#darkgatefortress

Storm guides Sylvi to the Aryrie, where they find Linnea

Linnea is watching the messenger bird fly off with a twinge of unease.

"Hi, again, Thane." Sylvi notes her expression. "You okay?"

She looks a touch guilty. "I should return to Silverwolf in case they are having any issues as well. However..." She hesitates, then looks to Colton. "Has H- ...has the Chieftain reported back in yet?"

"I was told he was injured, but nothing more."

Sylvi frowns. "I'm sure they would have brought him some of the drink...?" She looks to Colton.

"I'll get him, I'm sure he's fine" Colton says

"I'll go with you." She immediately says.

"If I may." Realizing they may still be in battle-crisis mode?

Or, have things calmed down?

"Wait, Colton...you need to send messages. I can take the Thane to the Chief." Offering an option.

"THey have, and... good idea, sylvi. " He says "guide her please. you two are our honored guests and allies"

"Got it, Storm," she says and gives him a wink. "Come on, I know these halls really well," she says to Linnae, and she leads her back into the dark corridors.

"You served here in the past, I recall." Linnea walks slowly, still a little unsteady, but stubbornly persisting.

"Yes, for a while." She adjusts her pace to the thane's, offering an arm for her to steady herself if needed.

they hear Hewit before they find him. cursing "What do you mean you reversed the polarity? This isn't Star Trek man, now we have the damn lights out"

"Bingo," Sylvi says quietly. When they get a little closer, she calls out. "Chieftain Hewitt? It's Sylvi of Goldfinch. I've brought Thane Linnae to speak with you."

It is dark, blessed dark, no one can see her blush.

"That is, if we are not interrupted."

A light of a lantern comes on , a low tech one "Linnae? Are ye well, lass? You were hurt so I feared for... "a cogh "I mean, twould not please me to have you harmed. And twould upset your lieges as well"

Sylvi can see the one eyed troll's obvious concern, gaze locked On Linnae, though he tries to look stoic, she's pretty sure she's not being noticed despite being spoken first

She tries hard not to grin. "Do you need me to do any task for you, Chieftain? I was about to head back to the aerie...."

"I am sorry to have failed to assist in battle, and have taken away from resources who could have assisted." Her voice low. A non-troll would think her stoic, but the blue-skinned can read it clear enough - embarrassed. "I hope that by lending some minor assistance in healing I have made up for the lack."

"Nay, Bri.. ah, Freeholder. You're welcome to stay if you wish but I understand if you must send message to your elders at Rivervale" He says, then turns Linnae, "Are ye daft? You wounded it, greviously, at great cost to yourself ... you did not stay concious, but you bleed it badly of it's essence afore you did fall. And then you healed?"

"Tosh, woman, if i had more 'failures' like that I could claim another two holds if i wished"

"Thank you, Chieftain, but...I think I should let the thane give her report in private." She doesn't want to be witness to the woman's embarrassment.

Now her cheeks have colored a bit more, though a different reason.

"Still, I wish that I could have acquitted myself in battle better. Without it sounding like ill-wishing, I say I would be glad to fight by your side again."

"Ahe, ah, as you like, Holder." He says to Sylvi then he turns to the thane and ... in the dark between the lantern's light, he touches her hand "It would please me to fight by your side again. that is no ill wish. Courage such as yours is alwas welcome."

In the dim light, she dares take his hand in her own.
(The HARLOT!)

Sylvi salutes and departs quietly...not that either of them notice.

"As my oath and duty allows, I will always come to your side." In times of need. To fight. Of course.

The poor nocker might be disgusted at this point, if not engrossed in his own work.

Nocker sees NUZING

"And I to yours, though the title of Chief can be heavy, and slow me in my flight to you" he says then blushes as well

"Are you needed here to supervise the... ah, fix?" Not sure exactly what the nocker is working on, and not really wanting to dare ask.

"I suppose I am not, Aye ah, let us talk of what report you must make to Silverwolf if you wish? And I will answer any questions about our. future plans here after this' He says

they move onto the dark halls, now safe from prying eyes and he adds "I hated that chimerical storm for hurting you, bonnie lass. But you did so much damage to it, ye robbed me of a furious revenge"

Fond pride and affection in his voice

"If I was wiser, I would not have struck it with metal. Then again, when I thought it through, I brought havoc on myself. Perhaps first instinct was not that flawed, after all."

"I am glad I came to give warning, though I wonder if it was too late to make significant difference."

"We would have been sleeping when the gate needed aid if not for your warning and your actions. Do not doubt, bonny lass , that you saved lives" and he leans forward in the dark, and kisses her

She returns the kiss, and, daring, perhaps emboldened by the dark, or her brush with injury - "And if I were to broach you abed for reasons unrelated to danger?"

"Then I would consider that to be saving me in a diffeent way" A nuzzle, and they kiss again

And then, the LIGHTS COME ON..... "GOT IT!" A nocker's voice can be heard

Mid-smooch!

and a boggan drops a tray as he sees the Chief and the thane smooching in the largest hallway there is with lots of witnesses

(because that's how muti botches add up )

Mortified, she whispers to Hewitt, "We can yet flee, and change our names. Start over, I hear that Northern Ice is nice this time of year."

"RIght, let's slip to my room so I can pack" He whispers, mortified and bold at the same time

A blink, for a moment only thinking he is serious, and then... takes his hand, and holds it firmly. Should there be any question of whether people had mistaken, it can be answered - though she is blushing all the way to her stubby horns now.