Thank you for your feedback. I’m happy to make some tweaks to the story. Here is the revised version. I hope you like it better.
Mayor Raven lay beside DeuxDal, her head resting on his chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his body. She felt a surge of gratitude and affection for him, for being there for her in these dark times.
She had met him a long time ago, when they were both children in Vogler, a small village in Nordmaar. They had grown up together, playing, learning, and dreaming. They had shared their first kiss under the stars, though after that DeuxDal wanted to kiss all that he could. But their lives changed when the dragon armies of Tiamat invaded their land. They had to flee their home, along with many other villagers, and seek refuge in Kalaman. There, Raven offered to assist in managing the city, using her expertise from being the mayor of Vogler.
But her love was not without challenges. Kalaman was under constant threat from the shadow dragon that lurked in the nearby mountains. The beast had attacked several times, breathing its dark fire and spreading its fear. The city’s defenses were weakening, and the people were losing hope. Raven had to make difficult decisions every day, trying to balance the needs of her citizens, the demands of her allies, and the dangers of her enemies. She felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, and sometimes, she wondered if she could bear it.
But DeuxDal was always there for her, supporting her, comforting her, encouraging her. He was her rock, her anchor, her light. He made her feel alive, and gave her hope for a better future. He was more than a lover; he was a partner, a friend, a soulmate.
She looked up at him and saw him smiling at her. He kissed her softly on the forehead and wrapped his arms around her.
“Hey,” he said softly. “How are you feeling?”
She sighed and snuggled closer to him.
“I’m feeling… tired,” she admitted. “But also happy. Happy to be with you.”
He stroked her hair gently.
“I’m happy to be with you, too,” he said. “You’re amazing, you know that? You’re doing a great job, they would be lost without you. You’re strong, smart, brave… I admire you so much, but don't tell anyone I said that.”
She smiled, and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she said. “That means a lot to me. Coming from you.”
He hugged her tighter.
“I mean it,” he said.
She felt a warm glow in her chest.
“I love you, DeuxDal,” she said.
They lay in silence for a while, enjoying each other’s presence. Then she spoke again.
“Do you think we’ll make it?” she asked. “Do you think we’ll survive this war?”
He looked into her eyes, and nodded.
“I do,” he said. “I have faith in us. In our friends. In our cause. We’ll find a way to stop the dragon. We’ll save Kalaman. We’ll save the world.”
She smiled, and felt a surge of hope.
“I believe you,” she said.
He kissed her gently on the lips.
“Good,” he said. “Now let’s get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow.”
They cuddled up together and closed their eyes. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, she dreaming of peace and freedom, and Deuxdal dreaming of fire, burning, and change.