[center][i][h2][color=662d91]CHOICES[/color][/h2][/i][/center]


Vestar lead the way on Beast with Marewen in front of him, headed to the nearest village hoping there was a healer around to check on Marewen. Even if they needed to stay in that village for a day or two to recoup. This felt like old times having people he once raided with, helping him get his lady love back. In Vestar's eyes, it was a beautiful rescue.

It may have taken about half a day to get to a small village but upon getting there, Bard looked around, calling for a healer if there was one available. Vestar got off the horse and gently got Marewen down from Beast, still holding her in his arms, walking into the center of the village waiting for an answer of a healer to take a look at her. 

Marewen felt Vestar carrying her into a small enclosure and laid her on a hard bed with lots of soft skins on it to cushion her. When he let go of her hand she opened her eyes to see a woman sitting on the side of the bed looking at her. The woman looked at Vestar then at Marewen and bluntly asked her,[color=orange] "Did this fool man kidnap you girl?"[/color]

Marwen looked at Vestar and smiled softly.[color=bc8dbf] "No, he saved me from those that did."[/color] The healer pursed her lips together and repeated herself.

[color=orange]"Marewen! Did this man take you against your will?"[/color] Startled Marewen's voice shook and she sat up slowly. 

[color=bc8dbf]"You know me? Please! Don't tell anyone. I ran away. My father-" [/color]The woman nodded impatiently. 

[color=orange]"Yes I know what your father did. Trading you off to that vile man for an army. He is a shitty father that man. Who is this man to you?" [/color]She asked pointing at Vestar who looked uncomfortable at this point.

Blushing Marewen said,[color=bc8dbf] "He is my love." [/color]The healer woman looked at her and at Vestar and back and then she started laughing sardonically.

[color=orange]"You've gone and lost your virginity haven't ya?"[/color] The older woman shook her head. [color=orange]"Well that means when the king can't get the arseling to take you he will behead you if he gets the chance. And if Edgar takes you and knows you aren't pure he will torture you for your lifetime. Do you realize that you can't ever go back? Not ever!"[/color]

The woman's words resonated with Marewen as she worked on cleaning her cuts and bruises. Marewen recognized the woman as one of the healers that had come to the castle when her mother had been deathly ill a few years back.

Shortly after Vestar laid Marewen down, he stepped aside and simply waited on the healer to work on her. He could tell this woman obviously didn't like him. She's of the English and just like a typical English, they didn't like the vikings...of course, this was mutual the for the vikings toward the English. 

When the woman asked if he was the cause of her injuries and such, Vestar gave a glare but the moment Marewen was called by name, Vestar stood up alert. He didn't know if he could trust this woman but he was not going to attack or attempt anything on someone trying to help his lover. Just the fact that they were having this conversation about them being love partners and all the risks involved, Vestar felt he may need to step out of the room, not liking the atmosphere in there.

If word got out, there was a chance that two armies would come their way. Vestar spoke.[color=green] "Healer...I need to speak with Marewen alone..."[/color] He requested.

The woman looked at Marewen and then nodded and left the room. Marewen's nerves were on edge after hearing what the woman had to say about her predicament. Worrying was new to her and she was getting good at it fast. Vestar looked anxious and it made her concerned.

[color=bc8dbf]"Are you leaving me?" [/color]She knew that what the woman had just told them was a warning meant to let her know the true depths of what she had done. [color=bc8dbf]"Please, sit with me."[/color]

Vestar watched the woman leave and started to pace back and forth for a moment before stopping hearing Marewen's question of him leaving her. He stared into her eyes for a moment and sat next to her. He stared at the floor and then to Marewen and looked away for a moment.[color=green] "I'm pretty sure you're more worried or frightened now that you know what's waiting for you back home. I took something you could never get back but I do not regret it. I mentioned before...that I don't want you getting harmed because of me and I remember what you said before. There's a chance...we will be hunted down to the ends of the earth and even though I could leave to spare you any more trouble, it won't change what we've done. Unless we find a safe haven within the ranks of the viking army, we can't fight your father's or Edgar's army alone. Either that or we go to a whole different land where their power cannot reach us."[/color]

Looking back into her eyes.[color=green]"I can only blame myself but I'm willing to bear the burden with you and flee from this land. This means, you'll need to learn fast on becoming a commoner...are you absolutely sure about staying with me and bearing through the hardships for the days to come?"[/color]

Marewen listened and was a little curious about some of his wording. [color=bc8dbf]"Are you saying that you will stay because you feel responsible for me or because you want to be with me? It sounds like I just became a huge burden to you."  [/color]

Marewen felt like she just became a death sentence hanging around his neck. She got to her feet and pushed him away.[color=bc8dbf] " Just go! You don't have to stay. I will go back and tell them nothing of you. You can go live your life without fear of repercussions of what we did."[/color] She headed for the door.

Vestar looked at Marewen after her first comments. The moment she pushed him away and went to leave, Vestar just stood there at first still looking to the ground as his face twitched and his breathing became heavy. Before she could leave, Vestar marched behind her, grabbing her wrist.

[color=green]"No...."[/color] He simply said. [color=green]"It feels like the other way around. Feels like my bad luck came upon you. I knew what would happen to you if you and I got involved with one another but I didn't care. I decided to stick with you. And regardless of the dangers before us...and possibly fighting our whole life and knowing you'll more than likely die once they find out you're no longer pure. I......I cannot bring myself to send you to your death!" [/color]

The fact was that Vestar has fallen for her and fighting with himself harboring these feelings, he didn't know how to get them out so, he just came out and said it taking a deep breath.[color=green] "I'm afraid to lose you!"[/color]

Marewen stared at his hand on her wrist as he spoke.[color=bc8dbf] "Your words reek of your feelings of guilt. You did not force me into anything. I made choices, all of them. I chose to run, to hide, I even chose you and when it came time to choose I made the choice to be with you. I also choose-"[/color] Her voice broke as her heart swelled up with pain and tears. [color=bc8dbf]"-to go back."[/color]

She couldn't bare the thought of him getting killed over her and she knew this was the only way to protect him.[color=bc8dbf] "I'll be fine. There will not be anyone looking for you if I go back and there are ways to fake my virginity I understand. I don't know what they are yet but I'm sure I can find out."[/color]
 
Her tears were impossible to keep from falling.[color=bc8dbf] "I can't let you get hurt for me. I won't. Just let me go."[/color]

The look of disbelief was read all over Vestar's face when she made the choice to go back. Yes she did choose to be with him and he did harbor some guilt since he rescued her. Hearing her risking her life to go back just to save him, Vestar was absolutely against it. 

[color=green]Marewen"[/color] Finally calling her by name [color=green]"There is no guarantee that you'll be fine. You and I both know you will be tortured. Look what the fuck happened! Your father lost men because of us. I took your virginity. You were going to be given in marriage to a sick bastard who has no qualms in harming women and children."[/color]

Vestar moved himself from behind her and blocked the passage from her leaving. [color=green] "You believe I am to just stay here and let you offer yourself up to the lion's den? If you want to be back that badly after making sure you would never see your dreadful home again, then fine....kill me. That's the only way you'll go back. It will be over my dead carcass. Either way...I'd rather die than to live with the guilt of knowing I allowed you to travel to your own death..even if it was for my sake. My life don't even amount close to your death!"[/color]

[i]With:[/i] [@Wick]