Second and Last Chance

(A/N: Sorry for the wait. Things got very busy very suddenly. Might just put up two chapters today to compensate for the time I've been gone. Not actually very happy with this chapter anyway. I could have edited it a lot more than this, but again, time's sort of crunching lately. The next chapter should be better. This chapter is actually based quite heavily on the poem 'Lady Isabelle and the Elfin Knight', who in some versions of the poem is just a man and not an elf at all. Enjoy the first chapter of two going up today.)

Men or Monsters?

Alfrid rode back into town late at night two days later, grumbling to himself about bad weather and horrible roads and unpleasant company that for once wasn't himself and whatnot. He couldn't wait to fall into his own bed. Then he remember who would be sharing it with him and grimaced in disgust. He should have extended his trip indefinitely, he determined. Next time he would, maybe. And bring all his money along for the duration. He left the horse to the stable hand, muttering about smelly beasts and their incessant clopping to which the horse nickered and nuzzled him fondly. Now he was muttering about how the creature was so dumb it didn't even know it was being hated. And yet still he gave it an apple. Then a carrot. Then some sugar. At this point he realized he was stalling with saying goodbye to it and cursed himself, quickly heading off. He was not going to grow fond of the beast. He already had one beast at home waiting for him he had yet to get fond of. Hmm, maybe sharing the stable with the horse wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The house was quiet when he approached. No candle was burning in the window. Good. Maybe she'd run off with the bloody shopkeeper and he'd have his bed to himself. He sighed heavily as he shut the door behind him. He dropped everything in the entryway. He knew, of course, that he'd get a good lecture in the morning, but right now he was too tired to care. All he could think about were the nice soft sheets he could soon sink into. He went into the living room and paused, blinking. There, curled up on a windowsill with a half-sewn garment in her hands, was Hilda, sleeping quietly. Had she fallen asleep waiting up for him, he wondered? No, fanciful thinking. She probably had just liked the moon. It was a nice moon, after all.

He harrumphed, shaking his head. Couldn't very well leave her here. He went to her and took her sewing, laying it down on the windowsill. "Up we go, Hilda," he muttered to her, lifting her bridal style. He looked down at her. She was wearing that blasted transparent gown. He should burn the sensual thing. Her hair fell loosely and felt soft. She probably had bathed. Finally. Of course he couldn't really say finally, because she'd taken much more interest in her hygiene lately, now that she had the time to take on it. He shook his head and carried her up to their room. He laid her gently in the bed and covered her. She softly sighed. He shook his head and stripped to his undergarments. He should put something on, a night dress of some sort, but at the moment he was too tired. Instead he slipped into bed next to her and looked at her turned back coldly for a moment. He growled under his breath. He couldn't believe he was actually about to do this, but he did. He put his arm around her waist and drew her body nearer to him. Yes, they were spooning. Deal with it. He sighed, closing his eyes. He inhaled the scent of her hair and held it there a moment before letting the breath out. Soon he was asleep.

LotR

She felt so warm, she realized. She hadn't felt this warm since Alfrid had left. The nights had been terrible cold without him around. She'd never realized how much so until just now. Maybe the temperature had picked up. Wait. There were arms around her waist and someone was holding her close against him. She said him because at this point she realized who it was. Her eyes slowly opened wide. He was back in one piece! It was nothing short of a miracle, in her opinion. She'd honestly thought he would die along the road.

"I see you made it back alive you damn wanker," she whispered quietly.

"I told you I wasn't letting you off so easy," Alfrid murmured into her hair.

"Bollocks to you, Alfrid Lickspittle," she grumbled. "Mmm, but this does feel nice."

"I'm aware," Alfrid replied dryly. It had felt… spacious without her in his bed at night. And not spacious in a good way. More in a 'wow, this is empty' sort of way. He held her a little nearer. "How's your shopkeeper?" he dryly asked.

"How 'bout let's try to 'ave a cordial conversation for once," she snipped at him.

