"Magical..." Rayne whispered to me as we looked over the forest. We were standing near the edge of a cliff that overlooked a large forest, in the center of which was a large pond, and at the other side a lake. The moon was almost full that night, and without any lights nearby we could see almost every star in the sky. The moon and the stars were shinning down, and being reflected in the water, making the forest seem to glow. Rayne was right. It really did look magical.

This night was my anniversary gift to Rayne. Well, part of it. One year ago we started going out. She has always been the best thing that ever happened to me, from the moment we met, even before we got together. She was beautiful in ways I never would be, with her long brown hair that went all the way down her back and those vivid green eyes that always seemed to light up just for me. Her face was beautiful and soft, being neither normal nor extraordinary, and her body was tall and full of curves I would never have as long as I lived. Not to mention her amazing long legs...

"It's lit up just for you," I said to Rayne. "It knows you're watching, and wants to make such a beautiful creature think highly of the forest." Wrapping my arms around her waist from behind, she snuggled into me, not taking her eyes away from the forest. She laughed freely, a sound I would never begin to tire of as long as I lived.

"It seems like it's almost alive." She glanced up at me once as she spoke, and then quickly returned her gaze to the forest as if she was afraid it would disappear if she wasn't watching. "Like...a place out of a fairy tale. Some magical forest. Is it always like this?" I didn't answer, but just shook my head, knowing she could feel it. "Then how'd you know it would be like this tonight?"

"I asked it to be." I could actually feel her roll her eyes. "No, really. I did. And when I told the forest and the moon and stars how beautiful you are, they hastily agreed. They wish to impress you, love. Did it work?"

Again, she laughed. "Yes," she said. "It worked. I'm very much impressed. You'll have to thank them for me."

"Or..." I whispered into her ear. "You could tell them yourself."

"Mandy," she giggled. (Did I neglect to mention that I'm a girl? How silly of me.) "You almost sound serious."

"Rayne, I am serious."

"Mandy..." All trace of humor seemed gone from her voice as she turned to face me. "This is not a funny joke."

"Rayne," my voice was every bit as serious as hers was. "It's not a joke."

For the first time in my life, I saw Rayne speechless. Taking her hand, I led her to a trail that led to the forest below. "Trust me," I whispered when she looked apprehensive.

When we got to the bottom, I whispered a quick spell, "Vide et crede." Rayne looked at me curiously, but I just motioned for her to look around. The look of surprise on her face was an unusual sight to see, as she's usually so calm. But to suddenly see something so magical...

Around where we were standing there was a gathering of two of the magical creatures of the forest, waiting for just this moment. Creatures that only those with magic, and those invited by someone with magic, could see. The Centaurs and the Elves were the only two species in the forest very interested in my decision, and really the only two species that would be affected by it. The others could hide from Rayne if they so wished, but it would hard to hide the Elves' city, as it would be to hide the herd of Centaurs. They wanted to meet her as much as I wanted to show her this part of my world.

In truth, I was a magician. And not one of those pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat trick-of-the-eye magicians either. My magic was very real. Thankfully, Rayne has always believed in magic, making this that much easier.

I spent the next half hour explaining who I was to her, with the Centaur’s and Elves listening in. Rayne defiantly had the reaction I had been hoping for: she squealed in delight and pulled me into a hug.

"This is so amazing, Mandy!" She said. "This is...Wow! I can't believe you didn't tell me this before! And you really asked everything to be so beautiful tonight, and this is where you sometimes disappear to and...Oh Mandy!" We were laughing by now. I loved seeing her this happy; it just made her that much more beautiful.

"Oh, Rayne...There's one more small detail..." She raised an eyebrow at me, one of the many things she could do that I only wish I could. "I'm kinda somewhat the princess of this forest." She blinked and stared at me for a second longer, before throwing herself in my arms again. "Have I told you how much I love you lately?" She just giggled in response.

"So," she said a second later, way too casually. "Do I get to meet your friends?" She gestured to the Centaurs and Elves.

"No." I ignored the glares the Elves were sending my way. "You can meet them later. Right now, I have one more present for you. And then, unfortunately, I need to take you home."

She agreed, albeit reluctantly. Taking her hand, still ignoring the glares from the others, I led Rayne deeper into the forest. One of the Elves from before followed, although he was so silent Rayne didn't know he was there. I only knew he was there because I had arranged this.

About ten minutes later, we were not far from the Eleven city. Nezic, the Elf, sprung effortlessly into the trees. Seconds later, he jumped down (landing as only an Elf can), and handed me the box with Rayne’s present. It was Elven made, just finished that day. Nezic faded into the trees, giving us the privacy I requested. Or at least seeming to.

I handed Rayne the box for her to open, and smiled at her gasp of surprise when she did so. "It's so...beautiful, Mandy...I...How..."

"It was made by the Elves, at my request. Do you like it?"

"Oh Mandy, I love it. I absolutely love it!" Just then, she almost screamed as she saw the necklace inside the box move.

"It's okay," I said quickly. "It's supposed to be alive. Kinda alive, anyway. The Elves' enchanted it." I had asked for them to do this too. The necklace was in the form of a snake with emerald eyes. It had intricate designs carved into its body, so small you had to look closely to see them. It was enchanted in such ways it was almost alive. Or maybe it was; I have never been sure of the limits of Elven magic, if there were any. "It'll protect you from almost anything you wish to be protected from. I can only be taken off by you, and only if you really wish to have it off. It'll never rust, or be damaged." For the second time that night, Rayne was speechless. "Oh, and it can take different shapes if you want...It can be a bracelet, or a ring, or an ankle bracelet, or an earring, whatever you desire. All you have to do is ask it to become what you wish."

For a second longer, she just stared at me. I almost thought I went too far, and told her more than she could take in. But then she smiled, and took the necklace out of the box. She jumped a little when it's head unwound itself from the tail, and traveled up her arm to rest around her neck, in the same position it had been in seconds before. Rayne giggled.

"I love it," she said simply. "Almost as much as I love you."

I smiled, and kissed her. I've never had a more perfect night.

-

A/N:: Really, the only thing I think I need to say is that the spell, vide et crede (WIH-day et KRAY-deh, for the many of you who don't know how to pronounce Latin. Admittedly, that included me until recently. Heh.) means "see and believe." It was the closet I could find to what I wanted in my pretty little book of Latin phrases.

Anyway, many thanks to Sir Knight, even though you had, like, nothing to do with this and didn't even know I was writing until I sent it to you a few minutes ago on Yahoo. And, just because I can, I dedicate this to you. It's your late birthday present, so you better have enjoyed it.

Please review!!