As those argent eyes turned to her, Alyss stiffened, every nerve screaming to avert her eyes from that terrible, omnipotent gaze. Nevertheless she held herself in place, silver meeting mismatched blue and green. Warm winds swirled about her as he spoke, a balmy relief after the bone-deep chill of the winter woods around them. It took her a moment to find her voice, though when she did, there was barely a hint of the apprehension boiling in her guts. Over the years, she had grown rather skilled at hiding her emotions.<b>"Yes,"</b>she answered, nodding slightly,<b> "I volunteered." </b>His words provided little comfort, though in a way, it almost created a sort of resigned relief. There was no uncertainty about it anymore--she was going, and odds were she was never coming back. She'd miss the farm, and the woodlands that surrounded their village, but everything had to come to an end eventually. At his perceptiveness, however, she glanced up, face betraying a few moments of alarm. Tormund had told him that she had no family left, she knew, but he seemed to pick on the fact that Alyss was more than an orphan, she was an outsider. Would Lord Dwyn think less of their "offering" for it, knowing that they were merely shedding unwanted weight?<br/><br/>Tormund seemed to shift with unease as well, possibly worrying the same thing, and Alyss had spoken up before she realized it.<b> "They <i>are</i> my people," </b>she pressed, although it was evident that she didn't entirely believe that herself. Nonetheless, she felt they were owed at least a modicum of defense.<b>"They...they raised me, sheltered me. I wanted to pay it back."</b>More than anything, she had wanted to belong, to have a place she could call home, but she had come to realize that wasn't going to happen here. If she could accomplish at least one bit of good before she left, however, then maybe that would be enough.<br/><br/>The being extended his hand, laying out the terms of their agreement. It frightened her, of course, to think of leaving behind everything she had ever known, of going to a place that would be completely and utterly alien to her. The Fae were dangerous, fickle beings, and there would be nobody to protect her once the pact was struck. She would be Lord Dwyn's property, to use as he saw fit, or discarded the moment his interest in her waned. It wasn't quite death, though it may as well have been.<br/><br/>But she had come this far, she would not fail the village now. The Fae lord was steadily becoming more corporeal, elegant clothing and a tall form beginning to distinguish themselves from the shadows. An inhuman human's face, too perfect and too symmetrical, now framed his eyes as he studied her, waiting for her decision. Alyss steadied herself with a breath, looked up into those silver eyes once more, and reached out to take his hand.<b>"I do."</b>