EVENT: After receiving some rather disturbing information, Demonder rushes to find Rennar. Once found, he leads her to a spot which he deems safe and tries to get her to open up about various things regarding the Queen.
DATE: July 26
LOGGER: Rennar

The Queen's Gardens: Royal Palace of Andor, Caemlyn

This circular expanse of garden curves around the backside of the Royal Palace. Flagstone paths meander off through the lush greenery, through trees and many flowering shrubs. Trellises with flowered vines crawl up the gleaming white walls that surround the palace. A white stone courtyard sits at the center of the gardens, with tall columns circling around it, holding up its golden-tiled roof.

The sounds of Palace servants going about their nightly chores and the noise of children laughing and playing in the distance drift over the garden. A fine sprinkling of pristine snow lies upon the ground, and the water in the redstone fountain has a thick layer of ice on its surface. A white stone path leads back west to the Courtyard and a white stone staircase curves up near the Palace to a balcony that overlooks the gardens.

Demonder walks into the Queen's Gardens from the west.

Rennar sits on the edge of the fountain, encased in a warm, wintry cloak. In her gloved hands appears to be a book, which she thumbs through quietly. She misses the crunching of boots amongst the snow.

On this night, Demonder enters the gardens through the palace courtyard. His cloak is filthy from long travels, his eyes nearly blank of emotion. At the sight of Rennar, his motions may almost appear despirate for her. The axe at his hip falls to the ground just before he simply lifts her out of the seat and hugs her all too hard.

The axe is the first thing that clues Rennar into someone being present. Startled, her book falls from her hands and into the snow as Demonder raises her into a hug. Not really knowing who the person is she begins to struggle, until she feels the need of theother person, and the familiarity of his body so nearby. Once calming herself and regaining her senses, she hugs Demonder back, but breaths, "Not... so... hard.... can't breathe."

Demonder releases Rennar just as suddenly, his eyes looking to hers with a sense of haunting. As though they may be those listening nearby, he looks further into the depth of her eyes. "We need to talk somewhere private." The dust from his travels nearly surrounds them.

Sensing the urgency, and the need, emanaging from Demonder, Rennar nods a bit, "Where?" She murmurs quietly, raising a hand to gently caress his cheek.

Demonder's hands touch upon Rennar's cheek gently. "Where would you trust with our secrets, Rennar? Within the Roesone manor if you do not know of a place here."

Rennar shifts faintly, "Roesone manor then." Something must have occured to tip Rennar off to the possibilities of more danger lying in wake.

Demonder is not allowing anyone to follow him.

Demonder's strong arm moves around Rennar's shoulder, before they make their way out of the palace. A House Roesone guard escorts them to the manor.

Demonder leads Rennar back to Roesone manor...

Demonder's Chambers, Roesone Apartments, Caemlyn

A noble room in all accounts, this room is filled with enough ornaments and furniture comparable to that of a royal bedroom. It is overwelmed with richness, the large bed at the center of the room taking immidiate attention. Each post is coverred with gold and jewels, the head-board itself picturing the Sun rising over three small hills, a symbol for House Roesane. A few large dressers are found on either side of the bed, with statues of warriors and dragons coverring their surface. At one side of the room a heavy two-handed axe rests comfortably against the wall, with armor beside it. On the far side of the room, two large glass doors lead to a belcony over-looking the property. A single door leads out into the hallway.

By the large belcony doors, a small table is set-up with two seats. Two candles have been placed on the white table-cloth, the light from the candles a comfortable glow in this room.

Contents:
Demonder

Rennar arrives with Demonder.

Demonder wastes little time, as they walk into his room, he shuts the door firmly behind. The lord goes as far as to check the hidden sides of the room, and then looks to the balcony doors. "Renni..." his voice is almost pleading, as he turns to his intended.

"Yes...?" There is now a tinge of worry and concern on Rennar's features, her brows knitting together as she watches Demonder in his worried, pleading state. There's not much mure she can answer, having not been asked a real question or given much of a lead in. "I can tell something's not right... what is it?"