"You didn't answer," he replied.

"I gots nothing to answer, cur," she replied.

Alfrid rolled his eyes but shrugged, letting it go. "You wants cordial does you?" he asked.

"We fight every other word we say. It'll be a challenge," she replied.

"We're 'aving a relatively cordial talk now," he said.

"Not good enough," she deadpanned, but at this point she just gave up, shrugging it off. Was more natural to argue and bicker with him anyway.

LotR

They were silent for a time, content in each other's arms. Wait? Content? Oh heck no. Meh, but neither had the energy to bother pulling away. Alfrid racked his brain for something cordial to say. Wow, this was a challenge. Telling her he thought she was beautiful would be clichéd and predictable. Alfrid Lickspittle didn't do cliché. Usually. Albeit saying she was beautiful would be a good ice breaker. Of course when it came to Hilda it would probably be a catalyst for argument. He noticed she wore the emerald necklace he'd sent her. He could remark on that, he supposed, but again, cliché. And superficial. Superficial bored him to tears. Apologies were no good either. Bah, everything had already been done. There wasn't no new avenue he could take with this. Might as well go with something that wasn't as clichéd as the other options. Albeit it would probably still be a mighty grand cliché.

"Tell me about your father," he remarked.

She started and was silent. "So you can butcher 'im?" she asked.

"You wanted cordial. Don't be turning this into argument," Alfrid warned.

Hilda was quiet. He made a point. "There isn't much to tell. Me father was a good sort," she said. "'E provided well for us, 'e did. 'E was loving, kind—well, as kind as his sort could be—good with getting along with 'is child… 'E loved me mum and me very much. 'E fished for a living, or did mercenary work. I learned a lot of me fighting skills from 'im I did. 'E could 'old his own in a battle… What about yours?" She wasn't about to volunteer any more information. There wasn't much to tell.

Alfrid was silent. She turned around in his arms and looked curiously to him. She waited. No response. In fact he had closed his eyes as if trying to feign sleep… or trying to recall a memory he'd long forgotten or had never had… "What do you know?" he growled slightly darkly. She was taken aback. What had given her away, she wondered? Did she want to know?

She was quiet. "I know 'e was an Easterling Haradrim crossbreed," she answered. "Shopkeepers words, not mine."

Alfrid's eyes opened, and she was surprised at the angry flame she saw smouldering behind them. "Try to keep this cordial and drop the subject. Now," he said.

Her eyes narrowed. "I told you of mine, you tell me of yours. It isn't like I'm asking for 'is life story, or yours for that matter," she replied.

He huffed and thought a moment. "You can't talk about 'im without going through 'is life's story... I never knew 'im. Not really," he finally said. "Left before I was born, came back some years after mum died in childbirth. Somehow tracked me to the orphanage, took me away without a word to anyone beyond paying a good sum for the headmistress not to ask questions and just let him take what 'e wanted. Humph. For all she knew 'e could have been killer or slave merchant. You'd think she would have assumed as much given what 'e was. She probably did. Probably why she let it go without a fuss. Woman was a twisted creature. Couple years after that, and very few words exchanged between us-though goodness knew 'e tried; poor man was completely lost when it came to fatherhood, albeit 'e got points for effort—'e goes and gets 'imself killed in front of me eyes. Killed because some townsfolk decided an Easterling Haradrim 'half-breed' wasn't fit to be dirt on the ground. Figured 'e 'ad some sordid past or 'istory of abducting women and children and making them slaves… And they was right… After that I ended up the Master's ward."

Slave, he inwardly and dryly corrected. Definitely slave. But the Master had been the closest thing to a male adult figure he could look to for guidance and whatnot, so he'd grown to get attached. Well, not so much attached. He found the man a bother and a headache. It was more he grew to be reliant on him. Given the Master was the closest thing to a father figure he'd ever had since his own father, it really wasn't a promising future from the get go. After all, how else did anyone expect he'd be raised when the man he was raised by was a fat, stinking, stupid slob of a bloke? Alfrid, at least, had had the ideas of hygiene and fitness drummed into his head by his birth father from the get go. And had had education from said father. More than the Master ever bothered to give him. Or could. Though the Master had been sure to keep up the tutors for him, he himself had taken no interest in getting any brains.

