This picture follow this one : Romatzo and Minalva's evening (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/romatzo-and-minalvas-evening/2858446/?p) __________________________________________________________________ Back to the Fortress, where their rooms were, Romatzo, Delphine and Marina checked Minalva's door. Seeing no light coming from under it, they supposed she was already asleep and decided to not bother her. After wishing good night to eachother, they headed for their respective bedrooms. Romatzo entered his room and closed the door. The light was off, but his dwarf eyes, use to the obscurity of caves, instantly saw that someone was there. Instinctively his hand started to reach for his axe placed next to where he was standing. But he quickly stopped his movement when he recognised who the person was. "Minalva ?" he said with surprise. By a single word he lit the magical light of his room. In that hour of the night it was naturally low, like a candle light. "What are you doing here ?" He moved in front of her. She was sat on a furniture located at the end of his bed. "Well, I do what Olk-Emi advised me. She told me that, if you want a dwarf male to understand your intentions you have to make it very clear. A moment of silence settled. He recalled the events of this evening. He was actually not as blind as what she thought. He noticed her taking and putting his arm around her waist, he noticed her following him closely, her touching his back, her way of look at him, different than usual. But he had to ask to be sure. "Minalva, are you trying to seduce me ?" Without ambiguity Minalva responded, "Yes, I try to seduce you." And not letting him the time to ask another question, she added. "Because I love you, Romatzo." She said, tenderly smiling at him. Romatzo was stuned. The first word going out of his mouth, almost slipping away, was "Why ?". It's probably not the right question to ask at that kind of statement, but that's what came to his mind. "Why ? said Minalva laughthing to the question. Because you are kind and tender, strong and courageous and because you make me laugh. I know I take you by surprise and I apology for it. she said more seriously. But in less than two days, we will go fight this unknown evil and who knows how many of us will come back, or even if any of us will come back. I don't want to have to regret anything." He took her hand gently and they stayed silent again for a moment. Some fear was heard in her voice and deep inside him, he felt the same about the upcoming battle. "Since when do you love me, Mina ? he asked, coming back to the present situation. - I think it started when we were at my tribe, when we lived that special moment together." He knew instantly at what moment she was referring to. This moment marked him a lot. And because he lived it with her, it made it stronger. "You know, my mom actually warned me about that. she continued. She told me that, when you live an adventure life, because of the strong and hard moments you live with your companions, you can start to have strong feelings for them. She also told me to be careful with these feelings, because they could be confused with love. That's why I didn't told you before, I wanted to be sure." she was silent for a moment. "Now that I told you my fellings, I need to know yours." All of this was so sudden and told with so much frankness, that if Romatzo had being a human, he would probably have panicked. But Romatzo was a dwarf and dwarves have a pragmatic and a straight mind. Characteristics they share with wood elves and actually, not the only ones. It's probably why, even if mixed couples were pretty rare, the two races forge strong bonds easily. So his pragmatic mind made him thought on how he would have reacted if it had been Delphine or Marina in his bedroom instead of Minalva. And he figured out, that he was happy that it was Minalva who was there. He also thought to the strong and to the simple moments shared with his companions. And it was the moment passed with her that were the strongest in his mind. Yes, he had strong feelings for her too, he realised. But all of this was also too new. She saw is his eyes that he took a decision and asked with some hope in her voice : "So ?" He looked straight in her eyes and pressed her hand a little stronger, then said. "I... I have strong feelings for you and I think you are more important for me than a lot of people. But because the advices of your mother are wise, I can't tell you that I love you. I need more time. -It's okay, I understand." she responded, both happy and a little disappointed that the response was not as definitive that what she would have wished. After a moment of akward silence she added. "I rushed things for you, didn't I ? she said smiling. - You did for sure!" They both laughed frankly, the tension in the room becoming again more normal. "Can ask you something ? - Sure! he responded." Her cheeks became darker indicating she was blushing a little. - Can we sleep together tonight? Platonicaly, I mean. she added quicly. You said that you needed time, but not knowing how our fight will end, I desire stay with you as much as I can. If we all come back alive, I'll give you the space you need." Even if it was a little weird for him and that he maybe would have liked some time alone to think about all what happened, Romatzo accepted. She happily kissed him on the cheek and hugged him. - Thank you! Oh! And I hope you know how to behave, because I sleep naked." She said with a malicious smile. His face became red. He didn't doubt it was true. "Yes, I know to behave, Mina." ________________________________________________________________ Thank you for watching and reading. :) I hope you enjoyed it. My first idea was that Romatzo responded completely to the love statement of Minalva and even had them "really" sleep together. But when I started writing the story it felt too rush. Minalva had feelings for Romatzo for some time now and she had fully realised she loved him, but for Romatzo it's quite new. So I preferred give them time. I kept them sleeping in the same bed, though. It's not out of character for Minalva to ask that and it's also lead to the next picture that I have already planned. What is the "special moment" that Minalva and Romatzo had, when they were at her tribe ? I think I have a good idea of what it was. But for the reader, I let it for the imagination. At least for the moment. The title and the picture itself are a reference to a famous scene from a famous movie. Will you be able to recognise which one it is ? :)