Quietly, the Emperor and Empress of Calico walked along the cool, warmly lit hallways to the bedroom they shared. The bedchamber was just ahead of them, when Avalon stopped. Artemis looked at his beloved with confusion for a moment, before she took his hand in hers and started off in a different direction, away from their room.

"Avalon?" Artemis called, quietly, as his mate gently led him by the hand.

"Let's take a walk through the rose garden before turning in for the night." she explained. "It has been a while since we walked through the garden under the moonlight and the night is so pleasant right now. You can feel the salty ocean breeze."

Artemis said nothing further and simply trusted in his wife's wisdom...something he should have done 19 years ago, he thought, sadly. She led them through the hallways, dodging assorted palace staff as she did. In no time at all, they were at the doors that opened up into the menagerie and rose maze.

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