She was feeling vulnerable.
He could hear the thrumming of heart, erratic. A confirmation the uncertainty he was sure she must be feeling. This woman had poured her heart out him. He had made her do it. And now all he could to was stand there in stupefied silence. There was no one in the word, he felt in that moment, that could be more ill equipped to comfort her.Â
Nikolai took a step towards her, releasing his grip on the stairs. He stopped short, palms open and arms limp at his sides. She seemed so far away and he was suddenly extremely doubtful of whether any kind words would be well received. He had perhaps come on too strong in offered to help her. He was sure she was surprised by it, could not blame her for he had stunned himself with sudden vehemence of the vow that had burst forth from him.Â
Perhaps he had wounded her with his silence, made her uncomfortable with the fragility that follows such an admissions. He thought maybe should would leave the room, maybe even flea for fear that he would sell her out. His anger prior had probably not gone a long way in assuring her that she was safe here. Safe from those in the outside world at least.
Then she did something he did not foresee, something completely unexpected. In an instant, she had enveloped herself around him in a flash of fabric and red hair. Nikolai stood therefore a moment, hands still out in supplication and then surprise that had followed. If he had been stupefied earlier, it was nothing compared to the shock that assaulted him now.
And then, with the slow caution that one would use not to scare off a fawn, he wrapped his arms around her. The embrace was ginger, one arm about her shoulders and the other ghosting over the crown of her head. He could not recall the last time he had made contact like this, had felt another being so close to him. His eyes fells closed for a brief moment, as if he could pretend just for a second that he was but a normal man, that he was deserving of the intimacy.
Almost suddenly is had happened, it was done and he found himself peering down at her with his own forested ochre gaze. âI have no doubt that you will.â His voice was little more than a whisper but as sturdy as the hands he placed on either of her shoulder, as if he could ground her, will her his strength to do what she much.  âAnd until then, you shall always have shelter here.â
He had done so much wrong in his frozen life, had been the cause of so much pain and knew that redemption was beyond reach, was barred from him. But he vowed silently to himself that he would protect her, even at the cost of his own life.Â
Suddenly aware of the intimacy, aware that they were tentatively more than strangers thrown together, he dropped his hands and took a step back, with a soft clearing of his throat. âYou are freezing. Perhaps you would like to retreat from the chilly foyer and sit by the fire in the parlor?â
It took him a moment to catch up to what was happening, it seemed, but he did ultimately return the gesture. It took everything within her not collapse crying then and there. It was such a strange thing, this flood of emotion - sheâd been waging this war for a decade, why was she so close to being overwhelmed now?
Perhaps it was because this was the first taste of safety sheâd had in a while. To be able to stay in one place, safe, hidden. Sure, she would get antsy even in this expansive estate, but it didnât matter - this was her sanctuary now, and after the brush with death sheâd just had, safety meant more than anything else ever could.Â
As they embraced, she did notice how cold he was - had he always been cold? She could not be sure, theyâd had little contact until this point, but now all she wanted was contact. Rynn held great gratitude for this man to be sure, but she also recognized that she had a different of draw to him - a curious fueled by the mysteries that seemed to surround him.Â
The embrace ended too soon. How long had it been since sheâd shared a moment like that with someone? Especially with someone who knew her original name, who knew her secret. She wanted to go back in for another, but propriety stopped her - even though sheâd rather like to throw that out the window.Â
âThank you, Nikolai. Those words hardly seem like enough - I really donât know how I can repay you, but know that you will always have my gratitude. Especially now that I am staying for winter. Speaking of which - the fire does sound quite nice. Wonât you join me, though? Iâd rather not sit alone.â
