Lids slowly raised, mouth slightly agape at the laughter that now filled the air, commanding more attention then the fog. Nothing had ever sounded as lovely as that laughter did in that moment....

No longer were the surroundings important, save for the random beams of moonlight that like a playful child teased the senses with their bursts of truth around her- illuminated for but a second.

Through squinted eyes she searched left to right, forward to back feverishly hoping her mind was not playing tricks on her. And once more the voice rang out, this time baring words. She did indeed look around her, over and over, searching the statues for the one form that was not stone, but man ; flesh and blood and a beating heart.

Again it called out to her, proclaiming his awakening. She knew all too well this feeling also, and refused to hide the smile that stole her features like a thief in the night. And as if the hazy night knew the importance of this meeting, it parted leaving only a few tendrils of fog begging to touch his body as he made his way closer to her.

Pure shock covered her face along with a bliss that words could not express, even if she wanted. Petite hands met his shoulders as his arms encircled her close to his body. A deep inhale confirmed that she was in fact, not dreaming, not out of her mind. He was fully real, there before her. Slowly her eyes made their way to his, and everything she ever wanted to hear, everything she ever wanted to know lay right there in his own eyes of the most beautiful green ever seen.

Their lips collided.

Quietly she gasped into the soft kiss, lids once more falling closed as she drew her hands up and around his shoulders more, pulling him into her. Slowly her hands eased down either side of his back as she dared to open her eyes once more. Her voice, soft and honey sweet dripped with emotion as she wet her lips, taking his taste with her tongue.  “Welcome back.”

Laughter resounded above the songs of grasshoppers. Hannah would recognize its flair; the pain drenched note embellished by a distinct rasp, ever apparent, even in Aneteri's speech.

The winds brewed the thickening fog in crackling leaves plucked from the ground. At times, coils of fog would dissipate, permitting a brief glimpse of the moon. Bruised in gray and of ghostly luminescent pallor, the moon was not forlorn. Millions of stars burned the heavens, fashioning an abyss of violet and deep blues.

So it was beneath the twinkling constellations, he laughed. His voice plunged through the fog like the wind and ascended skyward, daring to disrupt the solemnity he felt. It mocked the hand wrought marble sentinels that were withering beneath the boot of time, forever stationary, forever paling.

“My beloved Hannah,” rasped voice cracking as he yelled. “Look about you, see the statues!”

He stepped forward, unable to see her.

“I had become one of them,” the voiced evened out, spilling forth almost smoothly. “I had become still as stone, and in time my countenance hardened.”

He placed a hand to either side of his lips and called out:

“But now you are here and I am awakened!”

He laughed almost foolishly and the smile crafted by his lips gleaned rapture. He stepped through the fog, easily discerning Hannah's figure through the ashen mist. Fireflies gleamed all about her, twinkling like dozens of whirring stars.

“Lets go quickly,” he said in stride. “This place is old---”

With a start, his voice deadened. Flashes of firefly light chased the shadows from her features, but alas, the darkness would always rush back, like waves breaching shore. Her skin, clear, pure, without a trace of wrinkle nor aging. Her eyes, bright, even against the dark moats encompassing them.

Her skin, faintly luminescent, or was it... the... fireflies?

Aneteri's footfalls never wavered, and when he drew near, his arms locked about her waist, pulling her close to him. But before laying his lips upon hers, Aneteri's lingering gaze shimmered, the oceanic pools; the lightest of greens. His brows, embellished by gray, rose as the emotion within churned.

He inhaled her scent. Felt her bosom, hot and heaving, against his.

Aneteri's hands met at her lower back. His forearms crossed. His eyes closed, shoulders rising as he embraced her.

Then a tantalizing kiss, barely grazing her lips, came from Aneteri. Twas soft, seductive, but as he plunged again, the gentle kisses sent bursts of passion seeping through his body.     

She caught him by the wrist turning him to face her on his way towards the door in a silent procession to the sound of the funneral music she imagined he was hearing in his head.  Her fingers were warm yet light about his large wrist and only lingered with a slight tug to pull him to a gentle pause.  She didn't intend to keep him.  That would be considered disrespect from where she came from, if she were to hold him up after he'd just witnessed the death of a ...loved one?  Her head hurt from trying to grasp understanding of it all.

Dilla stood there after having snatched the metal dustpan from SaCoya's hand, and watched Sacoya stop Tynel at the shop enterance.  Her gaze narrowed but she made no attempt to move towards them.

"I am sorry for...your loss. And thank you for..."  ...saving my life Those words held a heavier weight in the air than either of them wanted to admit.  He'd saved a life to lose another?  Somehow it did  not equate and she was left to bare the burden of this sacrifice. Now he was leaving. Exiting the shop and turning his back on everything within it.  She, was within the shop. Of course she'd somehow known that this kind-hearted stranger wasn't in town for a permanent stay.  He'd probably just been passing through...hadn't he?  But then that didn't explain his close relations to the woman.  Had the woman who'd just died before them been a local. The pain in his eyes stung her in ways she couldn't describe. Who...was she? What did I do to make her angry? "Will you meet me  tomorrow night on the bridge?" She wanted answers but the urge to let him walk away was overpowering her and she turned from him not waiting for an answer.

If he showed, she would know.

-----------------------------------The Next Morning----------------------------

"But where will you go?! The King's men are searching for you.  They came by the shop last night after you'd left inquiring of your whereabouts.  Of couse I thought you'd gone off to the festival by then and were amongst the partiers."
"Don't worry about me, Dilla.  I have everything under control.  Just let me get the rest of my things.  I'll be gone by noon."But she didn't have everything under control.  She'd had nightmares throughout the night.  Tynel's hands had engulfed her embracing her and simeltaneously crushing her bones in a death grip as he held her.  Passion and rage mingled with his being in the dream and his face kept contorting between his own and the face of the masked villaness who'd attacked her.  

