Page 77 of Earth Dragon

“You know, we never finished that discussion about heirs.”

“Oh,” she shook her head at him. “Hello, welcome,” she smiled at the courtier who went into a deep curtsey before them. “Goodness, that was impressive,” she added as the courtier rose back up again, smiling widely at her.

She was known as the one who had stopped the uprising, and there had been smiles all around for her in the past few days.

“Would you be willing to having more than one?” he asked.

“I would be willing to wait to have this discussion until a more opportune time,” she replied.

“How many? Two or more?” he persisted.

“Good evening,” she smiled at another guest. “Lovely to have you.”

“Three? Or less?”

“None, unless you shut up about it right now,” she replied, eyebrows raised in a challenge.

“Four it is,” he gave a contented nod.

“On one condition,” she said. “That I get to ring the bell.”

He smiled then. “Of course, my lady,” he replied, pulling her in for a kiss that made the room stop in their tracks.

She did not mind.

In fact, causing a bit of a scandal felt like just the thing to get the celebrations started.

“It’s snowing!” someone exclaimed and there was a collective gasp and a race to the nearest door.

Shannon ended the kiss, eyes meeting Ewan’s with a small smile.

“Did you order that?” she asked. “For me?”

“Of course,” he nodded. “I want you to experience a long, cold, white winter. Since it’s your first.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Would you wish to go look at your first Rogoros snowfall?”

She gave it some thought, then laughed. “Yes!” she exclaimed, and hand-in-hand, they headed down from the dais.

The other crowned heads joined them and they walked together to the doors, the crowd parting for them, and she offered smiles of gratitude as she went. They stepped outside and she breathed in the air, marveling at how the temperature had dropped so quickly. From the sky fell palm sized snowflakes, their patterns gleaming in the candlelight streaming out from the Pavilion.

“It’s…” she tried, unable to find the words.

“It truly is, isn’t it?” Ewan said, his eyes in hers, and she smiled even though she was blushing under his gentle gaze.

She placed a hand by the side of his face.

“Truly,” she agreed, and pulled him in for another kiss.

*****

THE END