*Upon returning from his early morning patrol, the sun is now risen in the east, over the woods. It casts a beautiful warm golden light on the gatehouse and the front of the cottage. The curtains are drawn back, showing Molly scrubbing the floor with very hot water, hands quite red. She desn't look up, but is talking to herself quietly, her expression tense, obviously discomfitted.* *morgan wanders into the house, immediately placing his sword in a cupboard, but leaving the belt on* you're going to damage your hands like that blossom *she looks up at him, putting the scrubbing brush back in to the bucket. Her voice is serious.* You're right... How was your patrol this morning, Morgan? *she frowns briefly at the lack of one of her usual terms of endearment* *morgan rolls his eyes* frantic. i think we've had people on the estate since the last gathering... theres more footprints down there than should be. other than that, though... *Molly stands, going to the sink with the bucket. she speaks distractedly, back to him.* That may need watching... Morgan, I... ummmm... *she sighs softly, from behind her body language is very tense* about last night... *morgan speaks quietly, standing very still* go on *she keeps her back turned* I didn't.... it wasn't... I don't know... *she takes a deep breath* I am very sorry... *he keeps his voice low, even* for? *her voice trembles* For... for behaving in an inapprpriate manner... for pushing too fast... *her voice drops to a whisper* for enjoying it so much... then you have nothing to be sorry for. i have no issues with what happened at all. *molly turns, surprised* You have not? no. i have not. there are many things that still scare me, but what we did is not an issue *Molly breaks in to a smile, and comes slightly nearer* I am so very relieved to hear that, dear heart. I lay awake the rest of the night, mostly through fear that you would be regretful... or not wish it to be repeated... *she blushes* ummm... might I ask what it is that scares you? numerous things. the strength of the effect it had on me, but mostly... other things *Molly's breathing quickens, and she has to look away, cheeks red* I am pleased that it was not I alne who felt so strongly. Curious as I am to know, I shall not force your confidance. all things in due time, blossom. *he looks around* is there any bread? i didnt eat before going out *she goes and gets him some bread* did you manage to rest at all after... afterwards? *morgan coughs, cheeks red* not really, no. i've actually been in the forest for a good hour longer than normal *molly kisses his flushed cheek gently, giving him the bread* It seems then that for various reasons *she blushes* we were both quite unsettled. Did you find being out in the cool morning air helped? *she looks away, clearly distracted by her thoughts, thoughts which cause her eyes to sparkle and her fingers to go to her lower lip* it helped provide some clarity for things that bother me I dearly hope the things that bother you were not my fault, for I meant no harm... I might have been well to go out for a walk, this heat is troubling, makes me feel faint... but then it is april, so it is the warmer weather of spring... *he looks mildly amused* Some of it is definitely your fault but not by design. *molly bites her lower lip* I would never wish to hurt you, in a thousand turns of the year... *she blushes, and looks down at her hands. Her voice is on purposely neutral to not show her feelings on it* If you  in anyway feel it necessary, there will be no repeat.... *Morgan speaks evenly, though quietly* I think perhaps it would be best if it were not to happen again until... well, nearer the wedding. I would not wish for our... enthusiasm to get the better of us. *Molly tries very hard to maintain her neutralility, and knowing it will fail, she turns away to pick up her bonnet. She speaks completely evenly, no hint of her feelings* Though I do not share that fear, I respect your decision. When do you wish to speak to your father? I suppose we ought to go directly... the sooner it is resolved, the sooner we can leave for Eisen... *Molly turns around, smiling softly, though she is distracted* Quite so... I would rather not put it off any longer than absolutely necessary I... no, it does not matter. *she puts her bonnet on* When will you be ready to leave? *Morgan looks at her intesly* You what? *Molly pauses before tying the ribbons, eyes downcast* I am afraid I will shock or upset you to continue such a statement... There is little you could say that would upset me blossom *molly fiddles with the ribbons, blushing hard. Her voice is soft* I... I would like to get married as soon as possible... if you feel it best to wait til we are wed, than I would wish that time to come soon... *morgan looks surprised * You wish it to happen again? I would've thought that you'd rather remove the risk of it going too far *Molly keeps her eyes on the floor, her voice hesitant, almost timid, but full of ardour* Yes, I wish it to happen again... and... *she bites her lip* and often... But that you are reluctant causes me disquiet, so my own passions and desires will be set aside to maintain your happiness and peace of mind. I am not afraid of things progressing too far. *she looks to him briefly, her eyes totally unguarded for revealing so much* *he nods* I see. Something we must discuss once the conversation with your father has been concluded I think *she smiles softly* I would not have it become an issue between us, dear heart. I am content to wait, with the notion that some day in the future, once we are wed, it may be repeated. I care far more for what we have than what we could have... I think perhaps you do not understand. It is not that I do not wish it to happen... It is that I am concerned that it will go too far and you will be upset or offended. *he blushes* *she moves slightly closer, and takes the bonnet off, placing it