It had been a few days since we'd arrived in town. The local inn keeper had been quite helpful in providing us a room and a secure place for Heart to recover. We'd told him of our encounter with Eilsana and he seemed to know quite well of her reputation. His wife had been quite kind as well in acquiring new clothes for Heart and bringing me to where I could find supplies while she rested. Her body was still quite taxed from transforming back and forth, as mine had been. In fact, shortly before getting to town she'd fallen asleep in my arms, and had remained that way for over a day. The local doctor mentioned it was due to her mind having been tampered with that had drained her as well. Had I not reached out to her when I did, she may have been lost.

"Baleful Polymorph is a strong spell, and if your will isn't strong enough it can leave you in your new shape permanently," he informed me, "and your mind will dull into that of the beast you were forced to be."

I thought back to my own transformation and realized it had been of a different nature. My intelligence had at least been left to me if nothing else.

"Will she be okay?" I asked standing at the foot of the bed looking over her sleeping form.

"Didn't you mention she was talking to you after changing back?"

I nodded.

"Then she'll be fine. She's just exhausted," he assured me, "Give her time to rest and she'll recover soon enough."

"Thank you," I replied quietly with a bit of relief escaping my throat.

"Although, if it's rest you're seeking I'm afriad you've come to the wrong town," he then mentioned, shaking his head.

I raised a brow at this, "Are strangers not welcomed here?"

"It's not that my friend. I'm afraid a string of abductions has plagued our quiet town. Civilians and adventurers alike have simply vanished and none have returned thus far."

"Are there any leads to who could be doin' this?" I asked before trying to piece if together myself, "They didn't wander into the forest of Lady Eilsana did they?"

"Fortunatly that drow doesn't tend to leave her domain, and these have been right here in town or just outside of it," he informed me while pinching the bridge of his nose to rid himself of the pain in his head, "Anyone investigating it have disappeared as well, becoming victims themselves."

"When did this start?" I inquired.

"A month or so ago," he replied, "It all started with a guard that vanished in the middle of his shift, then a few shop owners here and there, even a lonely vagabond went missing with no body to be found in a ditch."

"When do they occur?"

"Always at night," he noted.

"I take it you're in need of volunteers then?" I pondered aloud.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" he questioned, "Adventurers have gone missing too!"

"I heard, but it didn't stop us from helpin' others before. That's what Heart an' I do. We go town to town, an' if there's trouble, we try to send it on it's way."

"Your friend isn't even awake yet," he pointed out.

"True, but I know what she'll say when she is," I assured with a pleasant smile curving my scarred lip.

"I suppose I can't really tell you both what to do Though I wish you would heed my warning," he said while shaking his head and packing up his supplies.

When he was done he went to just leave at first, but then paused while glancing over Heart as I did. He then gave me a pat on the shoulder, "Still it's kind of you to offer friend. For now, focus on your companion, she'll need that sort of strength when she wakes up."

I gave a nod before asking in a somewhat knowing tone, "Who was it?"

"My own beloved was one of the ones taken," he replied in a nearly defeated tone, "He was helping with the search about a month ago, and he just didn't come back."

"Don't give up," I offered, "An' thanks for your kindness."

I paid for his service and he went on his way to his next patient. Meanwhile I watched over Heart a bit longer, refusing to leave her alone. The doctor mentioned that he would inform the innkeeper of our situation.

As the day passed by quietly without her, I tried to figure out a plan of action. I couldn't stay awake forever, so I used the day hours to rest beside her. I positioned myself as I had back in Gremanna, with her head set on my arm and my other over her. If she moved I would wake up. Again I brushed a gentle hand over her cheek, somehow telling her that she was the young woman I knew, as I whispered, "I'm right here...okay?"

With that I closed my eye and didn't wake up until nearly dusk from the exhaustion I'd been neglecting myself.

I quickly looked to see Heart still sound asleep, though she had turned on her side to face me, and I vaguely recalled my eye fluttering open when she had before closing again. Her hand clutched the front of my tunic so tightly that I was afraid to pull away from her. So I allowed myself to caress her cheek again as I fought off the nightmare I'd had, involving her and what Eilsana had done to her. Brushing my hand against her soft skin I reassured myself it had just been a bad dream this time.

Then I heard her murmur in her sleep, her voice softly pleading, "Don't...he's not..."

I propped myself slightly on my elbow in a bit of alarm. It seemed she was having a similar fight in her own sleep. With my hand resting on her shoulder I attempted to reassure her, "Heart, it's okay. We're both safe now."

