It was far too nice a night to sit around and watch her sister melt sand, as far as Diane was concerned. The waters of the lake were calling and that was where she went, stripping down to the shirt and breeches she snitched from
Michael before plunging into the water to swim. The water felt like a caress, and she finally gave into the urge to float along, eyes closed and listening to the sounds of water in her ears. She thought she was alone...

Gabriel was still restless after eating what three hearty knights would consume and so he decided to walk it off, not fly, as he headed for the lake. He didn't get a chance to talk to Ian yet but neither had he found Aiden nor Cole to talk to them on it. Not that he knew exactly but definitely knew something was wrong with Ian. Shirt was left open as well he wore the cut off pants and sandals. It was a nice quiet night at this point too. 

He didn't see that gypsy wagon either as he headed down the path leading to the shore. He did, however, notice some clothing in a pile as he looked out over the lake. He was not alone. He had left word in case either of his comrades showed up, where they could find him if they had a mind to.

Aiden hadn't gotten the message.  He had wandered to the lake just a short time earlier.   He was just below Gabriel's rock on a patch of grass, watching the night sky, or maybe dozing since he hadn't heard anyone entering the water. He had been surprised to find the area empty but it was a good time to enjoy the solitude.

She blended well with the dark water, her clothing and hair making her seem more a part of the lake than real. The subtle movements penetrated the surface, alerting her that she wasn't alone and Diane slowly shifted to an upright position where the top of her head and her eyes were the only thing above the surface as she looked to see who was at the lake. On the rock was one of the knights and over by her clothes was another. She couldn't quite make out faces yet; they were still in shadow.

He could make out the face in the water even if there was not enough seen to be certain who it was. "Good evening, the water is perfect tonight. I was swimming earlier." He felt that familiar prickling along the back of his neck as dark eyes turned in the direction he was usually found. Except noting could be seen if one was even sitting on the boulder, they would have to be standing and then a glimpse of shoulders and head might be made out. The darkness usually to hamper except his sight was extremely good at this point. There then back to see if the one made themselves known.

He came from his fog, sitting up slowly when he realized Gabriel was there. Instead of standing, or tossing a pebble, he sent a small cat shadow around to see if Gabriel would notice.  It sat beside him, going through all the motions of a live cat grooming itself.  He had been practicing but still could only work the smaller shadows.  For now.

Hearing Gabriel's voice, she let her head emerge fully to reply, but the gyrations of a form at his feet drew her attention for a few minutes. It looked like a real cat, but she couldn't be sure. "Yes, it is... and what has you here so late, Sir Gabriel? I thought I had the place to myself to commune with the moon."

He blinked seeing the cat then realizing it was a shadow instead. A chuckle came under his breath, "here kitty kitty...Aiden." Then switching focus back out over the water. "Restless as the night calls, what brings you here?" There was a pause, "and who are you?" Chuckling with the last. One that knew his name, wait, he recognized her voice. "Is that you Diane?"

The cat faded into the shadows as Aiden stood and made his way around the rock.  "I hope you don't mind another interrupting your commune."  He grinned at Gabriel as he joined his friend. "I've been practicing a bit." Gabriel had wings to work with, Aiden needed to learn to create shadows much larger than the cat.

"And you too, Sir Aiden? I don't mind, since it's you two." She smiled at the two knights, floating closer to the shore. "Yes, it's I, who else do you know that floats alone in the moon path on a summer night?"

He clasped Aiden's shoulder as he got within reach. "I had wondered on where you were this night." Glancing past his shoulder as if Cole would appear but he didn't feel his presence. He was so very tempted to say they could moon her if she wanted to commune with such but only pressed his lips together instead. It would not be very inappropriate even if the thought struck him as humorous. Instead, "do you come here often?" Sounding very much like a line but done in humor of a better kind.

He bit back a groan at the question, chuckling instead. "I was in a meadow near here, practicing. You saw the result."  He was pleased with that much.

She arched a brow and snorted out a laugh at the question, answering it in typical Diane vagueness. "I come when I'm called. Some nights more than others." Watching Gabriel intently for a moment, she suddenly grinned. "So... tell me, have you been enjoying my book?"

"The cat looked real there at first." But then he had that keen vision but still very impressed. Dark eyes slanted back Diane's way with a lift of a brow. "I was beginning to wonder if anyone would claim the book I advertised as finding. I think there was a catchy spell in it about a potion to give and have one waking up madly in love with the first thing they see." Joking as he had not gone through it but now wondered if he should have. He just hadn't had the time. "One moment," moving around Aiden to disappear into the woods that lined the area not far from them. A twig to snap here and there along with the usual rustle of leaves and bushes before he was back. It was wrapped up in an oil skin cloth over another cloth which he started to unwrap. "Aiden, care for me to try that spell on you and see if it works?"

He grinned then crossed his arms over his chest as he listened to the two.  When Gabriel moved off, he watched him.  "No! Absolutely not."  He didn't totally believe Gabriel but why take a chance?!

Emerging to drip on the shore, she laughed in a low, wicked tone. "You can try it, Sir Gabriel, but I should warn you... what you do may come back on you three-fold. I think you are pursued enough by the ladies as it is. Would you like it to be three times worse?" The silver-blue eyes seemed to catch the moon and reflect it, like a cat's eyes. "Sir Aiden might enjoy that."

