The Sunspire love your ground

"Of course," Rannoch replied quickly, his expression furrowing. He wondered what had brought about this uncertainty within her— was his comment perceived as ungenuine? His joke unsettling? A twinge of guilt twisted in his stomach, and he frowned. He had felt confident a moment ago, and her anxiety caused that light within him dimmed considerably. 

"Do you not think I'm telling the truth?" Rannoch asked then, his voice concerned; they weren't going to pussy-foot around this matter until it festered to the point of combustion. "Because I've never been more serious about anything in my life." Rannoch pressed his nose to her forehead and exhaled gently. "I love you, Liffey, and I want nothing more than to rule this mountain at your side." 

"I promise I'll never make another joke like that, either," he assured her for good measure. Rannoch wanted to make sure that all of his bases were covered. "It was in bad taste. I-I was just foolin' around but I shouldn't joke like that about our kids."