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“Do you have your skyfire?”
“I still don’t know why I need it, but yes.”
“So you don’t give anything away! You got the item?”
“Of course! Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Depends on the day! Did you grab the fried scorpion to snack on later?”
“Qibli, please! I’m NOT eating a fried scorpion! Where would I even get one in the ice kingdom?!”
The two dragons were standing in a bright blue and white room. A full-length mirror covered one side of the room where the icewing, Winter, was double-triple checking himself over for any blemish on his scales. A bright silver circlet sat on his head, wreathed by his polished horns. His light-blue, almost white, scales glittered in the moonglobe’s light. The icewing prince played with a small silver bracelet on his forearm, with a dark, round stone embedded inside.
The other dragon, a bright sandy yellow, stuck out like a dandelion in frost. He paced around the room, checking out the window every few moments, before looking at his best friend. A simple golden amber earring hung from his ear, and the bright platinum bracelet of the Gift of Diplomacy sat on his arm.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with? I know a few good icebreakers.” The sandwing said with a grin. Winter turned and pushed Qibli’s snout back with a talon and a snort.
“Am I dating Moon, or are you?” the icewing huffed, then immediately winced.
Qibli looked like he was struck in the snout, turning away.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean t-” Winter started to apologize, but the sandwing simply turned back to him with a small smile, and a brief sadness in his eyes.
“Nah. I understand. I blew my chance, I’m just happy I can try to help you both be happy now.” The sandwing said honestly. But the pain was still there, underlying his tone. Winter placed a talon on Qibli’s shoulder, smiling gently at the sandwing.
“You’re still our best friend, you know that.”
“Oh, I know. You need someone to thaw you out!” He said with a small snort. “Well, if you’re sure you don’t need me to come along…”
“I don’t.” Winter put in, crossing his arms as he sat back on his haunches.
“Then I should probably go do my actual job. If I can’t woo you, maybe I can melt that cold exterior of Queen Snowfall.” Qibli said, winking at Winter. “Wouldn’t that be amazing. We could be family!”
“You are not getting my cousin to fall for you.” Winter shook his head with a groan. “You’d have an easier time with Hailstorm.”
“Aww, you really think I have a chance with your big brother?”
“No.” Winter narrowed his eyes before slapping Qibli’s tail with his own teasingly. “Now get going before Queen Thorn gets a nasty letter about how slow and improper her ambassador is!”
“I’m going, I’m going!” He said with a laugh in his voice. “You’ll be invited to our wedding, don’t worry!” the sandwing added with a snort, leaving the room.
Winter poked his head out to yell after his friend. “Only if she doesn’t have you executed first!”
The icewing couldn’t help but smile after his sandwing friend, before pulling his head back into the room. He gave his scales one last check in the mirror.
Three years. It had been three years of dating Moonwatcher. Four years since she had left Qibli. And in that entire time, this was their first date in the ice kingdom. It was…surreal to say the least. Having Moon here, in his home, a guest of Queen Snowfall. He had a sneaking suspicion the sandwing was involved in how easily she was convinced to allow a nightwing in the kingdom.
But now he could show her the palace. He could show her the snow tundras, the outer villages. The library in Among the Evergreens would probably hold her attention for hours. The original Gift of Light, not the smaller one growing in the rainforest. And most importantly, he could show her the Great Ice Dragon’s Aurora.
An event that only happens in the coldest months of the ice kingdom. It’s a view the Icewings consider sacred and something only to be shared with those they love.
Winter took a deep breath, glancing out the window. Moon was sitting in the courtyard waiting patiently. Her silver teardrop scales glistened in the light of the moon globes. The great Gift of Light held her attention, her sharp onyx claws gently plucking a bulb and holding it to her eyes.
The young drake couldn’t help but stop and stare, smiling at her beauty. He enjoyed how she could lose herself in her scrolls. Or how excited she got learning about different cultures. It was an energy he could only match when it came to his Human studies.
Winter loved how fierce she could defend herself, and then in that same moment turn around and give a dazzling smile that melted his heart. He truly felt that he hadn’t felt real love until the moment she came into his life. And he was glad he had the courage to take that first step.
…Second step.
