Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Elroy shook his head at her apology, rising from the bed to kneel in front of her and take her hands. "Let's just be better." He said gently, kissing her soft skin before looking up at her. "I have not been the best father or the best husband over the years. You..." He paused shaking his head with a chuckle as the memories of her scolding him over the years rose..."You changed me. And for the better." He quickly added. "But I'm not perfect yet, Jasmine, and while you are perfect in my eyes, you are not either. We can still grow. As husband and wife. As parents, as rulers of Bladegarden. There is still so much for us to learn." 

Elroy let his words hang in the air for a moment. "Don't apologize for having good intentions. But be better. With me." His eyes searched her own, full of love and determination. "Let's be better together."
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

A bittersweet smile appeared on Jasmine's face as she momentarily met Elroy's eyes. He spoke so kindly to her. He was so compassionate.

*'To be better together.'*

"Oh, Elroy..." A simultaneous rush of love and shame made her chest feel tight. She gently squeezed his hands before leaning forward to softly kiss his cheek. "I would like that very much."
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

"Good." He smiled, helping her up from the chair before pulling her tightly to his chest. Elroy remembered being a young boy and thinking the love his parents displayed was sickening, but Jasmine elicited the same feelings from him. 

"Come, we need to sleep." He led her to the bed, their hands still intertwined. Crawling in, he pushed the covers back for her on the right side. As she crawled in beside him, Elroy kissed her forhead. "I love you."
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Jasmine nestled in closer to Elroy, a feeling of contentment washing over her as she rested her cheek upon his shoulder. His kiss on her forehead and his "I love you" Made her squeeze his hands yet again. Elroy did not often use that phrase. "I love you, too."

—————

Jasmine's eyes opened, and she saw that the room was still dark. Judging by how tired she felt, it had only been two or three hours since Elroy and she had gone to bed. Slowly leaning her head back, she saw that Elroy was asleep, his expression relaxed and breathing slow.

She paused for a moment, staring at him, then softly called, "Elroy?" Her voice was barely an audible whisper, much more quiet than what she usually had to use to rouse Elroy out of his sleep.
Carol
Elroy Thèvenet 
Provate Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet 

Elroy did not stir. ~~Instead, dreaming that alien dragons came and invaded Araedia killing Xolile and freeing them all from religious slavery.~~
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Private Quarters, Provincial Thèvenet

Seeing that Elroy did not stir and that his expression remained peaceful, Jasmine stared at him for a few moments longer. The marriage vow they had made together so long ago, and Elroy's request of her honesty, was eating away at her.

With her eyes staying on Elroy's face to make sure that he did not show signs of stirring, Jasmine began to profess everything in the same faint, barely audible tone. As well as her plan of the poisonous pills, she told him of other things. Things that she had told him before, but with more detail. How she sometimes felt as though the Pilgrimage wouldn't have been necessary if she would have worked harder. How saddened she was with the constant arguing between he and Marcus, and the mixed feelings of apprehension and excitement she felt at the idea of raising another child. She told him of her mother's constantly declining health and worrying state of mind. Her hatred of the Circle. How utterly alone she felt sometimes.

She was not sure how long she spent confessing to Elroy's sleeping form, but when she had finished she felt as if a small weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She finally allowed herself to move closer to him, nestling against his chest as she closed her eyes with a small sigh. She finally allowed her mind to drift off in a tired, dreamless sleep.