Rhovian's POV
Two days after their conversation, in the afternoon, Rhovian came to fetch Ylenna.
— Are you ready? — He asked when entering their chambers, then held back a gasp.
She wore a silver dress made with such light fabric that she herself seemed to flutter. Her brunette hair parted in two. An intricate combination of two thin braids each side that went into a bun, and the rest falling in long, voluminous waves down her waist. A thin, delicate necklace adorned the slightly tanned skin right above her chest and her lips were painted with a light red, attracting Rhovian's eyes for a few seconds more than he intended it to.
— Good afternoon, husband. — She greeted him with a delicate bow. — Yes, I am ready.
— You look… — He tried to search for words in his head. — breathtaking, wife.
She blushed profusely, seeming dumbstruck for a moment.
— Well, let us go, then. — He offered her his arm.
They got to the stables and Rhovian talked to the man in service, who brought him his giant all-black horse that made Ylenna's jaw fall.
— Azure is beautiful, is he not? — Rhovian patted the stallion's head with a big proud smile. — He is also very gentle and well behaved. Come, you can touch him.
— He… is enourmous… and has such beautiful hair… it is so shiny.
Rhovian's proud smile went even wider while seeing Ylenna was in awe while stroking Azure's mane.
— Yes… He is the most beautiful horse I have ever seen. The biggest and strongest one, as well. His father was my horse when I was a teenager. Then his older brother, but I got too heavy, and, though they could carry my weight, I did not feel good about making them endure it while getting old. Azure here can run at full speed with me on his back without breaking a sweat. — He explained to her while getting behind her to pet Azure on the head. The stallion poked his hand with his muzzle when Rhovian stopped, demanding him to keep the touch.
— I… I have never seen such a gentle horse. — She chuckled. — He is just like a dog.
— Indeed… well, let us go. — Rhovian carried Ylenna with one arm and put her on Azure's back with a swift movement. His wife gasped in shock. — What? Did I hurt you?
— No… I just… I was standing and suddenly I was on horseback. I could barely realize what happened. — She laughed, apparently with a mix of nervousness and self consciousness about getting startled.
— Sorry. — He chuckled. — I just always wanted to try doing it.
Rhovian mounted almost as swiftly as she put her up there. As she was sitting sideways, her face was close to his chest.
— Tell me if you feel uncomfortable.
She nodded and he spun his heels so that Azure started moving.
While arriving at the open field, he heard Ylenna's gasping. It was a large field, far from the castle's buildings and light torches, so the sky view looked even more magnificent from there.
— It will be quite the spectacle when the meteor rain starts. — He declared in a whisper, holding Azure's reins.
When spotting a good place, Rhovian stopped Azure and dismounted, then picked Ylenna.
— Thank you for bringing us, Azure. — She petted him. — You are really strong if you can carry us two like this.
Rhovian couldn't help laughing.
— As if you had even made any difference. — Rhovian chuckled. — You are so light I could bet he did not even feel the difference when you were mounted.
Ylenna scoffed.
— I… am not. — She declared, seeming clearly aware she did not sound convincing at all and making Rhovian laugh harder.
— Come. I brought a towel and some appetizers for us. — He put a hand on the back of her waist, guiding her to a spot with a flatter terrain.
Rhovian quickly extended the thick towel, big enough for him to lay down, creating a more comfortable space for them to watch the sky. He opened the lid of the metallic container with the biscuits and placed it in the center of the towel, placing a big flask of wine and another one with water beside it.
— Come. Sit down and have something to eat.
They sat and shared some biscuits and dry fruit, sipping on the wine. Rhovian asked Ylenna about her life in the castle, which led her to talk about Arletta and how she was like a sister, then about her life in the Behrman castle and her childhood.
While she talked, gazing at the field, Rhovian stared at her face, admiring her every trace and smiling whenever she smiled.
— It must be about to start. — He declared after a few minutes. — Lay down, it will be more comfortable to watch it.
Not long after it, the first meteor crossed the sky.
— Wow! — Ylenna exclaimed. — It is beautiful…
— Yes… Have you never seen one? — Rhovian asked, gazing back to Ylenna and capturing the moment her face lit again with what must have been the second one.
— No… I mean, yes, but it was too long ago for me to remember it.
— I see…
— Wow, there are many coming now. — She smiled widely, and Rhovian glanced quickly back to the sky to catch the moment that half a dozen meteors were crossing the darkness, but he didn't take long looking at them. Ylenna's face, full of joy with that experience, was much more appealing to him than any meteor shower.
— That was a big one!! — She almost yelled with excitement, then turned quickly to glance at him in self consciousness. — I did not mean to speak so loud… why are you not looking at the sky?
— I am. — He answered simply.
Ylenna frowned, but turned her face back up.
— But… are you? I mean. You keep looking at me, now that I noticed.
— Yes. I am. — He noticed her face blushing as she gulped down.
— You are gonna miss the meteors…
Rhovian chuckled and turned back up, extending his arm to her side.
— Come. Lay on my arm. It will be more comfortable.
Ylenna was silent for a few seconds, before readjusting her body so her head would lay on his biceps.
— Is it not… heavy?
— I do not even feel any weight. Do not worry.
For a few more minutes, the meteors kept shining beautifully, until their numbers slowly went down and it stopped.
— That was… so amazing. Thank you for bringing me here to watch it. — Ylenna turned and looked at Rhovian with a happy smile that shone in her eyes. The prince felt his breath turning difficult and took her chin in his fingers.
— I have told you… — He said with a rusky voice. — I am your husband. You do not need to thank me for these things.
And soon their lips and tongues were entwined once more.