Aetheria Arising : Relic of Time Wars- Missing centuries story.

thankful

"I need a nap, not working makes me sleepy." Daisy yawned, causing both of the others to yawn, she giggled, "Sorry, it's catching."

Kaleth yawned again, he had not slept last night, or very much at all since the bombing that had almost killed Daisy and their child, "Just rest a while, we have to stay till after sunset."

"Then what?" Daisy asked tiredly.

Allura answered, "At sunset there will be dancing and afterward, a meal. All the married couples come and tell you one thing they are most thankful for in their marriage, and you thank them for coming, and then all those who are unmarried pelt you with flower petals while Kaleth carries you home."

Daisy shifted to a sitting position, patting her lap, Allura turned around and laid her head on Daisy's lap. Kaleth was already asleep. Daisy hummed softly as she put the wildflowers in Allura's hair, who quickly fell asleep too. Daisy felt happy, she had a family again. She noticed Colby, Shadz, and Vole nearby. She smiled at them and raised her hand. They grinned and bowed, so she scowled in mock anger at them. Laughing, the boys settled under a nearby tree. She shook her head, even today, Meara's rebels protected their princess. She missed Meara, Cierra, and Fianna, really all of them, even Ezra. Daisy closed her eyes and dreamed of Karstien asleep and waiting for them.

The stone glowed around her neck and her heart whispered to Karstien, 'Soon, my prince.'

It felt good to be happy and relaxed. As he awoke, Kaleth could feel Daisy asleep beside him. It was a sensation he thought he would never tire of. As he stirred, Daisy awoke with him. He kissed the top of her head, then frowned, and asked, "Did you ever get a bigger bed?"

Daisy covertly winked at Allura, who sat up and stretched, turning away to hide her smile.

"No. I guess you will have to sleep on the couch," Daisy started innocently, not looking up at him. "I'll clear it off when we get home."

"You don't have a couch," Allura reminded her with a straight face, but her eyes danced amused.

"Are you sure? I'm certain it is just buried under my paperwork," Daisy lied convincingly.

Kaleth groaned, looking up at the sky, "I will sleep on the floor. I am not going back to the barracks, even with my own quarters, the warriors' whole floor smells like my sons' rooms when they were juveniles."

Allura and Daisy burst out laughing, he realized they were teasing him, and he pulled Daisy into his lap, crushing her against him, she struggled to escape, still laughing.

"Did you just lie to your new husband?" he growled, as he pretended to glare at her.

"No, I didn't... I didn't do anything, I promise. Allura did it. It was all her!" Daisy giggled and looked unrepentant.

"Princess?" he asked in a mock grumpy tone.

Allura grinned at them both, "What? Her bedroom wasn't suitable for a royal pet, so I fixed it. A large family is Karstien's desire and that means more than the one sibling. Tonight, you both are to start practicing fulfilling my sealed one's desire. for siblings." Daisy blushed red and Kaleth chuckled at her embarrassment.

Allura looked up at the afternoon sun sinking toward the horizon, it was still mild but getting cooler quickly, in two days it would be snowing.

She rose, pulling Daisy by the hand, "Come on, Oracle, time to change again."

"Nooo, I don't wanna gooooo," Daisy whined, holding onto Kaleth's hand with her other hand, pleading, "Save me, husband."

He laughed at them, and shook his head, as the Princess dragged her away. He felt like he was only 1000 years old again, not that his 3500 years mattered, he still had more than half his life to live, perhaps more if he lived as long as his father had. Immortality had its blessings, and today he was thankful. He nodded to his junior guardsmen. Colby, Vole, and Shadz rose to follow the Princess and the Oracle. The tenday's events had only heightened his awareness that they both must be protected at all times. He headed to find Rolf and Midus, his oldest friends, and his senor Guardsman Banth to learn what they have discovered since the bombing.