Ranuk was not as honest as he had thought. He realized 'sort of what I expected' was purposefully vague enough that Ranuk could avoid saying what he really meant, which was not really at all what he expected either. Yes, he had guessed that any elven royalty unlucky enough to be wedded to himself would be soft and fearful and rigidly polite, but Tamlin proved himself to be so much more in their short time together.<br/><br/>He hadnt expected the elf to be completely without malice or suspicion. He did not expect Tamlin to say things like 'we can be more than what we expect and what's expected of us' with such genuine sincerity that it made Ranuk lift his head and stare openly at the elf, ice blue eyes wide and glinting in the darkness.<br/><br/>Ranuk had not expected him to smile. He had not expected that there would be any instance where the elf could feel secure enough to express joy, or humor, or kindness in Ranuk's presence. Surely that could not exist between such century long enemies.<br/><br/>But there he was laughing, not with bitterness, but with amusement and a little self deprecation. There he was smiling, and thanking Ranuk for an enjoyable evening. As if that could exist between demons and elves effortlessly. As if it weren't miraculous that they could get along so well that Tamlin could freely admit that he had derived pleasure from Ranuk's company.<br/><br/>Ranuk hadnt expected that at all. So he stared, unblinking at his elvish fiance in silent wonder, unable to think of a single word to say.<br/><br/>Tamlin fiddled with his little grass box and Ranuk held out his hand for it, a gentle request to see what he had made.