The Taste of Seduction

"Atlas, where are you taking me?" Meredith asked, her heart racing with excitement.. Atlas had his hands on her shoulders, gently guiding her forward while she was blindfolded. She couldn't see a thing, but his reassuring touch was enough to withhold the anticipation and a subtle hint of anxiety building up inside her.

"Don't worry, we're almost there," He replied, a hint of mystery in his voice. He led her through a maze, navigating the twists and turns with ease, until they arrived at their destination.

Slowly, he slid his hands off her shoulders, causing her to shudder and turn her head in the place where he was. He pulled off the blindfold, their gazes locked briefly, and then he gestured towards his left.

Through the moon gate that was adorned with creeping ivy, she beheld an enchanting sight – a dinner setting, designed with elven aesthetic. The table was covered with a lush green tablecloth that blended seamlessly with the surrounding nature.

The centerpiece was a stunning bouquet of wild flowers, arranged in a wooden vase that looked like it had been crafted by the hands of a master artisan.

The chairs were made of twisted vines and soft moss. Hanging from the low branches of the nearby trees were delicate lanterns that emitted a warm and inviting glow, casting the entire area in a magical light.

She walked in further, taking in the magical aura that the place emitted. It was as though she'd been transported to another direction.

"Are we still on earth?" She asked Atlas, her voice full of wonder. She walked up to her seat, sliding in gracefully. While Atlas took his seat, she continued to scan her surrounding.

"Yes, sweetheart, we are still on earth." He said with a laugh. She looked at the table, beholding the varieties of drinks, fruits and exquisite dishes that surrounded the entire table.

"We're not going to eat all of this," She whispered, gesturing towards the large platter that had been set before them.

Atlas laughed as he replied, "Of course not, darling. We can't eat all of this, we'd have to be ogres to do that successfully. They have big stomach room for food," He pointed out carefully. Meredith stared at him, her gaze questioning and accusing at the same time. He noticed it and became uneasy.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" He asked, his voice was low and soothing.

"Oh Atlas, how can I not love all of this? Tell me," She whispered, gesturing at the surrounding they occupied. "Why did you go through all of this, I'm very curious,"

Atlas smiled and got on his feet. "You didn't even let me get to the good part," He said as he handed her a pamphlet.

"Oh wow, so this is an event,"

"For just both of us, yes." He replied as he took his position beside her. "Go on then, what would you like us to do first?" He asked her.

She opened the pamphlet and began to scan through the content, but then she looked up in astonishment.

"There are three words written here, is this the forecast of the event?" She asked, "I can't understand a thing,"

"Well, I made sure they were written in a code language that you were meant to figure out. The first item on the list is Chorevo Metera," When he said the words, he walked up to her, took the pamphlet from her and placed it on the table. He turned to her with a bow, and a sparkle in his eyes.

"Would you do me the honor of taking this dance with me, my lady?" He asked with his hand extended.

She hesitated for a moment, "But there's no –" she started to say, before he cut her off.

"Music?" He spoke the word, and as if in response, the sound of a waltz reached their ears, growing louder with each passing moment. With a smile, he took her hand and helped her on her feet, leading her away from the table to an ample space in the surrounding, twirling her in time with the music.

With grace and elegance, they moved together in a gentle rhythm, as though they were the only people in the world. For a moment, the rest of the world ceased to exist, and they were engulfed in the magic of the moment.

She looked up at him, her eyes bearing a light in them that was otherworldly.

"Atlas, everything is so magical," She whispered, giggling joyfully.

"That was the main purpose. I hope you love it just as much,"

"Quit saying that, I love it so, so, so much, you blew my mind away, literally."

"Well then let's stop it all, I can't risk losing your mind, I want all of you – I need all of you," He said as he pulled her close to himself and placed a kiss on her nose. The gesture made her smile sheepishly.

"You're so sweet."

"You bring out the best in me, my lady," He said, his voice low and intimate. "And now, for the next event," He added, raising his voice to a commanding tone that brought the music to an abrupt halt.

She looked around, searching for the source of the music. "I presume you're the music conductor," She said, her eyes scanning the environment.

"I can be many things for you, my lady," He replied with a chuckle. He paused, and then added, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "Including your husband,"

His words jolted her attention back to him. She turned her gaze to where he stood, except this time, he was no longer standing, but instead was down on one knee. In his hand, he held out a compact royal blue velvet box that was already opened.

Her eyes fell upon the box, studying the content with a wide gaze. Within its dark depths, a silver ring stood, glinting in the dim light of their surroundings. He looked up at her, his expression one of love and devotion.

"My dearest," He began, his voice shaking slightly with emotion. "We once spoke of an eternity together, after everything is finished and the world is calm and safe. We made a promise to each other to pursue our wedding and spend the rest of our lives together, can you remember," He asked.

The lump in her throat prevented her from speaking, but her heart conveyed clearly the weight of her love and joy. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision, such that she could only manage a nod in response to his question.

He wore a broad smile, also with tears brimming in his eyes, as he continued to express his love. "I cannot imagine my life without you, sweetest," he said, "You're the light that illuminated my once dark and gloomy heart and showed it so much love, such that it never knew existed." Drawing closer, he maintained his position and asked the most daring question of his life.

"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Meredith?" His eyes shone with hope and love as he awaited her response.

"Yes, yes, yes, Atlas!" She threw herself at him, catching him off guard and causing them both to fall. He grunted with a mix of pain and joy as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" She asked, concerned.

"No darling, I'm fine," He replied with another groan as he pulled them both to a sitting position. "Give me your hand baby," He took the ring that had fallen out of the box, and slipped it onto her finger slowly, savoring the moment.

Cupping her face in his hands, he looked into her eyes. "You are mine now," he growled possessively, before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Meredith melted into his embrace, letting him take control.