"Daine," he made sure to make noise as he approached, knowing enough not to surprise someone who was armed. A lesson learned the hard way, unfortunately.
She didn't look at him. Wind picked up the dead leaves, whipping them about the training grounds, to add to the drizzle that had been hovering over the fief all day. Daine loaded another bolt into the crossbow, taking aim. In less than the time it took for him to take a breath she released and the bolt struck it's target true, despite the wind.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, quietly, as he leaned against the barrel and picked up a bolt to hand her. She ignored his offer, picking up another instead.
"Do you?" She met his eye easily enough, all challenge and anger. Some hurt, he realized. He was hurting too.
"Not that," he sighed and dropped the bolt. She released again, and the arrow nestled next to her first —buried deep in the heart of the dummy. "But about what you're feeling, always."
"Then no." Her jaw clenched, chin jutting out. He watched as she took two more shots. They landed close together, in a way he knew meant they'd likely have to patch the target.
"Daine, I just need some time — "
"No," she lowered the crossbow, still loaded, and shook her head. "We've been dancing around this for years. I'm out of steps to take." She turned to him. He knew that look. She'd reached a decision of some sort; the kind you don't turn back from.
"I'm leaving at the end of the week," she looked away. She unloaded the crossbow, and rested it on the barrel. He stood, putting his hands in his pockets. They hadn't made plans to go home, and he couldn't remember the last time they'd done so without consulting the other. It felt foreign enough that he wondered if they ever had.
"I've already told Maura," she shrugged, mirroring his stance. "I was thinking I might head North. We never got there last year and there are people I'd like to meet," she sighed, getting off track. "I'd like you to come with me, but not as we have."
"I'm not sure I understand." He wasn't entirely sure it was a lie. Her meaning was clear and yet hope was such a dangerous thing. Giving into temptation more so. He'd thought about that path often; the one that would surely lead to ruin.
"Yes, you do." Everything about her was a challenge. The wind picked up, and he suddenly realized how her curls had begun to cling to her face and neck, but she stood tall.
"You can come North with me as my lover, and if not you can ride South alone." She didn't wait for a response, and moved away to pull her bolts from the target. He didn't wait for her, but retreated back to the warmth of the castle to decide if ruin lay North or South of where he stood.