*The night was cold and clear, and the full moon was especially bright up above the waterfall of the Shimmerscale lair. Alex chose this, of all places, to think long and hard. Above the roar of the falls, in the crisp air, he sat on his haunches looking up at the moon and the stars, a silent statue, save for the occasional flick of his tail.

Then he opened his paw and glanced down at something that shined brightly in the moonlight and sighed softly. Aurthur had given it to him, just this morning. He had called it a Dracmas gift.......But it wasn't for him. A white gold band with a large emerald affixed to it, as well as several smaller diamonds of amazing purity. Yes, this ring wasn't a Dracmas gift for him......It was a mateship ring.

Alex and Milicent had been courting for some time. They made a lair, a home together, and were still expanding on it. So what was it that was stopping him from asking that all important question' What was keeping him from asking her to be his mate" The answer was simple......It was fear that stayed his voice.

He truly loved Milicent, and that was why he was so fearful. He didn't want to hurt her......How many times had he died and left mates behind" How many times had a mate left him' Dragons were supposed to mate for life, and he had gone through so many mates, it seemed......How could he do that to her" He was in turmoil, his heart ached, and he longed to ask her.......But how could he" Instead, he just sat in the darkness, staring down at the ring in his paw.*

*He heard the leathery snap of wings and turned his head to watch Milicent take off. Oh, how beautiful she was....She was so very graceful in flight, she was....She was......Coming right towards him! He hadn't quite been prepared for that, and as quickly as he could without drawing attention, he slipped the ring into his wingpouch. His crimson eyes never left her for a moment, not even to avert his gaze to keep dust from getting in his eyes when she landed. Not that it was an issue, of course. Her landing was very graceful, barely stirring the dust at all.

He smiled and gave a soft rumble of greeting, as well as a soft nuzzle of affection to her neck* Good evening, dear Milicent. It is a beautiful night, is it not' I rather like it up here.....With the moon so clear, looking over this land that my daughter holds.....It's a nice spot. *Of course he couldn't tell her what he was doing here without giving himself away, so he tried a different approach to the conversation.*

What is it that brings you up here this late at night, Milicent?