Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nodded. "I will be at your service at dawn, your highness," he said with a friendly bow.

He excused himself, feeling fresh hope. He went to the room and placed his ear over the door as he reached the threshold. Raucous laughter was coming from inside. He put his back to the door and leaned into it, just listening to the three people he loved in this world. He pictured the pain on the king's face that morning, when he'd said Tenele couldn't love him. The laughter melted his soul. Good, he thought.

After composing himself a bit more, he turned and brought himself back to the library. He spent the rest of his evening scouring every resource he could about stone golems.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele and Atul hopped around so much that they eventually collided with eachother. "Ohhh," they both winced, collapsing in a heap, but the laughter didn't stop. Atul laid on his back, and Tenele's head rested on his stomach. Tenara hopped over to them and draped across them both.

The little girl giggled merrily. "That was a lot of fun!"

"It was," Tenele laughed, brushing her fingers through her daughter's hair.

Sometime later Atul reluctantly left them. He needed to investigate the strange man that was apparently stalking Tenele, but was even more concerned that it could be the man who had attacked her in the street.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad made it back to the room around midnight, tired and excited. He suspected Tenara was asleep, but went through his daughter's room anyway to give her a kiss. Then he made his way to their room, knocking lightly before entering. He scanned the room to see if she was already asleep.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele was curled in bed, beneath the sheets. She wasn't quite a sleep, but had been laying with her eyes closed. When she heard the door click open she sat up slowly, holding the covers to her chest. "Hey!" Excitement flashed in her eyes and she turned towards him, dragging the covers with her. "I didn't know if you were coming back or... staying with Atul."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled. "A lot happened. Did he go to bed?"

[Emora Deen]

"Um, I don't know. He left a little while ago. I saw that man again in the garden and he said he would find out who he was," she replied. "We wore Tenara out. She went to bed very early. I've been a little bored. I'm glad you're back."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled. It was nice to be wanted back. "Was it a good day?" he asked, stretching out alongside her on the bed.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded, snuggling up to his side. "It was a good day. Atul taught me a few more moves and then we walked around the garden talking. After that we came back and played with Tenara. We played animals, and she told us what animal we had to pretend to be. It was really funny, and we both had a very good time. The king is very limber. How was your day?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad propped on his elbow so he could talk eye to eye. "Well, after an evening like last night, nothing could warrant complaint," he smiled. "But actually, the research was pretty productive. I may know a way to break the spell on your memory."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele hopped up. "Really?" she asked excitedly. "I'll remember? How? When? Where?" She could dance around she was so happy. "Oh, thank you, Vlad." Even though he hadn't promised her certainty, it didn't make her any less happy or emotional. She covered her face with her hands to hide her happy tears.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled. "There is a creature that can nullify any enchantment, supposedly. And one happens to exist in captivity. Queen Chahara's kingdom is famous for having one. She's a bit wary of outsiders, but she's allowing me to go and see it, if I go alone."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned. "How can it nullify my enchantment if I don't get close to it?" she asked, not sure why the Queen would want him to go alone. "Maybe she is just wanting to make sure we mean no harm, and then I can come when she's ready? Oh, I'm so happy Vlad." Tenele pressed her lips to his, curling her arms around his neck and crushing her body against him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled and hugged her tightly. "From my reading, even a scale from the creature could prove strong enough to break the curse. If it isn't, I will earn her trust, and return for you. Unfortunately, she is departing at dawn. I will need to leave Atul in your care." He smirked. "I'm sure you will be just fine, but he's making me a bit nervous."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele tilted her head. "He seemed okay to me today," Tenele replied. "We discussed that we both seemed to have a self-destructive nature as of late. But, I think he will be fine. He seemed very happy when we were playing with Tenara. Luckily his face healed by the time we did, or I'm sure Tenara would have been very concerned about him. Don't worry, he will be fine. I will take care of him."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nodded carefully. "Thank you." He glanced over his shoulder at Atul's door. "I'm going to make sure he's in there." He wouldn't go to that pub a second time, after having such a nice experience with Tenele, would he? Vlad stood up slowly, leaving his beautiful wife's side. He knocked on Atul's door and looked in. No one was in there.

He wanted to see him, before he had to leave them. As much as he still stung from what the man tried to do the night before, he was more worried about Atul getting in more fights to punish himself.

"He'd better not be fighting again," he muttered.