Her grip on my tunic eased a bit after hearing this, registering my voice could be heard from beside her it seemed. With a bit of a sigh I looked over her and lost the battle of resistance in a brief lapse of jugement. For I leaned over her, brushing her hair out of her face, and alloed myself to kiss her forehead, "I..." I didn't have the courage to say the rest even in a whisper and with her asleep.

I'd been looking out the window, watching what I thought to be a strange bird perched on the rooftop across from us, my knees leaning against my knees as I leaned forward with my hands folded together. My shoulders were sloped and my head lowered to watch the floor. At the soft murmur of my name being attempted, I quickly turned to face her, "Heart?!"

My heart leapt with some relief to see those sapphires open, even if slowly at first.

There was a tired smile on her face, but her eyes carried the weight of her past nightmare as she asked, "A-Are you okay?"

"Thanks to you I am," I told her, "Though if I'd listened to ya in the first place, we'd-"

"It's okay Duke," she tried to insist.

"It's not okay, none of what happened to ya is okay," I told her.

Yet still she reached a hand out to me, brushing it against my cheek as she smiled, "You're still you."

I wasn't sure if that should bring relief to hear, or cut deeper into my concerns. However, for her sake, I gave a slight smirk, "Of course sweetheart."

Some cheer was shared when I mentioned the gang we'd influenced a few days ago were also in town serving as guards of sort.

"Seems ya made the right call," I told her.

"And things have been calm?" she asked

"They have, no one's come lookin' for us, an' they don't seem to recognize me here, at least so far," I assured, "Though..."

"What is it?"

"It seems there's a bit of trouble here in town," I said, "Apparently folks have gone missin' without rhyme or reason."

"We have a knack for finding these places don't we?" she attempted a weak smile.

"It seems so," I chuckled, "When you're ready we'll check things out?"

Then I mentioned, "We'll have to rest durin' the day, an' keep watch at night."

With this I explained the rest of what the doctor and inn keeper had told me thus far. As I did she attempted to sit up, all the while clutching her stomach in a bit of a grimace. When I went to ask her if she were alright she nodded silently with a pleading look in her eyes to not push the subject. I quickly understood and gave a nod to relay this. Her body had gone through such drastic changes in a brief time, so it would take a little bit for the pain of it to subside. Though sitting up did seem to help her spirits at least, and she seemed eager to help once she was able to. The only thing I dared to mention in regards to what had happened was a soft insistance, looking into those sapphires, "I never saw ya the way she did Heart. I saw the trustin' friend an' beautiful woman I've been lucky enough to know. I still do, an' I still am."

It eased the heart in my chest a bit to see her blush as these words. I held my hand out to her and when she grasped it I couldn't help but kiss it, "I still am..."

"As charming as ever," she gave a soft smile.

"Charmin'?" I teased her.

After some time of just trying to cheer her up in general, I felt something gnawing in the back of my mind. She seemed to notice as she asked, "Is something wrong?"

"It's not that somethin's wrong...," I tried to explain, while looking to her.

"Heart, why didn't ya tell me about her...about your life before?"

I saw why as pain filled her eyes and she hugged herself, her small frame shrinking somehow. Still I pushed carefully, "Heart...what happened?"

"I-It's my fault..." she stammered quietly.

"What is sweetheart?"

"When I was eight or so, her family came up from the under-dark and enslaved my own. Before that we lived a fairly content life, the Cezanne family was one of artists of varying types. My mother was a baker, my father a writer...extended family as well."

"What were you?"

"I hadn't decided yet...I leaned towards drawing and writing I guess, but I always had my head in the clouds...seeking dragons was something I always enjoyed even when I was a child," she explained.

"When we were captured, we were to serve their every need and whim. My mother was ordered to work in their kitchens, my father forced to doing hard labour to build their new manor, and I was to attend Eilsana. We were similar in age, and they wanted me to be her hand maid I guess, but it was far more demeaning...I was endure her abusive nature day after day, allowing her to hurt and scold me no matter what I did. They had me attend tutoring lessons, not so I could learn from them as well, but so I could be shown how much beneath her I was. She delighted in telling me by merely position I would never have the quality of life she and her family did. She treated me like a pet, or a toy she could break...and she often tried to..."

I reached to close a hand over hers, seeing her starting to tremble ever so slightly.

"She told me I was lucky that she preferred the company of animals as opposed to other people, and that's why she kept me useful. Though she always said if she could..." Heart shuddered, her frail frame growing tense from the lingering pain.

Carefully I asked, "When did ya get away?"

