Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 451

Chapter 451: I’m fine
The wind whipped past Mia’s face, and she turned it into Ford’s shoulder.

Nearby, the horses whinnied in protest and fear.

She grimaced, knowing how afraid they must be, but it would be short-lived, comparatively speaking.

Aunt Annie had requested a ride home… at least, a ride to the edge of the grasslands. Beyond where they were likely to face any magical dangers.

Dangers that the Emperor agreed to keep from human lands, at least pending the completion of his treaty with King Harold.

Mia lay on her stomach on a dragon’s back, tied in place. Anaisa had insisted that the dragons not carry the humans in their claws, but the wights had countered that the people would not be able to hold on well enough.

At least, that was the interpretation Anaisa gave of the monosyllabic answers provided to the humans.

Mia now began to understand why, as the creatures dove and swept through the dark tunnels.

They had surfaced long enough to gather Seth, Daniel, and the horses, but then back underground they went.

Ford had insisted on staying with Mia, as the dragons could easily carry two or more people, and there was no need for all that many to make the journey.

The excuse was flimsy, but no one protested. The fact of their relationship wasn’t exactly secret in any sense of the word anymore.

But Mia was anxious. Ford had expressed a desire to propose, but had yet to actually do so. When would it happen? Was there a timeline her father had put on things, other than ‘after this was all over’?

What did he consider ‘all over’? Would the treaty need to be finalized before she and Ford would be allowed to be together? That could take months, or years!

Heaven knew the treaties with other countries often took ages to get done, and King Harold would probably want the other nations to sign on to make sure all humanity was on the same page about dealing with the Emperor.

But perhaps, “sign this agreement or a supernaturally strong being will obliterate us all” would be incentive enough to move things along quickly.

Not that the fate of the world was less important than Mia’s love life!

Ford’s arm pulled her closer against the cold, and she blinked as they surfaced once more.

At the very edge of the burned forest.

The sight saddened her more than she expected, but already she could spot bits of new, green growth amongst the ashes.

Hope for the future.

The dragons swept onward, just over the tops of the tall grass, so that the horses’ dangling hooves almost touched the swaying stalks.

They were deposited much closer to home than Mia expected, but not near any of the towns or human settlements. She supposed the dragons would not want to be seen, since they’d gone so many hundreds of years without being confirmed as existing.

That might all change once the treaty was finalized… if it was ever finalized.

___

Ford bit the inside of his cheek nervously.

It had been almost ten months since he had arrived back from the Emperor’s castle. A little over a year since he’d started everything so long ago, running away from the mines after the collapse.

Everything was different, by quite a long shot.

He looked out over his fields. His fields! Of course, he hadn’t planted him alone. Grandpa, Seth, Daniel, even Trace had come to help him. And he, in turn, had labored alongside them in theirs.

He was almost a part of the family now… but not quite.

In the autumn, he’d labored in the harvest, bringing in crops and living in the guest room.

Grandpa had paid him a generous wage for his work, which Ford had immediately put towards buying his own land. A small crop of winter wheat helped him pay more on the loan he’d taken out in town, as well as a little extra.

He’d lived in a tent until he could get the lumber to build a small house for himself.

Mia and her mother or grandmother walked over often, to bring him food and help him nourish his vegetable garden. He was usually invited to dinner afterwards, which Ford always accepted.

Now that he had a house, a working farm… things would change.

He’d whittled in his spare time–and he had a lot of spare time, alone in his home in the evenings–and sold the little figurines in town or to passing merchants. He’d gotten enough in the way of buyers to put some extra money aside to buy something he never thought he’d be able to afford.

He gulped, reaching into his pocket to hold the gold ring between his finger and thumb. He didn’t want to lose it!

Although Seth trusted Ford, it had taken a bit of time for Mia’s mother to come around. That was understandable, and Ford was respectful and patient.

Eventually, with all his hard work, and his nearby farm, he’d earned the hearty consent of both of Mia’s parents to ask for her hand.

And tonight was the night he intended to do it.

He’d washed more thoroughly than he ever had before, fussed over his hair, combing it this way and that until he was satisfied, putting on his best clothes.

Mia would probably be suspicious.

But that was all right. If he forgot what he wanted to say, she would know. Wouldn’t she?

Dinner at her home was full of noise when Ford entered. Trace, Anaisa, and their brood had joined the party, as well as Mia’s older brothers and their wives and brand-new babies. Anaisa looked ready to burst with her fifth child. There was hardly room in the house!

But that was how it should be; the king had declared a holiday in celebration of the treaty’s finalization. Everyone was in good spirits.

Grandma was thrilled with the boisterous company, cherishing each of her grandchildren, and new great-grandchildren.

Ford thought it was going to be a struggle to get a moment alone with Mia, but everyone except the children had apparently either picked up on the plan or been outright told, for after the meal he found himself alone with her on a walk.

How had they gotten here, in the orchard? Had he suggested it, or had someone else? His mind was racing too much to concentrate on what was happening.

“Are you all right?” Mia blinked up at him. Had they been having a conversation? He chuckled nervously.

“Er, I’m fine. How are you?”