The Seven Swords Inn

[Fel]

The sun was lower in the sky when Marq awoke. He allowed himself to simply watch Rhae sleeping serenly, her prettiness seeming even more apparent then it ever had.

[The Stranger]

////////////
Scav gave the big mouthed lout of a hedge knight a righteous kicking while the man lay semi-conscious on the floor.

"Learn.." kick, "to treat," kick, "ladies," kick, kick, kick, "With respect." Satisfied that justice had been done, Scav left a few stags on the table, and meandered outside before anyone too important noticed the events.

[Deleted]

The barmaid was struck dumb by Scav's gallantry, and for once could not find her tongue.

////

Rhae stirred after a while, blinking her eyes open and smiling when she saw Marq gazing at her. She pulled him gently to her for a kiss.

[Fel]

Marq grinned and moved his head down to meet her kiss.

"Did my lady sleep well?"

[Deleted]

"Very well," Rhae said softly, kissing him and smiling back.

She looked out the window and for a moment looked alarmed. "How late is it?"

[Fel]

"Not too late," he said, letting his eyes roam over her body, "I think we've been asleep for a couple of hours."

[Deleted]

"That's all right then," Rhae said, sinking back. "Nobody will think to look for me. Or you?" she raised an eyebrow, twining her legs with his.

[Fel]

"A knight goes where he will, my lady," Marq said with mock pomp.

"Are you hungry?"

[Deleted]

"A little," she said with a sly grin, tracing her fingers on his chest.

[Fel]

"Then I will see what there is to eat," he says, but instead he presses his lips against hers, and parts them with his tongue.

[Deleted]

She kissed him back deeply for a long while and then murmured, "Wine would serve us as well, I think."

[Fel]

Marq grins and stands naked as his nameday. He dresses quickly and heads out into the common room.

Sometime later he returns with a plate of crisped capon and a flagon of wine. As Rhae eats the food he watches her with a smile.

"So, my lady," he finally starts, "now that you have seduced me, do you plan to make an honest man of me? Or will I just be another conquest for you to boast of?"

[Deleted]

Rhae laughed, reaching over and feeding him some of the capon. "You are my champion, are you not, ser? My betrothed is ten years old. I need a man in my bed, and Brynden's not likely to fill it for many a year."

She leaned back, pulling her sheets up a little with a slight flush, and drank her wine. "What of you?" she asked. "Are you not promised to anyone?"

[Fel]

Marq laughed as he chewed the capon, "a man in your bed?" he repeated, "taken to the idea quickly, have you?" he said, gesturing towards where they had made love.

Then he shook his head, though he still smiled at her forthrightness, "no, no one has been promised to me; so it is settled then. Tomorrow I will go to Lady Aranya and ask her to call off your betrothal to young Brynden, and for her to grant your hand to me instead."

[Deleted]

She winked at his comment. For all her femininity, it seemed that growing up under Lady Aranya had had its effect on Rhae.

Her big blue eyes widened at his next words. "Don't be foolish," she whispered, turning pale. "Do you know what Lady Aranya's like?"