She looked to me with clear reluctance in her eyes, as though the memory were enough to unravel the threads of composure she clung to. Finally she said, "When she was busy with a suitor about a year or so ago, I saw he had notes left on the desk...spells...and I managed to learn mage hand rather quickly. With it, I was able to pull the key to me while they were...distracted...and I locked them inside her chambers. Then I fled, I couldn't even risk going back for my parents, the window to escape was too narrow as it was...if they'd found me..."

I realized her words were coming out more rapidly with every bit, like her heart were racing through the memories and panic, "...he had brought her a gift to try and win her over...a ring...I should have recognized it...he heard how much she loved animals..."

"She probably turned him into something with it then," I mentioned.

"If I'd tried to go back...and was caught...I..." she stopped, nearly breaking down.

"Heart, it's okay," I tried to reassure her from beside the bed still. She pulled her hand away so she could cover her face from a shame I couldn't understand.

"I spent most of my life under her family's boots, I had to get away...If I didn't..."

Then she was quiet. She didn't cry, tremble, or speak. All I heard was her soft, but quick breaths as she attempted to calm down. I rested a hand on her shoulder and she shivered at my touch, "Heart, ya did what ya had to. Why are ya defendin' this choice so much?"

"Because it's my fault..." she repeated.

"What?"

"I left...and when I went back with Shaleskell to try and get them free...they were..."

Instantly understanding, I quickly hopped from my seat to beside her on the bed, pulling her into a hug. I'd seen her caving in at the drudged up memory, her voice shaking, "If I hadn't...if I hadn't escaped they...they wouldn't have suffered like that! They'd be alive! It's my fault they were slaughtered!"

The cold cruel reality of what horrors Heart had seen at their hands came crashing over me as I took in the word "slaughtered" in particular. With that ring, they would have tested it out, and who better to try it on than a couple of slaves? Especially when needing an example to be made of or a punishment for daring to raise a child who tried to survive? My embrace grew stronger as I held her against me.

"Heart..." I attempted softly, "Heart it's not your fault."

"How is it not my fault?" she demanded, "If I'd stayed there-"

"If you'd stayed there you would have been a pet like she tried to make ya the other day! You wouldn't have a future, or even a life at all! Heart, you got away an' reclaimed the freedom your parents wanted ya to have!" I snapped at first, but then my tone eased up as I then said, "Sweetheart, ya can't do that to yourself...ya can't carry blame for somethin' like that. I'm certain your parents wanted you to get away, to have a chance at somethin' better."

"They-"

"They would be proud to see how strong you are now," I assured before she had the chance to protest.

Looking into her eyes I could see she wasn't too sure. Still hugging her with one hand, I slid the other down to her hand, holding it at the wrist where her scales shimmered. Then I would hear her softly say, "The rest of what I told you is true Duke, about Shaleskell, her nest, everything! I didn't keep this from you to hurt you!"

Further guilt sunk the heart in my chest, "I'm sorry Heart, if I'd just listened..."

Then I thought back on it a little more and asked, "Why didn't ya jus' leave me there? You could have left me behind to deal with the decision I made...?"

"I couldn't let her hurt you...even if..." she trailed off before finding her voice again, "I couldn't leave you behind to end up like them...if you displeased her...you'd be dead or worse..."

"It would have been my own fault," I pointed out a bit stunned, "An' you wouldn't have gone through all of that..."

Heart shook her head, "It wasn't your fault...she used charm on you it seems, and enchantments like that really mess with one's head."

I raised a brow at this and mentioned, "Ya didn't know about that at the time though, you made the choice to stay before she told ya all of that?"

See the visible hurt in her eyes as she recoiled, I quickly caught her hand before she could fold it over her chest. She looked to me a bit startled, "Heart...ya need to know somethin' about that...the moment I heard you were gone...it pulled me out of it."

"How?"

I wanted to tell her. Still guilt told me not to as she gripped her stomach in lingering pain still. Instead I simply told her with a pained smile of my own offered to her, "I missed ya."

Her eyes widened with a blend of surprise and uncertainty. Yet still the words stuck to my throat.

We spent that night talking to try and form some sort of plan still. At one point she wanted to get up and I offered my strength to assist with this. As she placed her shaky feet on the wooden floor her hands flew out to grasp for anything. Before she toppled onto her hands and knees I grasped her sides to support her. I wasn't going to dare let her fall onto the floor in any way if I could prevent it. With some practice, and my hands holding hers now, Heart made her way across the room to the basin filled with water. Gripping the table she asked for me to allow her to wash without watching, but was afraid of me stepping too far from her. I gave a nod and turned around, but didn't step more than a foot or two away. She could easily grasp my arm if she needed the support.

