To Wil’s great surprise Elizabeth was able to instantly dispel the melancholy that had settled on him through her kind words and gentle gesture of support. His downtrodden expression of failure rose into a solemn yet genuine smile. His eyes twinkled as he squinted in her direction with a look of intense relief. As long as she was there to support him, somehow Wil felt that everything was going to be OK.<br/><br/>“Ah am humbled, mah lady, tae be in th' presence ay someain wi' such wisdom, An' yet also… possess… such beauty...” He blushed as the heartfelt words stumbled out of him haltingly from lack of practice.  Having almost no experience talking to women – let alone courting them – Wil felt completely out of his depth. That didn’t stop him from telling her how he felt in any case. He didn’t know if they would survive to see the next day – so he found it easier to speak his mind.<br/><br/>Before she could withdraw her hand from his arm he reached over and gently took hold of it with his own. Although his muscular hands were coarse and cracked from the hard work of his profession, nonetheless he held her with no uncertain gentleness.<br/><br/>“If ye will permit me, mah lady; Ah wood loch tae offer ye mah hand in support. Th' ground is roogh an' uneven an' yer baffies are nae gart fur it...” He continued to blush as he touched her, however innocently, and for as long as she would allow it.<br/><br/>They made slow progress as they pushed through the dense underbrush of the forest, looking out constantly for any sign of a path or trail. As they went Wil did his best to make conversation. At one point he explained that it was unlikely that the bandit could manage both horses anyway.<br/><br/>“He can’t possibly hae th' trainin' needed tae ride a warhorse, an’ Morningstar won’t ride behin' a mare palfrey. Guid luck tae heem,” he said dryly.<br/><br/>They continued as best they could for the better part of an hour and occasionally slipped on the moist, uneven ground from time to time. At one point it seemed that Elizabeth may have hurt her foot during one of those slips. Obviously concerned, Wil dropped his pack and kneeled down beside her to help any way he could.