"Want something to drink?" Vylad asked me. I gave him a small smile and nodded. He then stood up and walked towards the drink table. I sighed and glanced around the room.

Everyone was dressed really nicely. The women wore really gorgeous gowns and the men wore very nice looking waistcoats, coats, and breeches. I had a pair of cacky colored breeches with black knee-high boots, a white waistcoat, a coat that was a shade of navy, and a white scarf was tucked into the shirt.

My brothers and I had been invited to this ball, and I immediately accepted. I'm a party kind of guy, and I also happen to be a hopeless romantic. I've always daydreamed about falling in love. Taking walks hand in hand, dancing together at parties, dreamily gazing into one another's eyes... I know it sounds cliche, but I've always thought it sounded so wonderful.

I heard the large door to the room open, and I heard a few cheers from that direction. I snapped my head over to see what everyone was making a fuss about, but I couldn't see the person through the crowd welcoming whoever had entered. I stood on my toes and peaked over to try and see who it was.

"Garroth," a voice said. I yelped and jumped at the disruption of my focus. I turned to look at who it was, and one of my two brothers stood in front if me, Vylad. He chuckled and held out a glass of red wine for me to take.

"Thanks," I muttered, taking the glass in my hand. I brought the glass to my lips and took a sip, my eyes shifting back to the crowd that was now settling down. Eventually, everyone dispersed and I was able to see clearer. I took another sip of wine as I scanned for whoever it was that caught everyones attention. When I saw who it was, the sip of wine I had taken hitched in my throat and I quickly swallowed, coughing. I quickly passed my glass to Vylad as I tried to quit the coughing and catch my breath.

The man had long chocolate brown hair that was pulled back into a messy ponytail, and his skin was only a few shades lighter than his hair. Freckles dotted his cheeks, and a pair of dimples formed next to his lips as he held a smirk on his face. He wore an outfit similar to mine, but his coat was a dark shade of green. What stood out most, though... were his eyes. Icy blue and sparkling. They seemed to trap me in some kind of trance, as I was unable to pull my eyes away from him. He grinned as he greeted people left and right, shaking them each firmly by the hand. He was so... dreamy. My heart was pounding against my chest, and my cheeks had long since turned red.

"Garroth..? Are you okay?" Vylad asked me. I blinked and finally peeled my eyes away from the man to look at my brother.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said. Slowly, a smirk replaced the concerned look on his face.

"Your face is really red, big brother," he teased. This only caused the blush on my face to grow darker and I quickly turned away from him, suddenly finding immense interest in my shoes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said. Vylad chuckled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Whatever," he muttered, handing me back my wine glass. I lifted my head and took another sip, my eyes scanning the room for the man I had seen. When I saw him, I felt my cheeks flush again. I swear, my eyes had stars in them when they caught onto him.

"Do you know who that is?" I asked Vylad, pointing to the man. He followed my finger and raised an eyebrow at the man.

"No, I've never seen him," he said. I sighed as my eyes followed him around the room, a smile spreading across my lips.

"Hey, Vylad," I said, catching my brother's attention. He hummed, letting me know that he had heard me. I leaned closer to him, bringing my lips closer to his ear.

Vylad smirked and placed his wine glass on the table with a small thump. He walked away, and towards the man.

What the hell is he doing..?

I saw him tap the man on his shoulder, and he turned. Vylad said something to him and pointed back to me. The man's eyes followed his point and landed on me.

I swear my heart just sped up a million times more than it had a few seconds ago...

His gaze was so intense, but also gentle in a way... His eyes sparkled and they transferred back to my brother, saying something to him.

Vylad took him by his arm and began to lead him towards my direction. My heart stopped and I quickly adjusted my appearance in any way I possibly could. I fixed my scarf, tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and adjusted my posture. Vylad and the man had appeared in front of me as if out of nowhere.

"This is my brother," Vylad said. The man flashed me a smile, his eyes meeting mine and his hand extended for me to shake.

"My name is Garroth Ro'Meave," I said, grasping his hand.

"Laurence Zvhal," he said, carefully shaking my hand. It was then that I realized who's hand I had shaken.

Laurence Zvhal had done so much to help in the revolution. He was General Washington's right-hand man...

"Thank you for all of your service," I said, pulling my hand away.

"If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it," he said, winking at me. My cheeks flushed and I smiled at him.

"I'll leave you to it," Vylad said walking off, probably to go find something to eat.

"So, Garroth, how long have you been in New York?" Laurence asked me.

"Oh, I've lived here my whole life," I answered. Laurence nodded at this.

"Would you walk with me while I go get a drink?" He asked. I smiled and nodded. He gratefully took my arm in his and led me towards the drink table. I kept glancing over at him, entranced at how handsome he looked up close.

