might leave a light scar, though,” said Griffa sadly. “I’ve never thought much of my own beauty, but I’m vain enough to admit it bothers me.”

“I think I might like it,” said Ansel rubbing his hand against her cheek softly.” He pulled her face gently towards his and kissed her.

Griffa pulled back. “Ansel, your guards are very close.”

“So, I’ve never taken you for being shy.” He kissed her again.

“What has gotten into you,” said Griffa smiling as he pulled back.

“I’ve missed you. I don’t like being apart from you.”

“I haven’t even been gone a full day,” said Griffa. She couldn’t help but keep smiling.

“It’s still too long. Are you planning on going in?” asked Ansel nodding his head towards the tree.

She nodded. She moved over and tapped her staff against the knot in the center of the tree. A door formed and she opened it. They entered the little room with the small staircase going down leading to the main area She entered and took off her black cloak, hanging it up. She sat her staff against the wall. Ansel came in after her taking off his own cloak and hanging it up next to Griffa’s.

He came up behind her, moved her hair out of the way and kissed the back of her neck. Griffa sighed and leaned back into him a little.

“Shouldn’t we be getting back to the manor soon?” asked Griffa quietly.

“Max said it could take a while to find whatever it is, he is looking for. I think we have some time.”

She turned around and leaned up to give Ansel a short kiss. Ansel smiled and took her into his arms, kissing her. She put her arms around his neck and pulled back. She started kissing him underneath his jaw.

“Griffa,” he moaned as he pulled her even closer.

Griffa reached up and took his hat off his head. She leaned to the side and put his hat on a hook by the door. He pulled her close and kissed her hard. She made a noise as Ansel moved his hands from her back and to her sides.

She broke apart. “Can we at least go downstairs first?”

Ansel smirked. “After you.”

Later Griffa sat on the rug in front of the fireplace. She smiled slightly looking at the fire, feeling very relaxed. She adjusted the skirt of her red dress slightly to cover her bare feet. She leaned against Ansel who sat behind her. He was placing lazy kisses on her neck and shoulder.

“Ansel?”

Ansel rested his chin against her shoulder. “Yes.”

“How are you feeling today?”

He kissed her the side of her face. “I’m feeling quite well right now.”

“I mean overall. Are you having any issues?”

“I was feeling a little rough last night, but one of the suggestions you found works well. I also took your potion and it did help me sleep.” He went back to places small kisses on her shoulder.

Griffa sighed contentedly. “Which suggestion worked?”

“I think about you, actually,” Ansel said quietly in her ear.

She turned slightly. “Me? You think about me?”

“Yes, thoughts of you distract me enough to make me forget some of what I’m feeling.”

“I remember when you said distractions were a bad thing,” said Griffa.

“I was wrong. Sometimes distractions are a very good thing.” He kissed her neck. Griffa leaned back even further into him. Ansel wrapped one of his hands around her waist. He rubbed her stomach lightly while kissing her neck.

“What thoughts do you have of me?” asked Griffa seductively.

Ansel gave a small chuckle. “I think you can guess after this morning. I also just imagine being near you. I even imagine you aggravating me.”

“You like it when I aggravate you?”

“Sometimes, especially when it leads to certain situations.”

Griffa shook her head lightly as Ansel chuckled again.

“We probably should think about getting back soon,” said Griffa. “We’ve been here for some time. They might come looking for us.”

“We’ve still got time. It’s probably not even after lunch, yet” replied Ansel. “I am in no hurry.”

“When did I become the responsible one?” asked Griffa laughing lightly.

“I think you’ve corrupted me a bit. I don’t mind it, though.”

Griffa stared into the fire as Ansel held her. He would occasionally drop a kiss on her should her or neck. She wondered what it would be like to be able to have time to do things like this often. She wondered if there would ever be a time when she and Ansel could disappear for days at a time together. When they could travel or come here and hide away. She wondered if they won the war and if Max became king, would there be more times like this one.

“What are you thinking about, Griffa,” asked Ansel softly.

“The future. I wonder what will happen after the war and Max is on the throne. I wonder what our lives will be like.”

“I know exactly what they will look like or at least I hope I do. What do you think?” asked Ansel.

“I think we will probably both have to live mostly in Aurumist. You will be Max’s protector so you will live in the palace. I will probably be on the Ring so I will be needed in the city often. There won’t be much point of staying full time Abscon. I guess I’ll have to find somewhere in the city to stay.”

Ansel sat up and a bit and leaned away from Griffa. She turned around a bit to look at Ansel “What’s wrong?”

“What makes you think you won’t be staying with me in the palace?” asked Ansel looking down at her.

Griffa frowned slightly. She turned so she was facing Ansel. “I didn’t want to make assumptions.”

“Do you love me, Griffa?”

“You know I do, Ansel,” said Griffa.

He gave a half smile. “And you know I love you. Tell me, why wouldn’t you be with me in the palace.”

“We aren’t married. I wouldn’t presume to make plans for your living situation.”

“No, we aren’t married, yet” said Ansel. “Griffa, I don’t want you to answer me now, but one day when this war is over, I will want to marry you. When we win and Max is on the throne, I want you to be my wife. You know who I am, and you know what comes with my position. I know it’s a lot to take on, the wife of a protector, but I love you. I can promise that you will always be my first priority when it is possible.”

Griffa looked up at Ansel, “Why wouldn’t I answer you now? My answer today would be the same as a year from now or five years from now. I once told you I know what I want and who I want. I want you, Ansel. I want to be with you. That will not change. So, yes, I will be your wife whenever you are ready. If that’s this winter or six months from now, or even ten years from now. I will marry no one else, but you.”

“So, that’s a promise?”

“Is this a proposal?” asked Griffa with a mischievous smile on her face.

“Yes, it is. Griffa, will you be my wife? I can’t tell you when, but I promise it will be sooner than ten years from now.

“I will, Ansel. I will marry you whenever you want.”

Ansel leaned forward and kissed Griffa. “If it was when I wanted, it would be today. As soon as it’s possible, I will marry you, Griffa.”

Griffa crawled up in Ansel’s lap. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the side of her head.

“You do realize we will have to have at least two children, right? You will need an heir to the line of protectors, and I will need a Keene to keep the family legacy going.”

“I can handle that. We can have three or four if you like,” said Ansel. “If they are all little girls with their mother’s attitude, then gods help me.”

Griffa smacked his arm as he laughed. “I believe all protectors are male, so you will get at least one boy. Of course, he might still have my attitude.”

Soon after, Griffa found the ingredients she needed. They made their way up the stairs and out of the tree dwelling. Once they were outside, Ansel grabbed Griffa and pulled her to him. He kissed her one more time. He then nodded to one of his guards in the distance. He smiled at Griffa, and they traveled together to the gates of Abscon.

Ansel reached up to touch the tree of the gate.

“Ansel,” said Griffa with alarm. “Look.” She held up her arm with the bracelet Talon had given her. The circle was glowing. “The Valley, it must be under attack.”

Ansel nodded. “Go ring the town bell and assembled all you can who will fight. I will gather my guards.”

“Is it just Max at the manor?” asked Griffa as Ansel touched the gate.

“No, Issa is there as well. They should both stay here.”

“Max will want to fight. He will want to go. He should go,” said Griffa. “Keep him close to you and he will be fine. If it is too bad, we can get him out of there, but he needs to start fighting for his folk.”

Ansel nodded. “I’ll run and get Max after I assembled my guards. I’ll meet you in front of the meeting hall.”

Griffa nodded and Ansel kissed her quickly. They both ran through the gate.