[Krome] Let slip the wolves of war

[Celeste Andaris]

30th Ashan, 717

"I'm fine, honestly." Celeste smiled at Xander but she didn't get up from where she was sitting. The wound in her side was painful and the bandages restrictive. However, there was a simple truth to it. "I feel rather embarrassed, Xander, to be quite frank. I should have reacted better." Of course, the fact was that what he had done had been to link back, almost perfectly, to the attack on her by her brother. Restraining her by the throat, cutting off her air and whispering in her ear. It was all just too much for her, but she could not tell him that, she would not share such information. "Maybe I should consider learning a weapon or at least some self defence. This is getting a little ridiculous."

Sitting in a comfortable position, Celeste kept a hand over her side as she moved and then looked at Xander as he sat. "You did a very brave thing to chase after him. I am sorry that I keep putting you in situations where you have to rescue me." Her smile was tense, she was more shaken up than she was prepared to let on, in truth. "I assure you, I do not normally require such."

Still, he had come to speak to her, and she could tell by his expression that he was not happy with the news he had to give. Once he had sat on the sofa next to her, Celeste put her hand out and gently squeezed his. "I passed out because my terror turned to relief. Because the moment I saw you, I knew that I was safe." Putting her hand back on her side and wincing slightly as she moved she looked at him with a question in her gaze. He had something to say, there was no doubting it.

And then he said it.

"Warrick!?" Celeste sat up and winced as she did, but she ignored it. "What? Why?" Her mind was reeling with that information and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. "He made it seem like he was anti nobility, posed as a servant. Is this a declaration of war, Xander?" Raising her hand to her temple, Celeste tried to think this through.

"How many men did he have with him?" When he answered, she pursed her lips and considered. "There is a strong possibility that he was acting alone. He was young and, more than that I'd say he was improvising." The outburst of swearing, she explained, that alone was enough that he was not skilled at pretending to be a servant. "If.. Xander this information could be incredibly important, politically." Slowly, Celeste, she thought to herself. She did not yet know her intended's mind on such things. "What are your thoughts on how we deal with it?"

Normally, she would not add the next words, in fact she was rather surprised that she did now. "Because we will be dealing with it, yes?" It was a question. Sort of. But mostly, it was asking to make sure that he understood the statement was just that. A statement.

[Xander Andaris]

His head was spinning with possibilities, he could still hardly believe it what he had heard. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, yet he knew he couldn't get the answers. Why a warrick would have done this was beyond him, he had no clue what he could possibly have done to cause it. He had been close friends with Olivia as children and had made more than a few visits there as a child. It made no sense to him, they gained nothing by orchestrating such an attack. It was without a shadow of a doubt insane but now was the time to tell Celeste not to figure out motives.

"Really, Celeste, it's not your fault and you did your best with the situation you were in." He looked at her as he knew she had done her best. She was not a fighter and he would not have expected her to be, he only wished he could have stopped her being stabbed. He limped over to her side and sat, the gash in his calf was the worst one and was causing him the most difficulty. "Perhaps we can find you a tutor, if this keeps happening you're going to need to be able to protect yourself too." It was evident from the events that had transpired he could not always be there to protect her.

He looked into her eyes as she explained her fainting, he may have pressed for more information had there not been even more important matters. "The boy was Rafael Warrick. Bastard son of Ned Warrick and previously a member of the iron hand. That was who stabbed you and who I fought." Xander looked at her and was not surprised to see the shock in her face. He had been just as surprised himself, he had even consider the man who told him had been lying but after what he had been put through he decided to believe him. Xander had done some things he was not proud of to that man but it had headed results. Sometimes powerful and ambitious men have to do things they don't really want, that was what he told himself. "I too was surprised, it makes little sense. If this is a declaration of war I do not know and can not possibly claim to know."

She seemed to have as many questions as himself, he could only answer some. "Six men, all mounted and armed. Apparently they had come ready for a fight." He was not sure of that but it had seemed like they had been there in order to fight. Some form of bodyguard for the foolish child noble. It was possible this was nothing more than a bastard seeking recognition by the wider world. Seeking the fame his brothers and sisters would likely achieve but not himself.

