< 04Molly > After several hours, they pull in to the tavern, having trailed behind the coach. They dismount, and leave the horses to the grooms. The tavern is quite small but very well kept. As they go in, her parents are talking with the landlady who speaks good, but accented Avalon. Martha sees them first and smiles a little,though she looks weary < 04Molly > David: And dinner will be ready shortly? *the landlady nods* Then we shall freshen up, and be down shortly. *he glances at Morgan and Molly before going upstairs* < 04Molly > Martha: *she comes over, and smiles a little at them, looking at Morgan* I can show you to your rooms if you like * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > probably best < 04Molly > Martha *she leads the way up the narrow stair case, and points to a room on the left* That is our room.... *Molly nods, and looks suprised as they continue down the corridor. At the other end of the corridor, she points to the left* Moll, this is your room, and Morgan, yours is opposite... *molly looks to Morgan with a raised eyebrow8 * @Morgan looks at the doors, face impassive < 04Molly > Martha *she spots the look, and shakes a disaproving head* Moll, your father wishes to speak to you alone after dinner... and then to you also Morgan... * @Morgan nods * Molly looks at her, nodding slightly < 04Molly > As he wishes, Mama... < 04Molly > Martha *she turns away, and goes down the corridor to her room* * Molly looks at Morgan once her mother is out of sight and earshot < 04Molly > How strange... < 08@Morgan > isn't it though * Molly looks at him with a gentle smile < 04Molly > I am going to freshen up and change for dinner * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > I'm going to make sure the horses are rubbed down properly * Molly nods, and goes in to her room. A little later, her parents are sat at the table in the tavern's dining room, talking quietly. There is no sign of Molly * @Morgan walks in from the stables, a slightly dissatisfied look on his face < 04Molly > *David and Martha both look up* David: good evening * @Morgan nods to them both < 08@Morgan > I trust you're not finding the journey too taxing? < 04Molly > Martha: *she blushes a bit* No, it is fine. Is all well with you? < 08@Morgan > more or less * Molly comes down in to the dining room, wearing her eisen dress in gold and brown. She looks poised and confident, a lady through and through. Both her parents look on with both pride and suprise. < 04Molly > Martha: *whispering* she looks so grown-up * @Morgan places a flatish piece of metal on the floor by a chair and goes to Molly * Molly smiles at him < 04Molly > I am sorry I am late < 08@Morgan > I think... I'd have to check to be sure, but I think its a lady's perogative to be late * Molly nods, and comes to the table < 04Molly > Martha: That is a beautiful dress, Moll, where did you get it? < 04Molly > Morgan sent it to me, though I could not say where in Eisen it came from, I don't believe I was told * Molly looks to Morgan < 08@Morgan > Frieburg * Molly smiles < 04Molly > It is my favourite * @Morgan pulls out a chair * Molly sits down < 04Molly > thank you, dear one * @Morgan picks up the piece of steel before sitting down himself < 04Molly > David *he frowns very briefly* Will we be travelling much longer? < 08@Morgan > not particularly * Molly and Martha both look at the metal, and a maid brings over their plates < 04Molly > Tomorrow and the day after, I will travel with you in the coach and teach you Eisen, Papa < 04Molly > David: Is that necessary? *he looks at Morgan* < 08@Morgan > were the situations reversed and it was my father coming to your house, would you not expect him to be able to speak _your_ native tongue? < 04Molly > David: Aye, true. Do your parents not speak Avalon? < 08@Morgan > my father speaks it haltingly... my mother speaks it as well as you < 04Molly > Martha: Of course you should teach us, Moll * Molly looks back to Morgan briefly whilst David says grace, and once he's finished, she starts to eat < 04Molly > what  do you have there, dear one? < 08@Morgan > a piece of metal < 04Molly > *they laugh* < 04Molly > what is it for? < 08@Morgan > its for Xantha... its armour for his face * Molly looks puzzled < 04Molly > You anticipate trouble? < 08@Morgan > no * @Morgan sighs slightly * Molly watches him a moment < 04Molly > *the others eat, keeping quiet* < 08@Morgan > after the war I left all of Xantha's armour in my parents house... it would appear someone has sold some of it... * Molly 's eyes darken < 04Molly > _someone_ in paticular? < 08@Morgan > I wouldn't have thought so < 04Molly > Martha *she watches the exchange intently, but says nothing* < 04Molly > perhaps it is just this piece? < 08@Morgan > possibly < 04Molly > but you doubt it? < 08@Morgan > well... if its a local serf, or even an outsider... it'd make more sense to sell it all, though... I wouldn't fancy carrying an entire horses armour < 04Molly > David: the trick would be to steal a horse as well, ully armour it, sell it bit by bit, then last sell the horse... * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > which would imply a quick need for money, rather than any real criminal intent < 04Molly > David: You will be able to locate the other pieces? < 08@Morgan > perhaps < 04Molly > How did you recognise it? < 08@Morgan > I spent an awfully long time very close to it... < 08@Morgan > and my initials are inside it < 04Molly > Must you report it to the Authorities? < 