Nymph was quick to shut her flames down and run after Clyde. She helped him with her mother before getting them back to Arri. “I need a healer to check out her head!” The court was not in an uproar as Clyde and Nymph got her up into her bedroom. Clyde put her gently down on the bed and Nymph had never ever seen her mother that fragile looking.

Healers came up and washed up the mark. If Angela had been feeling better this would have been over right then and there. “She’s got a bad bump. She might be out for a few days. The force he hit her with would have killed a human.” The healer commented and Nymph got antsy. 

“Can you fix her?” Nymph's voice was squeaking now as she got even more worried about her mother. She was quite literally pacing the floor at that point.

“Nothing we can do but patch that up and wait for her to wake up,” the healer cleaned the queen up and bandaged where she had to. 

Clyde was quick to enter the gate with Lily in his arms. She still hadn’t woken up, and he was wishing she would open her eyes already. They made their way quick into the manor and up to her room. As he laid her down onto the bed, he kissed her head and whispered into her ear, “Don’t you die on me, love.” He stepped away quickly and let the healer do their job.

Nymph was the one to start to pace the room, he quickly moved infront her and put his hands on her shoulders to ground her. She needed to be grounded. She needed to know someone was there for her when her mother wasn’t. “Just breath, Nymph. She will wake up. I know it. “ He gave her a tight hug. “You should go wash up…” He paused as he looked into her eyes. She hadn’t had her bath yet. That was why she lost so much control. “You need to take your bath…” He knew she would fight against him with this. A daughter would always want to be by their mother’s side until they were better.  “Your mother needs you to.”

With that he walked over to Lily once more to kiss her head. He was going to clean up as well, and call Ana. Maybe she could search down the men they were working for if any.  He sighed as he looked over to the reluctant Nymph. “Is her bath drawn?” He asked the servant near by. It only took one nod and he was soon next to Nymph. “You leave me no choose, child.” Throwing him over his shoulder, he followed the servant who showed him the way to her bath. He didn’t bother to put down the kicking and screaming nymph. He nodded to the servant as they opened the door and left. They knew what was about to happen.

Walking into the bath, he tossed Nymph into the bath, clothes and all. He pointed down to her with stern eyes. He wanted to say the words that were in his mind. 'You almost killed your mother.' But her knew that would hurt her too much. Instead he said, “Bathe.” With that word, he turned around and shut the door behind him. He leaned back against the side of the door and let out a breath. He relaxed a bit. He needed to let his body calm now. Maybe a bath would help him as well?

As soon as he moved his leg to walk, pain shot up his side. Moving open his jacket, he sighed. There was a large gash on his right side. Blood was absorbed in his jacket, shirt and top of his pants. He finally felt the coolness of the blood that trickled down his leg. How much blood had he lost? Clyde’s thoughts were answered as he fell to the ground. Darkness taking him.

The healers were quick to try to tend to Clyde’s wounds. They moved him into the bed with Lily after he was all bandaged up with salve and all. Nymph, on the other hand, was huffing and puffing as she undressed from damp cold clothes after her bath. She was shivering as she put fresh on. “I’m gonna cut him.” She seethed a bit but he had been like a father to her almost. That much made her smile a bit. She wouldn’t be easy on him about that.

Once she found out that he had been hurt she ran up to the room and tended to him. He didn’t take nearly as long as her mother to wake up. As soon as he was up Nymph laid down on the other side of the bed with Lily. Her head of brown curls were snuggled into her mother’s chest.

So for two days she sat by her bed and waited. Nymph was passing in and out of consciousness on the bed next to her mother. She was like a little kid as she laid there just out of her mother’s grasps. When Lily did wake up she let out a groan. “I’ve got  the worst ache ever on my head.” 

Nymphaea sprung up and hugged her. “I didn’t think you would ever wake up. I was so scared Mama.” Lily hugged the girl and gave Clyde a smile. “Are you okay?”

“Groggy… and in pain but otherwise, I’m fine.” Lily kissed her daughter’s head. “Are you alright Clyde?” Then there was something devious in her eyes. "Yes." That was all she had to say to him and his ring.

Clyde’s eyes blinked open, his eyes opened to a sunshine lit room. His eyes squinted shut for a moment as his eyes adjusted. Blinking his eyes again, he looked over to the woman beside him. He sighed. How long had he been asleep? And why hadn’t she woken? As he tried to sit up, pain shot threw his side. He fought the urge to curse as he got out of bed. He dressed in his clean pressed clothes then made his way back to Lily. He frowned as he pushed a strand of hair from her face. Leaning down he kissed her head and walked out of them room.

