Gilbert set down the goblet and arose from his chair. He walked over to the window to look at the sun-dial outside.

"Hmm," Gilbert muttered to himself as he scratched his chin. "She should've been here by now."

Then, as if Gilbert's thoughts had triggered the event, Marie walked through the door.

"Sorry I'm a little late," Marie said, looking a little exausted. "Joseph needed some extra work done on the garden. He wanted me to work out a new design for him."

Gilbert smiled, "No need to apologize. As long as you're here now."

The two of them held each other for a moment, and then Gilbert guided his wife towards her respective chair, "Come, have a drink with me."

Marie sat down and waited pleasantly as Gilbert retrieved a second goblet from the cupboard. He filled her cup to the rim, and then sat down in the chair across from her.

"So how is Mayor Joseph doing today?" Gilbert asked as he sipped his wine.

"He's doing well," Marie replied. "All though he seemed to be acting nervous today for some reason."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Marie shook her head, "I didn't question it. I figured if it was something important or life-threatening he would tell me.

"I see," Gilbert said as he took another sip.

The two of them sat in silence together for a while, happily enjoying their wine. Gilbert told her the story of the battle that took place the previous evening, and about how pleased he was that Inuki didn't make them carry out some complex strategy.

"Speaking of Inuki," Marie said, partially trying to change the subject. She hated war, and didn't really like the fact that Gilbert's occupation was based on it. "Will she still be joining us for tea tonight?"

Gilbert nodded, "Yeah. She told me that we could get together at her place this time."

"Wonderful!" Marie exclaimed. "She askmed me to plant some tigerlillys in her garden. This will be the perfect oppurtunity."

The evening wore on, and Gilbert and Marie took care of their basic chores around the house, like dusting and dishwashing. Marie cooked a turkey for dinner, and they happily enjoyed the plump bird.

Marie peered out the window, "We should get going to Inuki's house. I baked a cherry pie to go along with the tea."

Gilbert licked his lips and rubbed his hands together, "Well let's hurry before the pie gets cold."

Inuki waited silently in her dining room. The smell of chai tea carresed the air around her, and gave her a relaxed feeling like no other. She was about to drift off into a deep sleep when there was a knock at the door. She got up and opened the door, revealing her two closest friends, Gilbert and Marie. They all exchanged hello's and how are you's and the like, then proceeded to drink tea and eat some home-made cherry pie.

"So Inuki," Marie said as she whiped some cherry-goo off of her lip. "Gilbert was telling me about the battle yesterday."

"If you would even call it that. It was more like us beating the snot out of some bad guys," Inuki responded cooly. They all laughed at her blunt remark.

"Oh by the way, would you like me to go outside and plant those tigerlillys now?" Marie offered as she got up from her chair.

"That would be very kind of you, Marie. Thank you."

Marie smiled and walked out the back door, humming the same little catchy tune that she always hummed when she was gardening.

"Would you like more tea, Gilbert?" Inuki asked as she began to refill her cup.

"Sure, thanks," Gilbert said as he held up his cup. Inuki walked over to where she could pour the tea into his cup, but accidentally tripped over her spear and knocked Gilbert's cup onto the floor.

"I'll get it," they both said in unison as they reached down to grab the fallen cup. Gilbert's hand was ontop of the cup, while Inuki's hand was ontop of Gilberts. They looked up at each other, directy into one another's eyes. And for a brief moment, it was as if they were looking into each other's souls.

Gilbert, feeling the awkwardness of the situation suddenly, blushed and pulled his hand away quickly, "I, uh, I'm gonna go out there with Marie..." And he left through the back-door to join his wife.