It was one of the very rare times where nobody was about to fuss over Ash. She was finally alone in her infirmary. She took her crutches and hopped outside, to the edge of the small pond in her back yard. She carefully lowered herself to the ground and set the crutches aside, then took her necklace from her neck carefully. She held it in both hands, cradling it lovingly. She remembered when he had given it to her. Though the body of water they sat at was slightly bigger, and the air was more humid, her little pond was enough to make the memory slightly more vivid. Now she could see it as if it was happening now.
Deor led Ash to the bank and helped her sit down. She grinned at him and began to set out the food she had managed to put together. "Ash." His voice was slightly husky, as if his throat was suddenly sore. She looked up at him with a startled expression. "Yes?" He was holding a necklace in his hands, one she had never seen him take off before. (He always wore it beneath his shirt, but she managed to see the cord over the neckline of his shirt, and the entire necklace when he was shirtless.)Ash looked at the necklace, then at him. He exhaled shakily and held it out to her, lowering himself down to the ground beside her carefully. "Ash...this necklace was from my mother. She bestowed it upon me shortly before...before she died. I want you to have it now." Ash didn't understand. Not really. She looked into his eyes and saw the intense warmth in them. It caused her stomach to jump into her heart, as it always did. "Why? Why would you give me such a gift?" She asked gently. He pressed it into her hands, then gently pushed her hair out of her face, brushing her cheek while doing so. She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then whispered, "You know I love you. I should like no one better to wear it than my wife-to-be." Heat flushed through her entire body, particularly her face, but she couldn't help the sweet smile that came to her lips. She lifted the necklace to her neck and fastened the necklace around it, her eyes still locked with his. "I will never take it off." Her words were wholeheartedly sincere. He smiled and shook his head. "Nay...there will be times to take it off. I did. A few times." He grinned sheepishly as Ash raised an eyebrow, but neither said anything more of the matter. They ate in silence, for no speaking was needed between the two of them at that moment. After finishing the food, Ash sat on the very edge of the riverbank and dangled her feet over. Deor joined her and lay his head on her lap, and they sat there for most of the afternoon, talking only when they felt something was important to say.
Ash wiped the tears from her eyes carefully and re-fastened the necklace around her neck. "I still love you, Deor. I know I promised you I would move on if we were torn apart...but it is so hard. I am trying." She couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes again. The love confessions and confessions of interest in her in the past couple of weeks were ill-timed. It was now eight years since Deor was so brutally killed. Ash knew she needed to move on somehow, but she also felt as if interest in another was disrespectful and a betrayal to Deor. She couldn't forget him. Nor could she lose the sorrow over losing him. Though it seemed fate was leading her to do none of those, but simply, love again. She loved everyone she met...but this was a different kind of love. One she could raise a family with. Could she love another while still loving Deor? Would they understand and accept that? Loving her still? Ash sighed and stood. She needed to get back to her bed so nobody worried if they found her gone.