Hilda frowned as Alfrid finished talking about his father, remarking on the assumptions being right. He huffed and closed his eyes again. He wasn't going into detail, she knew. At least not yet. Maybe in time he would, but now certainly wasn't that time. She rolled over again to face away from him and there was silence. After a few minutes he got up and went downstairs to tend to whatever business of the day there was to do. She soon rose too, intent on making herself some food. And him too, she supposed.

LotR

"Did you find a job?" she questioned.

"There are promising possibilities," Alfrid replied, though he hadn't directly been hired by anyone yet. Not that he had to think too hard to know why that was so. "Good news for us both is that it would mean plenty of time apart."

"No complaining there," Hilda said, scoffing. "Every moment away from you is a moment in a dream it is."

"You wasn't singin' that tune when we was cuddling," Alfrid retorted.

"Ruddy right I wasn't," Hilda snorted. "What can I say? You're a good snuggler. Keeps me nice and warm you does."

"Likewise I'm sure," Alfrid replied. "What is your plans?"

"None yet," Hilda replied. "You was right about the shopkeeper giving me eyes. Gave me a good talking to, 'e did, 'bout 'ow I deserve to be loved and cherished and 'ow you isn't the one for me, basically."

"I isn't," he replied, shrugging.

"Right you isn't," she answered. "But I'm sticking with you just the same."

Alfrid looked up at her, frowning. "I doesn't believe you," he answered. "You're starting to wonder what it would be like with someone who gave a damn about you. Don't tell me you isn't, because I've been wondering that me whole life. I know the look."

"Well now you can try it on any maiden you see fit to try it on in town. I isn't going to stop you," she said.

"And I isn't going to stop you from running off with that shopkeeper! Good riddance to you, Hilda Bianca," Alfrid said. "I isn't 'olding you to this game of ours any longer anyway. Not if it'll get you out of me life sooner. Can't hardly stomach sitting 'cross the table from you."

She glared at him then harrumphed and stood. "Maybe I will go off with 'im," she said, taking their empty dishes and bringing them to the wash basin. Tidying up her hair and look a bit, she left. He watched after her coldly then harrumphed, going back to his warm beverage and reading. Would she actually do it, he wondered? Maybe. Good. He hoped she did… Hmm, those words didn't sound entirely true to his own ears…

LotR

It was him sitting up late this time waiting for her. Restlessly. Had she actually gone off with the shopkeeper? He grimaced at the thought of it. It wasn't impossible, but still. You'd think she would have given a little more forewarning… But then she was Hilda Bianca. Always did whatever she set her mind to without warning or anything. Bah. Good riddance. How many times had either of them said that through this marriage? And even before? He'd lost count. Was starting to have less of an impact and meaning now. He'd have to think up something new. Of course if she was gone he wouldn't need to bother… And if it was good riddance, how come he was still waiting up for her and looking out a window like some puppy waiting for its master to come home? Of course she'd done it a few times for him too, he supposed, so that made him feel less like some forlorn pet, but still! He shook his head and shut the curtains.

"Bah," he said, turning and walking away from them… Only to come back a few seconds later on hearing footsteps. In fact he'd pretty well flung himself across the room. He looked out. Just some passersby. He frowned and shut them again. No more looking back out the windows, he chastised himself. That would give her too much satisfaction if she caught him at it. He turned and headed up the stairs. Or to them, rather. He stopped at the bottom and looked back at the door. His jaw twitched and he quickly crossed to it, grabbing a sword as he went and tucking it in its sheath just for the sake of feeling like he could actually look like he cared if there was an incident going on in town… Before promptly running away and hiding again.

