Effie couldn't help but tug at the blindfold around her face as she was ushered into an echo-drawn carriage.
"Are you going to tell me where we are heading, Richard?"
Not Richard shook his head, not that his wife could see it. "I already told you that you'll just have to see."
"I can't see anything with this blindfold. I don't know how Cassie does it." The Saint grumbled.
She waited impatiently for the carriage to come to a halt.
Not Richard led her down the steps to a cobblestone path. "Alright, you can look."
Effie removed her blindfold. Before her was the Theater of Bastion.
"Are we going to see a show, Bryan?" she asked.
"Not just any show. Look!" Not Bryan pointed up at the marquee.
"The Amazing Adventures of Athena?" Effie furrowed her brow.
Not Bryan chuckled. "Don't worry, it isn't about you. Someone found a copy of the ancient stories and decided to make a play. Tonight is the premiere. I thought you might like to learn more about your namesake!"
A warm feeling radiated from Effie's chest. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
She paused, looking down at her outfit. She had dressed for a day out on the town, not a fancy evening.
She turned to view the smile on her husband's face as he brought packages out of the carriage.
"I think what you are looking for is here."
"Our shopping trip!" Effie recalled their boutique purchases. "Wait! I forced you to pick out a suit earlier. Was that all an act?"
"Perhaps I was born for the stage, my dear," the man winked.
"Very sneaky, Arthur," Effie shoved her husband's arm lightly. He winced before passing over the correct package.
Not Arthur motioned to the back of the theater. "I arranged a changing room for us both, and a make-up artist is ready, too. Not that you need it."
When the two emerged again, they would have rivaled Kai in their stunning appearance. They took their seats in their private box right before the curtain rose.
The show was a modern take on the legends of old. The couple quickly realized that parts of Effie's life and personality had been woven into the mythical warrior.
Athena's dark-haired, pale sidekick was very amusing too, making the crowd chuckle at his insistence that the sky might be falling.
"What a doofus," Effie whispered into her husband's ear.
The play ended on a bittersweet note, with Athena having to choose wisdom and reason over her feelings. Effie felt a pang in her heart as she stood to applaud.
When the show was over, the couple headed down to the reception to praise the cast and feast on the refreshments. Effie did both in equal measure.
Climbing back into the carriage, Effie leaned against her husband as he wrapped his arm around her.
"So, how did I do?" Not Arthur smiled at his wife.
Effie shut her eyes and hummed softly. "Today was perfect, Fredrick."
"Good." Not Fredrick nodded. "Then it's just like you."
Effie looked up at him in surprise. The woman had been called many things, but perfect was not usually among her epithets.
"Do you mean that?"
The man nodded. "You are beautiful, smart, brave, and best of all, you could have anyone in two worlds, and yet you choose to love me. I could not imagine a more perfect person."
He brought out a small box and opened it as he continued.
"You know, I wanted to ask you to marry me the first time we met. I regret that I didn't get to do it until after our son was born, but I will never regret becoming your husband. I know you have an enchanted wedding ring, but I always wanted to give you this."
The man held out the box for Effie.
"It's my grandmother's ring. I asked Saint Cassie to bring it on her last trip to the waking world. I know it isn't much and that you aren't sentimental, but I love you and…"
Effie took the ring and placed it on her finger. She planted a kiss on her husband's lips. The world shrank to a population of only two. Even the bouncing of the carriage could not be felt by the couple as they exchanged a moment of passion.
"Thank you," Effie pulled away. "I love it, and I love you, …"
The Saint's eyes went out of focus as her mind seemed to wander. The man looked at her with a wistful grin.
Effie blinked. "I finally guessed it, didn't I?"
Her husband nodded. "You did."
He didn't have to ask. Effie didn't remember what she said. She never did.
The Saint shrugged. "Ah, well. I guess that means I get to try again tomorrow. That will be the day, I can feel it."
The man nodded. "We can try again tomorrow."
Effie winked. "There is something we can try today, though."
A Cheshire grin came over the man as he interlaced his fingers with his wife's. "Oh? What exactly did you have in mind?"
Effie looked out the window at the setting sun. "Give me a minute, and I'll tell you…"
Her husband nodded. "Until then, Happy Valentine's Day, my love."
"Happy Valentine's Day."