James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor

"I yield," Vezda murmured just above a whisper. Twas a good thing she'd been bluffing; if she truly *Had* Meant to wrestle free she was doomed, enraptured by the tenderness in William's gaze as he pulled the cloak away. On any other day she might berate herself for allowing a man to beguile her, yet tonight she could not find it in herself to do so.

*I hope you kiss like a lowborn ruffian.*
The thought whispered through the back of her infatuated mind without warning, surprising her. A mere second later, when William's lips met hers in a chaste kiss, she was surprised. Vezda expected him to claim his prize with a little more... Ferocity?

It occurred to her then: he had never once spoken of her as other suitors had, as a thing to be won, claimed, conquered, owned... *Quashed.* He *Enjoyed* Her tenacity.

Vezda *Did* Toss him off herself then, wrestling him over to pin him on his back and resume the kiss with a gentle bite on his lower lip. It was wholly improper- a bride and groom, wrestling in the gods-forsaken dirt and *Kissing* No less- but damn propriety. The wedding couldn't come quickly enough.
Marvin
William Guiscard
Nasaris Manor

Feeling Vezda relax made William relax too. He could experience every little sensation. Their hearts beating frantically from the night's excitement, Vezda's breathing tingling his skin. William couldn't remember the last time that he had been so lost in a moment, first his lifestyle and then his duties as a Lord depriving him of the little moments that made life worth it. 

It was at that point that Vezda took advantage of his relaxed grip. She pushed and then turned him around, pinning him on the ground and wrestling control of the kiss from him, biting his lip just to remind him who was in charge. A wince escaped him but that only seemed to encourage her, his reaction probably registering as another little victory with her. He wouldn't object, her competitiveness was already growing on him. Instead, he rested his hands around her waist keeping her close to him. *Should I push my luck?*, the thought crossed his mind. William always liked taking risks and indeed those risks usually paid off but this one might it bigger than most. Already, their behavior could derail the whole marriage, if her Father or any of her brother's found them. *Protocol getting in the way of fun once again*. 

"I hope I didn't bruise your arm. People would think that I beat you even before we're married", he said after Vezda broke their kiss. "Then again, I did beat you so..."
James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor

"People will be *Impressed* If they think anything," Vezda said as she grinned, releasing her hold on William so that he might get up if he so wished. "I have long said that I would not marry any man who could not- or *Would* Not- best me at arms, or at jousting. For a *Lowborn ruffian* To place a mark upon me? They will think twice before they question your right to your title or my hand."

What she did *Not* Say was that she had decided him worthy of her hand in that moment. If she'd had any doubts that morning about her future happiness with this man, they were gone now. This was not love- not *Yet*, perhaps- but it was a start, a beginning she could see leading to something like her own mother and father's marriage.
*Marriage.* An idea struck her.
Standing up and dusting herself, off, Vezda offered a hand to William.
"Do you trust me?" She asked simply.
Marvin
William Guiscard
Nasaris Manor

"Oh really?" *So self assured* "Good thing I can think on my feet then. It would have been unfortunate to return to Eagle's Nest empty handed"

"She asks, just after pulling a dagger on me", said William ironically. He took her hand and rose from the ground, trying to clean himself up as well. His clothes had been dirtied during the scuffle and William hoped that his appearance would elicit as few questions as possible. He picked up his cloak as well, folding it as neatly as possible before turning to Vezda. "Lead the way. I am not letting you out of my sight", he said, aware of the phrase's double meaning. "For security's sake, I can assure you"
James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor

His witty remarks earned him another kiss, a peck at the corner of his lips before she turned to lead him towards the manor house with a chuckle. Vezda paused before the open entranceway, holding a single finger to her lips before leading him inside and straight to the Wisdom's quarters. After a series of soft raps on the door it opened just a crack, showing a dim interior only lit by candlelight
"Abbas," She whispered, "May I ask a favor?"
"My Lady, it is late. What could you possibly need at such an hour?" A sleepy voice replied, followed by a yawn.
Vezda glanced back to William then with a mischievious little smirk.
"Care to elope, my lord?" She leaned over to breathe in his ear.
Marvin
William Guiscard
Nasaris Manor

William followed Vezda closely, intrigued by what her new idea might. *She's had only good ones tonight*, he thought. There was no reason to think that this one would be any different. Making their way through the gardens, even crossing by that fountain that had given him the chance to ask for some time with her, they arrived to the main house. From then on, they had to be silent. Vezda took them through dimly lit corridors before stopping before a room and knocked it. Her plan became clear soon after. 
"Vezda...", he could only say. William was rarely at loss for words, always having a quip or some clever remark ready for use. "Excuse us, Wisdom", he said, pulling the door to stop the priest from overhearing anything. He pulled her closer while considering his words carefully. 
"Eloping would be the high point of the whole evening. It would make for a good story too. But, and I know how this sounds, it wouldn't do us any good. Better to wed before your family, before witnesses. Then nobody would be able to claim that our union is anything but valid". William was indeed the risk taker, a maverick by any account but his risks were usually calculated. He wouldn't endanger the validity of their marriage on a whim. "It's going to be fine. You'll wear your pretty dress, we'll say some words, attend a feast, make everyone jealous in the process and then it will be over. I am sure we can both handle that"
James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor House