As soon as nymph saw him leave, she rushed into the room to lay beside her mother. He looked at the moment she was having. A girl who wanted to grow up, but became a little girl when her mother was hurt. The things she must be feeling in that moment. With a sigh, he closed the door softly behind him. He left her alone and headed down stairs. He needed some fresh air. Her needed to get his nerves in control, but first he needed some paper.

Going into the study, he found some paper, quill and ink. He took the time to write his sister. He needed her.

Dear Anastasia,
Lily and I were Kidnapped and attacked.
We are all right now. Please come I need to ask a favor
Of you.
With love,
Your Brother

Clyde paused as he look up towards the bright sunny sky.  He held up the note and sent it to his sister the same way he sent one to Lily. With that he headed to the bazaar, he wanted to buy some roses to set next to Lily’s bed.

When he reach the bazaar, everyone was silent. They were all worried about their queen. He walked in silence as he headed into the man who sold the flowers. “Has the queen awoken yet?” The seller asked as he saw Clyde. Everyone was finally knowing who he was. Clyde shook his head in response and picked up some bright yellow flowers. “They are hopefuly she will wake. Her body needs to heal.” Clyde said as he handed the man a few coins. He ended up shaking his head. “No. They are for the queen. Take them to her.” The man held up his hand, he wouldn’t accept any money.

With a nod, Clyde headed back to the manor. When he arrived, his sister stood beside the door. She looked out at him with a solemn face. “Is she alright?” She asked and Clyde explained everything that happened. He asked her to look for the men who wanted this all done, and she nodded. He needed to stay with the queen.

Hugging his sister, he said goodbye and headed into the house. It wasn’t long until he found a vase in the kitchen and made his way back up room she laid in. He put the flowers next to Lily o her nightstand.
He noticed the Nymph hadn’t moved from her spot on the bed. He decided to sit on a chair nearby and wait with her. He didn’t move only to use the washroom. The servants took their food to them.

Days passed until she woke up. He shot up from his spot on the chair and stood silently as mother and daughter hugged. He smiled down at Lily and nodded. She spoke again and he smiled. “I am alright just a little scratch.” He paused in his words as she said yes. He was thrilled but he wanted to do ask her in a special way. “Nymph, look after your mother. I am going to get her some food.” With that he rushed out of the room and headed into the kitchen.

He made her the same soup as before as the healer made her way up to the room. With a smile went up to the room and put her food onto the nightstand. “Nymph, can you help your mother eat? I have to run out really fast.” He said with a smile and gave Lily a quick kiss. “Wash her up too later. You kind of smell, love.” He joked and left to the bazaar again.

“It doesn’t look like a little scratch Clyde.” Lily could still smell the blood that wasn’t her own. 

Nymph nodded to him, “I can hold the fort while you leave.” There was a smirk as Lily rolled her eyes. She wouldn’t dare try to get out of bed right now and worry them both. At least not by herself. “Alright, alright. Payback is a bitch ain’t it Mom.” There was a sly smile on her daughter's face.

Reaching underneath the bed Lily pulled out a pail. Nymph put her hands up. “WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU KEEP THOSE.” With a smirk, Lily put the pail of holy water next to the bed and Nymph was in shock. “You wouldn’t dare throw it on me without needing a reason.”

“You give me plenty of reasons to smack you in the head with a pail of holy water. Your mouth is one of them.”

“I liked her better when she was sleeping,” Nymph yelled at Clyde in distress. Though it didn’t last for long as Nymph laid her head in her mother’s lap while Lily ate. After she was done eating she spent time stroking Nymph’s long dark hair.

“You were a good girl for Clyde right? You didn’t give him any trouble?” Lily looked down and eyed her child with a smile. “Not too much trouble right?”

Nymph grunted and snuggled into her. “He picked me up and threw me in a bath.” They both had a laugh together before Nymphaea helped her mother into the bath. She carefully cleaned Lily’s long hair. “It’s just like when you bathe my hair for me.”

Lily laughed a bit. “Not so hard Nymph. You gotta be gentle. Try lighter strokes.” Nymph looked distressed for a moment as she tried to be more gentle with her mother’s hair. “That’s much better. See you can control it when you want to.”

As Clyde closed the door behind him, he heard the laughter inside, it brought a smile to his face. He leaned against the door for a moment as he listened to them. It warmed his heart to see them come together. The first time he met them, they were at each other's throats. He was glad they could laugh together. Pushing off the door, he headed down the stairs, before his boot hit the last step, he heard Nymph’s voice call down to him. He let out a laugh as he walked out the door.

He took his time walking towards the bazaar. He wanted to do something special for the woman he loved and ask her to marry him the proper way. Somehow she had found out about the ring, it was laying right next to her when he found her. He couldn’t stop grinning as he moved through the city. His whistle filled the air, it was a cheerful tune he learned as a child.

