Marrel sat on the edge of the fence of the horse pen. The normal gallop and neighing of horses absent at this hour. She turned over an old dirty piece of clothing in her hands. Marrel was a pretty girl, she had long soft red hair, bright brown eyes and a fair completion. She looked down at the dark yellow piece of cloth in her hands and sighed remembering who had given it to her. Gan, her old childhood friend, who she was madly in love with. Ahhh the torment of a heart in love! He was a traveler, she had first met him when he was traveling with his father... Oh what a long time ago, and yet, it only seemed like yesterday... She let out another lonely sigh and cast a longing look out at the field. He used to come and see her, he'd go out of his way to. But, it had been almost three months since she had seen him. She gazed out longingly at the old dirt path expecting him to come galloping over to her. She looked down at the cloth in her hands again her hair which was caught in the summers night breeze obscuring her vision, she looked down at the blood stain on the cloth. He had used this to wrap up her hand when it got cut open by a piece of glass. She vaguely remembered the look in his eyes and the gentle smile that crossed his face when she said she was fine. "Where are you Gan...?" she asked looking up at the starry sky tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Normally he would of written or, or something! Yet she hadn't heard a thing. Why hadn't he written to her? She sighed and cast the cloth aside, he didn't care. That was why. The tears that had been forming in her eyes now began to spill down her cheeks. Why had she fallen for some one who would never feel the same way? Why had her heart been so foolish? She lowered her head a few tears landing on the ground at her feet. Why did she have to fall in love?

She heard the distant sounds of hooves and lifted her tear stained face. Was it, could it be? She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand and tried to see the rider. Was it him? Her heart was beating three times it's normal rate. Hope flared up with in her as she spotted the rider heading towards the farm entrance, was it him? She hopped off the fence and stepped on the cloth. She blinked and noticed the cloth under her foot, quickly grabbing it and stuffing it in her pocket she took another step forward straining her eyes to get a better look. She could vaguely make out the form of a hunched over rider wearing a dark blue tunic. She felt her heart was going to break through her chest it was pounding so hard and fast... It seemed the dark rider was moving in slow motion. He slowed to a canter as he reached that old worn path, it was him! It had to be! The rider straightened and looked around his gaze fell upon Marrel. He sped up a little and came to a stop in front of her, it was him!! "Hello!" he said smiling a dazzling heart melting smile. His crystal blue eyes sparkled and shone in the darkness that surrounded them his dirty blond hair fell loosely some falling in his face.

"Gan..." she breathed his name at a loss for words. Her silky red hair blew in her face. She was heedless of this as he hopped down from his tall steed and walked over to her his eyes sparkling "Why haven't I heard from you?" she managed to get out her voice a whisper.

"I was too far to write, I'm really sorry, but" he reached into one of the bags on his steeds saddle and began digging around "Where is it?" he asked him self digging a bit deeper then let out a triumphant "Ah ha!" as he pulled out a small leather pouch. Marrel gave him a curious look, a leather pouch? He grinned a bit and placed it in her hand.

She drew open the strings and gasped. There was a silver chain and hanging on it a beautiful green emerald part of it incased partly in silver "Oh Gan..." she breathed taking the chain out of the pouch "It's beautiful..." she gasped still in slight aw

Gan smiled another heart melting dazzling smile. "Not as beautiful as you" he whispered taking the chain from her and fasting it around her neck "It may not of been that long... But it felt like an eternity with out seeing you..." He stepped a bit closer to her. Her heart was pounding again as he leaned in a bit then kissed her once, lightly on the lips then pulled back "Marrel, I've been wanting to say this for ages..." he took a deep breath "Marrel, I love you..." he whispered

She was at a loss for words, he loved her? He loved her! She felt joy well up inside of her "Gan..." she said breathlessly "I've felt the same way for the longest time..." his face lit up a smile spreading across it. He slipped one arm around her wait pulling her close.

"I've wanted to say it for the longest time... Now I wish I had sooner..." her heart was beating faster again. He leaned forward and kissed her again, but this, unlike the other this one was deep and passionate. She felt joy surge through her entire body. Pure bliss! And from something as simple, as a kiss.

DT: Yes, I'm going back to Dragon Tamer retiring the short used name Mistress Brin. Please review!! I worked really hard on this!