Page 39 of Quest of Fools

"I'm glad you made it," Marian said, the words barely audible.He drew back after a moment and looked over the rest of the room."Thank you, everyone, for helping Warf save me.I cannot imagine my fate if you'd not risked yourselves to come for me.I owe a debt I'll never be able to repay."

Helia scoffed."There's no debt for saving lives, Your Lordship.

Matching her scoff, smiling, Marian replied, "I think at the very least you can leave off formalities.I'm Marian, it's an honor to meet you."

Warf remained in the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms folded across his chest as he smiled and watched the proceedings.Marian seemed immediately to be an old friend to everyone, the kind lord of the manor who'd invited them to join him for dinner.

Eventually Viletti broke away from the rest of the group and came to join him."The men Clarkson hired are long gone, and Clarkson is locked in a closet.If she somehow manages to escape her bindings, I'll hear the bells we rigged, and she's not dressed for the weather, though I left her blankets enough, food, and everything else she'd need in there with her.Not a small closet, either, so don't think she's suffering more than boredom and the stinging humiliation of her own failure."

"I would never doubt you, Viletti.I trust you with my children.I am eternally grateful to have had you on this journey.Thank you, for everything."

"Thank me when we're home," she replied, but looked pleased all the same."Come on, let's go see what's in the larder while your betrothed enchants everyone."

Warf laughed and pushed himself upright before turning and leading the way into the hall.From there, Viletti took over, and it didn't take them long to find the surprisingly well-stocked kitchen.They gathered whatever didn't require cooking, some jugs of what smelled like beer, and carried it all back to the sitting room, where Marian continued to charm everyone like he hadn't been the one kidnapped this whole time.

He was amazing, and Warf would chase after him a thousand times if that was what he must do to keep him.Lady Clarkson should have appreciated what she had for a time, instead of treating him like a toy to be fought over.

Once food was set out and shared, Warf took a seat next to Marian on the loveseat, curving a hand around the back of his head just to reassure himself that Marian was really there, thathewas really there, and the hardest part of this journey was over.

By the time they finished eating, everyone was yawning, though it wasn't all that late in the day.Not even close to dinner time.Still, after the labor and the tension and the relief it was all over… they could probably sleep for hours, eat dinner, and go right back to bed.

Warf piled all the dishes up on a table to deal with later when he woke and dragged Marian off, content to leave the others to fend for themselves.

Back upstairs, he went left instead of right, settling on the room furthest down the hall, away from everything else, where hopefully they'd get plenty of quiet to relax and rest.Thankfully, the room was made up, if a little dusty, and it took little effort to light the lamps and get a fire going."Is this all right?"

"I wouldn't care if we were sleeping in the snow, so long as we were together," Marian replied."I'm still finding it hard to believe you'rehere."

Crossing the room, Warf swept him up into his arms and kissed him, murmuring, "I'm here."Another kiss."I finally found you."He set Marian on the bed and kissed him again, cradling the side of his face in one hand."We're going home the very moment the weather permits."He swung Marian's legs up so he was lying properly in bed and pulled the blankets up over him before bending to kiss his temple."Get some rest."

"Are you going to join me?"

"I would very much like to."

Marian smiled."I would too.I don't want to sleep alone, jumping at every sound, terrified she's going to come visit me, torment me while trying to convince me that kidnapping me and running off was the right thing to do and I'll remember I love her eventually."He shuddered, eyes wide with fear and shining with tears.

"You're safe, and if you want, I'll go down there and snap her neck."

"No, no killing, I don't want anyone dead, no matter how much I hate her.Just come to bed."

Warf locked the door, made certain the fire was set for the night, then shucked most of his clothes and crawled into bed.He pulled Marian in close and held him tightly, until he was finally able to fall asleep.Lulled by the sound of his steady breaths, the weight and warmth of Marian in his arms, Warf drifted off to sleep with a smile.

*~*~*

He woke to someone swearing, and dragged his eyes open to see Marian sucking on his thumb as he glared at something on a tray of tea and food.

"Everything all right?"Warf asked, voice still rough from sleep.

"Burned myself on the teapot," Marian replied, rolling his eyes."Didn't meant to wake you."

"You didn't.Warf threw back the blankets and climbed out of bed, not missing the eyes that followed him as he went to attend morning matters before joining Marian at the table."Did you sleep well?"

Marian smiled."Very well.Best sleep I've had since that last night we were together, before I snuck away thinking I'd probably never see you again."

Warf reached out to take his hand and kissed the back of it."You did what you thought was best, no matter the cost to yourself.I will never forget you did this because she threatened my children.They could ask for no better in a new parent."

"I hope they're all right," Marian said with a sigh, squeezing his hand before letting go to pour them tea and divide the food between two plates.He tried to give Warf the majority of it, but Warf simply kept moving it to Marian's plate until he surrendered with a huff and smile.

Warf waited until Marian had eaten several bites of food before starting on his own.They had all winter for him to fatten Marian up again, and he intended to do so.Whatever terrible fate Clarkson had waiting for her back home, it wasn't horrible enough.

---