"Nothing, we don't know anything for sure and we have information that could be false and we do not want to cause a war." He did not want to make this public knowledge nor did he wish to use it for blackmail. This information was dangerous while secret as soon as anyone else knew it became counterable. If he were to use this for blackmail against the Warricks it could quickly​ be turned around. They would find a secret about them and then it would be a stalemate where the relationships were weakened and nobody gained anything. "We tell no one who it was and then we have the upper hand, this is something to bring out in a time of need." Of course this was his thinking​ most likely not shared.

[Celeste Andaris]

"No." Celeste was not sure that she had actually said that word to Xander at this point in their relationship, but she said it now and had not ever meant it more. Ignoring the pain in her side, putting aside her concern for him and his injuries, Celeste sat up straight, her wince nothing more than an irritation to her. When she had attained the seating position of more upright, she turned her brown eyes to the man who would be her husband and she repeated herself.

"No. Doing nothing is not an option. Not for me, if it is for you. Let me tell you why." He had seen her terrified, he had seen her concerned for the people of Krome. She had been going back to the soup kitchen every other trial since they first went there, and in that she had been determined. In this moment? In this moment, Celeste Andaris was angry.

"Because he stabbed me, Xander. I was stabbed, not slapped or tickled. I did not engage in a combat, I was kind to a serving boy. And your suggested response is that we do nothing in retribution?" Celeste shook her head and her chin jutted forward in pure defiance. "A member of House Warrick, a bastard child stabbed the first in line to Andaris and your solution is to do nothing? That is unacceptable." If she had not been feeling the boiling anger she felt, she would have been more politic, more concerned for him and his worries, but all she felt in that moment was the sting of fury.

"We have the individual in question, yes? The one who gave you the information? Then we write to the Duke of Warrick and we inform him of what we have been told. We give a description of the boy and we invite him, and his head of staff or whoever would recognise this 'soldier' of Warrick," she practically spat out the last word, "to come here. To bring Rafael Warrick with him. We will recognise him, so if it is not him then let them bring him."

To sit and do nothing? How could he even suggest such? "If we do nothing, Xander, then we accept that action. It is not something to keep for later, it must be dealt with now. This is no longer a game, this is not politics it is war. If my father hears of this, there will be a war, have no doubt." Her brown eyes were totally sure. It would not be through love of his daughter, not at all. It would be for a simple and straightforward reason. "I am Andaris. We are the dragon and the first house of Rynmere. You would... I can not believe that you simply let this go."

She looked at him levelly and delivered her bottom line as clearly as she could. "We act, or I act, Xander. I am not prepared to do nothing in the hopes of preserving a peace which does not exist. When a bully strikes you, to do nothing is to invite a second attack, nothing more and nothing less. We need to find out if this was a boy acting alone or a house striking another and I intend to do so." She lifted a shaking hand to her temple, unsure why she was reacting in such a manner with him, why she was so angry at him. Normally, she would discuss, put forward her point of view and try to reach a compromise between them. Why then, she wondered, was this making her feel this way?

"Does it mean so little to you? Do I?" Oh, there it was.

[Xander Andaris]

Of course she was to disagree, he had expected no less. He was suggesting that he do nothing in response to her getting stabbed. For a few brief moments he assumed this a matter of pride, a matter of her feeling personally singled out and then not cared for by her fiance. Then again he knew Celeste and she was much more calculating than that, she was the political genius of the two. Still he knew men and if he were to threaten a powerful member of another Duchy there would be more violence. He was not ready for a war, not even close and he could not get ready in this short time either.

He continued to listen, letting her express her views and opinions on the matter. In truth they sounded more like demands than opinions or suggestions. No, he was sure now that she was telling him he had no choice but to respond and punish the Warrick boy. Perhaps she wished to blackmail the Warricks, he had no idea what she wished to gain by bringing them here. Whether the boy was Warrick blood or not mattered little if he acted without support of his house. There would be no more foolish move, in his mind, than to insult a family by implying that they had set up some kind of assasination attempt.

He continued to listen, taking in what she said and running it through his mind. The more he did so the more this seemed like a matter of revenge. Like she had to get retribution for him attacking her, it seemed rash and unthought through. Not at all like the cool and calculating  Celeste he knew. He could cope with all this, he understood wounded pride and a wish for revenge. He had almost lost to the boy in the fight, to a mere boy and that was humiliating. That was a sign of weakness for the young wolf, when people heard about his failure at apprehending a child he would be the one who appeared incompetent not her.