Ah, William. How would she explain this?
"What makes you think I do not intend to show up at my own wedding, which my family has gone through much expense to prepare? I only wish to... *Consummate* It... Sooner than expected. Perhaps more than once," She murmurs with a salacious wink, squeezing his hand.
If she were an ordinary woman, without her titles or her family's expectations to burden her, she would ignore all propriety and simple have led him back to his own guest chambers and done what lovers do. But, she was not. There were rules, and there were consequences for not following those rules. William, understandably, did not want to risk the ire of her family, nor did she.
Which left them there, standing at the Wisdom's door, Vezda waiting for William to decide if he too wanted to bend a few of the rules that night.
Marvin
William Guiscard 
Nasaris Manor House

"Oh... Oh, I see. A crafty little loophole", said William, sharing her smile with new found understanding. He brought her hand, the one that squeezed his, to his face and gave it a kiss, a small reward for her quick thinking. "If you ever see something that I am ignoring, don't keep it to yourself". 
Then, he knocked on the door himself. His impatience was evident. The Wisdom opened the door once again, clearly perplexed by the whole situation. 
"Lady Vezda and I have need of your services", his tone being demanding, as if he was ordering him men into battle.
James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor House

"Please," She added softly, giving Abbas her best, sweetest smile. "Abbas, will you-"
While they had been quietly conversing the wisdom had lit a few more candles in the room, enough to make himself visible when he reappearred at the door with a heavy, disapproving scowl and a sigh directed towards Vezda.

"My Lady," He began, his tone stern as he seemed about to refuse them but softening when her hopeful smile dimmed. Abbas was too old for the fancies of youth.
"Lady Vezda," He continued, softer, "Your father has given me his consent to wed you if you came to me in private but I cannot, in good conscience, do so. *However,"* He trailed off, sighing yet again and reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose .

"However?" Vezda prodded, now curious.
"Should you wish to be discrete, I will allow you access to my study. I expect you both to be gone before the sun rises, found in your *Own* Beds by the time you are called for the morning meal, do I make myself clear?"

Vezda was puzzled by this, and conflicted. A part of her wanted to take him up, to take the key he was now offering from his bedside table. Another part of her was looking to William, worried that the consequences of even *One* Flaunting of the rules would be one too many to risk putting his fledgling lordship in a bad position.
"William?" She asked, wanting to know his heart on the matter, to know his thoughts.
Marvin
William Guiscard
Nasaris Manor House

*Not in good consciousness. What is that supposed to mean?*, thought William. Priests always confused and irritated him, operating at least on the surface utilizing a much different code of conduct than most people. Just like this one. While he claimed not being able to marry them, even though he was authorized to do so, this man of the gods had no issues in accommodating their desires. *He's even patronizing us*, he thought slightly angered by the whole exchange. William would have taken him up on his offer immediately under normal circumstances but these were far from normal. He would have things done in the proper manner or not at all. That provided security.
"Far be it from me to defy the will of a man pledged to Holy Service, your Wisdom", he begun, his frustration reflected in his tone, "But since Lord Nasaris has given his consent and the Lady is clearly acting of her own volition, I can't see what exactly troubles your consciousness. Furthermore...", he continued by placing a hand on Vezda's shoulder, "Can you deny Lady Vezda's wish? She's a hopeless romantic". *I am going to pay for that comment*, thought William but he wagered that people would be more inclined to fulfill her wishes than his. She was the beloved daughter of their Lord after all. He hoped that she could appreciate his own little ploy
James
Vezda Nasaris
Nasaris Manor House

Old Abbas' gaze moved from Vezda to William, surprised at being addressed by the young man. With a deep frown, he began to lecture both of them.
"Marriage is an unbreakable promise, a commitment for life, something sacred *Not* To be entered into lightly for the sake of... Of..."
Vezda, taking William's cue, played up the part of lovesick lady right then as the old wisdom began to grow ever more irritated by the two of them.
"But Abbas, I have already agreed to marry Lord Guiscard... Whether or not I fell in love with him at first sight."
Rolling his eyes, he leaned past the two of them to glance up and down the hall before pulling them into his private quarters and closing the door, locking it as he did.
"Fine, fine! If it will soothe your aching, lovesick heart, and get me back into my bed before it grows cold then I will wed you both tonight."
*And the next time I speak to her father, remind him what a boil on my arse his children can be when it comes to respecting traditions,* He thought to himself.