The two kobolds hastily dressed and stood up at Sigmundurr's call, the long grass effectively shielding them from view until they were ready.

"Be right there, Sig!" Kreet answered, then turned back to Kallid. His eyes had turned nearly violet and the half-closed lids of his eyes made his weak smile look idiotic. "Come on silly. Time to go back to real life."

"Um... one question before we go back..."

Kreet cocked her head to one side. "What's that?"

"Will you marry me?"

Kreet took a heartbeat to understand the words. Then she sat back down.

"Kallid... are you serious? We only just met practically!"

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't serious."

Kreet thought quickly. Her question was just as valid when directed at herself. She'd only just met this kobold a few days ago. And now she'd mated with him twice! Was she really thinking about...

"Yes, Kallid. I would love to marry you," she said, throwing caution to the wind. If it was a mistake, she would own it.

"Really?!" he responded. It appeared he'd forgotten to close his mouth afterwards.

"Yes. If you want to. I think I'd like that."

Kallid jumped high in the air at that. "Well then, it just so happens I know a goddess... If that's okay."

Kreet giggled. "Sure. Why not? It's probably all her fault anyway."

Hand in hand they walked towards where Sigmundurr and Eilistraee waited at the edge of the woods; Kallid eagerly, Kreet embarrassed.

Sigmundurr laughed as they approached, "Well don't you look like the cat that ate the canary?!"

"We didn't eat anything!" Kallid said, misunderstanding. "Eilistraee? Would you marry us?"

The goddess smiled as if she expected the question. Kreet figured that she probably did. "Right here Kallid?"

He nodded eagerly, and she looked at Kreet.

"Yes, Eilistraee. Right here and now. I can't imagine a better place, or time."

"Well, you are a least an hour late I'd guess." Sigmundurr snickered.

Kreet's eyes turned purple, which only made the human laugh aloud.

The ceremony was short but memorable for Kreet. Sig acted as their witness of course, but in just a few minutes Kreet and Kallid left the glade behind the goddess and Sigmundurr as a duly married couple, and Eilistraee admitted that theirs was the first wedding she had presided over.

"So," Sigmundurr asked as they turned back onto the path. "Where are you planning to spend your honeymoon?"

"What's a honeymoon?" Kallid asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"It's traditional for a human husband and wife to take a little trip," Kreet explained, "...after they get married. But I think we sort of already had our honeymoon."

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Kallid looked confused.

Kreet nuzzled him again. She couldn't help herself. He still looked confused, but no longer seemed to care.

"So where did you two get off to?" Kreet asked, changing the subject.

"Don't worry, Kreet," Sigmundurr laughed. "We didn't do what you two did. She just showed me around the lake. I think she's a bit of a nature goddess."

"Well, I do appreciate it, I suppose. But it's not really my domain. I'm pretty much tied to the drow."

"And yet you're spending all this time with us?" Sig asked.

"Oh, I'm not really. Just... part of me. I'm not only here you know. But from your perspective, there's no need to think otherwise. Let's just say I have wide interests. So you liked my dance?"

"It was beautiful," Kreet said, and Kallid nodded agreement.

"Amazing," Sigmundurr said.

"You know, Sigmundurr, you could be my first human devotee. If you wanted to."

"Me? Sorry Eilistraee, I don't think I'd make much of an acolyte. I'm not exactly the religious type."

"You think not? You believe in me, don't you?"

"Well, sure. I believe in lots of gods. But that doesn't mean I want to spend my days spouting sermons or kneeling in front of images."

"Sig. Really. Look at me. Do I look like the kind of goddess who would want that sort of thing? No, I wouldn't want anything of the sort. All I ask is that you... bend a little. Try and be a little more empathetic, and try to control that temper of yours, along with other things. There is a kind of joy in physical conflict. I understand that. But there are other joys. Better ones. And maybe you could put in a good word or two about the drow when you can to others? There are good drow too you know."

"Not many," he retorted.

She had to agree. "No. But there are some still."

"Eilistraee, really. If suddenly that gate opened and hundreds of drow poured out of the Underdark, there would be a war. Surely you know that? You can't imagine the humans and daylight elves would tolerate it."

The goddess looked pensive before responding. "Not as they are now. You're right. But people can change. Even you can change."

"Already have. If you'd asked me what I would do alone with a naked woman like you yesterday, strolling down a road discussing religion would not have been my answer!"

"Learning self-control already are you?"

Sigmundurr thought about that a second. "Yeah. I guess I am. A little."

"That's enough," the goddess replied. "Sigmundurr, your desires won't change. But it's how you respond to them that can. I know what you'd like to do with me well enough. And that's okay, it's your nature. There's nothing wrong with it, so long as you stay in control of yourself."

"Now you sound like Kreet."

"Do I? Well, maybe Kreet has learned a thing or two herself in her life."

During all this, Kreet and Kallid were just listening and admiring the stars as they walked behind the other two, but with her name being mentioned Kreet began to pay closer attention.

"Sig, Kreet is a very special person. She wouldn't admit it, but she has gained wisdom that you wouldn't understand. She's had a life no kobold before her has ever gone through. She has suffered for that wisdom, so it's well earned. You should listen to her more, if not me."

"She can make sunglasses too!" Kallid added.

"Indeed she can! If more underground dwellers ever get a chance to emerge and live Outside, those will be valuable too."

"Stop it you guys. I'm just a kobold that lives Outside. Nothing more."

"That's not insignificant, Kreet," the goddess said. "But we've gone far enough. The cave I have in mind is just down this way. Follow me."

They did so and in a few minutes hiked up a small hill and found the cave. Light was just beginning to be seen over the horizon as they entered.

"Nothing to worry about in here, you say?" Sigmundurr asked.

"Nothing. And nothing will disturb you today. I'll be leaving you now. If I'm not back when you wake, just go back to the path and keep going. It goes all the way to the village, though it meanders a little. Nothing you'll find difficult."

"Will we see you again?" Kallid asked.

"Without a doubt. I'll see you tomorrow night. You have the word of Eilistraee. Sleep will come to you now. Good... day?"

"Good day Eilistrae!" Kreet said, along with the others.

The avatar turned as if to walk away but faded from existence before she got to the mouth of the cave.

"Well then, I'll take this niche, kobolds. Don't make too much noise. I'm a light sleeper."

"Sig, I've heard you snore. We'll be back here," Kreet answered, indicating the back of the cave which curved away from the mouth.

Kreet and Kallid found a nice little corner and snuggled together. Initially Kallid was a bit frisky, but the sleep soon caught up to him too and he fell to sleep on her chest.

"My little moon," Kreet thought, and held his head. Then she yawned and went to sleep herself, dreaming of stars and love.