2. Love

A light rain sprinkled over the ceremony, a blessing welcome after the heat of the day. The women pulled their hair from tight, sweaty braids; the men tossed away their shirts. All took off their shoes to dance in the fresh mud. It was a happy scene; the pale, natural colors of their clothing accented by the smiles of their gleaming, wet faces.

Tammrab glanced at Astrid, whose curly, red hair was now pasted to her forehead and cheeks. She looked like one of them, betrayed only by the leather goggles around her neck. She smiled at him, then proceeded to strip off her boots, hike up her skirt, and tiptoe into the great, muddy dance. Now she was one of them, holding hands between the newly married couple, the hem of her dress already three inches dirty.

But Tammrab just watched. Astrid always smiled and often danced, but it was a rare day when one could call her beautiful. So he watched.

--

So, after weeks of deliberation and frustration, this was my favorite of multiple love stories. Granted, it's extremely short (which makes it especially anticlimactic after such a long wait), but I think it portrays Tammrab and Astrid quite nicely for such a quick piece. So there you have it, the first of Tammrab and Astrid's story. :)
On to Light, which will hopefully come soon and be a bit longer length-wise.
Hopefully.