173 Fireworks

Beautiful twinkling stars dotted the endless velvet sky as Luna held Krystof's hand. Marseille's docks had a fresh blanket of snow covering the piers. It was late, so one else was out and he suggested they go for a walk to digest their food. They had just eaten and danced at The White Rabbit for the first time since they got back. Tonight they moved in perfect harmony and Luna wished this evening would never end. These were the sorts of days she missed when they were fighting in Kochi.

She tilted her head to rest it on Krystof's strong frame, the warmth of his body emanated through his sage-colored coat and warmed her cold cheek. "I forgot to ask. Did you see Tyr when you visited my mother? He went home two days after you."

"Nah, I only visited her for a day. Ya know my mum wanted me to drop off the wine. I didn't wanna overstay and make Hrod angry." He lightly kissed the top of her head. The faint smell of citrus tickled his nostrils.

While Krystof did visit Luna's mother, he lied about his reason. His own mother did not ask him to drop off some wine. He had actually visited Hrod to seek Luna's hand in marriage. While he already got permission from Tyr, he thought it would be polite to ask Hrod as well. It was not a difficult request since both families always hoped their children would marry.

Hrod reacted with a similar response to his own parents when he told them his intentions. They all gave him a smug smile as if they expected this all along. It aggravated him that his love pleased them so much.

He spent his entire childhood listening to his parents and being the 'perfect son' that they could be proud of. In his adult years, he tried to ignore their suggestions and be his own person. It took hundreds of years for him to figure out who he really was. It was not until being with Luna, did Krystof find the middle path. Since being with her, his relationship with his family improved, and he did not always feel like talking so casually.

He led Luna to the edge of the pier. The cold salty air blew in their face and he felt her snuggle closer to him.

Krystof rummaged through his breast pockets, and pulled out two elixirs. The blue vials clinked together.

"Here," he handed her one.

A mischievous smile touched Luna's lips. He always liked doing fun and spontaneous things. Now she wondered what he was up to. "What's this?" She held it up, so the moonlight shined through it.

POP

The cork from his vial flew into the dark waters below when his thumb popped the top off his vial.

Krystof's voice had a lit of laughter in it as he speculated, "Well darling, it's either a potion so we die together in everlasting love... or a surprise."

He then shrugged his shoulders and chugged the potion down. It tasted bitter, and he stuck his tongue out and began coughing. He clutched his chest and fell into a heap of snow. His body glowed with a white aura for a moment.

Luna laughed at his ridiculous performance. She nudged him with the tip of her boot, but he did not move.

She rolled her eyes, "I know you didn't die. That was obviously some sort of wind-based potion you drank."

He still did not make a move, so she knelt down beside him and traced her finger along his thin lips. She then gave it a little nibble.

In an over-exaggerated voice, she cried out, "Oh, my love! Death has sucked the honey from your breath, but it has not yet ruined your beauty." She grabbed his empty vial. "What have you done?!"

Uncorking her potion, she sobbed, "Come, bitter poison. Here's to my love!" Luna drank the potion. Her eyes grew wide as her body was enveloped with a white light. She gave a genuine cough from the bitterness that hit her tongue. Kissing Krystof one last time, she dropped onto his chest.

After a moment, Krystof opened his eyes and chuckled. His voice was shameless when he asked, "So if I died, ya promise to follow me?"

He loved how Luna played along with him. Not all women had the same humor that she possessed and it was probably the most beautiful thing about her. In his eyes, she was irreplaceable, and he was glad to find the love of his life so young.

Luna's eyes remained closed, "I think I'm still dead. I need a kiss to revive me."

Her cheeks strained to suppress a smile. The beat of his steady heart resounded through the fabrics of his clothes. It was a sound that always brought her peace. During the war, it was the only way she could relax enough to sleep through the night. It was comforting knowing he was there, watching over her.

A soft snort came from Krystof. His voice was mournful, "What's this? Death has no power over your beauty! Your lips are still red, and your cheeks still blush."

He rolled her over onto her back and bundled some of the fluffy white snow in his hands.

Krystof's blue-green eyes darkened, his voice was warm like a summer afternoon, "May my love breathe life into you once more."

His gentle lips came down and savored the treasured touch of her lips. As Luna parted her lips, he pressed the handfuls of snow against her cheeks.

The cold snow caused Luna's eyes to flash open, and she pushed him off her. "Krystof!" she shrieked.

Giving him a frown, she rubbed the flakes off of her cheeks. She then placed her palms where the snow had stung and tried to warm herself.

He gave a dazzling smile, "Ah, true love's kiss worked! Come and dance with me, my fairest lady."

He stood up and bowed formally, extending his hand.

The sight of him acting in a courtly manner made Luna's eyes roll. When her hand touched his, he pulled her up and into his arms. The ocean breeze blew, and she breathed in the salty air while looking at his blonde hair playfully whip with the wind.

Krystof bought the elixirs so he could easily take her dancing on the water. As he stepped towards the edge, he felt Luna hesitate. "Do you trust me?" he asked. His teal eyes dared her.

"Of course," she replied. Her faith in him had never been a question.

As soon as she answered, he lept off the pier with her. Their feet made ripples on the waves and an enchanting melody drifted through the air.

The small fishing boat he hired came out from behind a large merchant ship. On it, there sat a band that played music for them. The company played one of their favorite songs to dance to. It had been the first song they mastered dancing to when they were younger.

Krystof liked to believe that Luna used to request him to be her partner because he had been the best dancer out of the group. The reality was that she hated dancing with Tyr because she claimed he purposefully stepped on her feet and Freyr was shorter than her at the time.

He remembered how the two of them used to practice the steps to this song daily during that summer at his family's home. Back then, he, Freyr, and the Valois twins would all take turns hosting which residence to stay at during the summers. Since they were similar ages their parents became close.

That summer was also when he first began to view her as a woman. She had just begun to develop and he had trouble not looking at the small swell of her chest while the heat of her body lingered so close to his.

The music played, and a loud scream filled the air.

CRACK BOOM CRACK

Red, blue, and yellow fireworks lit up the dark night sky. Luna slowed her steps to look above them. It was rare for Marseille to have such a display. It was usually only on their Independence Day that they had such a sight.

Krystof whispered in her ear, "You're not keeping up with the steps, love."

His tender voice brought her back to the dance. "But Krystof, there are fireworks!" She really did want to see them.

The sight of her enjoyment made him smile. He stopped and nodded, "I know. I ordered the display just for you."

He gave tonight a lot of thought. It was the only proposal he ever expected to make in his life and he wanted Luna to remember it fondly for the rest of their lives.

Her eyes grew wide. "Why would you..." she began to ask. Her question stopped when she saw him getting down on one knee.

"Luna, I fall in love with you every single day. One day, if your legs don't work like they used to, I'll still enjoy holding you in my arms. Love is mysterious, and I spent the past four hundred years ignoring how right you were for me." Reaching into his pocket, he brought out a ring, "Darling, will you marry me? I don't wanna waste any more time."

Luna's green eyes began tearing up. Krystof looked so handsome with the snow in his hair and the lights of the fireworks bursting in the sky above. She covered her mouth with her hand and nodded her head 'yes'.

This had been one of the last things she expected from him. They had only been dating for four years, but she already knew he was the one for her. Despite her confidence, he never mentioned marriage before to her.

Seeing her nod, Krystof slipped the ring onto her finger. "I love you," he said before kissing her. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and thanked the stars that he kissed her that night at the masquerade.