on the table. she speaks barely more than a whisper, as if the words are some how too powerful to be spoken louder. She visibly trembles* There is nothing, _absolutely_ nothing that could occur between us that I would be upset, offended or regretful of, unless it hurt you, or pushed your heart from me. I am pleased to hear that, blossom, truly I am *she swallows hard, looking a little uncertain whether to speak further. She moves against him, on to her tiptoes, and whispers in his ear, wors delivered softly, lingeringly* As I have spoken before, I view myself as yours, and would happily and very willingly yield to you completely, were it your wish... please, do not be afraid of my feelings or responses at all. *morgan swallows hard* I think that... No... I _know_ that, now we are to be married, you deserve the best I can give... Including your staying a virgin until the wedding *she smiles softly, finding herself aware of his reaction. she stays close. The thudding of her heart is noticeable* If that is your wish dear heart, but that wish should come from your desire, and not from fear of me. It is the wisest choice, aye.... *she sounds as if she is going to say more, but stops herself* *Molly suddenly moves away from him, cheeks scarlet, heart thudding, eyes downcast. Her voice is low, urgent* I beg you, excuse me, I have spoken far too much. *she takes a step further towards the stairs, tears coming to her eyes with shame* Blossom you worry to muvh about upsetting me. *he takes a step after her* *she doesnt turn back, though slows a little, almost as if subconciously wanting to be caught* How can I do ought else? The way I feel for you... *she shakes her head* I am afraid I will voice it too strongly, and you will be troubled and resentful. *he smiles vaguely, taking another step* I am _always_ troubled by something. But I suspect that whatever you could say would not make me resentful. *she stops in her tracks, back still to him* Morgan, I... I am not afraid that things will progress. I will come to you completely pure... whether that purity is given to you after the wedding, or before, it does not matter to me. All that is important to me is that it is you I yield to, you who... *her voice becomes lower, softer, with an air of sensuality* who takes me to his bed to do wih me as he pleases. My... Issue is that you _deserve_ better. I do not ask you to do such, dear heart. I understand why it would be too soon... I would not let things between us progress further than you could cope with, no matter whether I strongly desired them to or not. Sometimes blossom, the anticipation is as much fun, as exhillerating. *she turns to him, eyes soft, submissive* you find it exhilirating? Don't you? *she finds her eyes dropping to his lips, and she answers, slightly distractedly, words flowing with less caution than normal* If... if I were not so afraid of upsetting you, yes, I would find it very much so, the way that when near you my heart pounds, and my mind races to... well, all manner of inappropriate things, and my fingertips tingle through want of touching you, aye... *his face becomes serious* I think there is something we must discuss *Molly looks tense and anxious* Then please, I would not have it drawn out. It is a small thing, but it is something you should know before the wedding, indeed before we speak with your father *Molly nods, eyes tense, her whole body tightening with nerves. She speaks very quietly, afraid* I see... I suspect it would be an Easy thing for most to admit *he looks to the floor* *Molly reaches out to him, touching his upper arm tenderly, eyes compassionate* Whatever it is, we will find a way... I believe there are no obstacles we could overcome... As I say blossom it is something you should know. It first occurred to me while having the...'discussion' with siobahn. *Molly sighs softly* Please, tell me... it pains my mind to jump to conclusions that will probably be unfounded. I want you to know, I did not ask for your hand out of some imposed idea on someone elses prompting *She breaks in to one of the warmest smiles ever seen, her eyes light up, and tears of joy shimmer across their bright blueness, like a summer pool under the sun* I am incredibly glad to hear that, truly. *she squeezes his arm softly* Please, allow me to finish. Its important *she nods, taking her hand from his arm and dropping it by her side, not speaking* I do not marry you because I should, or because you deserve so. I do not marry you because a friend bullied me into it . Indeed, all she did was make me see what was obvious. I do not marry you for any of this. I marry you because... *his voice lowers* because I love you. *Molly starts to grin broadly, cheeks reddening and her dimples appearing. She bites her lip, making it a deep shade of pink. Her eyes sparkle with the joy she feels at such, and she trembles notceibly, fighting hard to stop her knees from giving way.* Morgan, I... *she swallows hard, clearly quite overwhelmed.* *morgan starts to blush* Perhaps we should be on our way to speak with your father... *she takes a deep breath, shaking her head* In but a moment... *she goes to him, and embraces him tenderly, carefully. she rests her cheek against the broadness of his chest, and closes her eyes. She speaks softly, quietly, barely more than a whisper* I love you also, very deeply indeed. *morgan holds her tightly * I am sorry it took me so long to admit it... I'm also sorry tthat it cost me a friend to see the truth of the situation *she squeezes him slightly, hearing the thud of his heart loudly against her ear, eyes still closed, the rest of the world a complete insignificance in comparison to being in his arms* I would not have you apologise for waiting, in truth I could have waited a thousand years to hear you say those words, and still thought the slow trickle of time an easy sacrifice for the joy, shock and amazement I feel at this moment.