Welcome to Gaia! ::

John grimaced. "Sorry, love. I'll walk you to your room. You can take your shoes off if you like." He led her down several the hall away from the applause and calls of "good night". They climed the spiraling staircase in unison and made their way down two more halls. He stopped outside the door and cleared his throat nervously.

"Well, here we are. Um... Well, you see," he began awkwardly, "Custom allows that a man and a woman - once engaged - are to sleep together in the same bed," his face began to turn red, "They are not allowed to... consumate, but the purpose of this is for the husband-to-be to, uh, guard his bride's virtue and show their strength and resolve by lying together without... consumating." He looked at the floor as he said this.

"However, I am a gentleman first. I will let you decide. Will you direct me to return to my chambers or... invite me in?" He fidgeted, a little embarassed.

John's heart pounded in his chest until he thought it was going to burst. He swallowed again. "So... this is your room. Cozy," he said with a nervous smile. "And you like it? Sh-should I light a fire then? Might get a bit chilly..."

He busied himself at the grate, buying himself some time. He knew soon he'd have to undress.

He gave a crooked smile to her and then unzipped her dress. "I'm being silly, aren't I," he said, "I'll be your husband soon. I'll have to do this some day." He opened the curtains slightly so that moonlight poured into the room; the small fire crackled softly in the fireplace, making the room warm and dim. Carefully and slowly, he took off his white gloves and began to unbutton his red, tassled, uniform jacket.

"Oddly, yes." He gave another crooked smile. He was down to his trousers. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he removed his boots. His many battle scars were thrown into relief by the flickering light. They criss-crossed in various patterns all across his torso. He saw Keira eyeing them and his heart skipped a beat; the red night gown was stunning.

"My love, they are also reminders of all the lives I have taken. War is a terrible thing... You should go on to bed. I'll be a little while," he said, reaching for the journal the colonel had taken from him. He tucked it in to his uniform jacket and moved to the window seat, staring out at the moon.

"Killing children," he asked, his voice hardly above a whisper. "You and I are not so different, Keira." His hands shook, but he refused to elaborate. After looking out at the night sky a while longer, he took her hands in his. "I promise you now. Once the door is sealed, you will never again have to kill. You will know only peace. You will be happy." He led her over to the bed and climbed under the blankets.

"We have a long day tomorrow. We have to start planning a wedding. Good night, my love. Wake me if you need anything - anything at all."

John drifted off to sleep with the sound of Keira's voice. He was warm and happy with her in his arms. He wanted to make the moment last forever...

Ábiörn was waiting, his arms crossed. "You shouldered a burden that was not yours to carry. Why?" John looked up into the god's stern face; his eyes were deep set and black. "I did what I had to do. I love her." He scoffed. "This certainly complicates things, young spirit. But I suppose you did the valiant thing. You'll not die; I'll make sure of that. But if you breathe one word of this, I'll cut out your tongue. I've worked too long to let you let loose that you will not be the one to sacrifice yourself."

"Not the colonel! I can't let him die!"

"The colonel? I wouldn't kill him. No. I have someone else in mind."

"Keira?"

"No, foolish boy! You ask too many questions." John smiled in relief. Everyone he loved would be okay. "Why wouldn't you kill the colonel?" The god sighed in frustration. "You can't kill a demigod! And even if you could, I would not be too eager to kill my own son. Now... leave me in peace!"

Demigod? Son?

The sun was streaming brightly through the window. John sighed and allowed himself to sleep in. Just a little longer...