Chapter 17
Two figures walked towards The Great Chapel of Julianos. Brie sucked in a deep breath and looked up at Lex when he squeezed her hand and then he moved ahead of her to open the door. Inside the chapel was a long open hall with massive stone pillars flanking two rows of wooden pews, and at the center of the room stood the main Cathedral altar dedicated to Julianos, a Divine that Brie grew up worshipping as a child. Now, as she stood in the front entrance of the chapel she had frequented countless times in her youth Brie felt a tightness in her chest as she stared at the wooden door that led into the undercroft with a pained expression.
"I don't know if I can do this," she mumbled quietly as her eyes darted around the room.
They were mostly alone, and Lex patiently stood by her side as she waited for the Elf to find her courage to move forward.
"You can do it," he replied softly, and he glanced down at the bouquet of flowers clenched in Brie's free hand. "We don't have to be very long, just a couple minutes."
"Okay," Brie finally replied and she took nearly tripped over her own feet as she lurched forward.
They quickly went through the nearest door and down a set of stairs into the undercroft of the chapel. Brie walked fast as she knew where her family's tombs were located. They passed several important tombs along the way but she paid them no attention as they rushed towards the smaller section of the undercroft. A large stone archway with the name Direnni marked the spot she wanted and Brie stopped as her eyes landed on the newest addition to the family vault. Several torches were lit all around the undercroft but it was still terribly dark and the shadows made Brie uncomfortable as she slowly shuffled closer.
Vaults for upper-class families were constructed differently. Only a small section of the wall was dedicated to Direnni and there were no massive tombs with the deceased person's statue in their likeness. Instead, the tombs were placed inside the walls and sealed shut. They were labeled with small stone plaques with the respective names and Brie stared at her Mother's plaque with a weird feeling churning inside of her.
This is it, her mind whirled as she slowly walked forward and reached up and touched the stone surface. She's never coming back.
Surprisingly, Brie's face was free of tears as she slipped the old bouquet from a metal hook and placed hers beside Lara Direnni's plaque. She assumed that the old flowers had been from Annalise and she hoped that her sister was doing alright with the knowledge she had been given the day before. Brie had considered going back to see her but couldn't bring herself to return to the Manor and so she had let it go.
After a brief moment Brie turned back to Lex. He stood by a stone pillar and the light of the torch lit his face in bright hues of orange and red. He wore a crisp cream-colored tunic and his hair hung loosely down to his shoulders. He reached out and took the wilted flowers from her hand and patiently waited as Brie silently said her goodbyes before turning back to him.
"I'm done. Let's go."
There was a strange noise from somewhere nearby. The hair on the back of Brie's neck rose up in alarm and shot Lex a panicked look, which he returned.
"Let's go quickly," Lex replied quietly and the pair swiftly dashed back towards the exit.
As soon as they left the chapel Brie sucked in a big breath of the crisp morning air and she squinted up at the sky. It was a nice sunny day, good for travelling. Despite the sadness Brie felt over the loss of her mother and the potentially broken relationship with her sister she couldn't help but feel a sense of lightness in her heart that hadn't been there before. As Lex quietly walked beside her down the street back towards the Inn she sent him small glances and every time he looked back at her he'd smile and squeeze her hand.
Having Lex hold her hand without hesitation made Brie's heart flutter nervously but she tried to remain cool and not overthink too much. She wasn't entirely sure if his willingness to be close with her was because he trying bring Brie comfort or if he was also slowly opening up to her again. Brie didn't care about the reasons why and was just happy to have him there and making contact, even though each smile and gentle touch sent little tingles up her spine.
When they returned to West Weald Inn the pair went up to their room and grabbed their satchels, which they had packed earlier in the morning. They enjoyed a light breakfast together down in the main hall and then exited the Inn and then began making their way towards the main gates. Brie glanced back up at the tall stone buildings one last time and a huge sense of relief washed over her as they left Skingrad and walked down the road a way to Grateful Pass Stables.
