For one hour the doors to the small room remained closed. Nothing could be heard from within or without. All was in silence as both Alyson and Lazheros awaited the results of Willow and Serna's conversation.

Then, without warning, the doors opened and Serna emerged with a smile on her face bigger than the one she had going into the room.

Prince Willow emerged as well holding Serna's hand, "We have reached an accord."

"Willow did not think it would be fair for me to start a relationship with him without coming into my full flower," Serna admitted as she swung her arm back and forth, "So, we decided to give each other ten years of grace so that I can no longer be a child and be a little older and a little wiser."

Alyson nodded in agreement, "Okay."

"Ten years from now, if she still feels the same way about me, then I will pursue a relationship with her," The Ranger added, "In the meantime, if I feel differently towards her--"

Lazheros listened quietly as Willow explained his side.

"--which he won't, then he will let me know and we will move on," Serna confessed with a knowing grin, "Betwixt now and later, I can pine away for Willow all I want until I come into my full flower, ten years have passed or I find someone new--which I doubt I will."

"The future is not set in stone, Serna." The elementalist added.

"So what do you think, Laz, Alyson?" The Shield Maiden asked excitedly, "Is this a good deal or what?"

"I respect your decision but as Alyson said the future is not set in stone unless you truly believe that the ranger and you are meant to be together, child. You have yet to blossom and you still don't understand what that means until it truly happens. So I wish the best of luck to you both and hope for the better outcome works in both your favor." Lazheros concluded with his own opinion on the matter.

"Just be sure to remind Caliaphy when she returns at sunrise because she will pick up right where she left off. Oh, one more thing, the kurori is a fast learner, so if you want to catch her off guard do it in a way that she would least expect." The elementalist advised the shield maiden.

"Don't worry, Alyson, I'll remind Caliaphy about where we stand. I promise you that!" Serna began to rub her hands together with a sinister gleam in her eyes, "And I'm going to remind her in a way that she will least expect! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

One could almost picture devil horns sprouting out of The Shield Maiden's head as she contemplated how she was going to inform Caliaphy about her new arrangement with Willow.

Alyson glanced at the bronze man briefly and turned to Serna, "Gee, should we start taking bets on on these two, er I mean Serna and Caliaphy."

"The safe bet would be on me!" Serna chirped, "I have plans for that pest! Mischievous plans indeed!"

"I wouldn't. The kurori can handle herself well enough. We will join the others in a bit, Prince Willow." Lazheros turned back towards the stairs with the elementalist.

"As you wish, Lazheros, and thank you for all of your help this day." The Prince extended his hand in friendship towards The Bronze Man, "Your aid made all the difference in our victory this day."

"You are most welcome, Prince Willow." The bronze man nodded in kind, "Serna, go with the ranger if you please. The others are probably wondering where the young hero is regarding the revival of the ancient wards."

"Sure thing!" Serna took Willow's hand and began to swing it back and forth.

"You're probably right," Willow admitted, "The others are probably wondering where we got off to--especially Birch and Irzen. Well, Serna, shall we join them?"

"Surely," The Shield Maiden chirped merrily as they both exited the room.

********

Lazheros wanted to get cleaned up before he returned to the banquet hall to celebrate with the others. Once inside, he disrobed and slid into the soothing waters of the bath submerging completely.

Alyson took his clothes, washed them, and set them down onto the bench next to her. "It's been awhile since you've seen this much action, hasn't it?"

Lazheros emerged standing up as the bath water slid off his bronze skin. Alyson sat directly in line of sight preventing anyone from seeing him in all of well endowed glory. "It has indeed. All and all, one of Venger's most feared generals was dispatched finally and those who were forced from their lands can now return unafraid."

"I'm guessing we will be here for another day or so," The elementalist flicked some of the water at him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Alysiane." He warned her.

"Do what?" She flicked some more water at him.

Without uttering a word, he grabbed her and promptly dumped her in the bath water, clothing and all.

**Splash!**

Alyson came up completely soaked, spitting water out of her mouth. "Uh...mmph!"

Pulling her up to him, he kissed her passionately for a minute and then slowly released her, "As much as I would like to continue this, we cannot continue this here. Too many eyes and ears. I must say, you do look quite appealing all wet! Ahahaha!"

"Gee. Thanks." She grumbled at him trudging out of the bath soaking wet. "Can't I just have fun getting you wet without getting wet myself."

"Ahahahaha!" He laughed even harder nearly doubling over.

The elementalist stripped out of her wet clothes and wrung them out with a warm breeze and put them back on. Reaching into a small pouch she pulled out an apple and bit into it. "Just waiting on you."

The bronze man waded over to his attire, climbed up and dressed himself feeling clean and refreshed. "Come, let us go and join the others for some refreshment."

That said, they left the bath and headed back up to the banquet hall.