Okay, so I suppose it's normally a story then a nap... but who said I'm
normal at all?
So anyway... Up to this point, our hero (that's me), has fallen deeply and
madly in love with our beautiful, kind, charming princess (that's my
Geekheart). At first he was rather reluctant, but after all, with mortal wounds
like his, who could blame him? Eventually, though, our hero acknowledged his
emotions and feelings for our heroine, and decided he fancied her enough to get
married. I mean, after all, she was
exactly what he
wanted. He just
didn't know it yet (sometimes [okay, most of the time] he's a little slow).
Well, after some conversation to make sure it was really possible, our Hero
devised a cunning plan to win her heart forever. That plan requires the
constant care and watchfulness of our Hero, basically forever. Part of that
plan was marriage, and he had to convince the lovely princess to marry him. It
wasn't enough to simply ask, our Hero is too much of a geek. So with a flash of
inspiration he thought, "A hah! A treasure hunt!" and began working. When he
was in Seattle he bought two sets of earrings, and then he bought her an
engagement ring. In Seattle, he also worked on some rhyming clues to lead her
around Maumelle. The plan was to finish with a nice walk across the Big Dam
Bridge, (and a walk back), where he would propose halfway across. But as our
hero planted the clues, he noticed something dark and frightening. There were
people around! Now, our princess is a shy creature, with little desire to
be paraded around. In some ways she's become less shy, thanks in part to our
hero's lifestyle. But to propose in front of that many people? Our hero had
strong feelings that this occasion should be personal and intimate — not shared
with hundreds of other people, especially strangers!
So with a quick improvise, he decided to leave earlier in the day. At first
this was not a problem. The first clue delivered, the second one was found
(though it had prior been discovered by some goblins, they were confused as to
its purpose and discarded it nearby the original hiding place), the third, too.
Alas, on the fourth clue, some wind dragons must have spirited the clue away,
for it was nowhere to be found. Luckily, our hero was able to read his original
clue, which quickly lead our princess to the fifth. Here, disaster almost
struck! Out of the grass on the side of the path slithered a black
dragonlet in pursuit of some
prey! Our princess froze, while our hero took up a defensive position. He
offered to fight, but our princess commanded him to wait. The dragonlet froze,
and examined our travelers from about twenty feet, and then cautiously turned
to head back into the grass.
Upon searching for the fifth clue, it was nowhere to be found. Perhaps some
hobgoblin, or even the dragonlet removed it, hoping to lure our travelers to
some unknown fate. However, once again our hero had the original copy, and was
able to direct our princess to the sixth, and final clue. It was here that
disaster struck. Our hero neglected to factor in the heat of the sun at just
past midday, and forgot to bring water. The sun beat down on our travelers,
trying to force them to submit and give up. Heroically, they traveled on, step
by weary step. Eventually they reached the sixth and final clue, but with no
water and no shade, they stopped only briefly. Then they began the long journey
back to the car. Wisely, they chose not to stop in the intended place (halfway
across), but to head back to the car. When their transportation was in sight,
our lovely princess ran to the car as fast as she could for the delicious water
that awaited her. Then, our intrepid duo made their way to a restaurant, for
what should have been a delicious repast.
However, when the nachos arrived, they tested the very fortitude of our weary
travelers. For, instead of being covered with a delicious blend of bell
peppers, tomatos, and onions, save one small shred of pepper, they were covered
with a not-so-delicious blend of onions, with more onions. Our lovely princess
does not like onions. Had they known the nefarious plot taking place in the
kitchen, they never would have ordered their meal. Yet, stoically they ate.
However, our hero was still faced with a dilemma! Where to ask the hand of our
lovely princess? As yet there was no place suitable, either in temperature or
beauty. Our travelers began home, stopping by the Mart of Wal, to purchase some
food for their later meal back at the keep.
Just then, nature provided the answer to our hero's dilemma! It began to rain,
cooling the earth and the air. With the excuse that he "just wanted to show
[her] something quick", our hero was able to make a detour. It was a place he
loved as a child, it had been complete forest back then, and now, sadly, it had
been clear cut in preparation for the construction of other keeps. Yet it had a
beautiful view of the abundant verdance, as yet, and so he stopped. Nervously,
he made an excuse that got our princess from the coach, then fell to his knee
and fumbled out a box. It contained the most beautiful ring, perfect for our
princess. A dark blue sapphire jewel, ringed by small bits of diamond, set in
white gold, it was truly magnificent. With another poem, our hero asked, "...
will you be my wife?"
With a smile and tears in her eyes, the beautiful princess answered, "Of course
I will!"
Making me the happiest man alive!