Kate whirled around as soon as William closed the door firmly behind them. Her eyes smouldered with suppressed ire, but she held her tongue and waited for Will to make the first move. Will hesitated, knowing that Kate would likely react to this sort of forced confrontation in much the same way a wild animal took to a cage. He held her eyes as he approached, and cautiously lifted his hands to frame her face. When she did not pull away, he felt emboldened enough to speak.
"What troubles you?"
At this, Kate did flinch a bit, though she held her ground. "Is it not obvious?"
Biting back a frustrated groan, William felt his own temper begin to flare. Trying his best to keep these emotions in check, he answered her as calmly as he could. "I know nothing save that you were well before Wat brought us word of Adhemar and Jocelyn, but after you withdrew into yourself." When she failed to respond to him, Will went out on a limb. "Is it that you are still angry with her for your last encounter? For if that's all it is, you needn't worry…."
"It is not my dislike for Jocelyn that pains me so - rather I fear your unresolved issues with her." At that, Kate did pull herself from William's grasp. She paced around the room as she carefully formed her next words. When she spoke again, her voice quivered a bit.
"I fear that Jocelyn still, and always, will have a hold over you. I now must worry, as I did in the days and weeks after she returned to her father, that you would fall into the despair that took weeks to rouse you from the first time. And above all, I fear that your regard for me will be revealed as transient now that the proper and noble lady you once loved has returned to your world."
Hearing her heartfelt admission, William crossed the room and gathered Kate to him before she could protest. She clung to his tunic and pressed her face tightly into Will's chest. For his part, Will held her close, hoping to reassure her, and leaned down to rest his cheek on the crown of her head as he gently rocked her. They remained like that for many long moments, unaware of the passing of day and birth of night. When Kate lifted her head, William saw faint tear tracks on her pale cheeks. His heart ached, for he had heard her neither sob nor sniffle, and Will met Kate's lips with the lightest and sweetest of kisses.
When Kate finally moved to pull away from him, Will refused to permit it. He knew, as she did, that the rest of their mates had either sought their own beds already or were waiting to pounce upon their friends when they emerged, seeking an explanation for the day's events. Rather, Will hoped to keep things quiet for now.
His next question was more hesitant. "Stay here with me?" he asked, wishing both for comfort and to soothe his lady in turn. Kate nodded slightly, and allowed Will to draw her to the bed. With Will upon his back, she pillowed her head on his shoulder and seemed to be asleep almost instantly. Will succumbed to slumber more slowly, playing with Kate's raven locks until sleep came.
***
Sorry this one's so short, but it was either this or nothing at all for a few weeks at least!
"What troubles you?"
At this, Kate did flinch a bit, though she held her ground. "Is it not obvious?"
Biting back a frustrated groan, William felt his own temper begin to flare. Trying his best to keep these emotions in check, he answered her as calmly as he could. "I know nothing save that you were well before Wat brought us word of Adhemar and Jocelyn, but after you withdrew into yourself." When she failed to respond to him, Will went out on a limb. "Is it that you are still angry with her for your last encounter? For if that's all it is, you needn't worry…."
"It is not my dislike for Jocelyn that pains me so - rather I fear your unresolved issues with her." At that, Kate did pull herself from William's grasp. She paced around the room as she carefully formed her next words. When she spoke again, her voice quivered a bit.
"I fear that Jocelyn still, and always, will have a hold over you. I now must worry, as I did in the days and weeks after she returned to her father, that you would fall into the despair that took weeks to rouse you from the first time. And above all, I fear that your regard for me will be revealed as transient now that the proper and noble lady you once loved has returned to your world."
Hearing her heartfelt admission, William crossed the room and gathered Kate to him before she could protest. She clung to his tunic and pressed her face tightly into Will's chest. For his part, Will held her close, hoping to reassure her, and leaned down to rest his cheek on the crown of her head as he gently rocked her. They remained like that for many long moments, unaware of the passing of day and birth of night. When Kate lifted her head, William saw faint tear tracks on her pale cheeks. His heart ached, for he had heard her neither sob nor sniffle, and Will met Kate's lips with the lightest and sweetest of kisses.
When Kate finally moved to pull away from him, Will refused to permit it. He knew, as she did, that the rest of their mates had either sought their own beds already or were waiting to pounce upon their friends when they emerged, seeking an explanation for the day's events. Rather, Will hoped to keep things quiet for now.
His next question was more hesitant. "Stay here with me?" he asked, wishing both for comfort and to soothe his lady in turn. Kate nodded slightly, and allowed Will to draw her to the bed. With Will upon his back, she pillowed her head on his shoulder and seemed to be asleep almost instantly. Will succumbed to slumber more slowly, playing with Kate's raven locks until sleep came.
***
Sorry this one's so short, but it was either this or nothing at all for a few weeks at least!