But still, the step that led them to tonight. The most important night of his life. Right. Stop staring or she’ll think you abandoned her. Can’t make her go through that again. Winter winced, patting himself down. The pouch was still under his wing. The white leather camouflaged with his scales, especially in the darkening night. Squeezing it gently, he felt the solid metal inside.
He walked away from the window, stopping for a moment in front of the mirror once more to adjust his circlet, before walking out the door. The hall was empty now, Qibli had long gone, and his escort with him. No guards, just as he requested. Just a night alone with Moon.
He gulped softly. I can do this. Just remember what Qibli said. Start with an icebreaker.
Winter twisted his snout at that thought. The sandwing was leaking into his brain; he was starting to think in puns now.
He stepped out into the courtyard, his serrated claws tapping audibly in the silent, chilly air. The sky was clear as the first stars started to twinkle in the dark blue above. Moon turned quickly, her plucked moonglobe bobbing behind her. She smiled that icewing melting smile, causing him to miss a step and nearly fall. Awkwardly, he caught himself as his back legs slid after him.
Moon started to giggle as he righted himself, his face a flush blue in the pale moonglobe lights. “Pretend-”
“I didn’t see that. I know, your highness.” Moon finished for him. Then she tilted her head and frowned softly. “Skyfire? Did I…”
“No, no! You didn’t do anything wrong! No– just planning a surprise!” Winter said quickly. And her frown melted back into a grin bright enough to outshine the Gift of Light. A smile he couldn’t help but return, just as big and bright. Smiling…he’d had a lot of practice with that these past years.
“A surprise? You don’t normally do surprises.” She seemed to ponder that thought for a moment. “You’re normally as clear as ice. What’s different tonight?”
Winter grinned a bit wider, both out of eagerness as well as to hide his rising anxiety. “You’ll see when we get to it! We’ve got a full day tomorrow, but tonight, something special happens. When the moons rise, I want you to be as surprised as I am.”
“How poetic. Did you steal one of my scrolls again?” Moon reached a wing over, which Winter touched with his own. The warmth of her scales felt right against the cold of his own. The perfect balance between the dark of the night and the silvery white of the moon.
“One or two. You didn’t notice?” Winter said with a jovial tone, “Maybe you do have too many then.” Moon snorted another laugh. Brushing his wing along hers, weaving his white over her black, he led Moon towards the more open landing of the courtyard. “It’s a short flight, if you don’t mind.”
“Try not to lose me this time?” Moon stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Winter ducked his head, his spines bristled as a bright blue blush covered his snout.
“It was one time...” he muttered, then raised his voice more defensively. “Besides, it’s not as bad as when you left Turtle in the Mud kingdom!” He took flight, jumping from the ground, blowing the light covering of snow from the ice. Moon was not far behind him, giving him a sour look that only made him laugh harder.
“He was covered in the stuff! I thought he was another mudwing!” She growled in a good-natured manner that showed she wasn’t really upset with him.
The two dragons flew towards the ocean. Winter’s bright scales glinting off the starlight, and the moonlight of the first moon. Deep and full as it rose into the sky. By the time they had landed, the second moon, the slim crescent, was peaking from the horizon.
Winter led them to a small clifftop overlooking the ocean. The deep black waters reflected the stars and moons perfectly. Moon stepped through the snow, leaning against him, her head nudged under his chin as they looked out to the sea. The young drake wrapped his frosty wing around her, as if afraid to let her go.
“So you wanted to show me the ocean?” She joked, breaking the silence. He smiled down at her before pulling away. The snow crunched softly under his talons as he stepped back to meet her eyes.
“It comes after the third moon rises.” He said simply.
“Ooooh. Ominous. Did you develop nightwing powers now? Was that a prophecy?” She teased, then poked his nose with a snow-covered claw. He wrinkled his snout, shaking his head to brush the snow off.
“Not prophecy. Timing!” He proclaimed, with maybe a bit too much pride in himself. Then he laughed and flicked a bit of snow on Moon’s side with his tail. “Besides, I thought you’d like the view. You are ‘Moonwatcher’, aren’t you?”
“And so you brought me…to watch moons,” She asked skeptically, before breaking into another laugh. “I thought I was dating Winter, not Qibli. What has gotten into you today!” She brushed his shoulder with a wing in a playful manner.
