Ataria smiled, shaking her head at seeing the antics of the two. "Are you two quite ready to leave yet? Or are there going to be more acrobatics?"

Vaughn smiled sheepishly before dusting off his coat and beginning to walk.

"I'm ready, let's go." he said.

Victoria laughed at the both of them and followed after Vaughn,

"We're moving. See." she grinned.

Vaughn laughed and casually threw his arm around her shoulders, pulling he close as they walked.

She rolled her eyes at him but let him, stepping slightly closer to his side, more comfortable.

Ataria smiled at the two and led the small group into the mountains. Within about two hours, they were already deep into the mountains and the whole concept of a desert seemed a thing of the far past.

Mage followed along behind, silent.

Vaughn walked along at a slow pace, enjoying the scenery of yet another strange landscape. However, he remained alert, knowing that danger could be hiding anywhere among the ascending hills.

Victoria, tucked under his arm, looked around, lost in her own thoughts.

Vaughn smiled as he looked down at Victoria.

"What's on your mind?" he asked softly.

"Hmn...? Oh, just wondering how much longer until we're done here." she smiled a little.

He smiled back, then looked at the ground.

"Look, about that question I had asked before..." he began hesitantly.

She looked up at him calmly, waiting for him to continue.

He sighed and looked at her with a nervous expression.

"I just don't know how I'd survive without you now." he said. "How am I just supposed to leave you behind?" Then he sighed again.

"I know it's selfish, and I'm sorry...you choose what's best for you...ok?" he said, attempting a smile.

Victoria chuckled softly, shaking her head at him,

"You are probably the least selfish person I have ever met, Vaughn."

He smiled. "Well...I'm obviously a little bit...when it comes to you."

She laughed again and nodded her agreement, giving his waist a squeeze,

"So... what would happen? I mean... I would just... go back to your world with you?" she asked.

He nodded.

"I just need to replicate the conditions of when I first opened the gate. Once I do that, we just step through. Alchemy can be very simple if the alchemist knows what they're doing." he said with a small smile, then his face grew dark.

"Everything is so shot to hell back home." he added. "I'd never take you into that unless you wanted me to."

"What is so bad about your home, Vaughn?" she asked, looking up at him.

"War. Death. Constant fighting. Men like Geist always trying to ensure that my men and I never succeed." he said in a stoic tone.

He looked at her again. "Like I said...not much time for fun." he added.

"Is there not life outside of fighting? For anyone?" she asked with a frown.

He sighed.

"We spend most of our free time on alert, or planning the next move. Although we do sometimes have lulls in the battle, when we can relax." he said. "The only good thing I can think of that's come out of the entire war is how close we've all become. Family, remember?" he said with a smile, then it disappeared.

"Victoria...if you want to be free...and still enjoy your life...then stay here. It's just not a luxury my men and I have, we have to keep fighting, so others can enjoy what little time they have." he said with a sad expression.

"And what little time you have?" she asked softly then shook her head, "You're asking me to leave behind the world I know, everything I know. You're asking me to trust you completely, entirely and go with you through some strange portal into a world where fighting and war reigns..."

Vaughn looked steadly into her eyes.

"That's what I'm asking..." he said. Unable to say anything more.

SHe nodded and smiled at him,

"As long as I know what I'm getting myself into then."

Vaughn blinked in suprise. He couldn't believe his ears.

"What?" he asked slightly in shock. "That's it?"

"That's it." she answered simply, grinning, "If you'll still have me."

Vaughn didn't even try to understand how she could make up her mind so fast. He simply smiled a huge smile, bent down and took her face in his hands, kissing her passionately.

"Does that answer your question?" he asked, slightly out of breath.

She gave a breathy laugh, having to hold his arms as her head stopped spinning and she smiled,

"If the answer is 'yes' then certainly."

He laughed and then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him and resting his head on top of hers.

"I love you." he said softly. "I hope I can make you as happy as you've made me."

((I'm off to sleep! Nyte!))

Victoria laughed into his chest, wrapping her arms around his back with her wide smile hidden in his front,

"I've yet to do anything." she teased then gave him a squeeze, "And you already have."

((G'night))

He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I'm glad to hear it." he said softly.

She smiled back at the intimate gesture then kissed him lightly on the nose, feeling giddy for no apparent reason... well... he may have had something to do with it.

"Come on, you two!" Ataria called back to them from a ways ahead, "We can't wait forever."

((sorry for taking so long to post, y'all, and sorry it's so short.....I wanted to let y'all know that I'm going to be really extremely busy for the rest of this week and next week and then I'm going to be gone from May 9th until May 22, so this Quest is going to be basically dead for a while. Sorry, but that's the way it is.))

((I'm BACK! and since neither of you posted anything....I'll just have them all keep going. =D))

Ataria continued to lead them along the steadily inclining path. After about an hour's worth of climbing she stopped and leaned against a large boulder, breathing hard and holding a hand to her stomach.

Mage stood away from the others, arms folded over her chest as she stared off into who knows what.

Vaughn walked over to Ataria. The long climb had been tiring, but he was used to extreme physical activity, something he knew Ataria probably wasn't used to. At least not in her current circumstance. He knelt down next to her and offered her his canteen.

"Here, you need it more than me." he said with a smile.

Ataria smiled back tiredly and shook her head, "Thanks, but I have my own and you'll need it eventually, trust me." She reached into the folds of her cloak and pulled out her canteen, taking a small swig. After a few minutes of resting she straightened and took a deep breath. "Let's keep going. We have to get up there," she pointed a ways up the mountain, "before nightfall."

Vaughn looked up the mountain in the direction Ataria pointed.

"Well I hope it's closer than it looks." he said grimly.

"It is." Mage told him in a low monotone and then she started walking.

Ataria sighed and started after the surly Dragon, commenting to Vaughn as she went, "Don't worry, it's not that much farther."

Victoria followed, lost in her own thoughts for the most part, unconsiously drawing the hidden cool of the desert around her, plus a few shadows. She watched the interactions with interest, thoughtfully. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Mage.

They kept on trekking up the mountainside for another two hours, reaching a large cave just as the sun set.

Ataria sat down with a heavy sigh and leaned back against the cave wall, closing her eyes.

Mage stood at the entrance to the cave and stared out at the painted sky.

Sitting by Ataria, Victoria offered a small smile,

"You all right?" she asked softly.

"I will be eventually," Ataria replied with a strained smile. "How are things with you and Vaughn?"

Her smiled widened automatically and she ducked her head to hide it... and her pink cheeks,

"Good, actually." she murmured, "He... he wants me to go back with him... back to where he's from when this is all over."

"That's wonderful!" Ataria gave her a hug, "See, I told you it'd all work out!"

She grinned,

"Yeah, you did. Thank you." she hugged Ataria back, her cheeks almost hurting from smiling.

Ataria just smiled. "You're more than welcome."

"I will take first watch," Mage stated from the cave entrance.

Victoira looked over, nodding silently. She sighed, hoping they'd find the dark dragon soon so Mage would smile again... either way the cituation went.

((Your turn to post in WH HQ, Roguie))

Ataria yawns. "Well, I'm going to get a bit of sleep while I can. Somebody wake me up in time for my watch."

Mage just nodded, solemnly.

Vaughn walked into the cave and collapsed against the cave wall, exausted by the long trek up the mountain.

Mage tossed Vaughn a small cube looking thing about the size of your typical granola bar, just square. "You'll feel better after eating that."

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