hail-the-conquering-eagle:
“I am also half naked on the roof. At least we are equally exposed,” Arno chuckled, wrapping an arm securely around Evie’s waist as his other hand gripped hers gently. He leaned his head against hers as soon as she placed it on his shoulder, closing his eyes briefly as her loose hair tickled his face. He spun them around in a circle, gliding them across the roof with the smooth grace borne of a lot of practice. “Dance lessons were part of my studies when I lived with the de la Serres,” he responded, voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. “There were many balls and public events to be attended, though often I managed to get out of going to them. When I could not, though, dancing was always a requirement. It was only polite.” He made a face even though Evie could not see it, the hand that rested on the small of her back pulling her even closer. “It was never one of my favorite activities, but I was always told I was good at it.” He spun them elegantly as if to prove it, smiling as he dipped Evie down gently before pulling her back up and into his chest. “Though it’s much more fun with a partner you care about,” he admitted.
Around and around they went, their shadows spinning after them as they drifted along beneath the lights strung overhead. Arno could hear the last few notes of the song approaching, and he brought them to a slow halt, continuing to hold Evie close as the music came to an end. He waited for a moment, wondering if she could feel the pounding of his heart in his chest, and then he stepped back, keeping hold of one of her hands as he lowered himself to one knee before her. His free hand dug around in his pocket, producing the small box that he had slipped in there before they had exited their room and opening it to reveal an intricate ring. “Evie,” Arno began, swallowing to try and clear the tremor from his voice. “I have loved and lost many things in my life, and have had to find a way to claw forward without them, but I can say with certainty that there is nothing I fear more than being without you. You’re the half of my soul that I thought was gone forever, and every time I look at you I wonder how I could possibly have gotten so lucky even after all of my mistakes. You make me a better man, and the amount of strength that you display every single day inspires me to be strong too. I know that we are from different eras and that we cannot know what the future may hold, but what I do know is that I want to face that future with you. I love you more than anything. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Evie just listened to Arno talk, as they danced to whatever song was playing. She wasn’t really paying attention to it, just the sound of his voice and what he was telling her. She laughed softly when he dipped her only to pull her back and close to him once more. They continued to dance until the song was over. When he stopped, and held her close she didn’t think much of it until she felt him hold onto one of her hands, and then watched him drop to one knee.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. Was he really… the question trailed off in her mind as he began to speak. All of his words hit her in the part of her heart that he had seemingly taken over without her consent long before she had even realized it. She knew what was coming but when he asked the question it still surprised her, and she found herself at a loss for words. She knew what she wanted to say but just like when they had first started out her father seemed to be hell bent on trying to muck things up for her. It was a back and forth between her heart and her brain neither willing to hold out and listen to the other. Their father had been gone for a long time but even now the grip he had on them, her specifically was such a bother. All she wanted was to be happy, and she was with Arno, and it dawned on her that she didn’t want to give that up for anyone, not even her father. His nagging voice died away in her head and she looked down at Arno, realizing she hadn’t said anything and hoping that he wasn’t panicking thinking she was going to do what she had when he had first told her he loved her, or even worse say no. Coming back to herself she let a smile spread across her face as she looked at the ring he had presented and then back into his soft brown eyes, with her own blue ones. She nodded, biting her lip. “Yes, Arno, of course I’ll marry you!”
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