* Molly carefully packs them away and takes them in to the bedroom. He can tell from the way she pauses after putting it down and then  straightens her posture, shoulders squaring, that she is mentally preparing herself for their upcoming discussion. (Mtf)
* Molly comes back in, looking serious, and pauses in the middle of the room. She watches him a long moment as if she is memorising his features. There's something sad in her expression, and he can already see the tears starting to well
(@Morgan) whats going on blossom?
* Molly holds out her hands to him, voice quiet
(Molly) Will you come to me, liebes herz?
* @Morgan takes her hands, watching her
* Molly takes a deep breath.  Her voice is quiet but impassioned. Her eyes don't leave his, constantly monitoring every facial expression. The first tear falls before she even manages to speak the first word.
(Molly) Liebling, I _love_ you. I _live_ for you.
* @Morgan stays still, washing her
(@Morgan) watching*
(Molly) I would endure _any_ cruelty or harm for you.
* Molly becomes even more solemn, another tear falling
(Molly) I would_kill_ for you, and I would _die_ for you.
(@Morgan) Blossom, you need to tell me whats going on... now
* Molly runs her tongue along the inside edge of her lower lip nervously before speaking in a tone of finality
(Molly) I am going to press my suit with his Grace.
(@Morgan) why?
(Molly) Because I can bear pain for myself, but I can not bear _yours_. It would take more strength than I have.
(@Morgan) No. I will not have you bearing that burden, and what it may do to you and Varick.
* Molly bows her head, speaking quietly
(Molly) The choice is not yours, liebes herz
(@Morgan) You are making that choice for the wrong reason.
(Molly) I am choosing what I must. I cannot and will not allow you to experience that.
* Molly looks up at him, very solemnly
(@Morgan) What I must experience is not _your_ choice either
(Molly) I alone can prevent her dying like that
* @Morgan raises an eyebrow
* Molly frowns slightly
(@Morgan) Or she could be given poison, or shot on the way to the stake... 
(Molly) Not without risk to you.
(@Morgan) I never said it'd be me
* Molly watches him, trying to read whether he seems to be seriously planning this
(Molly) It's too dangerous. And illegal.
* @Morgan watches her before speaking quietly
(@Morgan) Fine. Do as you will.
* Molly sighs, watching him
(Molly) It is the best option. Before I voiced my uncertainty, you were keen upon the idea. It makes perfect sense.
* @Morgan stays silent
* Molly watches him, waiting. She looks a little wary.
(Molly) Every day since that one where you told me what had happened I have sought to take some of that pain for you. In this last year,  I have learnt that I cannot do that.  I have neither the skills nor experience. But I can do _this_. I can prevent you from seeing, and hearing,  and feeling everything that will occur. Let me do that for you.
(@Morgan) Since your mind is made up, _letting_ you is not my choice, is it. And since your mind is made up, my counsel on it is no longer required.
* Molly looks wounded
(Molly) Please, liebes herz, do not do this. I want only what is best for us all.
(@Morgan) Do not do what? I have not made that decision...
(Molly) You are drawing away, and that hurts me beyond measure.
* Molly loosens her grip on his hands, though doesn't let go
(@Morgan) You expected a different reaction?
* Molly shakes her head sadly
(Molly) No. But I was hopeful that you would see that it is a choice that keeps you as safe as I can. That you would see that the consequences of me having to live each day knowing I had allowed you to go through it were too high a price to pay.
(@Morgan) You are wrong.
* Molly bites her lower lip
(Molly) In what regard?
(@Morgan) That it will be too high a price... The price you will pay, given your nature, is higher.
* Molly shakes her head
(Molly) It isn't. Every time you have that nightmare from that point on, I will have to lie there knowing that my decision has caused that, that I have brought you that again. Each time you look sad or troubled, I will wonder if that is why. Every single day I would need to live with the guilt of hurting you. What you're asking, that would be too high a price for me.
(@Morgan) Then as I said, my counsel is not required, and I shall discuss it no more
* Molly watches him, though her vision is blurred by the volume of tears there
(Molly) The choice was never between her life and her death.  She will die regardless of my decision. She saw to that when she had him killed, poisoned me, and threatened to destroy you. Her life or her death has been entirely her choice, not mine, nor yours.
* Molly blinks, allowing the tears to fall so she can focus better upon his face
* @Morgan stays silent
(Molly) My choice was between Death, and Death With Compassion.  Compassion to you, to Varick, to myself, and to her.
* Molly watches him, unspeaking
(@Morgan) As you wish.
* Molly lets go of his hands, glancing away
(Molly) I do not want to be at odds with you
(@Morgan) That is your choice
* Molly looks back to him, but wraps her arms around herself
(Molly) Can you not understand my feelings?
(@Morgan) I understand what your feelings will be once she's dead, and I don't think you can carry that burden
* Molly tilts her chin up a little
(Molly) Yes I can. She is going to die regardless. I can not stop that. Nor, given how hell-bent she is upon ending my life to hurt you, would I.
(@Morgan) as I have said... you have decided, there is no point in discussing it
(Molly) I know you wish to protect me, liebes herz, just as badly as I want to protect you.