She'd been wearing the tunic I'd offered her still, though the inn keeper's wife had helped to freshen her up while she slept, as well as provided clothes for her. I just hadn't wanted to move her too much in fear of waking her.

Now as I heard her pulling it off of her I would catch the moan pushing through her gritted teeth. I drew from my own recent memories, recalling the lack of control in my movements, and the stiffness in my limbs after being locked in a new way for a bit. Though I'd been used to having to recover from bad scrapes before, and with my change I'd been needed to still fight and rely on skills similar to what I was used to. So it was easier and faster for me to recover. I could only imagine the pain Heart's body was racked with, and the discomfort she was feeling in other ways. Eilsana wasn't the first to refer to Heart as property, or a beast in some manner.

I wanted to tell her however, to reassure her I thought the world of her...or that I wanted to give her just that...or share mine in some way...yet the words just burrowed into me when I heard her cry out sharply after standing for a bit. If I'd listened to her in the first place, she wouldn't be nearly collapsing to the floor right then as she lost her balance. Charm spell or no, I wasn't accepting the excuse. How did I have any right to offer her my heart when I'd nearly cost Heart her body and mind? I simply didn't.

However I did break down and turn to hold her up by her sides again, looking away and trusting instinct to know how to catch her with steady hands. Grasping her thin frame, I could feel her trembling. The dark was a friend to me as it hid my blushing face for once from her. Her soft skin teased me with it's warmth, and I knew those sapphires were watching me closely. Her hands shook while grasping my upper arms.

After a moment or two, Heart regained her balance, and I simply stepped behind her, keeping my hands near her sides while looking away. When she faltered at lifting the cloth at one point, I reached around her small frame and helped her bring it to her face.

"Here," I whispered as she trusted me to help her, rubbing her upper arms to ease the tension left in them.

Then some form of restraint broke as I pulled her back against me in a tight hug. As she attempted to look up over her shoulder at me I told her in a soft, but firm voice, "Ya need to know you're beautiful, Heart. Nothin' will change that."

I felt her hugging my arms against her at this remark, her frame trembling from either shock or cold. Nonetheless, I held her tighter, keeping my hands from wandering as I held what I yearned for most in my arms, but knew I couldn't just take her.

However, for this moment, I didn't let go of her either. I didn't dare make her think she was close to what Eilsana had claimed. As I did, I would hear the softest reply from her shaking voice, "...Thank you..."

With these words, I nearly caved in. As I held her, I wondered why it was I could show her in every possible way how I felt for her, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. Though her trembling quickly reminded me, that a thief like me didn't deserve a Heart such as her...Nonetheless, I didn't let go as the words stuck to my drying throat, "I..."

With the help of a calm night otherwise and another day of rest, Heart's strength gradually returned to her. During that day I gave Heart the clothes I'd bought, offering to get her something else if she didn't like them. She shook her head and thanked me for letting her borrow my tunic in the meantime, "These are fine, Duke."

I gave a nod and turned around to let her get dressed. This time she had little to no resistance from her limbs as she stood to do this. In just a few moments I was able to turn around and see her wearing a dark blue peasant blouse with flared sleeves, a black bodice and leggings, and a tie on burgundy skirt fastened at her left hip. The boots she wore reached up to her knees this time. Though I'd noticed her neck was bare, and her hair was still down. With a bit of a smirk curving my lip I stepped over to her, sweeping up her ribbon from the bedside table as I did. Slipping behind her, I rested my hand on her shoulder to keep her from turning around. Then that same hand swept up her hair so I could loop the ribbon around the base of her ponytail for her, "I don't need a spell to do this."

Though what she didn't know was that I was using it so I could do something else. Slipping my hand into the inner pocket of my tunic I retrieved what I'd taken back from the drow. With the delicate chain in my fingers again I fastened the clasp behind her neck, while the conjured up hand played with her hair and ribbon. When she felt the glistening deep blue heart resting below her collar bone once more she glanced down, caressing it as though she had indeed been missing it.

"Duke...this is far too important for me to wear," she attempted to protest.

I wouldn't hear of it, "I think it was meant to be yours, sweetheart..."

I nearly slipped, but managed to say instead, "It does go with your eyes after all."

I thought she'd never stop blushing.

"Shall we see if we can find out what's goin' on around here?" I then asked after clearing my throat a bit, gathering my focus.

She gave a nod, "Of course..."

However I noticed as she brushed her fingers over the deep blue gem she wore again and said, "Thank you."

"Of course," I echoed with my heart aching.

Why didn't I tell her right then and there? I knew and didn't at the same time.