Still he could cope with that, it was when she suggested he not care for her, suggesting he thought little of her. He had never raised his voice with her before, not once and he had never intended too. Yet now he could not help it, he felt he had too. "Well I am not your father, I am not a proud and foolish dragon. I am a calm and cunning wolf. Rashness is what plagues the southern nobles, the desire to act first and think later. I am not your father Celeste and I am not my own father either. I do not see war as the only solution to all my problems, i do not see forcing the hand if another as a smart move." He was stood now and pacing, his limp still hindering comfortable movement.

He stopped and turned to face her. "I cannot believe that you would suggest I don't care about you. I stood up to my own father for you and a beating from him for it. Then I saved you in the village and made sure you were safe and kept you inn. Finally last night I risked my life for you again in trying to kill your attacker, he could have killed me and I was fighting him because I was so full of rage at him hurting you I couldn't stop myself." He threw his arms up in frustration. As he tried to think calmly and cool his temper.

"If you approach the Warricks with this it will do more harm than good, you will wound the pride and image of the lion and that is a foolish move. You are being rash and not thinking about this sensibly, I too would want nothing more than to get back at this but it is not about me. It is about the people and I cannot whole heartedly at this time pursue a war with good conscience. So soon after the civil war we will cause a revolution by doing so. By threatening Warrick we do naught but further escalate the situation." He did not know what else to say, he couldn't put his finger in how to explain it to her. Yet, he doubted he would ever be able to convince her of his view. She was a mighty dragon after all. Alas, he could hope for some kind of compromise, although, with the raising of his voice and frustration he was feeling that may too become out of the question.

[Celeste Andaris]

"A calm and cunning wolf? You?" Celeste shook her head with fury flashing in her eyes. "Do you have any idea how far from what has happened here that is?" She stood up, her own anger flaring right back at him. "You show me a wolf, Xander Krome, you show me one wolf which would allow such an attack to its mate to go unanswered? You are not my father and you are not yours, but do not tell me that inaction makes you a man." She didn't mean that, and she knew she didn't but right now she didn't care that she did not mean it. "You are not forcing anyone's hand, Xander! Their hands have moved and your decision is to respond or not." When was he going to see that this was not him starting something.

He could not believe that she would suggest that did not care? "What do you expect me to think? What would it take, Xander? Would you write a stiff letter of complaint over my cold dead corpse? Is that what it would take?" She breathed out and ran a shaking hand through her hair. "I know that you defended me. I know that you have protected me in ways I can not begin to thank you for." As she said that, her tone softened and she looked at him with more calm in her eyes. She was upset, she realised. Why was she upset? Why did she care even one jot what Xander Krome did or did not do?

But then, just on cue and as though he had heard her thoughts. "I will damage the pride of the lion? Oh my wolf pup the lion will tremble and so they should. This is not acceptable, what is wrong with you?" She paced around the room and he spoke of war and risk and concern. Celeste felt her blood freeze in her veins as the fire of anger was replaced by the ice of fury. Pure, unchecked fury. "Let me explain it to you, Xander."

Celeste picked up an ornament from the mantelpiece over the fire. It was a beautiful piece of porcelain in the shape of a wolf and she flung it with all her force at the wall next to him. She wasn't aiming at him, but it was close enough that he could think she was. "Did I not succeed? Oh well then, you stand there and I will try again" And indeed, she picked up and threw another. "Stand there and worry about war, Xander Krome and they will try," this time it was a small vase, thankfully empty, "again." Another small ornament. "And again." Tears of fury were threatening, but Celeste's rage was enormous and she would not allow them.

"I do not want to start a war. If he was a boy acting in isolation then I tell you, if that was our son I would want to know what he had done. If it was just him, then we need to inform his family before he damages relations with gods knows who else." She looked at Xander and she was being entirely serious. "But if it was an act of war then the war has already begun." Her anger subsiding, she looked at the last ornament in her hand. It was a small piece, delicate and well made. Ironically, it was of a woman. "And if it has begun, Xander, then they will not stop until, this? This piece which is me? This piece which could give Krome all the power of Andaris at it's call because I am foolish enough to trust?" She turned and flung it against the far wall. "That is what will end your war and I am sorry, but I thought myself more than a piece here."

She sat back down, letting out a shuddering outbreath and simply put her head in her hands. "I'm sorry."

