Mana Wells

King Luther was smartly dressed in a well meaning suit that carried providence, white with gold button. Almost military but more flashy, the crown adorned upon his head gracefully, fitting perfectly for his head.

"So what happened again?" said Kurt clueless as always.

"You proposed silly," said Talia, hugging his arm tightly for a moment. Giving him a longing look.

"You know what I mean, the flames, or blessing. What he was acting that way, he was obviously trying not to raise his head above mine," Kurt grabbed Talia back a little closer, causing them to both stop their walk back.

"So why didn't you ask him?"

"What if that changed everything and he just ate me? That thing is terrifying," Kurt said, turning back towards the balcony, then started to continue their walk back.

"Yeah, he takes a bit to get used to, he won't just kill someone he's not like that, but it's best to stay on his good side," Talia had a non-stop smirk on her face, and playfully swung her's and Kurt's arm.

"What side was I on? And why so giddy?"

"Well, this really cute Lord asked me to marry him," she smiled at him, "and I got this new power thing, I don't know what it does yet but it's something, here," she squeezed Kurt's hand hard, like Minotaur's hand hard. Kurt squeezed back, he wasn't about to be outdone by his own girl here.

"Yeah, I can feel a big difference in your strength," said Kurt, "what was that about being promoted?"

"Already having. The dragon blessing would make me heir to the Throne after King Luther."

"Wait what?"

"Yeah, we have nobility but some of the titles are chosen among us by the Fae and the crown by the dragon. Since we don't force guardianship upon them, but like I said, most of the battle is getting in front of the fae when the time comes. We want the people at the top to have the most power."

"But since the dragon blessed you, you sort of skipped the line."

"Basically."

"So you wanted to do that?" Kurt said unevenly.

"Definitely, it's not like I was expecting him to say that."

"So does that mean you're not a Countess anymore?"

"Nah I like the title, you get to pick at this level. No one's going to argue. I mean Countess is really for someone with a castle in some respects."

"Good, one Princess in my life is enough," and they laughed at the thought.

They walked back through the cavern they came through, it was just them as everyone else was waiting at the entrance to the castle. Coming through the gate they were met by King Luther, the appropriate bowing was done.

"So what happened?" said King Luther.

"Ohh, it was wonderful," said Talia, smiling looking up into the ins remembrance, "Kurt proposed to me and the dragon blessed me as Kurt's engagement present, it is the type of proposal one never forgets."

"He did what?"

"Yeah," Kurt said, playing along, "he sort of came early, I didn't think he noticed me right away, I was wrong. Sorry about that. I didn't intend for it to cause this much trouble."

"So he's gone back then?" said Luther.

"Ohh yes," said Talia, holding Kurt's arm closer, "everything should be back to normal, that is what you wanted right?"

"Yes," said Luther slowly.

"And I apologize for any disrespect," said Kurt, "I was intending on asking for permission like the normal decorum would expect, I was not expecting him to come down like that. And well, the moment was there."

"A Hopeless romantic? Couldn't help yourself? said Luther.

"I'd say so," said Talia.

The along looked at the two of them stroking his chin, silently for a moment, and then said, "then congratulations are in order."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"There's no need to make a huge deal out of all this, you majesty," said Kurt.

"But I don't understand how you know Darien?"

Kurt looked at Talia. There really wasn't an explanation because Kurt didn't know Darien. "I didn't. I had a charm made that was supposed…to," Kurt paused, "help lure a spiritual being, like…a…Kitsune, I didn't actually expect it to be a dragon, or know about the dragon. It was sort of an accident. I was hoping to lure something special for the moment. And Lord Darien surprised me as being that spiritual being that was lured. It's a gift for the creature, and so he has it now." Kurt amazed himself with this lie, it was always the best lie, as it was lured just by Kurt himself somehow, so it was based on a truth.

"How did you make the charm?"

"It was one of the elves at Wellspring, they actually suggested the technique to me. I wasn't expecting it to be a dragon, they said it would be like a tiny spirit." Kurt said, putting out his arms with a small gap. The joining of the Goatmen and Minotaurs were mostly unknown to the Valentine clan, who seemed much more likely to actually have that capability, but how would he know anything about the elves?

"So this was all a big misunderstanding from Darien? He thought you were bringing the charm to him. And then you of course gave it to him once it was clear."

"Exactly," said Talia, "Kurt didn't mean to cause this fuss, he wanted to surprise me with something special for the moment. Please forgive us if it's caused you any trouble. This is normally where he accepts offerings so that's why he came here."

And so there it was, Kurt and Talia were officially engaged. The whole trip's purpose was fulfilled, as the proposal was always supposed to be on the table. It was political at its heart. Or was it?

Kurt gave a passing look at Talia's ass. Her dress today was revealing as always. She was someone he could rely on too, right? Kurt was giving a stare a bit too long and was met with Talia's eyes, she turned back a little smiling, a bit blushing and Kurt couldn't help his own smirk. A man could actually get used to a life like this sometimes.