The Big Day...

It had been a busy day of walking the plantation with Camarius in the early morning, while the air was still cooled off from the nightly rain. Times like that allowed me to catch up on what was going on in my brother's life, and what was going on in mine. Camarius knew by the way I was acting around Xan, that I had fallen head over heels in love with her. My brother was truly happy for me when I told him that I had selected a sereem from Almasi Mines and was going to give it to Xan that evening. I still had to come up with some creative way to let her know how much I wanted her. Ma seyyida. My woman. I decided to cut some fresh teriotrope that had just bloomed from the plantation, and take it to work with me, where I placed it in a vase to keep it alive. Throughout the day I was called to the docks, to sign a manifest for The Spice Runner, who was taking the cocoa that was harvested, up north. Then my shop had been open for business, and I took care of every customer until it was way past the midday meal. I picked up the stone from the mines, and then had to run it to Lady Camelia to have it placed in a setting of white Arian gold, triple banded, with flecks of white diamond. I brought the ring back to the shop. Time to do inventory, and restocking of the shelves with Moonlight Whispers Bathing Essentials, then I noticed we were short of ramberry ribbons so I began making some when I heard the jingling of bells at the door. It was Xan, all bedecked in silver, like a shiny bell. Particularly her eyes, which gave off a warm, friendly glow the moment she saw me. With her, came her guards and a basket of food my belly had been rumbling in hunger for all day. I was pleased to see her, and she was pleased to see me at work. The teriotrope bloom was offered her at the low table in one of my "nooks" in the shop. A place to sit and rest with a cup of hot tea, to chit chat with the merchant of the shop. Instead, we would partake of the meal upon it. On the table the teriotrope blossom sat, but with an added surprise. A hidden sereem diamond ring, that nearly matched the blooms. Words could not express the shock and surprise on Xan's beautiful face as she picked the ring out of the flowers they nested inside. "You are my day and my night, my moon and my stars. I don't believe my life would be the same without you Xan. You alone, know my thoughts and dreams, and encourage me to be the man I am. Say that you'll be mine, ashiri." Those were the words I used to express myself, opening my heart wide open to her. She could have thrown it all away by saying 'no' or 'I can't', but instead, "I....I stand before you Kiran. Humble and honored that you....you chose me. Her fingers reached for mine, needing in that moment to feel my warmth and to draw on the strength she admired within me. "We are two souls that should be one. As I know you, so you know me. You see in me what no one ever has. For so long, all I knew was coldness and darkness. You are my light and my hope. My warmth and my laughter."-Her voice, while soft, was heavy with honest, heart-felt emotion. "Yes, nakupenda, yes.....I will be yours. As long as you will be mine." Then she wore my ring, and it shone like the rays of Tor-tu-Gor from her hand as I sat admiring it on her. Her words took the breath I was holding in the silence between us, away. Finally, someone who loved me for me, and not what I was or what they had perceived. I am thankful for it.