Winter hesitated a bit, his wings drooping softly, and as if sensing something was wrong, Moon stopped laughing. The icewing shuffled his talons in the snow, abashed at himself. They were having a moment, and now he was ruining it over…being called Qibli? Shouldn’t that be a compliment? Being able to make her laugh like he did that was a good thing, right?
“Winter…” She started slowly, pressing a talon on his own, before using her wing to raise his muzzle, gazing into his eyes with a smile. “I’m here with you. Not with Qibli.”
“I know. I just- I don’t know.” He sighed softly, turning back to the ocean. The second moon was halfway over the water, and the tip of the third moon had just started to appear. Nearly as full as the first, shining silvery light over the black mirror that expanded from the coast.
For a long few moments, the only sound was the waves lapping at the shore. Soft and repetitive down below. Both dragons simply watched the sky. Waiting for something to happen.
“Do you know why I chose you?” Moon asked quietly. Her talon never left his, both tucked deep in the snow, talons interlocked.
“Because I’m quieter than Qibli?” He offered, trying to break the ice.
She didn’t laugh, though. “I dated Qibli because he made me laugh.” Winter turned to meet her gaze and saw a frown on her muzzle. Was it a bad joke? Qibli said that would be a good one.
“I’m with you now, because you make me happy. I feel complete with you. Not just laughter. Not just jokes. A real relationship. I’m with you, because you are Winter. Not Qibli.” She stared him down in that fierce way only a mind-reader could. As if, even with skyfire, she could reach into his mind and pluck out every worry or fear he had, and toss them into the ocean below.
He took a deep breath, calming himself.
“You’re right. I’m not Qibli.” He said simply, then smiled at her, glad to see her return the smile. Winter reached down and tugged the bracelet off his arm. Then he held the glittering metal and dark stone up to the moonlight. “Qibli thought up the surprise bit and the jokes. I was nervous, and he was trying to help.”
He tossed the bracelet into the ocean without a second thought. He would never need it again. Whatever happened tonight, whatever she said, he wasn’t going to hide from it.
The skyfire vanished into the black water, and at the same moment, the third moon rose above the waters. The sky exploded into colors, as vibrant as a rainwing. Deep rose reds intermingled with emerald greens and sapphire blues. Tinged with a golden glow from above, as if hanging from a curtain of treasure. The sea captured every light; reflected it in twofold. A tapestry of colour only Luna could recreate, weaving between the six moons in front of them. And for a moment, Winter saw the look of amazement and surprise on Moon’s muzzle.
And he knew it was time.
“Moonwatcher?” He asked, reaching into the pouch, grasping the cold metal he had worked months to create after hundreds of failed attempts. Days spent looking for the perfect metal and learning to forge just to create it himself. Hours spent researching jewelry making and proper Nightwing accessories. Minutes wasted second-guessing himself at every turn. All for this one moment.
She turned to him, knowing now exactly what he was going to ask. And her face was as bright as the sky, her tear drops scales now shimmering with tears of joy in the rainbow glow.
“Will you marry me?” He asked, trying to keep the croak out of his voice. He held up the silver ring, a thin tri-coil, like a spring, with a deep green emerald pressed into the top. She stared into his eyes and saw the ring from his view, rather than its value.
She saw how much he worked on it. How Qibli helped him muster his courage. How Kinkajou came with him to ask for Secretkeeper’s blessing. How Turtle gave him his romance scrolls to practice with. How Peril offered her flames for the forging. How Hope handed him the emerald from her own ring. How Hailstorm sat and helped him practice his proposal over and over. How he planned everything for this very question.
And he saw her answer. As clearly as if he could read her mind. Painted on her face like a work of art. In the gleam of her eyes, the brightness of her smile, the soft cloud of her breath in the misty air. And yet, for the sake of tradition, she still answered.
“Yes! Of course! Yes!” Winter let out a deep breath, and tears filled his eyes. His vision blurred, and he missed her talon twice, but on the third try, the ring slid on. Moon leaned up and pressed her snout into his. Their talons intertwined, the silver ring sat perfectly on her claw, nestled between his own talons.
“I love you,” Winter whispered aloud, even knowing he never had to. She knew. She always knew. And she always would know, forevermore, how much she meant to him.