Nimue couldn't believe the sound that came out of her mouth at his gallant words. She giggled. Vivianne would have he r head if she heard that. She stretched out her hands, palms up in friendship. Reluctant to admit it, Nimue thirsted to hear words of praise about her person and her beauty. Too often the only remarks she heard had to do with her shortcomings and although she thought from the water's reflection that she might be passable, having her beauty validated was a balm to her soul. She looked down and gazed on the knight through her thick black lashes.<br/><br/>"Will you be long here, Sir Knight?" she asked, hoping he said that he would. "The monks have guest quarters in yon Man/God's chapel, perhaps you could lodge there. Were you a woman,  you might lodge with us but no man sleeps with the Lady of the Lake and her acolytes. We keep no men permanently, you see, for we must be about the Mother's business."<br/><br/>This man's presence made her tongue tied. She was no virgin, no maid, for she had had a child and a man, once. Gawain had died at the hands of Vikings trying to protect their small holding. While he was her husband and she had honored him, Nimue had felt little lose of him, or maybe the loss was trivialized by the death of her daughter, Lillianne. But this man, something about him stirred her, until she was blushing and stammering.<br/><br/>The clouds gathered and the wind blew, blowing her cape in a maddening swirl about her knees. She batted at it as she struggled to maintain her composure.<br/><br/>"The weather certainly changes quickly. Would you to shelter? If you stay long, I could join you at sunrise, should you wish it."