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Tears streamed down my face, and I wasn’t even self-conscious that he could see theers, reached up to sweep them away

"I didn’t mean to make you sad," he said quietly

I shook my head and sniffed, not even sure what I was Was this happy? Was this sad? Was this so incredibly moved?

"It’s beautiful, Wil You didn’tyou so hard right now--if that’s okay"

"That’s okay," he said and opened his arht Thisthe week that we’d been away fro ti onto the bed, I spread it as flat as I could--the corners kept curling up--and took in every detail "You’re a, Wil"

He sank down on the bed beside me "So are you"

I shook my head "No, I’m not…"

"You are You’ve been through so much hardship, and yet you’re still a positive person You help others You’re strong and brave, and you care about other people You’ve cared aboutinto darkness"

I turned and lay ainst his shoulder, and he reached up to cup it in his large hand We lay like that in silence for a while And then, as rew heavy, with sleep-slurred speech I asked hiht here

William sat up and I helped him pull the bedspread down Then I kicked off uished the lamp We crawled onto the fluffy bedroll, where I pro ar ti I woke in Willia away froht I studied the e slowly expanded and contracted I wanted to lean over and kiss him, to run my hand down his solid back

But I restrainedI knew that he would stop The fundareement between us had not been resolved

I sed a sudden lump in my throat Would it ever?

With stealthy movements, I crept out of bed and slipped on o to the tent I shared withday

It was the first day of May--May Day, or within our reenactroup, the first day of the Beltane Festival In ancient ti of the su, folk dancing and a celebration around the Maypole After dark, the Beltane Ball would be held around a raging bonfire

I couldn’t wait

When I got to lances Caitlyn, of course, asked ht

"I, uh, well it’s not as exciting as you think I ith Williaot that weird feeling fro as I think Sir Hottie MacFine likes women after all"