He yanked open the door and leapt back about a foot with a yelp on seeing her standing outside of it, about to reach for the handle. "Blast it, woman, don't scare me like that!" he gasped out, clutching his chest with a hand.

"Just where was you going, Lickspittle?" she questioned.

"To find you, 'agraven," he answered. "I figured something must have… waylaid you." He wouldn't say he thought something had happened to her because that would imply concern. He wasn't concerned, he was annoyed.

She smirked. "Was you worried about me, Alfrid? Figured I'd be lying in a ditch somewhere? Worried the shopkeeper had taken me away and you were left to your own devices? I wouldn't give you the satisfaction," she said.

"Humph, shopkeeper probably worried I'd taken you away," Alfrid grumbled.

"He did say if you ever tried anything that he'd be there for me," she replied.

"Didn't stop to think it was you who did something to me, did 'e?" Alfrid dryly said. It wasn't so much a question as a statement.

"Oh come off it. I saved your sorry 'ide," Hilda said.

"Would 'ave rather you didn't," Alfrid stated.

"Don't even go there. I know you fear nothing more than death or 'arm coming to you," she said. "I wouldn't be tempting the townsfolk. They'd love to see you die a slow, agonizing death."

"They'd laugh at it too," he replied. "Don't think I doesn't know no one is going to mourn me dying day. There'll be celebration to match the Elfin King's fairy circle parties."

"And I'll be dancing out there foremost of all," Hilda said.

"Oh really? Then why does you keep waiting up for me?" he growled at her.

"Because you're me 'usband and that's what mates do for one another, wait and protect!" she shot in defense.

"Hah! Don't pretend you'd protect me," he said.

"And you don't pretend you wouldn't do the same, dance at me funeral!" she snapped.

"I never 'ave!" he yelled.

LotR

They lay back in their bed panting for breath, winded after another lengthy session of 'happy fun times'. "H-how did we get 'ere?" Hilda gasped out. How had they gone from arguing to love making?

"We got bored of the arguing," Alfrid replied. "And decided to see who could win in bed, I suppose."

"I won this round," she said. She'd got him to cry out first this time. She was getting better at this love making game. "You is getting predictable, Alfrid."

"Next time we play I can assure you, you'll see just 'ow unpredictable I can be," he said. "We could go another round."

"Oh please. We're both exhausted and you know it," she said. They were quiet again. Time to get some sleep, after all. Or not. "Was your mother a willing wife?" she questioned.

Alfrid stiffened. "You thought a good time to bring that up was after a roll in the hay?" he finally questioned.

"Never mind," she said. "It can wait."

"What's Jorgen the Shopkeeper been telling you?" Alfrid growled.

"Jorgen Kinderbark, you mean?" Hilda asked, glaring at her husband. Alfrid harrumphed, refusing to answer. Hilda sighed. "It isn't important," she said.

"Oh yes it is," Alfrid darkly said. And the darkness in his voice actually chilled her. Something told her she was treading very dangerous water. She would have to be painstakingly careful here, else she'd awaken the beast in Alfrid. Not that he had much of a beast. But then again his father was… No, no, she couldn't be doing that, stereotyping Alfrid on the basis of what his father was. Just because his father was a good fighter—no, she couldn't say that either because she didn't know, she was just assuming. It seemed wrong to do so based solely on the man's race—didn't mean Alfrid was too.

Hilda sighed through the nose. What a way to ruin aftermath. Good going, Hilda Lickspittle, she dryly said to herself. "'E said your father was chief or a member of one of the bands of the Easterlings or Haradrims and that odds were 'e probably plundered your mother's village, killed all the men say for the young who could work, and took the women and children as slaves and forced brides in the case of the girls and women. Or just to 'ave a bit of fun with."

"To use for personal pleasure," Alfrid said sharper than usual. He was quiet. Suddenly and furiously he rose from the bed, tying a towel around his waist and furiously storming towards the stairs.

