[b]Ella relaxed as Marken soothed her worries and hugged her against him. She rubbed her face against his shoulder and rested her head onto his chest as he spoke to her and teased her about him not being able to trust her. She wasn't slow, she understood that he was teasing.

All the same, she felt a little sting as he said it, knowing that it would probably be some time before Marken could fully trust her. She couldn't just assume that things would be so simply swept under the rug. Attempting assassination was nothing to be taken lightly. Just because she couldn't do it didn't change her previous intentions.

"Good night," Ella mumbled into Marken's neck as he held her, settling against him for the night. No matter what happened from here on out, she would be loyal to Marken.[/b]