Bride To His Darkness

The moon glowed with an ethereal light that night, casting a silver sheen over the tranquil ocean. The night was appealingly calm as the couple took a leisurely stroll along the shore, the only sounds echoing were the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore. Hand in hand, they strolled along the sandy shore, barefoot, whilst the grains slipped between their toes as they enjoyed the tranquil of the sea.

Ivan’s pale features revealed no emotions, yet his eyes held a tender, unwavering, gaze as he watched Samantha smile to herself, taking note of her every little move. His affection for her was evident in every small gesture, every tender caress of her hand, and his lips curled slightly when she rested her head lovingly on his arm. Just like him, she was enjoying the sounds of the waves and the comfort they brought.

This was not their first time visiting this sacred place; the ocean held a mysterious allure that seemed to mirror the depths of their feeling, the very beginning of their genuine acceptance. Ivan could still remember when he had asked his little lamb right here if she would leave him if he did something treacherous to his family, and her response that night was the beginning of their acceptance for one another, even though they hadn’t realized what they were doing back then.

As they continued their nocturnal promenade, Samantha dared to break the silence. "Why do we always come here?" She asked, her voice soft and melodic, causing the nearby waves to momentarily hush. She lifted her eyes to look at Ivan who gazed ahead, and he squeezed her hands tenderly.

His expression remained impassive, but a glimmer of warmth touched his eyes when he eventually met her green ones. "We always come here in the sense that, just as the ocean is gentle and fierce, so too is our love." His voice, deep and velvety, reverberated through Samantha’s every being, and she could feel her cheeks warm up.

Her heart automatically raced, her pulse quickened, and she averted her eyes from the one responsible to stare at the ocean instead. She had come to love the tranquility of the walks they shared, the moment of stolen intimacy amid the vastness of the night. The ocean seemed to stretch infinitely before them, echoing the eternity that lay ahead for their new profound love.

"What drink did you serve to the contestants?" She asked Ivan, curiosity lingering in her tone as she looked at him once more. "From the way they glowed, It’s not an ordinary wine, is it? I was starting to worry about Maurice’s injury but they healed after he took a sip from the goblet you gave them."

"That is the purpose of the wine, to provide instant healing and give them strength." Ivan explained, "it is majorly used while in battle. My Father had a remarkable specialist from Vesunard who made them, and he only ever requests them when the time for battle is near. However, I felt I had to bless the contestants with something that will aid their recovery, so I had Lord Viktor make the request on my behalf before leaving for Fernwood."

"There’s a wine that is capable of healing?" Samantha’s interest was piqued as they stopped walking, and Ivan nodded to her timid inquiries.