I didn't care that there was a stupid smile on my face. I held the the document like it was a flag of pride and joy.
"Guess who's official now?" My call echoed off the marble halls.
Kagorn looked up from the bench he was sitting on. The soft smile quickly lit up his face as we made eye contact. He stood and walked towards me. I shoved it in his face when he was close enough. His fingers gently took it from my grasp.
"You know what that means!" I said through a laugh.
I took a moment to enjoy the grandeur of the Hall of Justice and Court wing of the Palace as I let him examine my newly acquired citizenship.
The ceiling seemed as expansive as the sky. The pillars that held it's rolling arches had intricate tile work circling out from their feet. Recesses that lined the hall housed massive granite statues of elegantly chiseled elves. I figured they were tributes to just and wise elven judges of the past. Halo like windows above their heads displayed stained glass court room scenes.
"Thank you, Elder Sagewind."
His soft voice full of thankfulness broke my admiration.
I spun around. I'd completely forgotten about her in my excitement.
She was a stunningly beautiful elf. Her lavender hair fell across her shoulders and down the wide curves of her hips. Her smile was just as graceful as her gate.
I gave her the deepest bow I could manage.
"I am very grateful and humbled that you graced me with your time and energy to help me acquire my citizenship, Elder Sagewood." I said with respect and humility.
When I straightened, her smile was shining brilliantly.
"It has been an honor, Ms. Mcguire. Thelmnaes has gained a valuable and upstanding citizen. Haelorn had nothing but praise for you." The flowery musical tone of her voice flowed down the hall.
It was that calm sweetness that had kept my nervous jitters at bay during the hearing. Her confident demeanor made it easier to be sure of myself. I didn't fumble once with my responses.
I felt the heat flow into my cheeks with both pride and embarrassment at her statement.
With her radiant smile and a nod, she stepped by us.
"I wish you both a good day." She said over her shoulder.
I watched her robes flow around her as she walked down the hall. My document materialized in front of me. I gave Kagorn a tooth filled grin. He chuckled softly. I couldn't stop my giggle fits as we walked across the palace to the infirmary. Kagorn seemed torn between laughing with me and also being concerned.
I practically started to leap up the stairs to the infirmary ward.
"Do you wish to me guard your document until the end of your shift?" Kagorn asked behind me.
I stopped half way up the steps, an idea hitting me. I dug into the pocket of my jacket.
"Yeah, sure! Here, just take my key. Put it on my letter stand or something. I'll get it from you later." I said in glee.
He looked like I'd bestowed my first born child upon him when I handed him both items. I laughed as he gently took them from me.
"Don't act so surprised. You know I trust you. Not like you'd want anything from my house anyways." I snickered.
He mumbled something.
"Huh?"
He quickly looked up to smile at me.
"I will ensure that the document is safely deposited at your residence." His voice was bright.
"Thank you! I'll see you later!"
I bounded up the rest of the stairs.

The majority of the afternoon was spent renegotiating my employment. Haelorn was cheerful as we re-drafted. I was elated to find that he could offer me more pay now that I was an official citizen. I knew I wasn't going to limit my vodka shots tonight. I didn't even know that Syldral could get that giddy when I told him the news. It made me laugh so hard I hiccuped. My rounds quickly passed in a haze of jubiliee. It seemed to rub off on my patients.
That night I got completely obliterated. The vodka sent me onto a joyous cloud of happiness. All I remembered was Mgyal's mischevious glittering grin, and Kagorn's paradoxical smiling but worried face. I couldn't stop the laughter and the stupid jokes. It truely was a night of celebration I wish I could have fully remembered.

I became aware of light slowly seeping through my eyelids. My body felt sore. Slowly blinking open my eyes, I saw that the sky was just turning red.
It was a struggle to sit up.
The pain hit like the crack of a whip against my skull.
Holy mother of pearl, what made me think I was young enough to get away with this?
The pounding was becoming blinding. White halos were flashing at the edge of my vision. My tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth.
Ugh, I need water.
With a groan I climbed out of bed. I looked down to find I was still in my shirt and leggings from the night before. The blood in my brain began throwing itself against my bones as I stretched. I sucked in a yawn.
Something delicious filled my nose.
The cry of my pain was suddenly put on hold.
Is that eggs and bacon?
I took in another breath.
Dear heavens to betsy, that is eggs and bacon!
Stumbling out of my room I made my way through the sitting room into my tiny kitchen.
My brain was temporarily in denial when I saw Kagorn standing over the cast iron stove. The pan he was shuffling over it indeed confirmed my assumption. I could see some other ingredients chopped up on the counter.
