| Over time, Macavity and Ria became better friends. Ria spent her days entertaining Macavity with various stories, while Macavity let him self become more enchanted with the innocent queen. Ria�s stories ranged everywhere from her past, to happenings in the junkyard, to real battles, to fake battles, to wild fantasies. Day after day, she would sit, telling him of a time she�d beaten Alonzo in a fight, or when she�d beat Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer single-handedly. Or sometimes she�d make up a fantasy of where she lived in a castle, far away, trapped in a tower, trying impossibly to break down the door. Macavity would always sit for hours on end, watching her talk and laugh, as her teal colored eyes sparkled with excitement as she came to the climax of her story. At night, he would bid her good night, and show her to her beautiful room, furnished with pillows, blankets, and every imaginable thing a queen of Ria�s manner would want. Then he would go off to bed, dreaming of her. As he sat one day, listening to her, a thought came to him. She�d been at his lair for about two months. He did believe he�d come to the point of loving her. He needed to ask her something� His thoughts quickly returned to her story. �So, as the poor queen stood at the window, trying to figure out how on earth she would get down, a prince came riding over the hill,� Ria continued her story. �The queen shaded her eyes to see who had come riding to her far off tower. �Oh my!� she exclaimed. �I believe it�s my prince, come to save me.� The prince came to rest below her window. �It is I, fair maiden,� the prince said. �I�ve come through dark forest, over tall mountain ranges, and though deep rivers to find my true love.� The queen blushed slightly. �I fear, my prince, that I cannot get down to greet you. The door to my room is locked tightly.� Looking up adoringly, the prince said, �Fear not, fair maiden, for I have come with a sword, and so can release you from you high dungeon.� With that, the prince went �round to the door, and using his sword, chopped open the door. The queen came running down the stairs to her true love�s arms. �My prince,� she said, �you have saved me from what might have been a terrible fate.� The prince replied, �All I ask, fair maiden, is a kiss, and your hand in marriage.� The queen nodded. �I will grant your request.� The prince gladly kissed her, and took her to his mount. He helped her up, and then road off, back through the deep rivers, over the tall mountain ranges, and through dark forests to his kingdom, where he was wed to the beautiful queen, and they live happily every after. The end.� Ria smiled as she finished her story. Macavity purred slightly. �Very nice story, my dear. Ria�s cheeks turned a pale shade of pink. �Thank you, Macavity.� Macavity�s tail twitched back and forth nervously. �Ria, my darling, there�s something I want to ask you.� Ria looked down at him rather lovingly. �Yes, love?� He took her paw in his own large paws. �Ria, would you do me the honor of being my mate?� Ria looked stunned for a moment. �Macavity,� she began gently, �I�m not sure if it�s quite time. I think we need a little longer to get to know each other.� Macavity�s face fell, and he looked crushed. Ria bit her lip. Pulling his head into her lap, she said softly, �I do love you, I�m just not sure if I�m ready to have a mate.� She kissed the top of his head gently. �I do love you,� she repeated, trying to assure Macavity. �I understand,� he whispered. He wanted to run out of the room, crying like a kitten, but he couldn�t help staying in Ria�s comforting embrace, letting her stroke his head. Several times, Ria gently kissed the top of his head. For the rest of the afternoon, she stayed sitting, with Macavity�s large, ginger head resting on her lap. As evening neared, Ria sighed, knowing he was hurt, but hoping he could get over it, and know that she still loved him. When dusk came, Macavity rose, and said to Ria, �I guess it�s time we return to our rooms.� Ria nodded. �Thank you for enjoying a lovely day with me.� Macavity couldn�t help the smile that came across his face. �You�re quite welcome, my dear.� Paw in paw, Macavity escorted Ria back to her room. When they reached the door, Ria gently kissed him, and whispered, �Good night, Macavity my love.� �Good night, Ria,� Macavity whispered back, returning her kiss. Ria smiled and backed into her room. The second her door shut, Macavity took off down the hall to his room, hoping no one would see the few tears trickling down his cheeks. As Ria lay stretched out on pillows that night, she thought about Macavity�s question, and her answer. �Was it right,� she though, �for me to say no?� She sighed rather exhaustedly and rolled over, hoping to fall asleep. A couple weeks later, just before Macavity and Ria�s evening meal, Macavity came to Ria�s room. He knocked lightly on her door, waiting for her to answer. �Who is it?� she called, her musical voice light and full of cheerfulness. �I-it�s M-Macavity,� he stuttered, becoming scared at the idea of facing her. �Come on in!� He slowly pushed open the door. �Hi, Ria. I was wondering if you�d like to dine out tonight.� Ria smiled pleasantly. �That�d be wonderful! Where were you thinking?� He smiled slyly. �Oh, a place I know.� �All right. Shall we meet at the usual time?� �Sure, that sounds good.� �All right, I�ll see you very soon then.� Pleased with himself, Macavity left to prepare himself. �I wonder what he wants to go out for,� Ria thought. She shrugged it off and went to find her beat up black collar. She sighed as she looked at it. It was made of very worn out black canvas, and the letters �RIA� were sewn on in purple material. Jennyanydots had made it for her quite some time ago. She disliked it now, because it was so worn out. Reluctantly, she fastened it around her neck, hoping she would look okay. That night, when they were out to dinner, Macavity grew nervous. Ria noticed this, too. She reached out and set her paw on his. �Macavity, what�s wrong?� Her teal eyes held a concerned look. He took a deep breath. �I know it was only a couple weeks ago that I asked you this, but again I ask of you to become my mate.� With a moment�s hesitation, Ria replied, �After these past weeks of thought, I realize, you are the one I am to be with.� A glow came around the two. �You are my life-bonded soul mate.� Macavity looked at her with a loving look. �Then, my darling, I have something for you.� He pulled out a collar, made of rich, black leather with a single large moonstone embedded in it. Silver lettering on it said, �Riana MoonDancer.� �It�s beautiful,� she breathed, removing her old collar to put it on. �My darling, nothing could be more beautiful than you.� After a few months, they received a message from the Junkyard. Both Ria and Macavity became rather nervous. It read: �To Macavity and Riana MoonDancer: Riana has been there for several months now. The Jellicle Tribe is very pleased with her sacrifice of her freedom in exchange for Macavity letting Marajade return to the tribe. However, we have found that Marajade is deeply hurt to not have her best friend by her side. Macavity, we are requesting that you return Riana to the Junkyard as soon as possible. If this request is not meet with in five days time, the Jellicles will attack, with their magician, and take Riana back. Please comply. Sincerely yours, Munkustrap, Second in Command of the Jellicle Tribe� Ria stared down at the note, unbelieving. �They must be kidding,� she finally choked out. Macavity put an arm around her. �Dear, I don�t believe they are.� Ria buried her face in Macavity�s thick fur. �I don�t want to go back. I love Marajade, but I love it here more.� Macavity stroked her head, unable to think of what to say. �We�ll try to come up with a compromise,� he finally said. �But,� Ria said after some thought, �do they have the strength to attack.� With a sigh, Macavity nodded. �They�ve built up their tribe again from my attack. Strays have joined, and kittens have come. They could hurt us.� Ria nodded and thought. �Let�s say we go, and offer some sort of compromise,� she offered. �Good idea, but what will our compromise be?� Ria was silent. �Either they allow us to join, or they allow Marajade to regularly visit us.� Macavity nodded. �Agreed.� |
| Chapter Three: Acceptance |