"Mera, stop; you're babbling." she said, dressed now, and smiling, happy "As long as you<em>just</em>weren't saying it to make me happy, then<em>that</em>makes me happy.  You're my pretty little flower now, my dirty little girl, and you know you like it when I treat you that way.  I want you to know how I see you, even now when you're covered with armor and weapons..."<br/><br/>She reached out then, and brushed through Mera's hair, past the bronze flower pin.  It really did look good on her...<br/><br/>"There's more to you than a Lookshyan soldier, which is why I chose to let you be my Shieldmaiden..." she said, and kissed her head just in front of her hairpin "But for now, we need to get moving, and tonight you're wearing your one true possession... well, your first; that pin is yours, flat out, promise."