“I am unharmed, Maric,” Nimue spoke calmly once Maric broke off his kisses. “My arms are tired from swinging that sword. It is heavier than my own.” She nicked off the blood that was running from her nose with a casual flick of her knuckle. “I’m fine. Where is Layla? I heard her roar. Did the raiders attack the Tor?”<br/><br/>She backed away from Maric and hugged her own arms. A ball of ice seemed lodged in her heart and all she wanted was a private place to cry. Maric came for her, but that is what he did, who he was, a knight, a man bred to war with the weight of a battle cry in his blood. He would have fought for any woman, any people if he thought the cause just. Her chin came up.<br/><br/>“I must check on Layla.” She said, attempting to brush past him without making eye contact.<br/><br/>All sounds of battle had dimmed around them and Maric’s men were sheathing their swords but staring awkwardly. Nimue dropped a curtsey toward them.<br/><br/>“Thank you, gentlemen. I bid you a good evening.” Nimue said and turned toward the path. She stepped over bodies, yanking a smaller sword from the belt of a fallen Viking. Be damned if she went abroad again with no weapon.<br/><br/>Lord Varatt caught up with her and tried to take her arm but she jerked it free as she kept walking up the path.<br/><br/>“Lady, what has you in such a swivet?”<br/><br/>“Ask him,” she said with a stabbing motion over her shoulder back at Maric.<br/><br/>“Aye, Lady?”<br/><br/>“I’m naught but his bride to be, he said so to his lady mother. He is ashamed of me.” She snapped.<br/><br/>Lord Varatt scratched his head,<br/><br/>“But Lady, in his battle roarings on yon hill, he kept saying you were his wife.”<br/><br/>“Well, isn’t that convenient. I’m his wife in front of those who know me to be so and he denies me in front of the family that mean the most to him. Claim me and cast me off as he desires? I don’t think so. So, if I’m only his bride to be, I will go live at home with my mother and sisters, the women of Avalon. I wouldn’t want to shame him.”<br/><br/>With that response, Nimue stomped on up the path and around the corner, out of sight.