His ears twitched, and he glanced over his shoulder to look at me. I could see a soft smile cross his lips before he went back to cooking.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?"
"Like horse crap." I grunted.
He lightly chuckled.
"There is coffee, water, and pain serum on the table for you."
My brain sloshed around as I plopped into my chair. I squinted at the serum. Picking up the vial, I watched the vicious liquid flow back and forth as I inverted it.
Yuck…
Popping the cork, I held my breath. I downed it in one gulp. It made me shiver in disgust. The thick bitterness was sticking to the back of my throat. I tried to scrape it's remnants off my tongue with the roof of my mouth. I quickly grabbed my water to wash it down.
I finally got to focus on the coffee. I took the warm mug in my hands and pulled it towards me. I breathed in it's nutty scent.
Oh coffee, sweet elixir of life. You understand me.
I closed my eyes as I slowly sipped at it. It was sweet in comparison to the serum. I savored the flavor as the sizzling on the stove continued.
Light clattering in front me made me open my eyes. A plate of some sort of hash was steaming. I stared at it in fascination.
Sweet niblets that looks good.
"Does it not…"
My empty mug slamming down on the table cut off his words.
I quickly dug in. The dance of complementary flavors floated on my tongue. I could tell there were fresh herbs. I kept shoveling it in my mouth as I hummed in satisfaction.
"Does it please you?" His quiet question seemed unsure.
"This is amazing! How do you even make something this simple taste so good?" I looked at him in wonderment.
A proud smile ran across his face. I focused back on the food.
"I simply assumed that anything with potatoes would please you."
"You can bet your sweet gonads it does!" I blurted before I could catch myself.
His laugh was rich and vibrant. It immediately drew my attention. I paused from chewing to enjoy the sound. It was like music playing along my ears. I'd never heard the entirety of it's depth before. The unfiltered joy on his face had me enraptured.
Wow, Raven, you are stupid handsome…
He seemed to become aware of my stare. The laugh quickly faded, but a glowing smile remained.
"I never tire of your humor." He mused.
"Pfft, well I'm sure you heard a lot of it last night." I snorted.
"Indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing in a night of celebration with you." There was tenderness to his tone.
"I'm glad you were there too. You're the one who made it all happen. I owe you big time."
"You owe me nothing."
I raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'll repay you somehow, whether you like it or not." I snickered.
He let me finish my breakfast in peace, his stare ever on me. The serum seemed to work quickly. The pounding had turned into a dull ache as I chewed.
Swallowing my last bite, I grabbed my dishes. I knew he his gaze was following as I moved across the kitchen. I could see his head moving in the corner of my eye. As I rinsed out my mug, I blankly stared out of the small window above the stone wash basin. The sky had faded into orange. I would definitely have enough time to bathe and freshen up.
I felt a prickle on the back of my neck.
"Let me clean up, you need to prepare for the day." He barely breathed.
The moist heat of his breath floating into my ear and down my neck instantly rendered the strength out of my knees. I suddenly had a white knuckle grip on the wash basin. A flame rapidly flickered into my belly. I forgot how to breath.
Holy mother of pearl, Raven. How are you doing this to me?
Weakly I nodded. I could feel his body brush against mine as I moved past him. I swore I felt his fingers lightly graze my hips. It sent the blood rushing to my neck and through my veins.
His warm hand caught mine just as I stepped out of the kitchen. I looked back at him. His stare had a sensual look as he slowly brought my hand to his lips. My whole body quivered as I felt his kiss slowly traveling across my knuckles.
"I wish you a pleasant day. I will be gone by the time you are ready. You will see me tonight." His soft voice was sultry.
A swooning breath left my lips.
"Alright…thank you for breakfast." I could barely whisper.
"You are welcome. It was my pleasure."
His eyes took their time traveling over my face. I knew he could see the blush glowing across my nose and cheeks.
His lips fluttered down to the pads of my fingers. The heat brushed along each of the tips. So desperately I wanted to slip them between his lips. His hand at last drifted from mine. I swallowed a shiver. It traveled down my body. My trembling heart was calling out to him. It was begging.
Time seemed to freeze as my brain screamed at my body to move. My legs finally jerked and my head snapped. Gravity sucked my feet the floor as I walked to my room. With a side glance I closed my door. The intensity of his stare stayed until it was completely shut.
I begged my lungs to aerate my starving body as I sunk my back into the door. How could he make such a simple gesture so incredibly mind altering? Turning my head, I looked into the wash room. The mirror reflected my infatuation struck stare.
Oh Chellé, you are so twitter-patted. Admit it, you want him bad.