Clyde soon stopped his whistling as he entered the bazaar. People was still solem, then didn’t know their queen had awakened. “She rises and is grateful for the day!” He called over them as he held his hands up. The faces turned to smile and the music started to play. People cheered loving that the moment of silence was over. Their queen was alive. With a smile, the elemental moved through the now busy bazaar.

“Today is a great day.” The roseman cheered as Clyde approached. “Yes!” Clyde replied as he grabbed a dozen white and a dozen red roses. He handed the man some coins and moved on to the next thing he needed to buy. The candle maker stood behind his candles shouting for people to buy. As Clyde came up to him, he asked what he needed. “About 20 cream large to medium candles but only one slim long one.” The man nodded and hurried to put his purchases into a tote for him to carrie. Next was food. He grabbed a few things of chicken, knowing he nymph would be hungry as well. He got the chicken that was already defeathered, skinned and cut. He got a few potatoes, some asparagus, and bread. Paid up and then headed back to the house.

The  elemental didn’t bother going up stairs, but got the chicken cooking over the fire. As that cooked, he snuck into her bedroom. He heard them in the washroom laughing. He smiled as he started to pull a mixture of white and red petals off their stems and onto the bed,table, dresser and nightstands, even some on the floor. Grabbing one small vase from the kitchen, he put that in the center of the table in her bedroom, one red rose and one white. He also lit the fireplace, then he was finished with the room. He left the curtains open to let in the starlight.

With that, Clyde hurried down stairs to finish cooking their meal. He hurried down to the wine cellar and then poured 3 glasses of wine. He smiled, hopefully Nymph didn’t tell her mom. He left her plate in the the kitchen as he headed up to the room. He set up their dinner then stood by the table and was just in time as they walked out of the bathroom. “Get out of here Nymph, your dinner is in the kitchen.” He said with a smile, then walked over to Lily. He took her hand and sat her down at the table. “Dinner, MiQueen. Enjoy.” He said with a smile then sat before her to eat. "I am really glad you are alright." He smiled over the burning candle at her.

Nymphaea helped her mother out of the tub after she was done. Dressed her in something comfortable and brushed her long blonde hair out. “Gently…” She repeated to herself as she brushed the hair out. She was careful to be gentle with any knots. Lily looked proud of her as they left the washroom.

Lily’s face lit up and a blush soon followed. “Ever the romantic my love.” A laugh left her lips as he shooed Nymph out of the room.

“Don’t want to be in the love birds’ way anyways.” She stuck her tongue playfully out at Clyde before running down to the kitchen to get the room.

Lily chuckled a bit. “She’s taken a liking to you. Consider yourself lucky since she doesn’t really like anyone.” She took his hand back and kissed his cheek lightly. She sat down at the table and looked at the food before her. “This all looks so beautiful and good.” She commented on the petals and candles. 

She smiled over the candle back as she began to eat the food as well. She lifted the wine glass up and toasted him before drinking that lightly. “You never cease to amaze me. I was more worried about you when I woke up and smelled blood! Well, blood that wasn’t mine.” She frowned lightly. “But I am glad they were able to patch you up. I imagine Nymph hasn’t slept much since everything happened.”

A chuckle left her lips as she tilted her head. “What’s the occasion anyways?” She had already said yes was he actually going to go through the motions? Of course, he was.

Clyde looked at her, his mind seemed to clear of all worry as he looked at her. He smiled softly at her. He laughed a bit at her comment about the blood. “I was worried about you, I woke before you did, and I honestly thought you weren’t going to wake up for a moment there..” He fought a frown as he thought of his thoughts since he woke. He took another bite of his chicken, chewed and took a sip of wine. It was wonderful. “Always the best here in Arri.” He thought as he took another sip.

Lily spoke about Nymph and he nodded. “Maybe cause I don’t put up with her childish tantrums.” He said with a laugh thinking of then he threw her into the bath just a few days ago. He paused as he started to take a bite and put the silverware down. “She was really worried about you.” He smiled as he thought of the past few weeks. “You both have come a very long way since the first time I met you. She seemed to hate you. Now she was so worried about her mother she didn’t want to eat or sleep. It was very surprising.” He finished his bite he was going to take and chewed.

