Penelope woke up early the next morning. She stretched and squinted her eyes at the early morning sun. Standing up, she headed out of her tent and out into the camp. Usually she woke up later than most, due to either having guard duty or meeting with Crow but having neither of those the night before, she found that she was actually up before most. The camp was quieter than she was used to and only a few of her comrades, aside from some guards, were awake. 

Enjoying the peace of the early morning, she walked quietly through the camp, soon getting lost in thought. Her mind wandered to how she had felt two years ago and how similar that old heartache had felt when she had originally answered Crow upon his return. She had been in denial about her feelings then, suppressing them so that she could continue on with her life, only for them to eventually burst free as she was unable to just let him go. It only made her realize just how much she didn't want to let him go again. 

[i]I'm content with my life.. But it isn't what I wanted.[/i] She thought as she slowed her pace to look up at the morning sky. [i]What I wanted was a life with him... I think I still do..[/i] Penelope felt her face get warm at the thought. She felt more certain now after speaking with Mia and her short conversation with Tomas. While the future Mia described didn't sound bad, it didn't share the same appeal as leaving with Crow to leave in the outer villages despite the risks that were involved. 

"I'm not going out there again.. I'm tired." Grumbled someone from nearby. 

"We're getting close to finding him again. You can't seriously be quitting now." Layth growled. 

Penelope turned her head to look over as Layth argued with another knight about going on a patrol for the thieves. The other knight appeared tired and waved at Layth dismissively before retiring into his tent. Layth gave a furious look and clenched his fists at his side. "Pathetic." He spat before turning to storm off. However, as he turned, he immediately came face to face with Penelope. He blinked and then narrowed his eyes at her. 

"I'll go on patrol with you, Layth." Penelope offered. Seeing him had reminded her of another issue with leaving and that was how her family would likely disown her. Though it didn't bother her very much, considering how her uncle acted, she knew it would be a little difficult to accept that her brother and father, the two she had left Crow behind to defend, would eventually turn against her. 

"You'll just get in the way." Layth snorted. 

"Yeah, just like I got in the way of the dagger that nearly killed you." Penelope responded crossing her arms. 

Layth scowled at her. "At least I didn't let him get away." 

"Look, we can go back and forth all day or we can go on a patrol. Which would you prefer?" 

Layth curled his lip up at her words, clearly irritated. However, he had no argument. "Fine." He growled and began to storm off towards the tree line. "If you slow me down, I'm leaving you behind." 

"Of course.." Penelope muttered under her breath before moving to quickly follow him. 

---

The two siblings trekked into the woods in the direction of Whitebridge. Penelope pretended to remain alert even though she was rather certain they wouldn't be running into any of the thieves there. The two remained silent as they walked. Layth was tense with hostility still seeming rather unhappy that his sister had managed to squeeze her way into a patrol with him. Penelope looked over at him. Despite how cold he was to her and most people, he was still someone she cared about and wanted to protect. It would hurt to see him fully turn against her. 

"Layth.. I want to know more.. About what happened between father and my mother." She said suddenly. 

Layth faltered in his step and whirled his head around to look over at her. "Why are you asking about that?" He grumbled. "Haven't I already told you enough?"

"You told me what you knew about my mother.. That's true but you never really spoke much about how father reacted to it all. I want to know.. You were there when he chose to be with her, when he lost her, and when we got accepted back." Penelope said giving him a pleading look. 

"You should be focused on the patrol." Layth snorted shaking his head. 

"I can multitask. But if you can't then, I understand." Penelope commented challengingly. 

"You're a pain in the ass." Layth grunted, keeping his gaze focused ahead. "What do you want to know?"

"Well.. How did father step in when your mother was going to send away mine?" She asked. 

Layth paused, clenching his fists at his sides. "He basically said he was going to leave us for her. That he didn't care what she or anyone else thought. That servant had seduced him so thoroughly he was prepared to turn on his family."

"Did he come to regret it?" Penelope asked in a quieter voice as she looked over at Layth. "When they left to the outer villages, did he regret it?"

"He was so blinded by that bitch.." Layth growled with a hateful look in his eyes. "He didn't even realize what he had done until she finally died.. So yes, he regretted it. Our father was able to redeem himself once she was out of the picture and that's the only reason we're still nobles. You should be thankful she died soon enough for you to be able to rise up with us."

Penelope frowned a little at her brother's harsh words. It was how he usually spoke about her mother, words filled with hatred over past events. However, she still wished there was someone else to talk to about the woman, someone who was fond of her. Still, Layth's words were helpful, regardless of the heavy bias. Layth might have claimed that their father regretted being with their mother but Penelope wasn't quick to believe him. At some point in her life, she did believe that John had regretted his past decision but now she began to think that might not actually be the case. 

[i]When she died, he must have been in pain... He probably didn't regret being with her, he was just hurt over losing her and did his best to get back the life he once had since she was gone..[/i] Penelope blinked, coming to understand her father a bit more clearly now after sharing what she believed to be a similar experience. It made her wonder that if her father would actually be able to understand her decision to be with Crow. Though she had her doubts considering he was a thief not just a peasant, a small part of her held onto a hope that perhaps not all of her family would completely turn on her. The same, unfortunately, could not be hoped for Layth. Her brother held too much anger to ever come to understand her or her reasonings.