<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #FFBF80"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Edward d’Alambart</span><br/><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">The Reeve of the King</span></span></span></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/0f2924cf-6f75-4d40-9624-644687d02b67_zps91f85a12.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><div style="text-align: justify;">Edward didn't really care about Melina's sharp comment. He had known that the news would fly around the castle quickly enough. But he could see that Marisol took it to heart and it troubled him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80FF00">"Edward...those women know. I don't have the proper attire to be out and about--everyone who sees me will know I am a whore...whether by clothing or by carnal knowledge,"</span><br/><br/>Edward shook his head and his hand caressed her cheek. There was one thing Marisol had to learn and she better learnt it quick.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Marisol, you are no whore. You had been a whore, yes. But you are no whore anymore. You are now a free young woman and soon you will be a chambermaid. Agreed with some improper past. But the past is the past, the presence is the presence and the future is the future. Our future is not written by our past and you have to forget about feeling dirty, about feeling like a bad person. You are none of it any longer. Stop worrying about rumours and bad talking. It only matters if you accept it. As long as you know that it was about some earlier life and it has nothing to do with your present life, it is irrelevant. Have you seen the dark-skinned woman with that Lady? She had once been a slave like you, trained by a man to fight for him and to win tournaments for him. She killed him and now she is a Valkyr, a warrior to the Northern folks. Yes, I am sure that she still remembers her past, that it still hurts her. But it doesn't count to her anymore now. And if any man would be silly enough to remember her of it, she would kill him instantly."<br/></span><br/>He chuckled and gave Marisol a kiss.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Not that I say, that you shall turn into a warrior. But stop thinking that we have to fool anyone. We don't have to. It is your past, it is over, it is not your life anymore. If one of your former customer crosses your way and believes he can still treat you like a whore, then ignore him. You are a chambermaid now and you have pride and dignity. You are no whore, Marisol. You are a young woman and that is all."</span></div>