(Molly) When it comes down to it, ever since I learnt how to heal the human body at Mrs Tanner's house, I have known the one truth about being a medic: That wherever possible, it is my duty to prevent suffering. Acting with compassion and mercy is the most important thing a healer can do. Sometimes that mercy includes taking steps that end someone's pain and fear. I can give us all that mercy.
(@Morgan) clearly you have made your mind up
* Molly bows her head
(Molly) Tell me you wouldn't do the same in my position.
(@Morgan) Thats what I was doing, but you have taken that away
(Molly) We can not risk taking an action against her that could get you executed.
(@Morgan) Stop trying to persuade me... you've made it clear you've made your choice
(Molly) I wish you could see how difficult a position this puts me in.
* @Morgan folds his arms
* Molly sits down on the couch,  looking up at him, quiet
* Molly speaks quietly
(Molly) Before today, I never anticipated being in such conflict with you
(@Morgan) Something like this is bound to create conflict
* Molly sighs softly
(Molly) We are at odds because we both care far too much about the other to allow their pain and suffering
* @Morgan nods slightly
* Molly stands up, moving to the table. Slowly she makes a cup of tea,  clearly brooding and mulling things over. She looks up at him, still serious
(Molly) Will you have tea?
* @Morgan nods
* Molly makes him one, bringing both cups over before giving him his and sitting back down. She's still clearly thinking
(Molly) It would be the same for you, wouldn't it? Every nightmare I have, every time I am distressed or pensive, you will feel guilty that you could not prevent me choosing to push my case...
(@Morgan) And thats what you've left me with... though I _could_ stop it.
* Molly frowns
(Molly) Could you?
* @Morgan nods slowly
* Molly looks thoughtful
(Molly) You could forbid me... but I cannot promise I would not defy you, though it would break my heart to do so
(@Morgan) Blossom, if I chose to deny you, not even Faulk could overrule me
* Molly looks at the floor, head bowed
(Molly) You would not do that.
(@Morgan) No, I would not.
(@Morgan) But I want you to realise that I _could_ have.
* Molly nods slightly
(Molly) I realise that now.
* Molly still doesn't look up
(Molly) There would be a cruel irony in forbidding me as my "superior" to allow her to be punished for petty treason when the reason it is petty treason is because her husband was her "superior"
* @Morgan nods
* Molly sips her tea, still brooding
(@Morgan) If your mind is truly made up, I will not try to sway you
(Molly) There is no choice in this situation that does not end in heartache and a rift between us.
* Molly looks at him sadly
(Molly) I do not want that for us. We have had enough of a battle to get this far.
(@Morgan) We'll overcome this
* Molly nods, tears falling again, looking at the surface of the tea
(Molly) I hope so, liebes herz
* Molly takes a deep breath, looking up at him
(Molly) I need some time to think about it. I hadn't considered all the consequences.
(@Morgan) It is your choice
* Molly watches him directly
(Molly) And if I choose to go ahead, you will not take those other actions to resolve the situation before she is executed?
* Molly 's tone is curiosity, not command
(@Morgan) I won't need to. 
(Molly) They were only solutions to the petty treason punishment?
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I don't want you shouldering that burden... but it'd mean I don't have to do anything to avoid burning
(Molly) As I have already said, no matter what happens, she will not survive this. But it would not be my burden.
* Molly smiles wryly sipping her tea
(Molly) But I do not want you shouldering the burden of feeling I am shouldering the burden because you did not forbid me
* @Morgan shakes his head
(Molly) You do not agree? *She looks puzzled *
(@Morgan) Whatever we do, we need to stand together
* Molly nods slowly
(Molly) We cannot allow disagreement over what to do with her to come between us. That is exactly what she would want.
* @Morgan nods
* Molly sips her tea
(Molly) Either way, I want his Grace to commit to ending the disparity between the punishment for spouses.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) agreed
(Molly) To achieve that, either I push and it appeals his conscience enough that he agrees to my two conditions...
(Molly) ... Or he stays from beginning to the very end of her execution, so that reality can fill with horror in any gaps in his imagination.
(@Morgan) Oddly enough, that one was my condition too
* Molly smiles slightly
(Molly) I am glad we are in accord on that
* Molly looks thoughtful
(Molly) *she speaks very quietly* _If_ you were to arrange an... intervention... how safe would you be from an repercussions?
(@Morgan) Safe enough
(Molly) You realise it is almost certainly high treason as well as murder?
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) You could lose everything. Your life, your birthright. Even ever stepping foot on Eisen soil again? *she watches him with intensity*
(@Morgan) Burning people is barbaric, and it must not stand
(Molly) But at the cost of your own life, liebes herz?
(@Morgan) if needs must
(Molly) Is it worth it, compared to just having her beheaded?
* @Morgan shrugs
* Molly sips her tea again, clearly debating  the topic in her head
(Molly) I couldn't bear to lose you because you were trying to protect me from what you feel I will suffer
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I'm more thinking if the Eisenfurst won't agree to your case being prioritised
(Molly) Why would he not?
