A secret date

Himari awoke to an alarm. Ugh, I had forgotten how annoying those are. It was easy to turn off since she had created it with a spell. She looked outside and thought it still looked like the middle of the night. She wanted to pull the covers over her head and go back to sleep, but she had agreed to this activity and Himari was curious to see what Duncan wanted to do that couldn’t wait till a normal waking time. She got up and splashed cold water on her face trying to wake herself up. She got ready for the day. She made sure she had put on warm clothes like Duncan had suggested. She was just lacing her boots up when a soft knock came from the door Himari called out in a quiet voice “Come in.” Duncan stepped inside and frowned at her and said “You can’t go around leaving your bedchamber unlocked. Anyone can come in while you are sleeping.” Himari sighed exasperated and said “I only unlocked it while I was lacing up by boots. I could feel your approach. I have some sense you know.” Duncan slumped his shoulder and said “I am sorry. I guess I lose my head when it comes to worry about your safety.” Himari snorted out a laugh and said sarcastically “Ya think.” With both boots laced she turned to face him and asked “Where are we going? Why so early? Why not later?” Duncan laughed and said “It is a surprise so I am not answering any of those questions. And before you ask no I am not giving you any hints.” Himari said “Fine, fine let’s go then.” They finished bundling up their faces, hands and neck, making sure only their eyes weren’t covered. Duncan transported them outside of the courtyard near the bottom of a mountain. Himari looked at the mountain and back at Duncan before saying incredulously “You want me to climb that?” Duncan smiled and said “Yes, Come on it will be fun.” Himari mumbled “I don’t know about fun. Cold, absolutely. Dangerous again yes, but fun I’m not too sure about.” Himari reluctantly started walking up the mountain with Duncan. As the incline steepened and became more difficult to traverse Himari asked sarcastically “Are you trying to kill me? If so there were easier ways to do it.” Duncan just chuckled and didn’t respond. Himari mumbled “No response and continuing to walk in the opposite direction of the safety of the ground means he’s definitely trying to kill me. maybe if I play dead and lay in the snow he lose interest and go away so I can crawl back down to the safety of the warm bed that is calling my name from the castle. I think the playing dead only works on bears though.” Duncan listened to her mumbling and threw his head back and laughed. Himari grumbled “I am so glad you are enjoying my last miserable moments in this world.” Duncan laughed hard again and said “Someone is being dramatic.” Himari said “Has anyone told you if you enjoy living to never tell a woman she’s dramatic?” Duncan laughed even harder enjoying Himari’s sass and said “No, but I will keep it in mind so I don’t make the mistake again,” Himari nodded and said “See that you do.” They walked the rest of the way with Himari occasionally grumbling and Duncan laughing amusedly. They finally reached the top of the mountain with Himari slightly out of breath. Duncan said “Look.” As he pointed up into the sky. Lights of greens, pinks, purples, and blues were dancing across the sky as round balls of lights of different colors flashed and popped across the sky. Himari said in an awed whispered “It is beautiful.” Duncan grinned down at her before looking back up at the sky and saying “It is called The Dancing Lights, because the lights look like they are dancing across the sky. This kingdom is the only place they are visible.” Duncan pulled two thermoses looking containers and handed one to Himari. Himari opened it and found steam rising from hot chocolate. She took a sip and closed her eyes in enjoyment. She sighed and said “Thank you mighty cocoa bean for existing and being able to create something this delicious.” Duncan smiled and said jokingly “Should you be thanking someone else.” Himari took another grateful sip and said “Thank you Arturo for making this and sending it with Duncan for me to enjoy.” Duncan sighed and feigning exasperation said “And who else should you thank.” Himari hummed and took more sips before saying “Thank you Himari for bringing this delicious drink into this world and teaching Arturo and others how to make it.” Duncan sighed and Himari couldn’t hold in her laughter anymore and laughed. She looked at Duncan and said “Thank you. For this.” She said indicating The Dancing Lights. She said “And for this.” Indicating the thermos. Duncan said “You’re welcome.” They both turned their gazes back to The Dancing Light. They watched until the lights faded and dawn broke. They watched as the sun started its rise and Himari gasped each time the sky changed finding it so beautiful that she was lost for words. As the sun lit up the horizon below it made the snow and ice sparkly making the firs stand in steep contrast to the pristine white of the snow and ice. She looked at Duncan trying to convey all her emotions through their connection and said “Thank you so much. I have never seen anything as beautiful as what we saw here today. I am so glad you brought me here.” Duncan smiled happily and said “My pleasure.” They decided that since they had been out so long in the cold that it would be better if Duncan teleported them to the castle. Duncan teased that it was because he didn’t to listen to Himari grumble about him trying to kill her and Himari teased back that she was going to plan a dangerous excursion and not tell him why or what for and let him think she was trying to kill him. Duncan started laughing and soon Himari was too. They were both happy when they made it inside the warm castle. The cooks were already busting about the dining hall and had food lain out. Both Himari’s and Duncan’s stomachs decided to growl at the same time. They made eye contact and ended up laughing. They made their way into the dining hall and were about to set down to eat as everyone else started slowly entering the dining hall. First was Joan, then the king and queen, and finally Cedric. Everybody talked excitedly about their ideas for the day. Queen Bianca wanted to explore and hit up some restaurants so it was decided that the lady’s would go out together, the queen in disguise and explore the city together. Joan only agreed to be the queen’s bodyguard when it was agreed they would stop in at the blacksmiths so Joan could look at swords. The men decided to do some ice fishing. Everyone got dressed and headed out. The ladies went to town and the men to the frozen lake to fish.