Ang Alamat ng Sunflower (Descending Fire 15, Realm Year 768)

What would you do when you wake up, and there's a flower on your pillow?

I'd show it to a friend.

"So where'd you get it?" Cema inquires.

"Well," I reply, "remember last night, when Valen bundled me in a blanket, and brought me out of the gathering?"

"I remember," Cema says.

"He carried me all the way to headquarters," I continue. "When he released me, we were in my room."

"He placed me on the bed, and he said,

'I don't mean to presume, my lady, but your behaviour was inappropriate for someone of your stature.'

'Oh Valen, you're such a prude! Its a party!' I giggled. 'The Cynis do it all the time. You should know, you're a Cynis.'"

"Hey, I'm a Cynis!" Cema interrupts. "I don't act wild in parties!"

"Only when you're stoned." I flash her a grin. "Now will you let me continue?"

"Anyway,

'My House isn't exactly the best example on how the Princes of the Earth should conduct themselves,' he chided. 'I believe it would serve you well if you were to refrain from emulating their actions, my lady.'

I gave him a little pout. 'Why would a mortal care so much how a Princess of the Earth behaves herself?'

'Because,' he said, as he sat next to me, 'mortals need you to guide them down the path that will lead them closer to the Elemental Dragons. And because...'

He took my hand.

'Because I don't like anyone to think wrongly of you.'

We held each other for a while. Then he said,

'I just want you for myself. But how could a Princess of the Earth love someone such as I?'

'Why shouldn't I? I can love any mortal I want,' I replied.

'But I'm not just any mortal, Cathak Shima.'

'Oh?' I smiled. My fingers traveled to the fastenings of my dress, then I said, 'Show me how different you are, Cynis Valen.'

He didn't sieze me, like I expected him to. Instead, he played his fingers on my skin, like a master musician strumming his sanxian, and my sighs were the sweetest melody to his ears.

And just as I thought I couldn't take any more, he climbed atop me, and..."

"So how's he different from Tor?" Cema, not able to contain her excitement, interrupts again.

"Tor was... urgent, like he finally had something he's always wanted, and he's not going to let anyone take it from him," I answer. "Valen was a lot gentler, like I was the most precious thing in Creation... It was like he was whispering a promise in my ear, that he'll take care of me forever."

"Oh." Cema stares at her feet. "I wish I was as pretty as you, Shima, then maybe Eran would..." She blushes furiously.

"What are you talking about?" Rae appears out of nowhere.

"Cema thinks I'm prettier than her," I reply.

"Nonsense, dear!" Rae puts her arm around Cema. "You're much much prettier than Shima! But you're not prettier than me, however..."

I chuckle at them as they walk away. I look at the flower in my hand, and remember last night...

Last night, when we were satisfied, while I was floating in the soft, warm place between waking and sleep, he said to me,

"'There will come a time in which you will have to decide between me, or your destiny as a Dynast of the Realm. I will not ask you to choose now, but when someday, I'm going to have to.'"

When I woke up, daylight was streaming through the windows, and there was a flower on my pillow. It was as round and golden as the sun, surrounded with petals that look like rays.