A/N: For Barrelgoddess.

Waterfall

12th Day of Lorelai Decan, 2008

"No peeking," Peony whispered as he tied a scarf around her head.

"I can't peek now that you have me blindfolded," Nephry answered. "Is this how you treat your guests in Grand Chokmah? I thought we'd taught you some manners in Keterberg."

"Heh, only our special guests," he said, waving a hand in front of her face to make sure she couldn't see through the blindfold. "Ready?"

"Ready. But, where are we going?"

"You'll see," he said, the grin on his face almost audible. With that, he placed his hands on her shoulders, and guided her down the corridors of the palace. As they rounded a corner, a maid saw the two of them coming and jumped out of the way. Despite the oddity of it all, she dared not to give the Crown Prince a questioning look at his strange treatment of the young woman he had brought with him from his exile.

After a walk around many corners and through countless doors, he stopped her. "All right. We're here."

"It smells beautiful in here, Peony," she said, smiling. "Like gardenias."

He worked quickly to remove the blindfold and rested his hands on her shoulders. "There."

After her sight was returned to her, she gasped, looking straight ahead into the most beautiful sight she had ever beheld. Glistening azure water fell from a height taller than the palace itself, crashing into a heavenly mist that seemed to dance with the tiny rainbows that the water itself produced. "It's…beautiful, Peony."

"Father tells me that some people ask for an audience with him just to see it."

"I can see why," she whispered, still captivated by the sight and sound of the ethereal waterfall.

He leaned on the back of his father's throne and smiled. "I thought you'd like it. When I was a kid I wanted to ride it."

She laughed. "You would."

"Still do," he winked. "I'll need to commission someone to build me a craft that will survive the fall, though." He paused, took a deep breath and added: "That's not all I want to show you, Nephry."

"Oh?"

He nodded and bit his lip nervously. "Come here," he said, beckoning her around to the front of the two thrones set on a dais in the middle of the room.

Again, she did as he asked and he took her hand to help her with the step. He led her to the one on the left side—the one his mother had occupied before her untimely death. "Sit."

Bewildered, she hesitated. "Peony…I—"

"It's all right. There are no guards, and even if there were, they'd be stupid to tell me what to do."

"But still—"

"I promise, it's all right. Just sit."

She perched herself ever so carefully on the edge of the plush chair.

He kneeled down in front of her and took her hands. She started to say something, but he placed a gentle finger to her lips. His words came quickly, breathlessly as his eyes fixed on hers. "Nephry Balfour, you are my best friend, my closest confidant, my lover and everything I have ever wanted in another person. I can't imagine having to assume my father's place someday, but I know that if you are by my side I can handle anything. I want you to be here, next to me, now and in the future." He took a hasty breath. "Nephry, will you marry me?"

She threw her arms around him and answered, "yes" as he kissed her cheek tenderly.

The tiny kiss grew into a much more passionate one—one that neither of them attempted to break. As they held each other, time seemed to hold its breath. The waterfall clasped in the background, applauding the newly engaged couple.

Eventually, he whispered into her ear, "You'll have to tell Jade, though. I'm afraid he'll kill me."