She opened her eyes, and inclined her head upwards to meet his gaze. The view made her want to weep. Not a dream, after all...Tala had a thought that many people would pay any price to be looked at in this way, but it was the one thing you could never buy. And, it was all hers.
She shuffled a bit, letting her hair down with her left hand, in those apple-red waves as she undid the military style knot that she done during the battle. She noticed Pasha approved.
"Well, it comes down to two things.
Either we head away from Ligoria-and cast away all ties here, becoming truly free, answering to no one but ourselves. The world will be ours to travel. Ah, the places we go...even if they chase us, as some might-they'll never catch us. We will always be one step ahead of them. One day, we'll settle down. I've always loved horses. Maybe we could run a ranch...it's where we might have ended up, I guess, if we had been a more traditional couple...oh, to Hell with tradition, though. We'll have a hundred horses-all named after gemstones, of course. Lots of land to ride in...lots of room for children to play on..."
Tala wanted that happy future-just him and her (maybe just a few dozen children), safe and happy-but it was so far away...the hardship would be long. And fate might not spare them a second time. But it was such a sweet thought, she could not yet deny it. Reason followed, if they were together now, they would be together always. Yes.
She thought for a moment.
"Or, we head back to Ligoria...but, things will be different this time, Pasha. If we choose to go back, I would have to settle down with you. Even though my...duties would continue, I would no longer be sundered from you.
I have been too selfish up till now-enjoying your company, but letting you suffer by keeping myself apart. No more. I'm not going to let myself be shared anymore...from now on-I'm with you, in public and private. Not only us-the World will know. You will have me-to have and to hold...for richer and poorer..."
She smiled, letting the words sink in-imagining the elegant wedding they would have together. Her...job, would continue-but it would have to do so without using her nature as a single, available woman. And why couldn't it? The Dragon Empire could not know easily remove her without exposing their own actions. They would accept her decision. Matthew on the other hand...
Ah, no need to think about him right now.
Her tone become a trifle humorous.
"Also...the richer part won't be so bad. As my spouse, you would become a noble as well-equal to me in all ways...well, marrying me is not so bad then, is it not? All that money. Even when all my pretty red hair falls out and my fine skin becomes akin to leather armor, you will still have a mountain of ducats to spend on flowers for young pretties..."