[i]What did she just say?[/i]

Crow stared at Penelope in unbridled surprise. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. The sound of her words replayed over and over in his mind, and his heart began to race with excitement. It wasn’t his imagination. She was having second thoughts about her decision to leave him. A dozen different thoughts ran through his mind: Did she still love him after all? What had changed to make her reconsider being with him? Why was she bringing this up now? The barrage of questions was overwhelming, but above it all was a singular feeling of joy at the fact that she still wanted to be with him.

He desperately longed to tell her that it mattered and that he still loved her. After all, she was everything he ever wanted. However, as he tried to bring himself to speak, he found that his tongue was tied. If she had asked him the same question a few weeks ago, his answer would have been an instant yes, but now he wasn’t sure what to say.

He still wanted to be with her just as much as before, but after seeing the life she had built for herself among the knights, he couldn’t just take that away from her in good conscience. Two years ago, she would have sacrificed a lot by choosing him, but now there was even more at stake. She had a good job, a good reputation, even a good suitor. It wouldn’t have been right for him to get in the way of everything she had worked so hard to achieve.

“Penelope…” Crow said gently, reaching to take her hand in his. “I still love you more than you could know. But… are you [i]really[/i] sure that’s what you want? Nothing has changed. If you choose me, you’ll be giving up everything you have and everything you know.” He held her gaze seriously as he went on, “I want you to really think about this. If you get back together with me, you won’t be able to keep your job, your reputation will be ruined, and your family may even disown you.

“Right now, you have a good life. You’ve worked hard for it, and you’ve earned everything you’ve achieved for yourself. You even have another suitor whom, if you marry, you won’t have to sacrifice a single thing. Are you really willing to give all of that up for a thief?” He lowered his gaze to hide the pain in his eyes from her. The words were difficult to say, but he knew they needed to be said.

“I don’t want you to answer me right now,” he continued softly. “With this storm going on, I don’t think you’re in your right mind, but I also believe this isn’t a decision you should make without considering all of the consequences. Take a few days to [i]really[/i] think about this. Think about everything you’d be giving up, and if you’re really willing to do it, because I’m not going to be the man who ruins your life. I love you too much to let that happen.”