Tilmo greeted them with a broad smile and then he quickly disappeared again to go retrieve their steeds. When Nala lightly clopped into view Brie grinned and rubbed her hand along her silky nose. The horses nickered in return and softly nudged her cheek.
"Yes, pretty girl. We're leaving now."
Lex stood beside his chestnut steed and he finished strapping his satchel to the horse's saddle. He saw a figure walking towards the stables and he was surprised when he recognized Annalise's pretty face as she strode towards them. Brie hadn't noticed, as she stood with her back towards Anna and was preoccupied with her satchel.
"Brie," Lex called out.
"Yeah?" Brie replied and she looked up at Lex.
She could see him staring at something behind her and so she craned her head around and spotted Annalise standing near the post of a nearby fence. She gave her a small smile but remained a respectful distance back. Brie turned back around and finished tightening the strap on her saddle and then she let out a small puff of air and patted Nala's rump before walking over to her sister.
"Anna," Brie greeted quietly.
"Goodmorning Brie," Annalise replied softly, and she rested her hands along the wooden post with a small smile. "You're leaving."
"Yep. I have to get back to work."
"What is it you do?"
"I patrol the city for the Imperial Guard... Lex is my superior, if you don't believe me."
"Of course I believe you," Anna replied softly. "That's incredible Brie, it sounds like a fascinating job."
"It's alright."
"Where are you living now?" Anna inquired with a curious expression.
"I live in the city."
"Oh wow, really? I always liked taking trips to the Imperial city in the summertime. What's it like living there?"
"It's alright," Brie replied quietly, and she shrugged. "Actually, that's a lie, it's pretty great."
"I bet it suits you," Anna smiled.
"I guess it does."
There was a moment of awkward silence as neither sister really knew what to say. Brie nervously chewed on her lip and stared at the bodice of Annalise's dress. It was covered in a beautiful and delicate embroidered flower design and her eyes traced the pattern as she struggled to think of what to say.
"Brie..." Annalise started, and her voice cracked. "I'm so sorry."
Brie's head snapped up as she looked at her sister with furrowed brows. Anna's bottom lip trembled and there were tears in her eyes as she peered down at Brie while clenching the post of the fence.
"I-I had no idea what was... was going on, and I'm sorry..."
"Anna," Brie replied quietly, and she shook her head. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. You were just a child, and I hid it all from you."
"W-Why?"
"Because," Brie said firmly. "I wanted you to have the childhood you deserved. You were such a happy kid and the last thing I wanted was to ruin it for you."
"I just... I can't believe... I c-can barely look him in the eyes..."
"I know, I'm sorry I dragged you into that yesterday."
Annalise sucked in a deep breath and she stared at Brie with as much hardness as her pretty face could muster.
"No, I'm glad you told me. It makes so much sense now, why you left."
"Yeah," Brie sighed, and she leaned against the fence with one arm. "I did leave because of mother as well, but she wasn't the primary reason."
"Did she... not know what was going on?"
"I'm not sure. I think deep down she knew," Brie replied quietly. "But I think she was too far in denial to really accept the truth. I resented her for not doing anything to stop it."
"I know my Father is dying," Annalise whispered. "I know I shouldn't care-"
"Anna," Brie cut in sharply. "He's still your father. He never mistreated you, correct?"
"No, but it's no excuse for what he did to you."
"I'm aware, but that's for me to deal with. He's not going to be around much longer and he loves you dearly so just... just try not to make things difficult. It's not worth it."
"I... I suppose you're right."
Annalise tucked a strand of her long golden hair behind one ear and she glanced back at Lex. He stood next to his horse and he chatted lightly with Tilmo while he waited for the women to finish talking.
"You're... doing well, then."
"I'd like to think so," Brie joked, and she also glanced back at Lex.
"I'm proud of you, Brie. You're living in the city. You have your own home, a stable career, and... what looks like a very caring person with you."