08@Morgan > to what end? a trail of "bought it from a man who got it from a man who... ". < 08@Morgan > Besides, noone is out of pocket but me < 04Molly > Martha: such armour must be worth a fortune! < 08@Morgan > must it? its steel < 04Molly > Martha: *she looks a little awkward* We don't own much steel on the farm, it's limited to tools for the field... < 08@Morgan > realistically, this would have little use... except for melting down... * Molly looks at it < 04Molly > I should imagine it ensured your safety, and his on several occasions < 08@Morgan > no... it ensured Xantha's though < 04Molly > Martha: But if he had been hurt, you would have been at further risk < 08@Morgan > thats quite true... < 04Molly > *everyone settles to eat quietly, and after pudding has been had, Martha excuses herself. David gets a glass of red wine from the landlady, and looks from Molly who remains seated, to Morgan* < 04Molly > David: I would like to speak with my daughter alone * @Morgan nods briefly, before getting up * Molly smiles at him < 04Molly > David: And I would speak with you afterwards, please * @Morgan looks at David calmly < 08@Morgan > as you wish < 04Molly > David: *he nods, very solemn, and moves to the table to sit opposite Molly* * Molly nods to Morgan,reassuring him that it will be ok * @Morgan wanders from the table back towards the stables < 04Molly > David: *ten minutes later, he walks in to the stable, looking for Morgan* * @Morgan stands close to Xantha, a hand on his neck < 04Molly > Morgan... < 08@Morgan > David... < 04Molly > I believe we need to have a discussion < 08@Morgan > then by all means, lets have one < 04Molly > *david leans against one of the supports* Martha tells me Molly is unhappy. Can you tell me why? < 08@Morgan > probably... < 04Molly > *david watches him closely* Then will you please do so? * @Morgan sighs slightly < 08@Morgan > no... I suspect Martha has explained why, as has Molly... < 04Molly > But as women, their undrstanding of issues is clouded by over-emotionality. As a man, I can trust that your judgement is based on logic. Are things very bad between you? < 08@Morgan > The desire to keep you happy is putting an awful strain on Molly and I... we daren't show each other barely any affection at all for worry that you will become enraged... < 04Molly > *david tries not to react, though there is a brief flicker of emotion* Mine is not an easy job in all of this * @Morgan sighs < 08@Morgan > David, I'm going to be brutally honest with you... < 04Molly > *david nods* please do, it is almost refreshing < 08@Morgan > You have sheep... and a field for the sheep... but through reasons that do not need to be covered, the field is not secure and the sheep escape... when you finally get all the sheep back, you pen them in in a small enclosure where you can keep and eye on them and make sure the're safe... < 08@Morgan > but the pen is too small and they are unhappy... < 08@Morgan > she's done a grand job of bringing herself up without your help... now either you trust she and I to comport ourselves with decorum and honour, in which case you will relax your overly watchful eye... < 08@Morgan > or you do not. * @Morgan turns to look at him to see if the implications have sunk in < 04Molly > *david smiles a little* and if not? < 08@Morgan > if not, I shall make arrangements for you to leave for Avalon in the morning. Make no mistake David, no matter who and what you may think I am... I will not have a man who does not respect me in my fathers house. < 08@Morgan > and lastly... if you do not, I suspect you'll lose even the tentative love of your daughter < 04Molly > *he looks shocked, and then grins* _this_ is why I want you to marry her, she deserves such a defender! * @Morgan watches him carefully < 04Molly > I will 'enlarge' your 'pen', as you put it, but I have rules < 08@Morgan > oh I've no doubt < 04Molly > Firstly, I would expect you to be discreet * @Morgan raises an eyebrow < 04Molly > *he pauses, as if waiting for an acceptance* * @Morgan nods slowly < 04Molly > Second, she must remain ummm.... pure, until your wedding night < 08@Morgan > frankly I'm offended that you thought that needed saying < 04Molly > Best to be upfront I believe, let us leave no room for misunderstandings * @Morgan nods < 04Molly > And lastly, neither of you is to sleep in the others bed < 08@Morgan > agreed < 04Molly > Then in that case, I trust her to your hands * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > I trust we will not be having words like this again... people do not get many chances after offending me < 04Molly > *he moves away from the pillar* I understand. Have you anything further you wish to discuss? < 08@Morgan > one thing... < 04Molly > *he nods* go on < 08@Morgan > when we arrive, you will treat my father with respect... I will not have your manner be as when you met Captain Holzheim < 04Molly > *he sighs* That was wrong of me... though not based on him being Eisen < 08@Morgan > the cad and bounder reaction? < 04Molly > *he rubs his brow* Have you _looked_ at that man?! He is enough to make me want to shield Martha's eyes so that she never sees his good looks! < 08@Morgan > aye, I know... but he has a good heart. < 08@Morgan > my point stands, however < 04Molly > And it is taken, of course. * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > then we have nothing further < 04Molly > *he nods* well, good night then < 08@Morgan > good night David < 04Molly > *he goes out of the barn*