Hilda sat up. "Where are you going?!" she called after him.

"To take a bath," he answered. "Believe you me when I say it'll be better for both of us if I doesn't get crossed right now." She was quiet. She didn't try to argue.

LotR

He was laying back in the tub, lounging and willing his anger to leave. No such luck. If anything he just felt more venomous. He heard something and looked up. He raised an eyebrow as Hilda shut the bathroom door behind her and shed her own covering. She came to the bath and slipped into the water uninvited. He gave her a cold glare but didn't order her to get out. She put her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin there and silently summing Alfrid up.

Alfrid shrugged and closed his eyes, allowing the scrutiny. After a moment, though, he opened his eyes again. "If me father was that sort of man, you should be afraid, Hilda. Very afraid," he darkly said. "Especially in this position. Might pounce you or force meself onto you. After all, that's what Easterlings and Haradrims do isn't it? They rape women and force them into loveless marriages."

"Sounds more like what I did to you than what you did to me," she dryly stated to him. Alfrid started, taken aback by the answer. She smirked at him, but the smirk fell to a more serious look. "I'll take me chances with the Easterling Haradrim."

Alfrid was quiet. "So did she," he said. He leaned back. "Your shopkeeper was right… She wasn't a willing bride. Didn't have much of a choice but to marry 'im. 'E told her 'e'd kill 'er cousins if she refused, and if she accepted, 'e'd let them go un'armed. Given the Easterling penchant for not following through, no sooner 'ad 'e married 'er when 'er cousins were killed… She thought it 'ad been on 'is orders when she found their bodies. 'E told 'er 'e 'ad kept 'is word, and they 'and't fallen to the arrows of 'is men, at least." She showed him it was a Haradrim arrow. He acknowledged the truth of that but stuck to his response to the bitter end… By said end she believed 'im… It was a forced marriage… And then it wasn't…"

Hilda raised an eyebrow. She didn't see how that was possible, though she supposed something similar was happening between her and Alfrid right now… No! No, no, no, they were still forced into this, they still hated it, it was not becoming tolerable, they would still give up anything to be separated, and she was still regretting this rash decision to volunteer to marry him by force. Well, she forced him, but still! The point was neither of them had abducted each other and she was sure if they had, things would be much different. "Sounds more like a brainwashing than love," she remarked.

"You doesn't understand," he harshly said. He went to rise but she caught his hands and pulled him back down. She looked into his eyes then moved to sit on his lap and lean against him. It would pin him there. She kissed him tenderly. He blinked, surprised, then returned. After a moment she drew a little back so that her nose still nuzzled his, and her forehead rested on his.

"Then 'elp me to understand it," she said to him.

He again was silent for a time. Finally he said, "It wasn't some hypnotism or trick. 'E did nothing to try and build up anything of that sort. 'E was just 'im… 'E was just a man… They're all just men in the end… Me mum was just one of the few to realize it… 'E was the man who took 'er from 'er 'ome and forbid any other man from touching her say for 'imself. 'E was the man who took 'er into 'is tent and gave 'er an ultimatum. 'E was the man she gave 'er life to so 'er cousins might be spared. 'E was the man who she thought 'ad killed them anyway after 'e took 'er as 'is…"

"So far you isn't making your point," Hilda deadpanned.

