Andia: The Revolution

[King Acunasti]

"Well," Valentin laughed. "Now that we're both all snowy, I think we can call it even. Wanna go deeper into the woods?"

[Eltee]

Aarys stood up unevenly, pulling snow out of the front of her shirt. "Um... Okay... But I am freaking freezing now, you jerk."

[King Acunasti]

Valentin held his arms out at his sides, revealing the fact that he was completely soaked. "I'm not exactly nice and dry either." he said. "We're both cold, and we both have snow in our clothes and hair. But let's keep goin'! Don't be such a brittle Woodland Elf."

[Eltee]

"Oho, brittle?" Aarys said, punching him on the shoulder.

[King Acunasti]

"Yeah," Valentin responded, lightly punching Aarys back. "Brittle. You're making your race look bad."

[Eltee]

"I won't dignify that statement with a response." Aarys said in a mock-snooty voice. After a moment of holding an imperious, displeased expression, she cracked up laughing. "C'mon," She called mirthfully, walking into the forest. "Let's go!"

[King Acunasti]

Spoiler:

Bonnie MacFarlane quote ftw!

Valentin caught up to Aarys by jogging. "Alright." he said. "I suppose it's a little cold. But I felt like getting a little fresh air out here. Do you like winter?"

[Eltee]

"Winter means death. I love spring."

[King Acunasti]

"When I was in Empire City, I used to wonder what the outside world was like during spring." He paused. "Do you remember anything about your childhood before you were captured by the ICA?"

[Eltee]

Aarys shrugged. "I remember green. I guess that's more than most people could claim."

[King Acunasti]

"I want to live out here in the woods if this war ever ends." Valentin said, deep in thought. "Maybe a lodge on the edge of a lake. Wildlife, rivers, trees...it all sounds awesome."

[Eltee]

"Am I in that dream?" Aarys asked quietly.

[King Acunasti]

Valentin grinned and winked. "And I want to look into your big beautiful eyes every morning when I wake up. That's my perfect world right there."

[Eltee]

"It sounds... Just about perfect..." Aarys murmured, slowly leaning toward Valentin. She kissed him.

[King Acunasti]

Valentin took Aarys' cold hand. "Look at that gorgeous face..." he whispered. "Come on. Let's keep going. The more we stand still, the quicker all this water on our clothes freezes."

[Eltee]

"Okay." Aarys squeezed Valentin's hand, and started walking. "Regardless of anything, winter is beautiful. Majestic. Sad..." She said quietly after a few minutes.

[King Acunasti]

"Kind of like you." Valentin commented. "Even the sad part. I don't know. Something about you overwhelms me with happiness...but sadness as well. I have no idea why. You're just a really special person."

[Eltee]

Spoiler:

Gríma Valentin: So fair, yet so cold like a morning of pale Spring still clinging to Winter's chill.
Eowyn Aarys: Your words are poison!

"I.. Thank you, Valentin." Aarys murmured, her voice quiet and serious. "When I think of you... I know I can trust you. You will never leave me."

[King Acunasti]

Spoiler:

Nice quotes.

Valentin put his arm around Aarys' shoulder and kissed her forehead. "That's right." he said. "I feel stupid for saying all those things back at camp. You know I adore you. I just...didn't want us to be harmed because of all this. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight.

[Eltee]

Aarys smiled perceptively. "Love makes us all crazy. I am really sorry for what I said, too. I wasn't rational. Just, you seemed so sure of everything before, then you started showing all these doubts... Sorry I freaked out."

[Duh]

Spoiler:

Here's a pretty awesome formula:

Goofy romance scene + Mario's brain = falling down a mysterious pit

The snow and ice beneath Aarys and Valentin suddenly collapses. They each fall down a long, narrow, 65-foot pit. They land in a large, deep pool of water at the bottom. The water is...surprisingly very warm. The chamber is completely dark. Blackness. And the pit from which they fell is nearly 20 feet above the surface of the water.

[Eltee]

Aarys screamed in surprise and fear. "Valentin? VALENTIN?" She called in the darkness, panic creeping into her voice. "Can you hear me?!?"

[King Acunasti]

Spoiler:

65 feet...

That's a long ass fall.

Valentin emerged from the water's surface, lightly gasping for air. "I'm here!" he frantically said to Aarys. "Come here! Follow my voice!"

[Eltee]

Aarys moved towards Valentin, until she felt him. She threw her hands around him. "I'm really scared." She whispered.

[King Acunasti]

"I know." Valentin replied. He held Aarys as close as possible, kicking his boots off of his feet as well. "Get your boots off! They'll pull you under!"