Since their encounter with Yffryn, Lieutenant de Bellefeuille has seen little of her Eeee mage friend – who has, it seems, been busy with one thing or another at the College for most of the last twenty or so days. On 8 Landing, however, she receives a note:

Having received the letter from Cyprian, a mention that he has been called to depart far sooner than she had hoped, Elise has seen to arranging time to meet with the mind mage. Though her work has been stressful and even her rest has been studied, she manages to convince her superiors as well as Yffryn and her cohorts to allow her some time alone. Freed from her responsibilities if for just a night, she ventures forth as the light of the sky grows dim, to meet with Cyprian.

When she arrives, Elise finds that – as is perhaps usual for him – Cyprian is already there. He sits sideways on the swing, rocking slightly from side to side on it, as she walks between the trees that guard the path, then stands as she draws nearer, smiling to her. "Thank you for coming, my lady."

Though the Eeee is dark, his deep and fascinating green eyes serve as a beacon in the twilight as does his smile. She in turn smiles, pausing a few steps out of the gazebo. "I am happy to see you once again, Cyprian. When I heard you were leaving … I could not refuse, no matter what test or function I need attend. I had to come," she says before resuming her approach.

"I sent my message as soon as I knew," the Eeee mage confesses, his eyes drinking in the sight of her as she walks towards him. Abruptly aware that he is staring, he politely averts his eyes, gazing without focusing at the tree over her shoulder. "I regret the inconvenience that coming to see me has caused you … but I am glad that you have undertaken it, nonetheless."

"Inconvenience … You say it as though you were petitioning me as an officer of the Temple to see to some ruffian," Elise says, humor in her voice. Shaking her head as she approaches she watches him. "Though I offer my help, and I perform dutifully … there are times I must take for myself, lest I give everything. I would like to think this is a time I have kept for myself, and First Ones know I am pleased to share it with you."

Cyprian bows to her as she speaks, in courtly fashion, replying, "I am less worthy of your time than the lowest of ruffians who petitions it, my lady, though I hope at the least I am more appreciative of your sacrifice." Rising from his bow, he offers another smile, this one mischievous, to accompany his words, and gestures to the swing. "Would my lady care to sit a moment, or would she prefer a walk through the Procession-lit garden of enchantments?"

As if from a fairy-tale and in response to Cyprian's bow, Elise issues a more formal curtsey. "I would be honored to accompany you, my lord, through this quiet garden in a stroll through the twilight," she tells him. Rising from the curtsey she glances off into the garden to Cyprian, and then to herself and her sword. "And I think … for once that I need not this to accompany me."

"What, my lady?" he says, in mock-alarm. "You think you will be safe from me?" Almost as soon as he says it, the mage looks as though he regrets the playful words, averting his eyes again, then tries to cover for it, continuing, "But here I was relying on you to keep me safe from the perils of this place, my lovely warrioress."

For a moment Elise does not say anything, apparently catching Cyprian's slip of the tongue. As if deciding something she speaks in response, her quiet and happy and saying something of an unspoken judgement in that, "I think I carry a sword often enough; I would like for a moment to put it down and … focus on peace, if just for the eve." After unbuckling her belt and the sword and dagger pair attached to it, she walks on to stand next to Cyprian, reaching past him to lay the items against the inner wall of the gazebo, and as she draws back she looks up to the Eeee. "Shall we walk on, my lord?"

With an inclination of his head, in silent acknowledgement of words both said and unsaid, Cyprian offers her his arm. "Thank you, my lady," he says again, and this time she senses his thanks are as much for what she has not done as for what she has. "Has your tyrant been abusing you mightily still?" he inquires. "Locked away in an airless room to study ancient, crumbling ledger sheets?"

Accepting the arm without hesitation, the Gallee steps beside Cyprian and turns to look out unto the path with him. "I fear it is far worse than that, for now I have Dean Yffryn eagerly studying my sleeping states. I awaken with the strangest feeling I that I have awakened as some strange lab creation, as in the stories that used to frighten my sister when we were little," replies Elise. "My dear sister. I am certain she misses me; it is so sad that I need leave her alone so much."