Alfrid gave her an annoyed look. "Shut up and listen, wench," he bit. She harrumped. Alfrid rolled his eyes then continued, saying, "Then 'e was the man who ordered the bodies of 'er cousins buried when she collapsed to the ground with a broken 'eart. 'E was the man who never touched 'er despite their marriage after the bodies were found because of… of something… Something she later knew was guilt and some understanding of unfulfilled vows… 'E was the man who in time—after 'er mourning was done—took 'er virginity from 'er at 'er invitation to 'get it over with'. She said she wouldn't be the only one left untainted while all around her his men were raping those she had called friends… 'E was the man that told her he'd ensured his men knew not to even think about it, and any who tried to go against that order without the consent of the maidens ended up with me dad's blade through their gut… 'E was the man who never touched her after the night he took her virginity unless she let 'im or offered it to 'im if only to ease her own fear. After all, he wasn't asking. If 'e wasn't asking 'e might be bored of 'er and then that would mean 'e might 'ave 'er killed. As she reasoned, she 'ad to keep 'im wanting to keep 'er around… And then one night, when she 'eard 'im playing a song on an instrument and singing, it clicked. 'E was a man. 'E was a man and men could die."

Hilda was quiet. Where was this going, she wondered? "Go on," she said.

"So she decided to kill 'im," Alfrid said.

"Well obviously that didn't pan out or you wouldn't be 'ere now would you?" Hilda bit, frowning at his dodging of the question.

"For all you know she could have conceived me that first time," Alfrid said.

"'Ceptin' you've already told me your da came back for you," she pointed out, smirking triumphantly.

"Bollocks to you, Hilda Bianca," Alfrid grumbled.

"So what happened?" she questioned.

"Surprised you 'aven't read that in 'er diaries yet," Alfrid said.

"You know perfectly well why I 'aven't, Alfrid Lickspittle. You never part with your mum's first volume. Cling to it like a lifeline you do. I may be defiant, but I isn't stupid. Trying to read that book from under your nose would be like signing me own death warrant. I doesn't have a death wish," she replied.

Alfrid dryly smirked. It was good to know she saw him as a threat in at least some sense. Enough to fear for her life it would seem. "Before the killing business, she decided to try running. Got 'im trusting that she wouldn't run off, got 'im thinking she'd started to care… And she was starting too… She didn't know it, or if she did she didn't acknowledge it, but somewhere along the lines 'er act became less of an act. It was when she realized it that she figured she'd 'eld off on 'er plan too long. She ran, he pursued. He caught up to her and lifted 'er onto 'is 'orse. Rode 'er right to a river, 'e did, and threw 'er on the ground eyes blazing with murder. Started to scream at her, alternating between the languages of the Easterlings and Haradrim, as well as Westron, but she got the gist. Then 'e stopped. Seemed to calm right down, but 'is tone was right menacing it was… 'E looked at the river and said seven maidens \ad drowned there afore 'er in the waters, and now she would be the eighth. Desperation took 'old of 'er, so she came up with a plan on the fly. She's where I got that from, the devious streak… She begged to 'ave one more night with 'im. They would sit by the river, she would let 'im rest 'is 'ead in 'er lap as she tended 'im like a good wife ought to."

"Don't you be pushing your luck, Lickspittle," Hilda warned, frowning at the hint he'd dropped. Alfrid put on an innocent look. "I see through you," she bit sharply. He grimaced and let the act go.

"Where was I? 'Er making 'im the deal. 'E took it, of course, no man can deny 'e likes being pampered by the missus," Alfrid said.

"One more 'int like that dropped, Alfrid, and you'll be seeing stars," Hilda sharply said.

He smirked and let it go. He'd pushed her enough now. "Me da felt 'imself getting sleepy. Made 'er promise she wouldn't kill 'im in 'is sleep. Me mum, being a respectable and honest woman, made the vow… And kept it. 'Cept she took his belt and bound 'im with it tight so 'e couldn't move. 'E woke up and found 'imself tied and 'er 'olding his knife against his neck. 'E didn't beg. Not pathetically at least. 'E asked only once. Told 'er she was victorious and asked for mercy, though it was obvious 'e didn't think for a second she'd show it… 'E was right. She told 'im that if 'e'd done away with seven maids afore 'er, then he could be 'usband to 'em all in death… She would 'ave slashed 'is throat then and there."

"What stopped 'er?" Hilda asked.