Demonder removes the dust filled cloak, going to the baison of water for long enough to splash water on his face. It is not unusual to see that he hasn't slept much, he hasn't been even since her return, but Demonder is almost frantic. He makes his way to her, taking her firmly at hand and leading her unto the bed. "I... don't want to lose you..." his eyes go red with emotion.

"Why would you lose me...?" Rennar's brow only serves to knit further together. It is very apparent that his current condition is setting off alarms within Rennar, "What would possibly give you the idea that you would?" She tilts her head to the side, regarding her fiance in a quizical, near paniced manner - attempting to keep control of her rising concern.

Demonder takes a seat on his bed, and pulls Rennar into his lap. She has very little choice in the matter, the concern not any less on his expression. "What you witnessed of the Queen, it is serious, isn't it? She is to have a baby..." Demonder reveals the last slowly, as the next. "And there is something in her future because of it, something wrong with her. They know, Rennar. I had a man set-up a meeting with me. He said he had information on how to keep you safe. He knew, he wanted me to find out what you know about the Queen. In return, he wouldn't take you away from me." Demonder makes no mention of the threats to his own life, though they likely barely registered.

"I cannot speak about that." Rennar speaks with a resolute firmness, despite her lack of confidence lately. She turns her eyes to regard Demonder as she is pulled into his lap, "I told you, I made a vow to the Queen about what it was we talked about, and there is no hiding that she's pregnant, anyone with eyes can see that."

Demonder's fingers touch upon her cheek, his eyes near tears as he looks into hers. "I know, love. I know. I would not ask you too betray your friend. I thought he was someone that knew of information, but it turned out he made threats in attempt to get information." After taking a deep breath, somehow he manages to calm. "Whomever I had words with was at least indirectly responsible for Jeffrin's strings. They were wealthy."

Mentally and physically, Rennar shivers within Demonder's arms. "We will get through this, Demonder, we will. It is just another obstacle to overcome, and we /will/ overcome it." She sighs deeply, glancing at the man in front of her. She musters a warm smile, which touches her eyes, "What we should be doing, other than worrying about that mess, is begin talk of our wedding plans."

Demonder's eyes go wide at the last. The sight of someone ripping out his heart would not be clearer as he looks into Renni's eyes. "Wedding plans? Renni... by the Light. I have a warrant issued for your murder. I... I don't think they will while they believe I might gain the information they seek. But they will look for that information, one way or another. Is... and they knew too much. That slave that keeps following you around, who is she?" The last coming out as a despirate demand.

"Demonder, I am heir-apparent. If they seek the Lion Throne, then once they are finished with Aislynn, they'll come after me, if they haven't already." Rennar attempts to speak in a calmer voice than before, regarding her fiance more seriously, "You can't even be certain that they have not already signed my death warrant. But, rest assured they will /not/ be getting any information from me. I will not commit an act of treason against my Queen, for that is what it would be. Treason for going against her wishes and desires. I swore the strongest oath that /anyone/ could possibly swear next to the blood oath. I cannot tell you what I know, nor will I tell them. I am sorry, but rather than waiting and worrying for something to happen, I must think about something else... more pleasant."

"I don't want you to tell them..." Demonder muffles the words as his eyes look away. "But I... how can you simply accept it so easily?" the lord asks shaking his head slowly. "They are Darkfriends, aren't they? What do you know. Not of the Queen's secret, but about those that want the crown?"

"Only that they wanted me dead long before that warrant was signed. I do not believe they will stop at anything to make certain that I am." Rennar murmurs quietly, "I was there when that stranger came forth and literally demanded my head. Like then, there's nothing I can do about it. I don't accept it. But, I've little choice in the matter." Again there is that shaking that can be felt coming from Rennar. She's frightened, pure and simple, yet somehow she manages to keep that fright from invading her voice.

"Marry me..." Demonder repeats the words he had said so long ago, though they are more immidiate now. "I want every excuse to be with you. I want you to be my wife, Renni."

Gently, Rennar lifts a hand and pits a single finger to Demonder's lips, "I will marry you. I plan to go forward with my life, our life... I just need time." Her eyes seem to beg and plead, much like his own did when he brought Rennar from the palace to his home.