"I imagine she does," the mage says, softly, laying his hand over hers where it rests on his arm. "I know I would. I am sorrier still to learn of Yffryn's prodding at you." He stops walking for a moment to meet her gaze with intent and sober eyes. "Tell me, seriously, my lady, has she harmed you? How do these 'experiments' of hers go?"

Elise simply nods a little to further mention of her sister, looking for the moment sad. When the mage stops walking and faces her, she turns to meet him. "She has not harmed me other than to be a good deal too over-enthusiastic, and as I mentioned, cause me to awaken as if the subject of a strange horror novel fraught with comfortable pillows. To be quite honest, nothing of interest has happened. No dreams. No Sisters. I fear I may be boring her," she answers quietly.

"Well, good. Except that she deserves worse than boredom," Cyprian says, with a momentary glower. "I am glad the comatose dream mages have awakened. Perhaps with luck – or justice – one of them will supplant our good Acting Dean." He turns to resume their stroll, continuing with the same sincerity if less vehemence, "I would that you had not offered yourself as subject for her studies. I do not trust her."

A faint chuckle comes from the poodle as she follows Cyprian's lead down the path. "Unfortunately, as is often the case, I am called to serve beneath people I do not trust. I would tell you I am quite used to it, and though I do not trust her either, I believe the risk is worth what I may gain. Now with the awakening of the dream mages and my participation therein, and my assistance now, it can be said Rephidim did indeed have a part in this. And though Caroban may not entirely like that fact, I am glad to have helped and to have acted at least in some small uncertain degree assisted my country as well. If what has been said is true, then this may well be over. I rather doubt it, but perhaps it is. And perhaps I will need not go to meet the Kindly One after all," explains the noblewoman.

"And that would be a blessing indeed, if it is true," the black mage agrees, smiling for a moment. "As I hope it is, and fear it is not. But maybe I should set aside my paranoia, my fears, and my dour thoughts, like you set aside your sword, for just a moment. Let us pretend that all is right with the world, that evil is vanquished, the nightmares ended, and good triumphant over all." He glances sidelong to her, green eyes sparkling with amusement, as he gestures grandly with one hand to punctuate his words.

Elise covers her muzzle with a free hand, giggling softly at the grand gesture and the accompanying speech. "Well said, my lord. Yes, let us pretend that in our private world of hedges and starlit sky that all is well and we need not worry. It has been ages since I last sought to pretend. Though back then, I was not the knight," she tells him. Looking up, she marvels at the open sky, so close when on a sky island, and smiles. "Such a free world we have here. I almost do not know what to do, though I imagine together we can figure that out, mm?"

"I am sure we can come up with something, my lady, as long as we are pretending. Perhaps I can run off to join a carnival now, and leave all these weighty concerns behind me. I will be a simple charlatan, and play at guessinggames for the amusement of passers-by. And you … " The Eeee tilts his head, considering possible occupations for Elise, his pause inviting her to comment.

"And I … " The woman considers, tilting her head and pausing for such feats of imagination do not come so very easy anymore. "… I would be … I … My, I had not considered it … I had really never stopped to consider what I might be, had I been given the choice. I had always marveled at the Temple ever since my father brought me before the steps and showed me the changing of the Guard. I … I suppose I might choose a profession … no, that is not quite it … 'profession' sounds so very formal. I would wish to be a … " As the poodle searches and searches for something to be, she appears more and more surprised that she cannot find something – and just a little disturbed by the idea. Eventually she simply shakes her head and concedes, "You know, I have no idea?"

Cyprian watches her as she speaks, a smile growing on his lips as he listens to her go on, until at last, at her final statement, he gives a soft, pleased laugh. He brushes the fingers of his free hand lightly against her jaw, tilting her head up and towards him so that he may meet her eyes. The Eeee opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out as he gazes into the blue depths of her eyes. "Do you know … I cannot imagine you as any other than who you are, either, my Lady de Bellefeuille," he says at last, the words gentle and tender.

