When he first decided to ask Sera to marry him, Rhodes had spent ages finding the correct ring. The sapphires had to be perfect. The gold, a shade that matched the scales.

Now, he had to do the same again.... only better.

Fortunately, he now had even more tools at his disposal.

He had made a note of the gold used in the enagement ring, so he could have the same made up for the wedding ring. It was a simple band of gold, because it would form the base.

To make the next step, he would have to put his all into the ring. Slowly, Rhodes took one of the flowers from his temples and began to pull. The skin and muscle resisted the movement. Using a mirror and a razor, he carefully began to peel the skin away from the branch.

It hurt.

Gritting his teeth he kept going, finally pulling enough stem free and cutting it off.

Pale, almost clear blood tinged with green, splattered across the table and the Dread Lord snarled. Already he could feel the roots reaching back through his scalp.

His fingers shaking, he threads the stem through the ring and begins to force the magical glamour into the items. wrapping the stem around and around the ring, his thoughts on his love as he tries weaving the parts together. Slowly, the stem is wrapped all around the band, and slowly turns to gold. The flower begins to close slowly until it forms a jeweled bud, a pale red matching the flower in bloom.

Activating the ring, it bursts into blossom, the ring becoming a jeweled flower in scarlet on a band of gold.

It had taken many hours, but it was worth it.

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