Walking Through Shadows Ch. 03

Nia opened her mouth to speak but Orlaigh shook his head and continued

"I don't want tonight to be about the Shadow or about both our races. I want it to be about us. I want to conceive this child in love, as it should be. And I need you to promise me that, should anything happen, if you can't give me back my memory or anything happens to me, then the child will know that I loved you and that it wasn't just a tool to achieve an end. I need you to promise me that, no matter what, the child will be loved for who it is, not what it represents."

Finally looking at her, Orlaigh saw tears in Nia's eyes. He paled at the thought that he had hurt her but this was important

"Promise me, Nia"

"Oh Orlaigh, I told you that I wanted a family, I wanted to be loved. I never thought I could have that. You have shown me that I can still have what I dreamed of. Of course I will promise you those things. I do love you. I have since I first spoke to you. The gentleness I saw in your soul all the years that I watched you spoke to me and I will gladly promise those things to you because it's what I want for our child too."

Moving away from the fire, Nia took his hand. Her touch made Orlaigh fell as if a bolt of lightning had shot through his body. He thought that, no matter what, he would forever feel the heat from her palm pressed against his. She led him to a small hut at the edge of the clearing. As they walked through the door she turned and wrapped her arms around him. Orlaigh bent his head as she looked up at him and their eyes met for a moment before he kissed her and all his doubts melted away.