When we made it to the drink table, he grabbed a glass and poured a bit of wine in it.

"So, Garroth, I assume that man that introduced me to you was your brother?" Laurence asked.

"Er, yes. He's the youngest between him, my other brother and I," I explained.

"You have two siblings?"

"Ah, yes. The one you met was Vylad. My other brother refused to come with us," I said. "Zane isn't the most social person I'm the world."

"Zane is your other brother, yes?"

I only nodded at this. He lifted his glass to his lips, taking a sip of the wine. I took a final swig of my own before placing the glass down on the table. My eyes trailed back up to his, and I realized he had been staring at me. I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing. I saw him smirk at me out of the corner of my eye. A small thump signaled that he had placed his glass down.

"Well, shall we dance?" He asked. I looked back up at him, words escaping me.

"D-Dance?" I stuttered.

Without a response, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards where everyone else was. Everyone around us was twirling and stepping around the room to the music playing in the background. Once we reached a spot with enough room for us to start dancing, he turned to face me. He held my hand up and placed his other hand on my waist. I gulped before putting mine on his shoulder. My heart was pounding in my ears as he twirled me around the room.

Finally, I got the confidence to meet his eyes. They were gentle, and so was his smile. I returned the look, even stepping closer to him so that our faces were only inches apart.

I could have sworn that his eyes had a trace of affection. The thought made my stomach perform both front and back flips.

Oh lord... I have it bad.

I have told you, and I told you truly that I love you too much.

All I could do was stare at that one line. Even if it was only the first sentence of the entire letter, it made my heart soar.

Laurence and I had been sending letters to each other back and forth for awhile now, and each letter I received from him only made me fall more and more in love. I remain awake late into the night rereading every letter he's ever written to me. Each time I do my heart aches more and more. It's not a painful ache, but an ache full of longing. I want you with me, and I want to hold you close. I want to be able to call you mine.

"Garroth, go to sleep," Vylad said. His voice was hoarse, as he had just woken up. I suppose I woke him with my quiet screeching.

"Sorry, sorry," I whispered.

"What are you doing, anyways?" another voice asked. It was Zane this time.

"I'm reading the letters that Laurence wrote to me," I said as I switched to the next letter kept in the stack.

"He does this every single night," Vylad said to Zane.

"Hey, not every night!" I complained.

"When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?" Vylad asked. I thought for a moment...

Two moments...

Three moments...

"That's what I thought," he said with a smirk.

I grabbed my pillow and threw it across the room to where Vylad was sitting. He ducked just before it hit him, giggling in the process.

"Seriously, Garroth. Go to sleep," Zane grumbled, turning over to fall asleep himself. I sighed and muttered a small 'fine' before blowing out the candle beside me.

I waited patiently for a few minutes, waiting for my brothers to fall asleep. Once I heard their even breathing, I lit the candle again and continued reading.

"Garroth, go to sleep!" Vylad yelled.

I walked down the stairs one step at a time, going to go ask my father if I could go outside for a bit. I stopped just outside the dining room as I heard an unfamiliar voice. I quickly darted behind the wall, hiding. I was really awkward when it came to strangers.

"So, Mr... Zvhal, was it?" I heard my father ask. My eyes widened and I tensed up at the name.

"Ah, yes. Laurence Zvhal," the other voice said. This voice was familiar to my ears, and so was the name. What is he doing here..?

"Well, Mr. Zvhal, what are you doing here?" my father asked.

"I came to ask for your blessing," Laurence said.

What...?

His... blessing..?

Blessing for what..?

I continued to listen tho their conversation. Laurence proceeded to explain further, and my cheeks flushed darker and darker as he continued to talk. He was asking for my father's blessing to marry me.

My heart was pounding in my ears, and I could barely hear the conversation. I peaked into the dining room, and both of them remained silent. Laurence's back was facing me, and my father had a stern look on his face. I gulped and took a deep breath.

My father pushed his chair back and stood up. He then proceeded to walk towards Laurence who stood up when he realized what was happening.

What if he told him to leave?

What if he told him to never talk to me again?

What if he slapped him across the face?

What if he...

Held out his hand to Laurence...

Laurence shook his hand carefully.

"Be true," my father said.

"I will, sir," Laurence replied. He then turned around, his eyes meeting mine. Tears shone at the corners of my eyes as I ran out to him, throwing my body into him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

I was his... and he was mine.

"I do."

"I now pronounce you husband, and husband. You may kiss the groom."

I grinned and stepped closer to Laurence. He positioned his hands on my waist and pulled me close to him. I place one hand on his chest and the other on his cheek, slowly leaning closer to him.

Our lips met, and the room filled with cheers. My heart felt like it had been set free from the longing of always wanting something more.

I was satisfied...

And I was helpless...