[Xander Andaris]

Of course what had happened was far from cunning and calm but he had not had control of that. Rafael had attacked them and he had retaliated in turn. Just because he had not responded at first in such a manner did not mean he had to continue responding in that way. ”I did not exactly have a choice in how to respond, now though we have the advantage we are on top, we don't have to respond so rashly.” He was frustrated not angry or filled with rage like Celeste but he could not understand her need for immediate response and retaliation. Her wolf analogy was accurate yet even a wolf knew when it was outmatched or when not to attack.

He felt personally attacked, how she seemed to think he did not care for her and would not defend her. He had risked his life to fight the Warwick boy, he had never fought a fight before in his entire life but that night he threw caution and sense to the wind and chased down the boy to avenge his bride to be. However, there was a big difference between acting against one person in the moment and calling into question the honourability of a great house, implying that a house such as Warrick would be likely to do something. ”I know that Warrick will be more than offended by any implication that they had ordered this, wars have started over lesser offences. Dragons hunt alone, they're solitary creatures but Lions, like wolves, are pack animals and what one does the others are responsible for. One lion acts the rest of the pack follows.”

He twisted to watch as the first ornament flew past him and his the wall. Celeste was acting like a fool, it appeared she had lost all sense in her actions. ”Celeste you do not understand, we do not stand still to wait to be attacked again. We dodge and we weave and prepare for the future, we have the upper hand knowing something they don't know we do. Why don't we use that information in the future when it may be more important and powerful.” He watched as other ornaments mere thrown in her fit of rage. She clearly had no idea how to handle this without losing her calm.

Her apology felt empty, especially as he knew she had not changed her mind. To him it appeared they had reached an impasse and then he said some words he may one day regret. ”If you wish to pursue this line of action then you do so alone, I will not take part in it. You may use my home and you may invite them here but I shall play no role in it. I will support you in your other endeavours but I will not act in this.” His face was sorrowful as he wished to help her but if she was to seek this course of action she would do it without him. ”However, if it goes wrong and war breaks out you will have my support in defending Andaris if I can.”

[Celeste Andaris]

They should hold the information until it was more useful and more powerful? Until he could use it for the betterment of Krome, no doubt. Of his people and his house. She sat down amidst the carnage she had wrought and she said nothing after her apology, she listened to him speak. He would have no part in this, she could use his house but he would play no role? He would not act in this, as was his right. She had been foolish to expect anything different, to expect anything more. She would not be foolish again, she determined.

Celeste felt a familiar feeling wash over her, one that she knew, that she understood. One which she had more than sufficient experience of to be able to manage. "I understand." Her voice was low and calm and she lifted her head to look at him. Her gaze was as calm and as cool and as utterly in control as it had been the trial they met. "A piece in a game I am, then. You do not need to concern yourself with me pursuing anything in your house, Lord Krome." She stood and moved over towards him, then past him and she knelt on the floor, picking up the pieces of what she had thrown with calm movements, slowed by the two-trial old wound in her side.

As she knelt there, picking up the large pieces first, turning them over and putting the smaller ones in them, it might be obvious that she had done this before, picking up the shattered remains of thrown ornaments. She had her mother's looks, her mother's temper too. It was Celeste's first foray into ornament throwing, but she'd seen it a lot. "I appreciate your offer to defend Andaris if it comes to it. However, you can not risk Krome in that way. Next time someone tries to kill me I will be sure to remember that offer on a personal level." There would be a next time, she did not doubt it.

"It might be safer for you, your family and your people were I not here, Lord Krome. Since this is the second time that I have been attacked since being in Krome, it seems likely that I am the target." She kept her head down and focused on what she was doing, picking up even the smallest pieces. "Your desire to defend me personally is very appreciated, but I believe the expression is 'third time is the charm', and I have no wish to die in your arms." She sighed and glanced around. "I suspect there is no brush anywhere we might see it," she seemed more than a little determined to clean up the mess.

"I promised myself that we will not have my parents marriage and I maintain that promise. I am in pain and afraid and your stance surprised me. It was my misunderstanding and for that I apologise." Celeste looked at him with that same calm detachment, the expression she had not worn for some time now. If she was a pawn in a political game as this obviously showed her to be, then that was what she would be. "I will not make that mistake again, I assure you. Although, of course, you have no reason to believe me. Words are easy, after all. Actions, more tricky." Her and his, it seemed. He would protect her, he had promised, and yet in the face of two attacks his answer was to keep the information until it gave the maximum political gain. "I think you should consider whether it is wise for me to be here before the wedding, Lord Krome. You may lose less soldiers were I not."

