Much later he returned, his face worn. Stopping at the door he took in a deep breath, combed back his hair, and put on a smile. Walking in he looked around, "Istara?" he called softly, Shadow meeting him at his feet. "Hello there," He said, patting the small animal on the head with a happy smile, "Where is your mother?" he whispered.

Istara's bruises had been aching so she was soaking in warm water in the tub. On arm was resting on the edge while the other was hanging down for Star to bat at. She opened her eyes slowly when she heard Roland enter and a mischievous smile crept on to her face. "Roland, I'm in here playing with Star," she called from her 'bedroom'.

He smiled and then, slowly, walked into the room after her, "Oh, well, what are you doing you little--" He stopped when he saw her, licking his bottom lip. He cleared his throat. "My my," he said slowly. "Don't you look...clean..." A small smile came onto his lips as he said this.

She stood slowly, the water cascading down her body as it ran into the tub. "Oh do I? I'm a little wet though, perhaps you would like to come dry me off?" she said with a smirk. She knew the water running down her naked body would be very erotic. Her hair hung in wet curls down her back, perfect even when fresh out of the tub.

Smiling he slowly walked over towards her, his eyes not leaving hers. "Well, of course I will," he said softly as he walked towards her, his movements fluid. "I mean, I would not want you to catch a cold." Bringing a towel over to her he dried her off. Sometimes, by 'accident', his hand would move from the towel to touch her skin.

She closed her eyes as he dried her. Every time his hand would brush her skin she would moan softly, simply thrilled with him even touching her through the cloth. His touch was so gentle and she loved every minute of it. Little did she know he would be leaving her soon. That thought was farthest from her mind.

He smiled and then, slowly, moved the towel against that place between her legs. Once done drying her, he pulls her to him, his clothes brushing against her body. "Well, don't you smell and look so very clean?" he whispered, running a hand down her body. "What do you want to do, my Little Moon?"

She sighed happily and shifted so that they were as close as possible. "Well," she said cutely, "you could probably do a decent job at making me dirty again," she said with a soft purr to her tone. "I think I'd be okay."

He couldn't help but groan at her tone. It was enough to make any man groan. "You are trying to put me in a early grave, aren't you?" He asked as he picked her up and put her onto her bed, kissing her neck softly, taking in a deep whiff of her skin. "You smell delicious."

She sighed a happy moan. "Oh why, asking you to do it? You haven't done it for two nights. Is my prince really that fragile?" she teased. Her neck arched to his kisses, giving him easier access to her tender skin. "Is it so bad to be torn away from your princely duties for a while for this?"

His will started to crumple once again and he took in a deep breath, kissing her lips then finally her neck. "Oh, believe me, Little Moon, if I had my way then you would be taken by me every night." He smiled and then, leaned up to kiss her ear, "But, I think you would be too tired."

She giggled. "We'd never know if I would be too tired until we tried, isn’t that so?"

His hand moved down her body, "Would you like me to, my love?"

She moaned softly as his hand trailed down her body. "Of course I'd like you to my prince, but please remember to be gentle. I'm still a little sore." She hated bringing back the memory of what had happened the other day. Yet even though she had started this she knew he needed to be reminded.

He smiled and nodded. "I would not go rough with you anyways," he whispered with a small smile then kissed her neck, nibbling softly. "I will be as gentle as a butterfly with a flower," he promised and then pulled back teasingly, only to come back to kiss her lips once again, his hand moving up her side slowly, then back down.

She moaned softly, again exposing more of her neck to her lover, her prince. "I like the sound of being a flower," she whispered softly.

"Will you do something for me, my love?"

She looked at him, her gaze on his. "What would you like me to do for you my prince?"

He smiled and then hesitated for a moment. Suddenly, he looked like a small child and he got up off of her and stood, bringing her to the side of the bed with him. Taking in a deep breath he smiled slightly, kneeling in front of her. "Istara...I love you. I love you more than anything." He took in a deep breath. "Will you do me the honor of being my bride?"

Istara's right hand flew to her mouth and she gasped. She hadn't expected this, not at all. She slipped off the bed to kneel beside him, facing him. She took both his hands in hers and her chocolate gaze was warm as she looked at him, her eyes shining. "Of course. I would love nothing better. My prince, in these short few days you have become my world. I want nothing better than to become a permanent part of yours."