"I guess I can live up to my title as older sister now."
"You always had, Brie. I... I missed you."
Brie's throat constricted tightly as she peered up at Annalise and she nodded.
"I missed you too, Anna."
She could tell that Annalise wanted to hug her but she was refraining herself. They stared at each other for a long moment and Brie bit her lip as tears also sprang to her eyes. The moment Anna spotted them her tears slipped freely down her cheek. She let out a small sob when Brie finally reached forward with open arms and they hugged each other for a long time.
"I-I love you, Brie," Anna mumbled into her neck as she cried.
"I love you too, Anna."
Brie tightly clenched her arms around Annalise's slender frame and softly rubbed her back. After what seemed like forever they finally pulled apart and both sisters were smiling. Brie reached up and brushed Anna's tears away from her rosy cheeks.
"Don't cry anymore, not over us. We're going to be just fine."
"Okay, Brie?"
"Yes Anna?"
"Can I... m-may I write to you?"
Brie was surprised by her question, but she quickly nodded.
"Of course you can. I barely know anything about you anymore. You're old enough to marry... start your own family. I'd like to be kept up to date."
Annalise laughed and leaned in to kiss Brie's cheeks.
"I'm glad. I hope you'll write me back, too."
"I will."
Brie finally wandered back to where her horse was waiting patiently. Nala's tail swished back and forth to drive the flies away that hovered nearby and her ears pricked forward as she heard them approaching. Lex finished his conversation with Tilmo and strode forward when he spotted Brie standing near the horses with Annalise and he smiled at the younger sister.
"Hello again," he greeted her.
"Hello. I'm sorry we couldn't have had a more pleasant visit."
"It's quite alright," Lex replied hastily with the wave of his hand. "I understand."
"Please take care of my sister," Anna continued, and her warm smile was contagious. "I know she's a bit of a rebel but she has a good heart."
"I'll try my best," Lex teased.
Brie rolled her eyes and gave him an expectant look as she waited for him to help her up.
"I've been on my best behavior," she argued as Lex grasped her waist.
"For now."
Lex's laughter echoed in her ears as he helped hoist Brie up into her saddle. When she was ready he mounted his own horse and they said goodbye to Annalise.
"Safe travels," Annalise called out, and she watched as they began to ride towards the Gold Road, heading Northeast.
Brie spun around in her saddle as soon as they were almost far enough away not to see her sister anymore. She could just make out Annalise's tall figure as she waved at them from the stables. Brie waved back, and then she snapped her reigns and urged Nala into a fast run. Lex followed close behind as they raced down the road for a little while.
Travelling back home was a more pleasant affair. During their first night after leaving town Lex rented a single room for them to stay in, and his reasoning behind it was to cut costs after spending an absurd amount of gold for two nights at the most expensive Inn in Skingrad. Brie had a feeling that gold was not the true reason but she played along anyways, and she was secretly grateful for Lex's willingness to continue sleeping in the same bed with her. His firm arms around her and the steady beat of his heart in her ear easily lulled Brie into a deep sleep and she woke up every morning feeling very well rested.
Lex wouldn't admit it openly but he had a feeling Brie could see through his lie about sleeping the same bed to save money. Truthfully, his reason was far more selfish. Having Brie's warm body pressed against him made him feel indescribably comforted and he slept better than ever before. It was for that reason alone that he only rented a single room, and he was relieved when Brie didn't question it too much and happily obliged him.
It was late the next evening when the pair of travelers once again stopped at an Inn to rest. They had taken a bit longer this time since Brie had been apprehensive about going near the Oblivion gate from last time. So, Lex had guided them off the beaten path for a few hours before they cut back to the Gold Road and continued on as normal. It was almost completely dark when they arrived outside the Inn and Brie stifled a yawn as she stumbled down from her horse and began unbuckling the strap that held her pack.