Demonder's eyes close then, his hand clenching into a fist as he holds her to his body. The man is petrified of losing her. "Renni... I already lost you once. I hoped you'd be alive, but everything said otherwise." The anguish is clear in his voice, Demonder not knowing what to say or do next. "You will have what you need. If you need more time..."

"I do... proper arrangements need to be made first." Rennar gently brushes Demonder's cheek with finger she pressed against his lips, "Or, would you rather we go without a proper wedding, one which legally joins our Houses and our lives...?" A brow raises in question at that, regarding Demonder quietly.

Demonder can't seem to say anything, his eyes remain closed as he lowers her into bed. Though this more an action of his own inability to sit up, when Demoner's eyes open, they are heavy with pain. "Then you must be careful. The man knew too much."

"I will be as careful as I can possibly be, so long as there are men about me that you, or I trust." Rennar mumbles quietly in response to Demonder, moving down upon the bed as needed since there's little choice in the matter.

Demonder releases her from his hold, turning over in the bed as he looks away. "Is there anything else that you haven't told me, beside the matter of the secret that you have sworn to the Queen?"

Demonder releases her from his hold, turning over in the bed as he looks away. "Is there anything else that you haven't told me, beside the matter of the secret that you have sworn to the Queen?" The tone continues to be filled with the despirate anguish over the situation, Demonder feeling helpless in the matter.

"Aside from the exact horrors that Jeffrin put me through entirely, you know of everything else." The young Lady of Hune answers her fiance, rising from the bed as she is now released. She walks over toward the balcony window and peers out, not playing with the curtains to move them out of the way as she does.

"Then stop beind distant," Demonder states in a tone that's all too serious, as he stands up from the bed. "I know you went through a lot, love. I know." His voice goes from pleading to serious. "But, your being distant. I can't take it, not when I already thought you were lost once. I want to be able to hold you in my arms, and have you want my embrace. I'm not myself, Renni. I haven't been since you're gone from me. Sometimes I'm like the iron of a sword, and others I'm no stronger then a damn stick. It..." Demonder makes his way toward her. "I need you."

Rennar remains quiet for a long time, viewing the outdoors from the window. "I know," her voice comes quietly, "I know that I am being distant. Its hard being otherwise. You don't have any idea what I went through, what I had to endure to survive." She pauses briefly, staying where she is. She doesn't move away from him when he comes closer. "And, I am not myself... and I don't think I can ever go back to who I used to be." As she speaks her voice grows quieter and quieter. "But, I am here, and I want to be with you. If I did not, I would not be here. I love you."

Demonder continues to walk toward Rennar, until his hand touches upon her arm. He doesn't get to close, fearing that would push her away. Instead, he simply speaks from behind her. "Renni, I want to help you." It's a simply plea. "I love you, and I want to help you. I don't want you to be distant from me. From anyone else... but not from me."

The young woman nearly jumps as her arm is touched, turning around quickly. Her eyes are wild for a brief moment, then she realizes who is there, and where she is, thoughts having drifted away from the situation briefly. A blush comes to Rennar's cheeks. Tears rise in her eyes and throws her arms around Demonder's neck, hugging him tight to her. Everything that's going on, been done to her, or been revealed to her has takten its toll on her.

Seeing the tears changed Demonder. He takes her deeply into his embrace, fingers brushing at her back through the Illusion of hair. "It will be okay, Renni," he comforts in a caring tone, holding her within his grasp. "Let out the tears," he encourages in a whisper.

Unable to do anything more, Rennar does just that, lets her tears out. Sobs wrack her body, just as they did the night of the vision she had of Calisa, only more so now. Her arms squeeze tighter, though not enough to cut off Demonder's air, as he pulls her closer into an embrace. There is that need to be close to him, to be with him and in his arms, emitting from her - no words needing to be spoken to show that.

Demonder simply holds his intended in his arms, not caring if she was indeed strangling him, only caring about her getting better. His hands move across her back in a comforting matter, the lord not rushing her along. "That's it love..." he encourages in more quiet whispers, knowing he needs this to get better.