A/N: Hmm…this is such a play off of Fish Kiss! and Like Kissing a Fish.  OH WELL!  :3  Anything else to say, do I have?  Um, no, not really.  Let the unoriginality BEGIN!

Disclaimer: Do I own it?  No.  Do I wish Danric was real and in love with me?  Hell yes.

̽¤§¤ The Wager ¤§¤

To start things off, a Court Duel exert:

            "I'll go in the rattler with you," Bran said the next morning, to Nee.  Grinning at her, he added, "Probably will rain, and I hate riding horseback in the wet.  And we never get enough time together as it is."

            I looked out at the heavy clouds and the soft mist, thought of that close coach, and said, "I'll ride, then.  I don't mind rain - " I looked up, realized who else was riding, and fought a hot tide of embarrassment.  "You can go in the coach in my place," I said to Shevraeth, striving to sound polite.

            He gave his head a shake.  "Never ride in coaches.  If you want to know the truth, they make me sick.  How about a wager?"

            "A wager?" I repeated.

            "Yes," he said, and gave me a slow smile, bright with challenge.  "Who reaches Jeriab's Broken Shield in Lumm first."

            "Stake?" I asked cautiously.

            He was still smiling, an odd sort of smile, hard to define.  "A kiss."

            Despite myself, I sputtered, "A k-k-kiss?"  My face was aflame, I knew.  Shevraeth's smile widened slightly.  "Um…well, you see – rain you say, Bran?  Oh, my.  Slipped my mind just how dreadful the rain can be.  Think I'll stay in the coach after all," I mumbled, staring at the muddy ground.

I didn't look back to see Shevraeth's reaction until I was safe inside the coach, studiously ignoring Bran and Nee across from me as they looked at one another with a love that was far beyond my comprehension.  His face had smoothed into that customary unreadable court mask, but his eyes were alight with an emotion that I couldn't place, and didn't care to place.  At least in ignorance I could find stability.

A/N: Should I continue with this scenario until they find their happily ever after, or move on to another one?  The choice is yours, dear reader, if you're actually there.  Oh, and I need a beta…I have the little paperclip dude to help me out, but after a while, he gets annoying.  Any takers?  Review and let me know what you think so far, and where this should head next, please.  Review…NOW.  I would try subliminal messages, but I'm not sure how to.

-Snap