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[Mallory Ventrue]

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Mallory had had a fairly good day. She had finished her daily chores early and had made sure all of the tables had been restocked and cleaned. While she was preparing a fresh batch of bread for the baskets she remembered she still had not found a Christmas gift for Vaen. She thought to herself, what do you get for the man you loved? The thought took her a bit by surprise. She shook her head… Love?? Could it be?? Rryn had told her that was what it was, but could she be sure. She did enjoy spending time with him. When the sun woke her up he was the first thought on her mind and when she drifted off to sleep she always prayed he would be safe. When they were together she felt as though she was dancing on clouds and she always dreaded the times when they had to say their goodbyes. If this wasn’t love, she didn’t know what it was. She giggled to herself and pulled the bread out of the oven just as Stephani and Rryn came in bringing some items for the kitchen. She looked over and called out her greetings and placed a pot of water on the stove to heat up for tea. She would talk to them about the gift ideas.

The ladies sat at one of the tables and Mallory ran over her ideas of gifts. She had thought about making him a new shirt, for the tournament coming up… but she seriously lacked in the tailoring department. She could always make him a batch of her cookies, but there wasn’t anything special about that. Finally she decided she would venture to Luna and see if there wasn’t something there that she could give him. She remembered once seeing the loveliest snowglobes and was told that she might find them there… perhaps one of their mutal home of Minoc… She smiled at Rryn and Stephani and told them that she would be back. She went down stairs and concentrating very hard she spoke the words Mister Poet had taught her and transported herself to Luna.

Oh! The noise!! She didn’t remember even Britain being this loud the few times she had been there. She covered her ears for a moment and looked around this strange city. The air here… it was so dry and dusty. She looked around and saw some steps and decided to go up them. As she was going up she was almost run over as people bustled in and out. My goodness… how would she ever find anything here? She almost burst into tears with confusion and a lovely woman dressed in blue silk asked her if she needed any help. Mallory nodded and asked her where she could find something to buy. The lady laughed softly and told her that almost anything was for sale here in Luna. She pointed towards a large building that had people standing all around it. She said that Mallory might be able to find what she was looking for in there. Mallory smiled gratefully and carefully made her way to the building. It was confusing with all the vendors shouting their rares, but finally Mallory was pointed to the vendor she seeked. She asked to see his snowglobes, but alas there were none of Minoc. Perhaps a snowglobe wasn’t what she should give him after all. She sighed and left the building worried she wouldn’t find anything. She walked about Luna, hoping that maybe something would come to her, but after several hours, and no luck she decided to return home.

She returned back to the Garden and went upstairs. She sat down at the bar and layed her head on her arms. Rryn and Stephi asked her if she had been successful and she shook her head. She told them about her experience in Luna and how she didn’t want to ever go back there unless absolutely necessary. With that she got up from the bar and excused herself to go take a bath and get the city dust off of her and out of her hair. She was there enjoying her warm bubbles when there came a knock at the door. She called out, “Yes?” Rryn answered her in her soft voice, “Mallory… there is someone here to see you…” Thinking it was probably Vaen, she hurried and dried herself off and got dressed in a new dress she had had made. She combed and plaited her hair and tied a matching green ribbon around the end. She hurried upstairs and looked around the room for Vaen. She was disappointed when she did not see him and went over and asked Stephani who had been asking for her.

No sooner had she asked than she felt a soft tap upon her shoulder. She turned around and saw an elegantly dressed woman. She had a familiarity about her, but Mallory could not recall meeting her. She asked if she was Mallory and Mallory answered with a smile “Yes… I am. How may I help you?” She assumed it was someone wanting to reserve the Minstrels for an event. The lady handed her a package and said softly, “I was told you were looking for something. Seek no further.” With that she turned and left, leaving Mallory wondering. What could it be? Was it something more for the orphans...

She opened up the box and gasped! Inside lay a snowglobe, but it was not Minoc inside. Instead, it was the Shrine of Justice. How perfect! She looked at the globe and shook it gently watching the snow fall and dreaming about watching the snow in front of a fireplace… She shook her head from its dream and placed the globe carefully back within the box and took it downstairs to her room for safe keeping. She looked up and whispered, “thank you” and went back upstairs to wait for Vaen’s arrival.
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Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them but you always know they are there...

Shabam 07:41PM actually meet me somewhere!
Shabam 07:41PM I looked at t.v....
Shabam 07:41PM and got lost

Ken 05:39PM You want to see the short of it?

