A good night kiss was placed upon her brow and Nimue sighed with contentment. She dozed off, safe and warm. Much later she woke to the sound of silence and she realized the storm had subsided.<br/><br/>The fire in the hearth glowed in the logs and the rhythmic breathing of man and horse lulled her back to sleep.<br/><br/>The sound of birds twittering signaled dawn approaching. When the wind began to rustle the leaves, Nimue rose and added two logs to the fire. She used a long slender limb as a poker, stirring the ashes and piling up the few remaining glowing bits of charcoal. Bending over, she gently blew on the fire until it was leaping merrily once more.<br/><br/>Maric was still sleeping so she pulled the coverlet higher on him. The big black stallion turned his head and eyed her with his large brown eyes. Nimue almost giggled at the expression of extreme patience on his face. ‘Imagine me being used as a couch pillow’ she could almost hear him saying. She took the  bucket on the table and headed out for some fresh water. The sight in front of her stopped her cold.<br/><br/>Water was more than half way up the pathway. The lake had flooded. As a matter of fact, Nimue knew without looking that the land all around the cottage was flooded because the tiny hut sat on a small rise of land. Layla wouldn’t be able to come get her for a day or two and the knight could  not ride forth on his stallion. They were stranded.<br/><br/>Nimue shrugged and went on to gather some fresh water. There could be worse people to be marooned with .