#ohoho!!!

she    was    a    stubborn    one,   that    much    was   certain.    chatty    and   not    in    the   slightest    horrified    by   the    ghastly    sight   of    him.    that   was    ...    new.   yet    her    fixations   upon    him    were   nothing    short    of   an    errant    affliction    of   moderate    intrigue,    fleeting   at    best    ...   or    so    he   thought.    persistence    would   have    it    that   once    more    he   would    saddled    with   a    companion,    much   to    his    own   dismay    and    worry.   (    was    it   not    him    that   doomed    his    old   love?    was    it   not    his    infatuation    with   her    compassion    that   damned    her    from   the    start?    )    many    things   he    was,    but   a    fool    he   was    not.    errant   behavior    would    not   allow    for    him   to    falter    in   his    guard    against   her    ...    but   then,    he    could   not    just    leave   her    there!    

what    cruel    creature   was    he    to   be    if    he   had?    something    festering   and    lost,    a    shadow    unto   himself.    kindness    begets   kindness    and    with   urgency    and    silent   reluctance    he    had   whisked    her    up   with    ease    upon   the    saddle    of   his    warhorse;    who   was    stubborn    enough   all    the    same   to    refuse    in   the    task    of   leaving    her    behind,   had    he    ever   fathomed    to    entertain   the    idea.    rides   in    silence,    though   his    grip    betrays   him    as    he   holds    her    firmly,   carefully,    close    to   his    chest.    there   was    no    drumbeat   of    a    heart   to    be    had   or    heard    as   comfort    there.    nothing   but    the    steady   sounds    of    his   horses    hoofbeats    as   he    rides    into   town,    like    a    thunder    rolling   over    the    hills.   her    proclamation    leaves   him    a    bit   befuddled,    stalled    for   any    sort    of   response.    how    could   someone    be    without   any    terror    in   his    arms,    while   facing    down    the   barrel    of    crossing   beyond    the    pale?

❝    you    are   certainly    lucky    that   I    happened    upon   you,    young    lady.   you    will    be   fine,    I    am   certain    of    it...

he    had    to   be,    after    all.   could    not    afford   to    entertain    the   outcome    of    failing   a    second    time   to    protect    those   in    need.