"Go on inside," Lex murmured, and Brie could see that he was also tired. "I'll deal with the horses."
"Okay," Brie replied quietly.
Lex handed off his pack to the Elf and she slung it over her shoulder before quickly making her way inside the Inn. It was crowded tonight, and she was forced to squeeze her way around full tables filled with patrons as struggled to make it to the front counter. An Argonian greeted her and Brie requested a single room with a double bed. When she was finished counting out the gold she was handed a key and Brie was unaware of somebody watching her as she shuffled her way towards a hallway and within a minute she was inside the room.
Brie sighed as she lowered both packs to the ground and she immediately departed the room and made her way back to the front counter. She claimed the two unoccupied stools and took a seat on one of them, her feet dangling down from it as she waited for Lex to show up.
Eventually the Imperial's handsome face popped up in the crowd and he spotted Brie as she argued with another patron over the chair she had been saving.
"See?" Brie exclaimed as Lex approached the counter, "there he is. I told you!"
"Whatever," the Khajiit growled as it slunk away.
"Problem?" Lex chuckled as he looked around the dining hall.
Loud voices and several howls of laughter echoed all around. An older Redgard woman strummed a worn looking red lute as she sang proudly over the loud din and Brie was impressed by her vocal abilities as her singing easily reached her ears.
"Not anymore," Brie practically shouted.
Lex leaned in closer and Brie's heart skipped a beat when he placed a hand on one of her shoulders and his lips almost touched her ear.
"I'm going to wash up, okay? I'll come back down for dinner."
"A-Alright," Brie stammered, and she handed him the key. "Room five."
Lex shot her a sleepy smile and then he began expertly maneuvering his way around a small cluster of drunken men before disappearing down the hall towards their bedroom. While he was gone the Wood Elf ordered herself a cold bottle of ale which she slowly sipped on as she listened to the Bard singing a lighthearted song.
"By the Nine Divine, is that really you Brie?"
Brie turned her head towards the voice and she nearly choked on her drink as her eyes landed on the grinning face of her former lover.
"V-Voranil," Brie gasped and then she began to cough.
"Geeze Brie, you gotta slow down," Voraniil teased as he took a seat on the tall wooden stool beside her. "Pace yourself."
Brie shot the Elf a small scowl as she continued to cough for a few more seconds. She couldn't bring herself to look him directly in the eyes. Voraniil was exactly as she remembered. He was a tall and devastatingly handsome Altmer that could melt her heart with a simple glance. She had fallen head over heels for him back in Bravil, where they had first met, and at first Brie had thought he was the perfect man. But Voraniil had one major problem that she'd never been able to get over and it had ultimately led to them going separate ways and Brie left Bravil to fry bigger fish in Cheydinal.
Voraniil was distracted momentarily as the female server behind the bar greeted him with a warm smile and batted eyelashes. He shamelessly regarded her full figure and perky breasts that were all too exposed in the terribly tight bodice of her dress. Brie internally rolled her eyes and took a big gulp of her ale as she waited for him to finish flirting and order his drink, wondering why it had to be Voraniil of all people she'd run into.
Have I disappointed the Gods or something? She whined internally as glanced over at Voraniil's slender figure.
He wore a full set of dark red leather armour and a long flowing black cloak that trailed down to the floor. His long gold hair had been effortlessly swept into a loose ponytail and he turned his head towards Brie when he felt her staring.
"Surprised to see me?"
"Of course," Brie replied stiffly, and she frowned. "I didn't think I'd see you anytime soon."
"And why is that?"
"You know why," Brie replied quickly, and took another sip of ale.
"I really don't think I do," Voraniil purred and he leaned his elbow on the counter so his body was facing her.
"Voraniil, are you suffering from some sort of memory loss?"
"No, of course not."