Unable to say anything to that, except perhaps in her blush which speaks volumes, the poodle searches Cyprian's eyes. As if to break from their hold she closes her own and tilts her head slightly into the Eeee's hand, smiling in embarrassment and unabated happiness. "Mm, I suppose it is true. Destined, forced, or chosen … this, my armor and my sword, is very much who I am. I had not wanted to admit it, fearing I had lost something in choosing this and by admitting it I would condemn myself to forever abandon that which I had lost … but I have gained more than I have lost. My existence is reinforced by service, and it gives me strength. Though … now that I have said that, I might wish that I served in a more peaceful capacity. A priestess perhaps," she says. Her free hand moves and touches Cyprian's, and she nods. "Yes. Or maybe that is not whimsical enough. We are using our imagination are we not? Well, I would be … oh … a dancer, and, an Eeee. Yes, that is quite whimsical, no?"

"I would not have you be an Eeee, my lady," the mage says, "Or, at least, if you be one, be not from Babel. I would not like to take your First Ones from you. Without them, for whom would you dance, my dear?"

"Oh, I had not considered that actually … Yes, I would be from Rephidim. For I could not imagine being from anywhere else. It is my country and it runs deep in my blood, and the heart of nearly all I would protect." Her eyes open and lifts her other hand to hold the hand that touches her jaw. "I fear I would fall over my wings, unfortunately. Although I would likely fall over my feet as well, for I am not nearly so graceful in art and music as my sister."

Still smiling, Cyprian shifts to place the hand that rests on the crook of his arm onto his shoulder, as he faces her, and he sets his hand lightly at her waist, then turns the hand she holds against her jaw outwards to take hers, and moves their linked hands into the proper position for a waltz. "I doubt that very much, my lady. I remember you well, as the most graceful of dancers at the most elegant of balls."

"I would attribute that to the glamour placed upon me, undoubtedly an aid to my two left feet." She watches his reaction, and before he can speak adds, "And you will not allow me that, will you? You will tell me it was my own doing, and that I am too hard on myself. Well … oh … yes. I will concede. It was at least partially my own doing, and it would say as much in my graduation papers. This stiff and formal warrioress can indeed dance. Perhaps there is a place for me beyond the battlefield."

"Aha!" Cyprian pronounces, with a quiet triumph, "The soldier admits that something other than chitin and steel lurks beneath this armor. Can it truly be so?" he inquires, leading her through a single revolution of a waltz upon the paving stones of the garden path.

In mock-shame, Elise shakes and lowers her head, brushing her nose against the edges of Cyprian's clothing. "Yes, it is true. I was once far removed from what you see now. I was once quite afraid of swords and war, the near mirror of my sister, though I was always more the responsible one, and often she who admitted breaking this or that heirloom even as my sister protested I not. Still, I have not forgotten where I came from. Perhaps in time I can see such old knowledge put to use along with my whimsical fantasy of dancing," says she.

"Mayhap, my lady," Cyprian says gently, still moving through the pattern of dance with her. "After all, are not all the evils vanquished and good triumphant? In tonight's wonderland, the soldier may retire, and you may put your other gifts to use." With her head lowered, he takes the opportunity to brush his nose briefly against her hair.

Abandoning her protest, the Gallee sighs softly and lays her head against the Eeee. "It is wonderful, is it not? The stars, and the children, and people everywhere relax and are thankful for a peaceful world. They nod to the soldiers for protection no longer necessary and bid they retire to their homes and place their swords where they might become mere heirlooms fit for story. What a time this is, and I need not focus on anything but right now. To live my life day to day in peace and enjoy what has been given me. To be happy," she whispers to him. Her tail wags slowly now, back and forth steadily.

"A wonderful time," Cyprian agrees in a murmur, cradling her to his body in a gentle embrace, still swaying a little, as if to unheard music. "Nothing left to think on but tonight, and nothing left to do but be happy." He rests his muzzle against the side of her head, and whispers, "Be happy, Elise."

"Happy," repeats Elise quietly, a dreamy quality to her voice. She shifts her head against the Eeee's shoulder, snuggling, and for all the world feeling happy for the moment. Nothing else to think about and no worries remembered. Just the here and now in the arms of the one she loves. And she is for a time, truly happy.