How had she been apart of their story without even had known them since before three days ago?  It spooked her into the haunted silent mood she was in now as she brushed past the mouthy Dilla.
"Don't be a fool, my dear Coya.  Dilla has told me enough of your adventures last night and of what might have become of you.  We are all simply worried for your safety.  Perhaps its best you come stay at the Stronghold estate until I talk these matters over with the King's representatives and see if we can't get this rumor cleared involving you."
Coya paused as the Baron stepped out from the shadows dressed primly to the T in a suit and black collared bow tie as if he'd just come from conducting an orchestra.  All that was missing was his conductor's batton.
"Dilla, you called upon your father?"She was furious. She just wanted to get out of there and the Baron presented yet another obstacle.
"Of course I did.  There was considerable damage to the shop that needed discus---"
Coya cut her off.
"Damage?! What damage?  Everything is as it was and always has been.  Look around!"Her voice carried a rising trill to it that gave away the growing hysteria in her veins. She felt trapped. Stiffled.
"You know what I'm referring to. You were witness to it. Do you deny what took place here last night?"Dilla challenged smartly knowing that Coya was damn near incapable of lying. Something Dilla saw as a very unattractive weakness in her former employee but nonetheless used quite often to her advantage.
"It doesn't matter what took place last night. You can re-count the story to me later.  Right now you are to retreive your things and come with me.  I've a carriage waiting out back in the alley to take you to the Estate.  I need time to work things out with the King's noble's.  They will directly confront the King on my behalf I assure you, Sweet Coya."
Both Dilla and Coya tensed at the endearment he'd attached to her name.  Dilla tensing out of disgust and naked jealousy whereas Coya tensed out of embarrassment and unease.  Why was he showing her such mercy and concern as if she was his own daughter?  The affections were somehow inappropriate and misplaced. She hadn't even known the Strongholds that long to be treated as an equal let alone an intimate friend.
"Thank you so much, Baron Stronghold and I can't tell you how gracious I am to have befallen the  kindnesses and priviledge of your family but I wouldn't dream of jeopardizing your name and house with the personal troubles of my own life." She rushes past him to the study and closes the door behind her exhaling with a shudder before he could formulate a reply.

Through the dense fog her form moved like a phantom. The slightest breeze twirling her long summer dress around her lithe form. Eventually she found herself in the middle of the courtyard. The fog was less thick there, and as she turned in every direction, she could see farther, but more importantly, she swore she could feel him.

Petite lips curled heaven bound as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply the earthy scent she associated with him - manly, strong, and yet so very gentle.

So much time had passed since their last brief meeting, however even that moment meant so much to her, and she cherished each one burning them forever in her memory. She only wished they had meant that much to him as well, and perhaps that one day he would search her out, and keep her for the forever she promised only for him.

At times, during the chorus of grasshoppers and the flight of fireflies he felt her presence. In the space between the realms of dream and nature, he had always regarded her. So as the floating lights flicker through the ever thickening fog and as the grasshoppers chirped, his thoughts melted away and he felt peace.

For in nature, he was closer to her spirit. And in dreams, he beheld her image.

Aneteri’s shoulder propped him against the tree. His traveling cloak’s hem fluttered in the breeze and yet melted into the darkness surrounding him. Beneath the heavy cloak, he wore the norm of the day. A white collar shirt, some tan breeches and boots. A rapier hung from his sword belt along with his favorite serrated dagger.

Aneteri stood tall, shoulders squared, and though serenity caressed his features, was menacing in the dark.

 Months upon months she had fought the call, the feeling that something needed her. Somewhere.

 Through no real reason of her own, she enveloped her soul around said call and allowed it to lead her there. There where she had raised her hand with intent to kill. Kill for him. There where he had lit the sky with all his glory, and there where she almost lost him. Strange how the fates allowed them both to leave that place for the most part unscathed, only for them to find themselves apart anyways. A heavy sigh heaved her chest upward as short, paused steps carried her into the courtyard. Petite fingertips trailed down the brick wall, only to leave a wake of pebbles to fall to the ground after her. The once beautiful flowers long since withered as do all things when not properly tended to. Much like, herself.

 In the time since passed, she still looked youthful. Her normal long locks no longer donned her shoulders, but rather were tied up slightly unkempt looking as if done hastily, and the dark circles beneath her once lively eyes told tale of her horrid nights. She would never forget the beauty this place held in her heart or the bond that it strengthened. But for now, her heart wept for her lonliness.

How many times would his loneliness lead him here?

Here to this place where so many memories lay beneath the moonlight, snared in wisteria vine. Marble statues, once gleaming white, were now graying; withering beneath onslaughts of time. But Aneteri remembered the splendor--- the magnificence of the statuesque figures, so beautifully articulated that the veins and muscles upon each seemed alive. He strode down cracked lanes where luminescent petals peaked between the apertures, humming despite the fog trailing him.

He knew the reasoning behind his reoccurring ventures to this place. Though during his nightly sojourns, he leant against a solitary oak tree with only the whispers of its creaking branches and dancing leaves, he let slip the nostalgic feelings. Gradually, that swell of heart spurned from his plan to see her dissipated. So long had he waited, so long that the gray rivulets coursing through his dark hair expanded into rivers. The hopeful sweep of his eyes across the courtyard gave way to a blank stare toward the heavens, through that intricate web of branches, as he leant nightly upon the oak.

Now the clouds were light, barely tangible wisps of thread that slithered across the sky. Moonlight illuminated the silver streams through his hair, which fell before his eyes.

And he waited. Simply. Eternally.