Brie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She could hear Voraniil chuckling and at some point in time she would have laughed along with him but that time had long since passed. They had gotten along splendidly in the beginning of their relationship. Brie had genuinely thought she'd found the most perfectly matched partner for her personality and lifestyle, since Voraniil was also an active thief. His carefree nature and tendency to laugh about everything had been what drew Brie to him in the first place. But it had ended in pain and tears, much like everything else that happened in her life, and so Brie was resistant to Voraniil's charm that night in the packed Inn.
Voranili continued to shoot Brie dazingly handsome smiles as he attempted to chat her up. His long, gloved fingers traced circles along the condensation of his bottle of ale as he rambled on about nothing in particular. Brie's replies were far and few between as she began to wonder what was taking Lex so long to get back to her. She barely listened to a word he was saying as she day dreamed about her Captain, naked and covered in soapy suds as he lounged in a hot bath.
"Why are your cheeks turning red?" Voraniil inquired curiously, and he reached up to brush his fingers through her hair. "What are you thinking about, I wonder?"
It was at that moment that Lex re-entered the hall and he spotted Brie sitting at the bar with a tall cloaked Altmer. He frowned as he watched the Elf reach up to brush his fingers through Brie's hair and a burst of jealousy began to wash over him but a moment later Brie slapped his hand away and said something to the Altmer that only made him laugh. Feeling confused, Lex continued to stride forward and she spotted him just before he reached the counter.
"There you are, I thought you drowned," Brie whined as she spun around on her stool.
"Sorry, I think I nodded off for a little while..."
Voraniil eyed Lex with a curious expression and Brie glanced between the two men for a moment before she bolted down from her seat.
"Come on, let's go back to our room and have dinner there..."
"There's no table in our room," Lex replied loudly and he stepped out of the way of a drunken Orc before he could knock into him.
"Oh."
"Please, take my seat."
Lex watched as the Elf snatched his drink from the counter and stood up from the stool with an air of grace. He noticed the sword strapped to his hip but a moment later it disappeared under his thick black cloak. Voraniil winked at Brie before he strolled away from them with a smug little smile.
"See you around, cutie."
Lex's eyes widened slightly and then his gaze returned to Brie as she let out a disgusted noise and sat back down on her stool. He took a seat beside her and she could feel his stare burning a hole in the side of her head as she tried to avoid eye contact. Eventually the awkward tension was too much and so Brie's shoulders sagged as she finally looked up at him.
"That was uh, an old... friend."
"Friend," Lex replied slowly. "Okay."
"Okay fine, he was more than that."
Brie felt guilty lying to Lex and so she quickly confessed the truth and watched for his reaction. Lex's face remained frustratingly neutral as he shrugged his broad shoulders nonchalantly.
"Makes no difference to me, although it looked like you were annoyed."
"I was annoyed," Brie replied briskly. "He's an annoying person."
"Oh?"
"Not at first, but now he is. I wish he'd just leave me alone..."
Brie was uncomfortable with discussing her ex-lover with Lex any further and so she quickly changed the topic to dinner. Eventually the specials they had ordered came around and they tucked into a roast beef dinner with great gusto. Brie polished off her first ale and drank another before she cut herself off for the night. She wanted to remain alert in case she ran into Voraniil again and she continued to glance around throughout their meal, half expecting to see him jump out and yell boo at any second. But, as dinner was consumed and Brie was thoroughly tired, she began to forget about the bright-eyed Elf as she started to feel her eyelids grow heavy.
"Come on."
Lex nudged Brie's arm with his elbow and he burst into laughter as she nearly fell off her stool.
"Hey, that's not very nice," Brie pouted as she stumbled to her feet and peered up at him with a feigned expression of hurt.
"You were falling asleep at the counter. Let's get you to bed, Miss."
Brie laughed and she allowed Lex to dramatically clutch her arm as he quickly guided her towards the hallway leading to their bedroom.
"I think you had too much sun," Lex murmured softly, and he pressed the palm of his hand to her forehead.
"Stop it," Brie giggled and she swatted his hand away.