Hearing the words of his lover, he fought the urge to cough. Keeping his calm gentle demeanor, he stared at her over the candle. “We are celebrating life?” He said but laughed a bit after. She knew exactly what was going on. She did see the ring after all. He cleared his throat and put down his silverware. “I wanted to make you feel special..” He smile at her before he stood up to receive a gift for her he left on the nightstand. It was hidden behind the roses he bought earlier. He wrapped it with burlap and twine. Walking over to her he handed it to her, “This is for you.” He smiled and didn’t take his seat. He waited for her to open it. As soon as she opened it, it was a white leather bound journal, painted yellow flowers decorated it. “Open it.” He said softly.

In his fancy scripted writing, it read on the first page:
Lily Rose,
We both have been through so much
But I promise to love and cherish you.
You are the best person to enter my life.
I would rather spend a lifetime with you
than face all the ages of this world alone.

I, Clyde Lucius Vladimir, choose you to be my wife.


In the middle of the page was the page marker,  a yellow silk string tied around a ring. The ring he chose for her.

As soon as she would look up from the page, she would see him kneeled before her.
“Lily Rose, Be my wife?” He smiled up at her with loving eyes.

Lily laughed a bit, “Believe it or not Nymph is very sweet. She treats everyone like that so they don’t notice how soft she is. She doesn’t want to be seen as weak. We only broke her for the moment. I’m sure she’ll be back to her usual self soon.”

She stared at the book and smiled up at him. “This is so beautiful.” She turned the cover and read what he wrote to her. If her eyes could soften anymore they did. Her eyes teared up a bit even if she knew that it was coming. It was everything that she had wanted and his words spoke to her quite well.

Her fingers played with the ring as she looked up at him. She laughed and leaned forwards to him so she could kiss him. “I already said yes.” She kissed his forehead after that and laughed more. “To be honest, knowing you were going to propose actually pissed me off more that they interrupted.” Her words were soft. “He threw it in my face and made it seem like we were never going to tell each other that. I have faith in you and Nymph. I know… that you can be the father that Nymphaea needs. If… that is what you want.”

She let Clyde put the ring on her finger and she admired it. “It’s so beautiful.” She admitted. She loved everything that Clyde got her since it was always so thoughtful. She kissed him again and smiled. “Suppose we should plan, shouldn’t we? I suppose we should do a grand celebration. Something to be remembered. We can invite almost all of our family. Though I don’t think there is room enough for all of mine.”

She held his hands and there was a happy sigh that left her lips as she found herself lost for words now. “I love you, Clyde.” They were the only words she could get out in her bliss.

The elemental didn’t let the anger from the day before rise inside him. This was supposed to be a happy moment and it was. The most happiest he had ever been. He smiled up at her from his spot. “I love you, in addition I care for Nymph as well. You and her come together or not at all. “He smiled as he cupped her cheek. “She might be a rebellious half demon, but I like her and feel we can have a bond one day.”

Clyde took the ring from the book and slipped it onto her finger. He smiled up at her before their lips kissed. “We will figure it out all in good time.” He whispered against her lips, but before he could kiss her, she said she loved him. “I love you.” He said against her lips before connecting them. He picked her up from the chair, his lips didn’t leave her’s as he took her to the flower petal covered bed.

This moment was different, it was filled with all the love they had for eachother. Even their eyes showed their love as they looked at each other as they made love. Soon after they finished, he soon fell asleep. Not getting sleep would get to a man after using a lot of effort to please their loved one.

The morning showed brightly in the windows. Blinking his eyes, he sat up. Looking down at her sleeping face, he smiled down at her. With a kiss on the cheek, he got out of bed and dressed. “Maybe I could make her breakfast before she wakes.” He thought to himself as he headed down stairs.

Right before he entered the kitchen he heard a knock at the door. ‘It was barely morning, who could that be?” He thought as he headed towards the door. Opening it he saw his sister. “Ana.” She pushed passed him as she entered the house. “It’s done.” She said as she looked around the house. “We’ll isn’t this quaint.” She was serious about her comment.

“Uncle Clyde. It’s been too long.” A young man entered the door, and Clyde hugged him close. “Alden! It’s been only a year and you have grown! You're almost as tall as me!” Clyde said cheerfully as he patted the boys back. The boy was just over six feet tall. His features soft, not touched by age. His eyes a grayish blue. A thin scar was over his right eye. His hair was just about to his shoulders and a dark brown. He wore a black and white coat that hang softly, His pants black with black boots and black gloves. A red sash was over his shoulder and around his waist.  Black leather belts hanged over his hips holding two swords, a katana and a shorter one.

Alden gave a small smile to his uncle and stepped inside. “I was just about to make breakfast. Come join me Alden. Ana want to head upstairs and see if Lily is awake?” He asked. She nodded and he told her what door it was. WIth a sigh, she headed up the stairs. No matter what she said he wasn’t going to let her go. Apparently she was a keeper.

Little did the sister know how much of a keeper Lily was.