Which he added, "maybe it will be the morning you find Cole hovering over you waiting for you to wake." By that time he had the book unwrapped, like new it was kept hidden in the hollow log as such. He held it out to her with a gleam of mirth lighting his eyes more blue. "I will find one that has all those you seem to think liking me to liking him instead." He really didn't believe any looked at him other than a friend. None had approached him with any hinting of something more.

"You'll what?"  He was somewhat confused, then he shook his head. "He's totally oblivious, Lady Diane."  He wasn't interested in looking at the book either.  Some things were better left to others.

Taking her book, she smiled blandly. "So he is, Sir Aiden, and much more likely to turn himself into a frog if I don't keep an eye on him." Preferring to make light of it rather than indicate just how serious her gifts could be for her own protection, she let it go at that.

He knew spell work was serious business why he wasn't serious, certainly they were not taking him serious? "They don't really work. Like this one on page 76." Moving back from them. "One two, sing on three," which he yodeled having it echoed over the lake, "spin around and sprout wings," which he did as the wings came out there in an instant through the open slits paneled in the shirt. Near twenty-two feet of shiny black and red patches over the shoulders tipped in gold. He threw up his arms as they disappeared, "see, doesn't work."

He had meant oblivious to the lasses but just shrugged it off.  Watching Gabriel, he choked back a laugh.  Those wings would get him in trouble yet. "Nope, not at all."  Ahem.

"Oh, noooo... you don't randomly sprout wings, of course spells don't work." Reaching over, she rolled her eyes in amusement and wrapped the spell book up securely. "What's next? You're going to fly and pluck unsuspecting women up to carry them to your nest?"

Actually he had done that earlier tonight. "Ah, no nest, do I get to drop them in the lake?" Wicked gleam as he charged forward, strong arm going around her waist as the wings came out, lifting her up with him. At least he knew he could carry another and the wings, which had strengthened with daily use, could take the extra load.

Well, she'd either scream, use one of those spells on Gabe, or enjoy the flight.  Aiden decided to  head over to the shed and search out a bottle of potcheen.

Diane had the presence of mind to drop the book somewhere safe as Gabriel scooped her up. A delighted laugh rang out as they rose through the air, her hands resting on his shoulders for balance. She trusted him not to drop her other than in the lake. "If you feel you must, but I'd rather you didn't, please."

The rush of air was as strong as the wings that bore them higher out over the lake. Certainly a bird's eye view and one could wonder if he could fly up to the stars as they seemed even bigger and brighter. He had a good hold on her. "I wont drop you even into the water being you asked so nicely." Eyes were the sky blue this time, unlike before as he glided in the turn and kept it steady as they headed back for shore. "Hey look, there's Aiden.." like just spotted as he chuckled under his breath. He had not a lot of practice doing this so would not strain his arms nor wings. Arms seemed to get more taxed than his wings he found out. Once they neared the shore, they flapped in a quicker pace as they lowered. Once feet hit solid ground they disappeared again, releasing her once he knew she had her balance. "What kind of spells do you spin?" Curious now for she had such a book.

He lifted a hand in a wave as they returned, then tipped the bottle back and took a long drink.  Sitting down again, he turned his attention to the sky once more.  He'd not bother speaking for a few moments until the burn was over.

"It's wonderful, flying... feel free to sweep me off my feet like this any time, Sir Gabriel." Her eyes were wide with the pleasure of soaring and wheeling under his wings. Waving to Aiden, she laughed quietly, then shrugged at the question. "Healing, restoration, cleansing, protection.. whatever Aunt Sassy sets me to learn."

"Do you come here often then?" Chuckling this time as he repeated the line. "It is wonderful to fly, something I've only gotten to experience over the past two months," it was two months now or there about. He listened to the answer as he was dipping his head in a nod, "all good things to help others. I didn't really go through your spell book. Somehow I felt such a book was a personal treasure so wrapped it up good so I wouldn't get too curious for my own good and turn Aiden into a frog. Then again that might help all the ladies wishing to kiss him to see if that old tale was true. Instead," heaving a sigh, "I hid it away in an old hollowed out tree in the woods here where I know it would be protected." And had almost forgotten about it too in the meantime.

"Thank you, that was very thoughtful." Diane was hardly a shy young woman and boldly kissed his cheek in thanks for his consideration. "I don't think Sir Aiden needs to be turned into a frog to get kisses; neither do you or any of your fellow knights. You know you're a handsome set. But yes, the book is a treasure, one that my mother wrote with cousin Victor's when they were learning."

"With my luck, it wouldn't be a frog." He pushed back to his feet and  have bowed. "Good night, Lady Diane, it was good to see you again.  Gabriel, I'll see you on the King's field at dawn.."  He wasn't going to talk about kisses, and truth was he realized he was far more tired then he thought. "Don't let him talk you into looking inside the book."

Which had him smiling for the kiss, "I do have a few of these kind and I think I can be content." It was getting late, "we'll see you back part of the way." Not wishing her to go unescorted as they headed out.

"Good night, Sir Aiden. Sweet dreams." Called after the disappearing knight, she nodded in thanks to Gabriel, since she couldn't be fully certain where cousin Victor was and Michael would scold her if she refused an escort. 

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