[Cal Hurst]

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Vaen entered the Garden and sat down in one of the empty chairs. He looked around and saw two people. One drowish man, who he did not recognize, and then Poet.

"Have you seen Mallory, Poet?" Vaen asked.

Poet chuckled lightly to himself and shook his head. "Ye just missed 'er, lad."

Vaen nodded and then looked around. Poet spoke up again. "The lass may be back soon. Stick around!"

Vaen nodded once again to Poet. A few minutes passed, and Vaen was thinking of leaving. Perhaps Mallory had better things to do this night. At the moment he was about to get up, Mallory appeared across the room with a smile. Vaen smiled in return as they greeted eachother. Mallory came and sat down at Vaen's table.

"How are you doing, Mallory?"

"I am well! And yourself?"

"I can't complain."

Mallory smiled. "I have a gift for you."

Vaen raised his eyebrow a bit. "A gift?"

Mallory nodded and handed him a box. Vaen looked at it, and then up at her, and then down at the box. He opened it, and inside was a snowglobe of the Shrine of Justice. He smiled. "Ahhh, another one of these!"

"Oh.. you already have one..." Mallory frowned.

If Vaen could hit himself at this moment, he would. He loved the gift, and he did indeed have many, but this one was more special to him. "Tell her that," he thought.

"Yes," Vaen said, "I do have one, but, they are not as special as this one, as they were not given to me by you. I will put this one in a special place." Vaen nodded, and Mallory looked up and smiled at him.

Mallory looked around at the empty tavern and then looked at Vaen. "Oh, I want to show you that area in Ilshenar, but I should see if I can leave." Vaen nodded as Mallory went over and spoke to Poet. He noticed Poet take out a candle and wink at Vaen. Vaen seemed confused, so he walked over there.

"This 'ere is a time candle. If ye are to go out with a lad and I dinna approve, then ye get one hour alone with the lad, and the candle will last only one hour. This candle 'ere, however, will last six hours," Poet said.

Vaen blinked a moment. "What can we do in six hours?"

Mallory laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know!"

Vaen chuckled and nodded. "Well, lead on."

The two then left for Spirituality where Mallory showed Vaen a pleasant little lake. Vaen smiled as he knew this place, but he didn't want to disappoint Mallory. She seemed to already know that he knew this place, anyway. After sitting together on the log for some time, they continued up to the Twin Oaks tavern, where Vaen showed Mallory around. Mallory thought the tavern was well designed, but that it was a shame that no one was around there.

"One last trip for tonight..." Vaen said.

"Where to?" Mallory asked.

"Follow me!"

Vaen and Mallory walked towards a cave to the North. They ran through the cave and exited at the east. They then walked in between rock pillars, and were teleported infront of the Ethereal Fortress. Mallory's eyes lit up as they walked through the area.

"This is absolutely beautiful!" Mallory said, her eyes still wide opened. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Vaen smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

Mallory nodded and the two of them went and sat on some of the pillows that the ethereals have on the ground. They sat there for a while, discussing random things and enjoying eachother's company. After a bit, Mallory and Vaen wandered up to the roof and looked over the water. This was a sight to see. There was nothing more beautiful in the world that anyone could lay eyes on.

After some time passed, Mallory felt it would be best if she head back to the Tavern. She didn't want to, for she said that she loved being here with Vaen, but she felt that she should.

Just then, Vaen told her to wait.

"What is it?" Mallory asked.

"Look uhh. Ok, I'm going to come out and say this right now. Because... if I don't, it'll eat away at me." Vaen paused a moment and nodded to himself. "I love you." He nodded, and then looked around a bit.

Mallory's eyes grew wide as a huge smile came across her face. "Do you...?"

Vaen nodded

Mallory quickly wrapped her arms around Vaen, hugging him tight. "I love you, too! I just, I didn't know if I should say it, or..." She stopped talking and nodded to herself, smiling up at him.

Vaen smiled back at her and then kissed her lightly. "It's been quite a night. I suppose you should get back to the tavern, and then me to sleep." They both nodded in agreeance. They kissed once more and then they parted their ways.

Vaen jumped into his bed and smiled to himself. "I said it. That felt good to get off my chest. Whew!" He pulled the covers over himself and quickly fell asleep. The last thing on his mind being Mallory and himself standing on the roof of the Ethereal fortress, Mallory in Vaen's arms, as they both looked over the water.
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