The next thing he knew, his arms were around her, his eyes were closed, and his lips were on hers. He couldn't help it. He was too overjoyed to do anything about it. His hand, going into her hair, got tangled in the soft, curly mass that it was. Slowly, he rose with her in his arms then went towards the fire place, laying her down on the bear-skin rug in front of the fire place. Roland smiled as he kissed her. His cloak, shirt, and other items of his clothing all disappeared rather quickly.

She eagerly returned his kisses and a soft moan escaped her lips when each piece of clothing was removed. Her prince was handsome in his clothes and he was handsome out of them as well. "My prince," she whispered softly, over and over again, stressing the word 'my'. For now he was truly hers as she was truly his, in more ways than one. For a split second a bitter taste came into her mouth as she remembered that technically she was his property but it disappeared instantly as she recalled that you don't normally propose to your property.

"I love you," he whispered as he kissed her lips and eased down into her. His body wanted her. Oh, how it did, but he told himself to go slow with her. She was still slightly sore from the...No, he would not think of it. Not now. He couldn't. He groaned softly. She was so warm. He kissed her lips, his hand moving down her body so that, once again, she could get used to the way he was. "Are you alright, my love?"

She moaned softly as he entered her. His hard length felt at home inside of her. "I am alright my prince, I am alright. With you I am always alright." She ran her hands down the front of his body, feeling the muscles in his chest, then slipped then up his back, feeling each muscle individually.

He shivered at her touch, and then softly kissed her as he slowly began to stroke her body with his own. His was hard, but moved gracefully, not hurting her whatsoever. He smiled slightly and continued to kiss her, continued to move.

Kissing her lips he continued on. It was like a quest, a quest that he was bound to finish, even though he did not wish it to be so. The moments pasted, their breathing became deeper, and their bodies slowly because faster. Soon, Roland felt a tingling and he groaned, kissing her harder.

She returned his kiss just as passionately and that is when her back arched and she let out a cry, her tone high. Not a sound of pain but a sound of pure bliss. As this feeling rocked through her she let the sound escape and then her body went almost limp and she panted heavily.

He groaned and released, as she did, gripping onto her.

"Oh Roland," she whispered. "My Roland."

After a moment, he groaned, his breath hot against her skin, and he laid next to her, taking in a deep breath, his arms going around her. "Hmmm." He smiled and kissed her collarbone, resting his head upon her chest, "I love you, my little moon." Stroking her side he smiled and then, kissed her cheeks. For a few moments he lay there, just listening to her heart beating. Then, slowly, he stood and got a thin blanket and put it over the two of them. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, resting his head back onto her chest, his black hair falling down into his face. "I love you, Little Moon, and soon, you shall be my brightest star in the sky," he whispered and kissed her collar bone.

She sighed. "I like the sound of that my prince," she whispered. "When can we have the wedding? Where shall I get my dress?" She was tired but she wanted to know. He hoped he would say soon, she wanted desperately for it to be soon.

He smiled, "As soon as possible. I want you to belong to me as soon as I can have you." He kissed her shoulder. "Rest, my love. We shall have this all figured out when we wake. I will not leave you tonight. I vow it," he whispered and closed his eyes.

She closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep, secure in his arms and presence. "I love you my prince," she whispered before drifting off to a very resting sleep.

"And I you," he whispered then fell off into a light sleep. He sighed happily in his sleep, but he could not help but be haunted by the thought of war... 

The next morning he groaned as he felt the light hit his face and he turned away from his beloved, then back again, wrapping his arms around her. He sighed contently.

She woke with a yawn and stretched. "Morning my prince," she murmured sleepily. She nuzzled into his shoulder. "Do we have to get up?" She wanted nothing more than to lie there forever.

He groaned and moved over to his side again, then onto his back, as he continued to sleep, as if he hadn‘t heard her. Then his eyes opened again lazily and he sighed, "Come 'ere." He pulled her on top of him to lay down. "S'better," he murmured and then closed his eyes again, as if he was never awake in the first place. And anyways, was he?

She laughed happily and quietly before nuzzling into his chest. She felt small yet comfortable up here on top of him. It felt right being here, so close to him. She snuggled deeper into him and sighed happily. "Okay my prince."