Chapter 18

“I think Mother really liked you,” Stardust told Cariad the next evening as they flew back to Cante’s place through the falling snow.  

“Of course she did,” Cante said, “how could anyone not like Cariad?”

“Cante!” Cariad exclaimed as Stardust laughed.  “Must you always say things like that when there are others around?  It’s embarrassing!”

“You’re going to have to get used to me being around,” Stardust said, “especially if you’re going to marry Cante.”

“Now who said I was going to marry him?” Cariad asked.

“Will you?” Cante asked hesitantly.

“Will I what?”

Cante sighed and brought out a small black box.  “Will you marry me?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her and opened the box, revealing a ring with the prettiest gem Cariad had ever seen.

“…” Cariad was speechless for once.  

Cante sighed again, “I was going to wait until we got back, but Stardust messed that up.”

“I…I don’t know what to say…” Cariad said as she twisted around to look at Cante.

“You could try saying yes?” Stardust not-so-subtly suggested.

“You’re serious then?” She inquired of Cante as she searched his face for any signs of a cruel joke.

“Yes, but if you need some time to think about it—”

“No!  Yes!”  She sighed as she organized her thoughts.  “I mean no, I don’t need more time to think about it…and yes, I will marry you.  … But why?”

“Because I love you.”

“But I’ve tried to kill you so many times!  How could you possibly…”

Cante quieted her with a kiss as he took her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger.  

“And what is this?” Cariad inquired as she got a better look at the ring.

“It’s a ring,” Cante said smartly.

“I know that,” Cariad replied as she punched him lightly on the shoulder.  “I mean the thing that’s on the ring.”

“Oh that,” Cante said, pretending he didn’t know that’s what she meant.  “It’s a diamond.  I had Kunzite get it for me.”

“From where?”

“Some planet in one of the Enaid dimensions.  It’s supposed to be a tradition there to give a diamond ring to the person your proposing to.”  He explained, “I liked the idea, so I asked Kunzite to retrieve one.”

“But where did you hear of this tradition?” Cariad asked, even though she was pretty sure she knew the answer.

“From your mother.”

She smacked her forehead with her hand.  “I figured as much,” she said, “she didn’t put you up to this, did she?”

“What?  No!” Cante said, “I proposed because I love you, not because people have been telling me to.”

“People have been telling you to propose?”  Cariad inquired as she settled back into his arms.  “Who?”

“Oh, pretty much everybody!” Stardust chimed in.  “Even Firefall mentioned it a few times to me.”

“Wonderful,” Cariad said sarcastically, “even the talk of dragons.”

“I didn’t even know that!” Cante said with surprise.

“Of course you didn’t,” Stardust replied, “I never said anything and he’s too shy to tell you.”