When they were tucked away in their room Lex and Brie began getting ready for bed. It was sparsely furnished, with only a simple table located beside the bed and a worn looking dresser pushed up against the opposite wall. The bed had also been pushed up against the wall and it was smaller than what they were used to but Brie knew they'd make it work as she plopped down on the soft blanket and started tugging at the laces to her boots.
Nature suddenly called and so Brie stopped untying the laces and hastily tied them back up. Lex had just finished taking off his own boots and he glanced up at Brie when she stood up.
"I'll be right back."
"Okay," Lex replied as he stifled a yawn. "Don't get trampled."
Brie shot him a cheeky grin and then she quickly exited the room go and relieve herself. While she was gone Lex finished changing into a pair of light cotton pants and walked over to where a silver water pitcher was sitting on the table beside the bed. He frowned as he picked it up, realizing it was empty. He really desired a cool drink of water before bed and so Lex snatched the up the pitcher and left their room to hunt somebody who would fill it up.
What Lex hadn't anticipated was hearing Brie's voice from down the hall. It sounded like she was in distress and so the Imperial quickly abandoned his task as he strode down the hall and peeked around the corner.
The Elf he had seen speaking with her earlier now dwarfed Brie's small frame as he had her backed against a wall. He could barely see her face but the tone in her voice told Lex that she didn't want to be speaking with Voraniil. Lex didn't know why, but he hesitated to intervene and he couldn't help but eavesdrop since he curious to know what had happened between the two.
"Who is that man with you?"
Lex stiffened as the Elf's voice reached his ears.
"None of your business!" Brie huffed angrily, and she bunched her hands into fists. "If you don't have something actually important to say then I'll be on my way-"
"Brie, why are you so cold? I thought you'd be happy to see me."
"Why the fuck would I be happy to see you?"
"I know I made a big mistake," Voraniil insisted passionately, and he peered down at Brie with furrowed brows. "But I'm not the same Elf I was all those years ago."
"Oh really? Sure looked like you changed, with the way you were eying that servant earlier."
"Alright," Voraniil chuckled. "So, I still enjoy gazing at beautiful women... but tell me, Is that Imperial your lover?"
"Voraniil this is going nowhere," Brie growled and she pushed his chest with both hands.
It didn't faze Voraniil in the slightest and he continued to gaze down at Brie with an expression that made her feel nothing but nervous.
"Voraniil," Brie repeated firmly. "Voran-"
Suddenly the Altmer lurched forward and roughly pressed his lips against Brie's in a heated kiss. Her eyes widened in surprise and then she began to struggle against him but he was taller and stronger than she was. He used his entire body to keep her trapped against the wall and his hands gripped her arms so hard they began to ache.
There was a loud noise from somewhere to their right. Voraniil's grip lessened enough that Brie could wedge her shoulder between herself and his broad chest and she shoved him as hard as she could. A moment later Lex's figure rushed into her peripheral but she almost didn't comprehend what was going on until she heard Voraniil shout in surprise as his fist connected with the Elf's nose.
Voraniil stumbled back and clutched at his face with a grimace. Brie clamped her hands to her mouth and stared at the men in utter shock. There was a water pitcher on the floor nearby and it occurred to Brie that Lex had probably seen everything as her entire face turned bright red from embarrassment.
But Lex wasn't even paying attention to Brie as his furious scowl was fixed upon Voraniil. His knuckle was bloody and his arms trembled slightly but it wasn't from pain but from anger.
"How dare you put your hands on a lady," Lex snarled.
Voraniil was silent for a moment as he struggled to not pass out from the pain. Brie watched, still recoiling from embarrassment at Lex having seen Voraniil kissing her, but also secretly thrilled that her Captain had come rushing to her aid and punched the arrogant Elf without hesitation.
By the Nine, her thoughts whirled. Lex actually punched him... and it looks like his nose is broken...
