As soon as her hands cupped around his neck, Ezner found himself instantly relaxing. A soft sigh escaped his lips, and his eyes closed a bit. One of his own hands reached up, laying over one of her own. As her forehead touched to his, he could smell that perfume of hers that he loved.

In the barest whisper, [b]"I know."[/b]

As she touched his wrist, Ezner started to flinch, but held himself in her grasp. A memory came forth, of his mother touching his raw and bleeding skin after their owner took the chains off of him as a young boy. 

[b]"My mother was there when the chains were taken off." [/b]

This was said both sadly and as a fond memory. He and his mother were not allowed to be close, she wasn't really allowed to be a mother. Still, she mattered a lot to him. 

Ezner nodded, and in response to him sharing what he was thinking, [b]"I will."[/b] It had been said to him as an order, even if not given in such a demanding way. And Ezner's tone said that his answer to it was as much of a promise as the one he'd given earlier. 

Ezner turned now, smiling softly. [b]"That would be nice too."[/b] His hand slid down her own, and just as she so often did to him, he intertwined his fingers within hers, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

He led her down the road, taking the appropriate turns. He didn't speak much on this leg of the journey. They passed the Order of Adunih, and began following along a small stone wall, marking the border of what looked to be a large park. At this end of the park was a small copse of trees surrounding a small pond. As they followed along the wall, a large house, finely crafted, came into view. 

And Ezner's hand gripped Elisabeth's just a bit tighter in response. He slowed as they came upon the gate to the park. And that was when Ezner came to a stop. He pushed open the gate, leading them upon a path up toward the house. But he stopped out in front of the house, not yet stepping onto the porch. 

[b]"This is my house. It scares me. It makes me lonely."[/b]

He reached down into his boot, pulling out a small pouch that had a few coins in it. It jingled lightly, and he reached in, plucking out the iron key, and returned the pouch back to his boot. 

[b]"Ready?"[/b]

This was said as a warning, a way to both protect her and bolster himself. This house terrified him, made him feel empty and alone. And he didn't want her to feel those things too.