* @Morgan shrugs
(Molly) I have his "respect and protection", and he finds it very hard seeing me cry.
(@Morgan) So you plan to manipulate him?
* Molly frowns, then looks somewhat ashamed
(Molly) If I could not persuade him or charm him, yes.
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) You disapprove?
(@Morgan) Frankly, if I thought I could manipulate him into changing things, I would
(Molly) I suspect he will need an excuse to get around the law. And prioritising my claim gives him that excuse...
* Molly tilts her head thoughtfully
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) Which begs an interesting question...
(Molly) Do I need to push, or does he just need the opportunity to make a decision he was inclined to? Especially if he understood the position _he_ is putting you and I in
(@Morgan) possibly just needs a nudge, to be honest
* Molly smiles slightly
(Molly) It would be amenable to you, were the excuse my priority of claim, but the decision and choice his?
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) probably
(Molly) Do you think it could work? Usually I am able to get my own way with Eisen men...
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) more than likely, he is very fond of you
* Molly smiles slightly
(Molly) That was entirely my intention. *She gives him a sidelong glance, sipping her tea* it must be your Avalon blood that prevents me getting my own way with you so easily
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I'm just awkward
* Molly smiles
(Molly) It isn't that. You prioritise giving me what I need over what I want.
(@Morgan) Perhaps
* Molly sips her tea thoughtfully
(Molly) What we would ideally like now is to present the option to his Grace, and let the decision be his?
* @Morgan shrugs
* Molly watches him
(Molly) You do not wish for me to push my claim and make that choice, and I do not wish you to forbid me as your wife, or be party to her execution   either by fire or less... legal methods.
(@Morgan) You've already stated you've made your choice
* Molly frowns
(Molly) But I did not have all the information then that I do now
* Molly watches his body language and expression over the rim of her cup as she drinks her tea
(Molly) It is more complicated than I thought it was.
* @Morgan nods slowly
(Molly) I had not realised there would be consequences to you of my making that decision.  *She smiles slightly* I thought perhaps we would argue,  but you would come to see my point of view and why protecting you is so vital to me that I would sacrifice anything for it
* @Morgan shakes his head
* Molly smiles a little
(Molly) Which bit do you disagree with?
(@Morgan) I don't think you realised how set I am against you bearing the burden... but as you say, it'll be down to the Eisenfurst in the end
(Molly) *her expression turns sombre* I realised you would be deeply opposed to it, even to the point that you may choose divorce, or lose love and respect for me. And I weighed this up against my need to protect you, and decided that although it would destroy me, it was a risk I had to take.
(@Morgan) You chose what you wanted over our potential future...
* Molly bows her head, looking deeply wounded
(Molly) Our potential future is at risk by not preventing this from happening also. My choice was for our future, so that your healing was not undone.
(@Morgan) I disagree
* Molly frowns slightly
(Molly) You do not feel witnessing that would put your healing at risk, or you feel I selfishly made that choice?
(@Morgan) both
* Molly 's jaw tenses a little, as do her fingers on the cup
(Molly) Selfishly... Nothing about that decision was for my own benefit.
(@Morgan) I didn't say it was
(Molly) Oh. Selfishly because I made the decision alone?
* @Morgan nods

* Molly nods and bows her head, biting the left side of her lower lip. She removes the handkerchief from her sleeve, that familiar navy one. She runs her thumb over that embroidery of her name and the forget me nots, and fights valiantly against the ache in her chest and the tears in her eyes. (Mtf)
(Molly) **There is a knock at the door. Oren says loudly "It's just Colonel Fuchs to see the Veisgrafin". Molly wipes the tears, both new and old, and smudged mascara from under her eyes, squares her shoulders a little and inhales deeply. She looks at Morgan, and there's something in her expression that is intensely vulnerable. She looks lost and unsure. (Done)
* @Morgan speaks quietly
(@Morgan) we'll speak with the Eisenfurst and face whatever comes together, as always
* Molly looks relieved. She nods, rising from the couch. Her volume matches his
(Molly) Thank you, liebes herz
(Molly) **Through the door, Oren can be heard*  Maybe they're a bit busy, Colonel. The little Captain goes to bed quite early, see?
(@Morgan) best let him in
* Molly blushes
(Molly) Come in, Colonel
(Molly) **Fuchs opens the door, looking awkward and almost wary. He comes in and bows to them both before looking to Molly. Though he affects polite nonchalance, Morgan can see that he is studying her.
(Molly) F: Stef sent me a note to ask me to tell you she would be honoured to visit as requested, my Lady. **Molly nods slowly in response. After a couple more seconds of watching her, he looks to Morgan*
(Molly) I have the plans for the temporary guards in the guard room, if you wanted to check them through before you go to town.
* @Morgan nods
* Molly watches them both, though stays quiet
(Molly) F: Are you available now? The sooner it is implemented, the smoother it will be tomorrow
* @Morgan looks to Molly
(@Morgan) if you'll excuse me?
* Molly nods
(Molly) Of course, liebes herz
* @Morgan turns to Fuchs
(@Morgan) after you
(Molly) F: *he bows to her before going out *
* @Morgan follows him