Tehr nodded as Rosalyn spoke about war, but quietly wished she would change topics.  He knew how important it was, and he also knew that the elven woman was likely concerned for her father overseas.  But he'd heard about nothing but the rumors and news of the spanish war lately.  Plus, if truth be told, he still couldn't shake the image of her milk white body, gliding across his garden, platinum white hair flowing through the air, with nothing else touching her.<br/><br/><em>"Do you happen to hold an interest in some elven ceremonies then perhaps?"</em>she asked, to which he nodded his head.  Not just ceremonies that involved a beautiful naked woman dancing in front of him.  But the elven people tended to be a little more reserved about their ceremonies, and he couldn't help but take it as a sign of faith and good will that she was willing to share with him.  Of course, her next comment made him start.<em>"It seemed you quite appreciated at least that one. While some of them are to be done alone, there is no harm in having a witness to some of them as long as the rites themselves are no interrupted."</em><br/><br/><strong>"I..."</strong>he stammered shortly,<strong>"That is I was stunned by your beauty and if I will be honest, your sky clad state.  I think it should come as no surprise that you are a very lovely woman and quite pleasing to the eye.  I admit that my first thoughts were not to the elegance of your ritual or it's deep spiritual meaning.  Pardon me for being crass, but I felt slightly more base urges.  I fear only that were I to join you in any sort of ceremony, even as a witness, it would make it quite difficult to keep my promise made to your father.  One which I take very seriously.  While I may be a rogue and a villain in my own ways, I have no interest in breaking a promise to your noble father."</strong><br/><br/>He smiled and bowed his head slightly, the reference to his promise to the duke ringing in his head silently.  While it was true, at the time he'd worded his promise in a cunning way, his own morality had caught him in a trap.  He recalled saying to the duke,<em>"I only wish you to know that my home is a safe place for you and your daughter.  I respect the olden ways of hospitality and would do my best to keep you and your daughter comfortable, as I do with my sister and my servants.  For to do any less would mark me as a cad and not the gentleman I strive to be."</em>At the time, he'd said those words knowing that he had in fact bedded his servants and his sister, and thought himself clever for phrasing his vow in such a way as to allow him to chase Rosalyn if he wished.<br/><br/>But then as he'd gotten to know the elven duke, and more importantly the beautiful Rosalyn, he realized that verbal trickery wouldn't suffice.  The duke took the promise to mean that he would not pursue Rosalyn, that he would keep her comfortable, which could very easily imply that he would not attempt to sully her maidenhood.  A fact that was only driven deeper into his own guilt once he learned that Lady Rosalyn had not had the touch of a man.