[Xander Andaris]

She was cold to him now, cold like ice. Her emotions gone and it appeared with them any form of connection she really felt to him. It felt like the first day they had met and he did not like it one bit. They were to be man and wife and if they wished to succeed as a married couple they were going to need to find a way to settle arguments that did not involve flinging ornaments. Apparently that was not the best method of ending them.

Xander watched her wince a little at the pain in her side as she began collecting the mess. She spoke of him thinking her a piece in a game a pawn. In the beginning that was what she had been and he had no doubt him to her too. Still, things were different now, he was feeling things he hadn't felt before and he couldn't give it up over this. He knelt by her side wincing due to his own leg injuries. She should not have been working this hard and he would not let her. He placed a hand in hers steadying it and stopping it collecting the pieces of sharp glass and ceramic. He gripped it gently and looked at her with apologetic eyes.

”Celeste, we are all pawns in a game, every one of us is used by someone to better themselves. Yet, not you, not anymore.” He placed a hand on her side and helped her to stand up in front of him. ”I am not using you as a pawn, the information is what I'm using. Your safety will remain of the utmost importance to me. Yet, it is not our job to alert Ned Warrick to his son's actions, if he does not keep tabs on the boy that is his own problem and our gain.” He took both her hands in his pushing the ceramic out of her hands and letting it drop back to the floor. He squeezed then gently and smiled again. His eyes expressed how he cared for her.

He released one of her hands and gently brushed her cheek with the other. ”However, if you insist on us acting then we shall. I know what I think is best for Krome and what is best for Andaris and yourself that is your domain. If you wish me to act I shall go to Warrick at the start of Ymiden before coming to Andaris to meet with you family.” He would do it for her against his better judgement but he could make it work. He needed not only the power of Andaris in the future but also her trust and support. He could not live a happy marriage and successful life without her being on his side.

”As for where you will stay, I say here I can protect you and so can the guards here. If that die they will not be dying for an Andaris but a future mother of Krome nobility. You will stay here where I can keep a watchful eye on you and protect you myself, as is my duty.” This was his compromise, as she clearly could not see another way he would bow to her and follow her route. It was not a plan he liked but this entire situation was ridiculous. So he would do his best with what was available. He gently kissed her cheek like he had at the inn and then returned to standing in front of her and hoping he had done well. He certainly was not made for dealing with women but he did his best.

[Celeste Andaris]

His hands took hers and she looked down to see them there. No, this was a lie, he would tell her that she was not a pawn, that he would protect her and more words which she had believed would come out of his mouth. Except, of course, that was not what he said and she raised her head in surprise as his first words were the exact opposite of what she had believed he would say. The shattered pieces tumbled to the floor as he held her hands in his and she looked up at his eyes. They were words, she reminded herself. Just words, words which she had wanted to hear and he was taking advantage, using her weakness as his strength.

She looked back at him without speaking and her inner conflict was enormous. Somehow, she had started to believe Xander and now that she was no longer furious it seemed too easy to believe him again, with his heartfelt eyes and his words of reassurance. Words, just words she reminded herself. Telling her she wasn't a pawn did not mean she was not one. Internally, she repeated that reminder to herself; words, just words. Her brother had used words, beautiful honeyed words and that was what men were. All of them. Peake, her father, Rafael Warrick and even, it turned out, Xander Krome.

He was just like the others, his words one thing his actions another.

When his hand brushed against her cheek, Celeste looked at him with wide eyes, but then he surprised her more. Much more. He changed his mind and told her that, even though it was against his better judgement, he would do what she wanted in this. He would confront Ned Warrick about the actions of his son, because she wanted him to and for no other reason? Celeste felt confusion whirling around in her mind as he told her that he wanted her here with him.

A gentle kiss on her cheek from him and she was further confused. This wasn't right, this wasn't what men were like and yet, here he was being like it. Men dictated and abused, they did not compromise and offer gentle reassurance. It was easy to think that he was lying when he offered nothing but words, his actions would speak for him and here they did. Celeste stood when he did, picking up the remains of the ornament and putting it on a table. "I reacted like a child." Maybe she should sound more apologetic considering her words, but she did not. Indeed, she turned to look at him and there was defiance, pride and anger in her eyes.