"Nothing. She slashed it, just not deep enough. Enough that she'd thought she'd killed 'im, but she 'and't. When 'e was 'dead', she was sick at 'erself for what she'd done. But then reminded 'erself of everything 'e'd done. She searched 'is things. Biggest mistake she made. Found his journals. Curiosity took over common sense and she began to read. Was the part about the seven maidens that got 'er harshest… Because while technically 'e'd drowned them alright, it 'and't been by 'is own 'and personally… He'd been the youngest in a big family. 'E 'ad seven elder sisters... Who drowned because of 'im. Some spiel about a flood season, a swelled river, being unable to swim, and Westron enemies who wanted to kill their kind because they didn't trust them. See, they was thralls escaped from enslavement. They failed at saving 'im from whatever it was they were trying to rescue 'im from-be it drowning or Westrons or both-but failed… Never looked into me father's journals. Didn't want to know what they were trying to save him from that ended in seven fully grown and strong girls drowning in a flooded river, especially when our sort… your sort…were somehow involved in it. Whatever it was, me mum came to the horrible realization he was innocent of those deaths, if nothing else. About that time she also fully began to understand that 'e was a man. A man. She saw, then, that perhaps there was more to his kind than stories told. More to 'im than even 'e ever let on... and she felt guilt. Whatever thoughts went through 'er mind that day, they drove her to tears and 'ad 'er weeping over 'is body."

"What happened when he woke?" Hilda asked.

"He did try to drown 'er. 'Eld 'er 'ead in the river in fury, an act of vengeance… But when she didn't struggled, 'e realized she felt she deserved it. 'E wondered why but didn't for long. Saw 'is journal open on the ground. 'E let her up. Kissed her without a word then left 'er by the river telling 'er she was free… So she left… Her and all the others girls too, because da set them loose promising never to do so again should he take them captive in future. She left, and the longer she was away from 'im the more… empty she felt. Some years later she 'eard whispers in the down. The men of 'er village were launching an attack on an Easterling camp. Everyone was joyous about that, but some sort of dread filled 'er and she followed. She saw it was me dad's, when she arrived. She saw her own slaughtering 'is men in droves. No mercy, no 'esitation. Even those with wives and children watching. Willing ones or those who—like mum would soon be—had grown to be willing brides and chosen not to leave with the others. She watched them pull him out before 'is captive men, those few who would get to stay alive a few minutes longer to see their chief die, and as they raised the swords to finish 'im, she acted. She pled for 'is life, offering goodness knew what to them. Long story short, she talked 'er own down and shamed them back to town at no cost to 'erself. She left 'im behind without turning to look back… Some months later she sought 'im again, during the long 'arsh winter, and found 'im and 'is group in a bad way. She gave them the food, offered them information on where to seek help, and left again… Or so they thought. But she followed from a distance… He knew. Somehow 'e knew, and while she was spying, 'e surprised 'er, asked why she was following. She answered by kissing him. Not passionately, it was brief, but it was enough. She never answered with words, just went to 'is tent like she'd never been gone. The rest 'appened as it 'appened," he narrated.

"Sounds like it could 'ave been a wildly romantic tale… If anyone but you was telling it," she said.

"Well I isn't a storyteller, Hilda," he said. She was silent, nodding. Of that there was no doubt.

"Maybe not, but you're good enough for me," she said. "I'm sorry you never knew 'er… Or 'im, really…" she murmured.

"I isn't the only one who's lost parents in these times," he said. "Your father… 'E was a good sort… It wasn't right what 'appened to 'im… Wasn't right I didn't find it in meself to stand up for 'im." He wasn't going to apologize for backing down for fear, he wasn't sorry about that—he liked his hands thank you very much—but he would apologize she'd lost him unjustly.

Hilda was quiet, sadness in her eyes. She banished it quickly and smirked at him. "Let's fool 'round a bit. Experiment in the bath." He smirked back, eyes lighting up. She giggled and he kissed her, pulling her close. She spread her legs apart, straddling him, and the two commenced to the love making.