Laurie and Jean walked together through the orchards, hand in hand.
"The manor is as lovely as you described it Laurie." Jean said scanning back to the house. There was peace here, and everything seemed to flood with light and life. She noted the oddity of the three candles out here in the orchard, but Laurie had barely noticed their existence.
Laurie smiled. "Thank you." -I wish you could have come here on your own to see it under better circumstances. - She also took note to remind herself to return to the orchard later in the evening to retrieve the three candles that had been lit ages ago to begin Sir Leif and Taylor's journey.
More quiet time passed, as the shadows grew longer. "I'm surprised Laurie, I'm sure you're teeming with questions I would have thought you'd have asked dozens by now." Jean teased.
Laurie looked at her dearest friend. "I thought it best you bring it up Jean. I know you're not unreasonably willful."
Jean laughed and sank into a bench next to a fountain. "Willful? Hardly these days." She sighed.
"You do not have to go back if you do not want to." Laurie sat next to her. Jean shuddered.
"Sir Colin will have the necessary proof. There will be little your Sir Glen can do Laurie. But I thank you for your concern. I've not pleased Sir Colin. I will..."she trailed off sadly for a moment. "I still endeavor to serve him better."
"Jean, it will be impossible to please Sir Colin. You would not the only member of Sir Colin's Manor to find a safe haven here with Sir Glen and I." Laurie rested her head on Jean's shoulder.
Jean only cleared her throat unable to speak. Her minutes of freedom were waning here with Laurie. She only wanted to sit and savor the moment here.
The driveway to Sir Colin's Manor was lined with torches as Sir Colin and Jean stepped onto the paving that would lead them to the main entry. Not one of the windows that looked on the driveway showed any signs of being occupied, though the hour was hardly late by any standards.
"I've been waiting for your return." Sir Colin greeted them; a servant hovered in the shadows nervously behind him. A scroll was hastily shoved towards Sir Glen.
"I trust this should meet with your approval. And I would like my girl back. We have unfinished business." Sir Glen opened the scroll and studied it briefly knowing that there would be nothing he could actually fault with this document nearly instantly.
"Well, thank you Sir Colin for your patience. I do hope that I will see Jean again. She and my Laurie began together as companions, I'm sure they'll enjoy seeing each other more often now that they know where they are."
A forced smile crawled upon Sir Colin's lips. "Of course, but only after I see to Jean's needs."
Sir Glen folded his arms behind his back as he nodded and Jean joined the servant in the shadows. But when it became apparent that Sir Glen wasn't just going to leave, Sir Colin shuddered and dared himself ask one final question. "Is there something I might be able to do for the great Sir Glen?"
"Send your servant and Jean away Sir Colin. I have a business offer for you." Sir Glen cleared his throat to mask his nervousness.
Colin waved his servant and Jean away wondering what cards Sir Glen held. "I never thought you'd come to me? Perhaps it is time that Laurie of yours learn some discipline?" Colin rubbed both hands together expectantly.
Sir Glen swallowed hard trying not to think of Laurie in the hands of the man in front of him and spoke quietly. "I know you better than you think Sir Colin. Jean will now be a burden to you as I know of her and she has someone who will champion on her behalf. Name your price, and you'll be rid of her."
Sir Colin raised an eyebrow at the proposition at hand. He hadn't expected Sir Glen to come crawling to him without a complete offer.
"Why Sir Glen, I had never thought of such an offer before. I'll need some time."
"You know where to find me. I expect an answer by tomorrow." Sir Glen turned away to leave.
When it was clear that Sir Glen had gone, Sir Colin entered his study, finding Jean and his servant waiting for him.
"Put her in the dungeons for the time being." Sir Colin waved them away. He didn't want any distraction while he contemplated the highest price he could take from Sir Glen.
Much to Jean's relief, the dungeons this night were entirely empty. Most of Sir Colin's companions were either recovering from last night in a private wing, or out doing his bidding. Of his original manor, only three or four of Sir Colin's companions has been returned. Combined with the six companions Sir Dylan left, Sir Colin had to make do with less than he had been accustomed to.
Jean found a quiet corner to look out the single window at the stars that night. She found herself drifting to the dreams she used to keep herself sane since Sir Colin had arrived. She closed her eyes, hearing the only voice that reasoned away her worries and helped her survive.
She remembered his cool hands and the way they cupped her face as he drank her kisses. Jean longed for a comforting word that would put this entire nightmare away. But she knew he could not come no matter how much she wished for it. But her memories would suffice this night.
It was ages ago when she first came to Sir Dylan. It was her second week when he finally noticed his new charge and requested her presence alone in his chambers. Until that time, Jean had only seen the doors and heard the throes of pleasure that emanated from behind at all hours of the day. But she found herself inside the lavishly decorated room. Nearly every surface was either velvet or leather. Not even the hand carved tables in the room escaped the personal touch of Sir Dylan's decorating style. She stood near the fireplace, staring in unaware she had taken the hem of her gown in hand and was nervously twisting it in anticipation of Sir Dylan's arrival.
