date

[festal]

( As King of Nohr, Xander laid the foundation of peace and prosperity for the kingdom. Sakura, dedicated herself to helping the underprivileged, and the two worked happily together.

Though Nohr had been a country that had caused her family and people great pain in the past, Sakura had thrown herself into the restoration efforts, working tirelessly alongside her husband. Despite early whispers of disapproval (how could Xander marry a Hoshidan princess?), she'd easily won the hearts of the people with her charity work. She possessed traits many in Nohr had considered weak and unworthy of a Nohrian king but was strong enough to persevere and earn favor. New trade between their countries ensured even the poorest Nohrian never hungered again and despite being a princess --a queen, now-- she would regularly visit the underprivileged and tend to the sick and those injured from the long war. At her husband's side, she was loyal and attentive, unafraid to speak up in support of him and mindful of the stress he was under.

The two of them had truly taken on a twenty-four hour job and while they still made time for each other, it looked like they were working more than anything else. At least, that's how it had looked to their retainers. Which probably explains why on one of the rare days the sun was shining in the sky and the weather warm and pleasant, Sakura had found herself forced into a new dress and Xander with a picnic basket shoved in his arms. The four retainers had announced they'd planned a romantic and relaxing evening for their lord and lady and while Laslow and Peri insisted everything would be taken care of, Subaki and Hana were quick to step in and insist they shouldn't worry. It had sounded like a wonderful idea to Sakura which probably helped convince Xander more than anything else once she expressed her interest.

And so they find themselves at their picnic area-- a field away from the castle where delicate but hardy flowers bloom. They're completely alone and as they begin to set up, Sakura can't help but remark with a smile, )

It's such a beautiful day...

Comments

[xmarks]

[ He sighs, his heart full of warmth for the love he knows she still bears him, even if she’s enacting her revenge a little too effectively. But he wouldn’t have it any other way, would he?

So he buries his nose in her hair, drinking in the scent of her, and whispers, very softly: ]

Please?

[festal]

( She holds her breath when he moves closer, feels his breath against her... Ah, she reaches up to run her fingers through his curls, to keep him close like this as long as she can, )

I told you. ( She'd warned him! She would get him if he'd kept teasing her and now it's her turn. ) And I won't forgive you one bit. Unless...

( As someone who never asks for much at all, she can feel her heart racing. She's nervous but in her heart, she knows he won't refuse a small request, )

You bring me flowers from the field. ( Resting against him, fingers curling in his hair as she thinks out loud, ) So we can take them home and remember today. And... when they're gone, we'll come back again.

( She's already thinking of a way to arrange them. Perhaps with some of the flowers from the castle gardens. And enough to give to their retainers for their trouble and Siegbert for minding things while they're away. She's more than aware of their busy schedules and she knows the flowers won't last. Their next date may have to wait but for Xander, she would wait to the end of time.

But for now, she's tasked him with the only way to appease her. )

[xmarks]

[ And he’d lovingly disregarded her warning, besides. It kinda counts as relaxing, probably.

He lifts his head from her hair. ]

Flowers? [ That’s…such a typical request from her that he couldn’t help but smile. He’s hardly opposed to the notion, however, as he surveys the area around them. It is said that only the hardy flowers can bloom in Nohr, and while that may be true, they are no less beautiful for it. ]

What about those, over there? [ He points toward a small patch of wildflowers to the distance, like an open wound on the landscape, with graceful stems supporting drooping red petals swaying to a slight breeze. ]

They are called dragon’s blood. Do you know why?

[festal]

Ah... ( She thinks for a moment. Certainly, the color might make someone think of blood but there are plenty of other flowers with the same color. Could it be important to the Nohrian family who were shared dragon blood in their veins? Ah, no, but isn't their national flower a rose...? There's still so much to learn about her new home, she tilts her head curiously to one side as she tries to think of some sort of answer. ) I don't know...

( Normally she would be shy at her lack of knowledge but in this case, it's fine. It wouldn't be fun if she knew the answer already. )

Tell me?

[xmarks]

Because it can bloom everywhere, even in the harshest soil. [ And their land is after all so very important to him—to them. ]

My mother—the Queen Katerina—that while the rose was the symbol of our land, the dragon’s blood was the symbol of our people. Wouldn’t it be fair, then, to leave them in your hands?

[ He can’t help a small smile as he adds: ] They also smell quite lovely.