Finally, Voraniil straightened up. He cast a weak healing spell and dabbed at his bloody nose with the sleeve of his long black coat.
"That's quite the hook you've got there," he mumbled, and then the Elf began to laugh. "Wow, I haven't been hit like that in a long time."
"I don't care who you were to Brie," Lex continued angrily, and he clenched his hands into fists once more. "It doesn't give you the right to push yourself upon her like that."
"You're absolutely right," Voraniil replied smoothly as he straightened up all the way.
Brie squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze as Voraniil glanced over at her with a genuine look of regret.
"I'm sorry, it was wrong of me."
"Just leave," Brie mumbled back, and she rubbed nervously at her neck. "Please leave."
"Right, of course..."
There was an air of tension between the three travelers as Voraniil glanced back at Lex for a moment. He looked like he wanted to say more but the Elf quickly spun around and walked down the hall away to return to his own sleeping quarters. When he was gone, Brie let out a deep sigh and, ignoring the urge to run and hide from Lex because she was ashamed of what happened, Brie forced herself to walk over to the Captain as he stood stiff as a board. He was still vibrating with anger and he jumped when he felt Brie's soft hand grasp his.
"You hurt your hand," Brie murmured quietly.
"It's nothing."
Lex snatched Brie's hand and quickly pulled her down the hallway. When they were back in the privacy of their room he released her hand and walked over to the bed where he sat down with a loud sigh. Brie walked over to where their satchels were resting on the dresser and she rifled through one for a moment, aware that Lex was watching her. She retrieved a healing potion as well as small clean cloth and one of their waterskins.
Then Brie turned around and they stared at each other for the briefest moment. Lex could tell that she was embarrassed by what had happened and he wanted to say something to make her feel better but he didn't know what to say. He was a fury of emotions inside as he struggled to comprehend why he had lost control and assaulted the Elf. He didn't regret it, but his actions left Lex feeling more confused than ever before.
Brie knelt down on the floor in front of Lex and after uncorking the red vial she silently handed it to Lex. He drank it in one gulp while she wet the cloth with a bit of water from their leather drinking skin and she gently grasped his fingers with a feather soft touch. He watched as she began cleaning the blood from his knuckles and the potion worked its magic to heal the tiny cuts along his skin. By the time she was finished her gentle administrations his hand held no trace of his actions. After she was done Brie remained sitting on the floor and she rested her forehead against his knee.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You punched Voraniil. You're not a violent person... I'm sorry I made you do that."
"Brie..."
Lex brushed his fingers through Brie's hair and she finally lifted her head up to look him in the eyes.
"You don't have to be sorry," Lex continued softly, and Brie was thrilled to see him smile. "I don't regret hitting him."
"You really hit him good."
"He was kissing you against your will."
"I know," Brie replied quietly and she sucked in a deep breath. "Voraniil could be a good person but he's always been the type to sleep around with other people. That's why I left him in the first place."
"You don't have to explain anything to me."
"I know but I want to..."
"Come here, silly."
Lex stood up from the bed and tossed the covers back while Brie hastily tugged her boots off and they quickly laid down on the bed. Once again Lex pulled her into his arms and Brie let out a sigh of relief as she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Lex gently rubbed her arm and she smiled softly as her body relaxed against his. The steady beat of his heart and his light breathing was more comforting than anything in the world.
Brie had almost fallen asleep when she felt him shift ever so slightly. Her eyes opened and a moment later she felt Lex kissing her forehead. Her heart nearly exploded from her chest when she realized his lips were pressed against her skin and tears welled up in her eyes though she forced herself not to cry. She squeezed her arm around his waist and she heard Lex sigh as he rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.
A/N: Hey guys ! Thanks for reading. Updates might cease for a while. School has started up again and I'm all out of pre-written chapters. I will try my best to work on fan fics during the semester but it definitely won't be as consistent as I have been with updating every week. As always I appreciate the kind reviews.