#anywhere

A cheer to honor the first to volunteer.

Cheers break out... and just like that, four more folks (Wilders) get up and follow the old warrior! She has found an old warrior to use as a banner and by changelings standards, four is a lot.

She beams. "For the warriors! For their service! For their courage, one and all!"

Then as the cheers die down, she says a heartfelt, "Thank you. Thank you for hearing me, and for the service that your people offer. Remember this, and support them with honor even as you protect your own homes. Be well and thrive." She means it; no guilt trip here, just gratitude. And she steps down from the podium.

She steps down and a familiar voice says "Sparrow would be proud of what you said about her" Her boyfriend grins.

"You're here!" She flings her arms around him and gives him a big kiss!

And he returns it, hotly. And has to calm himself "Kind of missed you" An understatement "But when I got word from Siv you were coming here, I had to come see"

She smiles and stays in his arms. "It went so well! I was hoping for one, maybe two. Five?! That's HUGE!"

"Given how rare we are, yes" he nods with a grin "I should have sent yoiu out to recruit for Darkgate."

"You did fine with Darkgate. You've got good people. Oh, it is SO good to see you." Another kiss.

A gentler kiss, still long "I wish I could stay for the night, wish I could stay for the week. "

"You've got to get back now? Maybe...can we, at least walk for a bit?" She slips her hand in his. "I want to hear about how things are going."

"Not now.. you've got me for three hours" A squeeze back "I didn't spend all that time at a Fiona hold to bumrush my lady then scoot off right away"

A smile. "So...a walk...and maybe we can even find a room for a bit," she murmurs. Then she gets a serious look and looks where the volunteers went. "Should I speak to them first? Before they leave?"

"They know where to go, you told them" he says "And they'll want you to speak for the Baroness. That might be more authority than you have" A blush "Selfish as that is"

She grins back at him. "Self-serving or not, I appreciate you're encouraging me to have me-and-you time." A final thank you to the person who introduced her before she got up on the podium, and then she focuses on her boyfriend completely. "Okay...so...first of all, you look amazing."

"Thank you. They make me shower daily now" A grin

She laughs. "Well, there's something to be grateful for!"

Her thumb strokes his fingers as they talk. "Everything's okay at Darkgate? I mean, I guess it is, or you wouldn't be here."

"We had a nasty run on it, two days ago." he says "Balor work. They're pissed , desperate to make up ground somewhere" A grin "They understimated us"

She gets very serious very fast when he mentions Balor, but grins again at his grin. "You gave them an un-welcoming party?"

"We're a fortress.. with some of the finest weapons and warriors."

"But real credit goes to the locals who alarted us to the 'oh so secreet meeting' of Balor"

"Wait, they were local Balor? Or they came in from out-of-town?"

"Out of town... the locals sniffed them out fast."

"Got it. Good. Nobody too badly hurt on our side?"

"We got some light wounds mostly. Came close. One grabbed a mortal gun. Which worked well... for us. Nothing like proof of violation of right to life plans to give you all you need for punishment"

A blink, and a nod. "Yeah. Like...you don't have to hold back at all then." A sigh and a troubled look. "I didn't tell you about what happened on the trod when I was going to BrightWinds the first time."

"What happened?" He walks with her gently

"Well...it's vague in my memory, but Siv and I found a Balor on the trod, and he was trying to make some kind of deal with a monster chimera, like I was saying when I spoke back there..." she nods back towards the room with the podium. "And...we pushed him off the trod. I pushed him off the trod. The chimera ate him." A slightly guilty look. "I talked to my dad, and he say I did the right thing, but...it's still kind of tangled in here." She indicates her heart.

"Oh, Sylvi" He pulls her into a hug , cheek to cheek. "I'm sorry. Want to talk about it more?"

She takes a deep breath, enjoying the contact, the acceptance. "No, not really. I just...I get what you mean about it being easier when the decision is made for you, right? But...I guess I just don't have much of a killer instinct if the didn't actually hit me first."

"Killer instinct is over rated" he says "Give me a warrior who does what they have to to save his comrades then wonders how he could have done it better over someone who chortles wthen the blood flows any day. "

"I guess. I just...It's not good to hesitate when something needs to be done fast. I choked, at first. And then..." a sigh "...I know it was right, but it still bugs me." She shakes her head hard as if to clear the mood. "Anyway..." she musters a grin. "I figured you should know. And I'm really glad your people came out of it without too much harm. How's Chief Hewitt?"

"So does it bother you mroe you did it? or more that you hestiated?" Not moving off the subject yet

She frowns, thinking about that as they walk. "I'm...not sure. I mean...I don't want to be a liability in a fight by freezing up and being indecisive...but I also don't want to be bad, y'know? I mean, I can't just say, oh look, there's a Balor, free game! That's not right. I've got to have a good reason...but making sure there's a good reason is what made me hesitate...." A sigh and a shrug. "It's complicated."

"Yes, it is, and that's why you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. You did what you did not to take a life, but to protect them. I know you well enough to know that. "

"But protection requires thought... otherwise you're not a troll, you're an electric fence. You THINK of how you use your strength. that's trollish"

"You don't think I'm too much of a softie?" A wry look. "For a troll?"

"Is this a safe question for me to answer in ANY way?" Wryly back

A smile. "Okay, not really, no." She squeezes his hand. "I'm glad you're here, Colton."

"me too" A squeeze then "Why don't we.. go use on e of those hours.. I can gauge where you're softest"

Wicked look

A surprised laugh. "Wow! Okay, my dad would probably kill you if he heard you saying that. So it's a good thing he's not here." She stops and slips her arms about him again, and whispers, "I think I'd enjoy your explorations." And she nibbles on his earlobe.

"mm I know I will" And they slip offf to a.. oh, he has a room nearby. Looks like he planned ahead.

He's a smart boyfriend.

(Fade to explorations of soft and firm, a thorough study)