#darkgatefortress

(If Linnae showed up)

"Thank you for having Thanks giving dinner with me, lass. I don't have family here, and while it's not a Scottish holiday, not at this time anyway. " His hand reaches out to hers.

Linnea reaches to take his hand. "Family is where and what you make it."

"Truth, I suppose, so many of the warriors here have family or loved ones I've let more than a few off. Still, Marsellies can cook, can't he?" A grin

He looks at the woman with him. Dougal are supposed to practical. Sensible, and focused on their craft. Yet she truly lightens his heart with just a hand touch

She raises a brow. "I can neither confirm nor deny such a statement, I'm fairly certain it's in my contractual obligations to Silverwolf." But she smiles, and adds, "It certainly SMELLS good, doesn't it?"

"That it does, and you are nothing if not loyal" he mumbles as he makes sure they each have plenty on their plate, "would that a certain nocker was.mmph"

"Oh?" She asks, not being much of a one for gossip. She leans over to pass the gravy, and if their hands brush in doing so, well, so be it.

It cheers him to touch ... on the way to the gravy, "No disrespect to your lordship, but he's a sly one. He's made an offer, a generous one, to Wudlig, one of my more creative craftsman. See, this place has been built up for a year and a half.. and in addition to a lot of other perks, Baron Aiden, or maybe it was Dame Gladiola speaking on his behalf, has offered him something few nockers can resist. New challenges. Wudlig is of a bannerhouse under Dougal but friendly to Ailil. Aiden is giving him new challenges, more leeway to do things his way, and a nice patronage. Nightmare to compete with that."

"Ah, but look at me griping about Wudlig when I should be talking about you. " He looks her over, "You're always a fetching woman, but if you don't mind a man's opinion? That color looks very nice on you."

She colors a bit. "You think so? I was uncertain about the orange against my skin tone..." He's not wrong, the rich autumn color against blue-grey is rather fetching.

"I'm sorry to hear that our Baron is... well, poaching."

"You shine the sun's favorite mountain face in it, " He assures her, then says "Well, I suppose I could not blame him too much. I mean I shall grouse, but I wouldn't mind poaching from your baroness so... who am I to really make more fuss than that?" The food is delicious, Marseilles has apparently done a rich mix of stylings from all over Concordia for this thanksgiving meal, traditional turkey merely the center piece. "How are things since you swore to the Baroness Nadeen for you? Well I pray?"

She nods, taking more of a dish after the first taste. "Things have been going well... not perfect." She admits. "Danica and I still have not fully resolved our... difference of opinion. She is cordial... We can work together. It does not affect our duties as thanes."

"Well, it speaks well of you both that there is that much. You're the most dedicated woman I know... and I do not say that simply out of ..."A blush "personal affection, but having witnessed and knowing what you have done and continue to do. She cannot simply agree to disagree and embrace you as a sister again?"

A hint of a frown. "The blame is not entirely on her end. I admit that I am perhaps... holding a bit of a grudge." Reluctant to admit it, perhaps a touch embarrassed. She lowers her voice as she continues, "I know I should forgive her. It was I who broke oath, reasons and justifications notwithstanding." She pushes some food with her fork.

"But she is the one who fell into a rage and attacked you without remorse, and frankly without control. If she feels you slipped as a troll, she might at least be more forthcoming that one in a rage to kill cannot follow the code for they will not likely accept a surrender. Tis easy for me to tell you to forgive her, though I think it might be best if you truly can, its another thing to do it."

"We are Trolls, and rage is our burden to shoulder. Though..." She considers something. "I wonder, if perhaps part of her anger is, or was, at the unjust nature of the oath itself. Perhaps I was... an outlet, as much as a target."

"Have to be cautious how you ask that question, we can be a tight lipped folk as you well know,, but you are sisters, and that is the only reason she's not banned from here for her actions. Not all my men would agree with me on that, but it is what I would do. Though truly I blame Dame Calanthe. Who has been been punished, but that Oath was unjust indeed."

Her expression darkens a touch. "Punished with a year in comfort, if not her own form, and peace. It is not the punishment I would have wrought. ...but I am not truly the one who was most wronged, nor falls it to me either to be passing judgement, nor questioning Da'an."

"Who would you say was the one truly wronged? Seems to me she had more than one person could say they were. You, your sister, the Baroness. And I suspect Dame Gladiola indirectly"

A sigh. "Does it matter, truly, how many sins to pile at her feet, when any one might be considered damning? I suppose the Baron was a victim, and his son. The Barony itself, as more comes to light of how she ran things. Tithes and threats. Those under her rule, under her instruction, under her oaths." She shakes her head, and tries to smile. "Let us talk of something more pleasant?"

"As it pleases," He touches her cheek, "But I must warn you, I may go on about the new claymore I made until you're sick of the hearing of it. It's almost as pretty as yourself"

"Oh? Tell me her name." Linnea can't help but laugh. "And if I must battle her for your affection."

"I call her Bonnie Kiss," A wolfish grin slips, "Guess who inspired that name?"

She has no reply, but her cheeks go rosey-purple!

"Bit of star metal on the edging to make her sharp enough to cut a long word in half while it's spoken, but the spine of her is mountainheart steel, and will not break."

"I can imagine her dancing in your arms, and I wouldn't even begrudge her as much." Eyes dancing a bit herself, and she sips her glass, whatever Marcellus left to pair with his feast.

He looks intrigued, "I confess, while she is grand to swing, there is one I long to hold close even more."