Nimue stomped up the path having shaken off Lord Varatt. She was seething and wished she had the opportunity to run someone else through with this sword she had taken from the dead Viking. She gritted her teeth and lightening flashed in her eyes. Maybe she needed a drink of the honeyed mead the Lady had set to ferment in the dragon’s cave. Maybe she needed Layla to take her soaring high into the clouds and drop like stone in a plummet to Earth. Maric caught up with her first.<br/><br/>Nimue wanted to be furious with Maric. Bone headed dolt of a man! She thought as she tried to pull her hand away. When she looked into his sincere face, his tortured eyes, she ceased with her struggle and listened intently. He clasped her hand to his chest as if only her touch would halt the pouring out of his life’s blood through the rent in his heart. She trembled as he explained his foolishness and his sorrow at her hurt feelings.<br/><br/>“Yeah, you don’t deserve me but I guess you are stuck with me.” She said softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “I love you” she said simply.  “I want you to make this right with your mother. I am your wife and your first allegiance is to me. I will not be branded your whore just because you are afraid to face your lady mother. I have lain in your bed only with your vow upon you and that is not something of which I am ashamed. We will tell her together, will set her aright in this matter and then in the next coming days, we will have a celebration and ask the Lady of the Lake to perform ceremony for all to celebrate with us. Your mother will get to share in our joy all over again. People are married in many different ways. We are married in body and the Lady can marry us in spirit. All will be well, my darling."<br/><br/>Maric looked a little doubtful but Nimue slid her arms around his neck as she showered him with kisses.<br/><br/>"Were you hurt in the battle? Were any of the women hurt at the Tor? Is the Lady well?" Nimue showered down questions as quickly and as numerous as the kisses she had rained down upon her warrior husband.<br/><br/>Suddenly she remembered something. From her pocket, she pulled a small  white quartz stone which had been drilled through and suspended on a rawhide thong.<br/>"I took this off the first man that I killed." she said quietly. She held it in her palm, letting the sun glint from the facets.<br/><br/>"This was Daffyd's." she said, staring at it through tears. "I gave it to him. That must have been the man who killed him. I'm glad he is dead. I'm glad the threat is over."<br/><br/>Leaning heavily on Maric she requested,<br/>"Take me home."