"That is what you think. That I reacted like a child. You might be correct, but it is not what I experienced." Her face was the same mask but her eyes gave lie to that outward facade. "I reacted with fury. Not like a child but like a woman who has been hurt. I was not Lady Andaris, she is much more able to control her reactions." A slight smile tugged at her lips at that, "Lady Andaris would use Lord Krome and his reaction to her betterment. Whatever his reaction was, she would see the angle. There are always angles." Did he know that about her, did he understand that was what she did, what she had always done?

"Lady Andaris would use your desire for inaction to build external alliances, strengthen position." Celeste gestured to the general direction of her room. "The letters sent home by Lady Andaris would have told of the first attack, would have suggested that Lord Krome insisted on staying in an Inn. Would have alluded and inferred. They have not, and they will not speak of this." To clarify, though, she added. "I will have to let him know about the attack or the rumour mill will reach him. I will not tell him we know who."

With a shaking outbreath, Celeste ran her hand through her hair and looked at him, "I have been Lady Andaris so long I do not know who I am with you. It is unnerving and confusing and I do not like it." She gave a soft smile, just a little amused at her own honesty of a sudden. "I reacted because I feel..." What did she feel? Oh, that was too big a question for right now. However, there was a simple truth to it and Celeste, whose emotions were still in turmoil did something she had not thought to do and simply admitted the weakness to him.

"I reacted poorly and threw things at you because when I am with you I feel. It is something I have not done in a long time. That being the case," she maintained, "I am probably not being logical. I do not know the Warricks particularly, other than their fluctuating loyalties of late. Is there anyone you know who does, who you trust enough to discuss this with?" In case it was not obvious, she added, "Before we decide what, if anything, we will do with this information."

[Xander Andaris]

He was a little surprised at her admittance that she might have gone behind his back and in fact made him a fool. He had known and gathered that she was intelligent and politically aware but he had not realised to quite the extent. ”Well I am glad to hear that the Lady Andaris will not be doing so. It would be most painful for me to discover that she had turned on me in her letters back home, especially as she makes for the most enjoying company. Also, she is a powerful ally who could do great things for both out duchies.” He was teasing of course and his voice was clearly expressing that it was just playful. He did after all care for her on a much deeper level, even if he was less inclined to admit it.

”I understand how confusing feelings can be, I know how they can feel strange and foreign in the mind. I too have begun to feel things that have been locked away for arcs since we met.” It appeared it was his turn to be honest now, to reveal he too was feeling. It was strange to be so open about that part of himself after so long. ”I too feel but I am managing to keep my emotions and my understanding of politics and tactics separate, even if I wish to kill him for what he has done. Alas, I know I cannot and that is why I search and think about the best course of action to further our position.” He made sure to exaggerate the fact he was thinking about them and not just himself and Krome.

He was glad she had seemingly come to a point where she might be able to compromise on the course of action to take. Maybe they would find a solution to satisfy them both after all and that would be the optimal outcome of this discussion and then the later discussions. He was sure this would not be the last time they discussed what to do about the young Bastard Noble. ”We will make sure the bastard child of house Warrick meets justice, if I could punish him now I would. I guarantee that this will catch up to him eventually and then the order of everything will right itself and he will get his due.” Xander's eyes showed he truly believed the boy would get his turn to be on the receiving end of a dagger.

If he had someone he could talk to about this, that was a good question and it happened he did. The Lord Venora would be a good person to speak to about this. He knew a lot about Warrick if he remembered rightly and might be able to shed some light on Warrick’s current loyalties and views. The Lord might be able to tell him some things about the Rafael even, definitely useful to learn more about this new enemy. Though, based off of the past between Celeste and Alistair, Xander would leave out his name in this conversation. ”I have someone I can speak with, they will likely be well informed on house Warrick and I am sure can help me to be able to build us together a good plan of action.”

He wondered if he should tell her he will explain it later, it seemed like a good idea. ”I will tell you about the contact and details later, if that is okay? I promise I will explain when I there is more time.” He squeezed her hand once more hoping they were no longer in a fight, this had been their first after all. He now knew not to approach her with bad news in a room with ornaments at least, so he had learnt more than one useful thing from it. The biggest news being her feeling things too, emotions she was not used too and could not explain.