Tala took the chain in hand, feeling the intricate links flowing between her fingers. Tala's mind was already looking for some sort of pattern within it, something hidden-that would mean something, only to her...she guessed Pashas mother had worn it, and gifted it to her son such a reason as this. She could almost hear a voice in the back of her mind.
Take care of my boy, you hear me?
She kept respectfully silent, as she hooked it behind her neck, letting the length fall onto her chest. It seemed natural that it should be there. Tala was a creature of omen, though-and Pasha must have known, to be giving up his lucky charm for her. She had to give him something soon...fate need not be tempted at this moment.
She could only hold the silence for a moment longer-anymore, and the tension would become unbearable. She said the words she had perhaps been wanting to ever since they had met.
"Oh, and-Yes, Pasha Dolgrouki. I will marry you. What did you expect me to say? "
And, so it was. They laughed, and kissed, tenderly embracing each other with renewed passion-confident that whatever tragedies and hardships they would face in the future, would be balanced by all these small simple joys.
There is a certain feeling that one enjoys in these moments-not of loss of self, or being tied down to another-but the feeling that two souls have merged into one body, perfectly balanced and utterly right. Words do such little justice to the feeling.
It was so touching, even Wilhelm couldn't help but shed a tear.
....
She reached into her small travelling chest a moment later, the one hanging from Emeralds side.
"Take this gift as well. My father wore this ring. He told me the man who wore it, would not die as long I loved him...and yet, he still gave it to me from his own hand."
Tala held out the ring to Pasha. It was a simple thing, a sturdy steel loop with a wild rose engraved into the circular face-the bud of rose was a tiny, sparkling amber colored gem. It had always felt warm to her, especially if she held it in the Sunlight-like a living thing. Of all the things Tala had, it meant the most to her-a ward against evil, one whose power flowed from her, and her alone. So, she could protect him, even when she wasn't there...