To Be Wed

[SophiaTsu 185]

A cold winter evening, a knock at the door, and Alli was stumbling downstairs.

“Coming!” She called, glancing at her pale new parrot Fiona before opening the front door.

To much of her surprise (and impatience), none other than Marshal Ser Stefan the Shark Onfroi was waiting behind the spruce door. He was looking posh, as usual, though his face was unveiled. It was the first time she ever really got to study him. She didn’t know he had such sky blue eyes.

“Hullo,” she greeted, tapping her foot, hand still on the door. “Can I help ye?”

“Just a mandatory check-” his sentence was cut off  when his eyes met hers. It was almost as though he was at a loss for words. “Can I come in, actually?” A sly smile was playing on his lips.

Alli looked at him curiously. “Yus, sure. Come in.” 

Ser Stefan walked inside, eyes scouring the room. “Lovely place you have here.” He noticed the bird perched on the dining chair. “Nice bird.”

Alli nodded, but otherwise ignored his small talk -after all, it had been two years and she still did not have a single clue who this strange hero was. Or what he wanted. “Can I help ye?”

The sly smile grew wider. “Actually yes, you can.” Then, suddenly, his hand was behind her back, drawing her in for a long kiss. Alli didn’t know whether she should move or not, but the blood in her veins rushed to her head and her cheeks were hot. She remained still until he pulled away, brushing the hair from her face to behind her ear. “You are such a beautiful woman.”

Alli couldn’t help but scoff. “If dirt is beautiful, then aye.” She looked to the floor, false grin masking her unhappiness.

“I was a farmer, too, you know,” he lifted her face by his finger. “And I know beauty when i see it.”

Then once again, Alli’s lips were met with his. He was warm, so warm. And so familiar. 

Afterwards, they tightly held each other in an overdue hug. Alli felt tears brimming her eyes. “Ye even smell like him...how’s that possible...” She didn’t have to say his name for Ser Stefan to understand. He pulled her even closer, which she didn’t think was possible.

 

Later that evening, Ser Stefan popped the question of whether Alli would give him her hand in marriage, officially becoming one of the noble Onfroi’s. It was announced to the rest of Darrowmere in the courtyard and the date has yet to be set.