Lothar does not clad himself.
As softly as he can, he says:
"Tele, would you not look upon your husband to be?"
Lothar does his best to stamp down on his frustration.
She has had it far worse.
"Well, we did meet in better circumstances."
[ooc]That wry observation fell flat.[/i]
The large rake across his armor sends Darne back a bit and heaving. The armor barely seemed to do anything against this creature. He looked down at the bleeding injury and behind him to the two in the water.
"Maester, you better not start drowning!" he yelled as he decided to try and lead the bear away.
He backed up 8 yards, waving the Trident at his foe. "Chase me or GIT!" he yelled at the large creature.
Holding tightly to the maester, her savior though possibly she will be his death, Aaralyn calms down just enough though fear was still running through her.
Yet the whole time she gripped tightly to the broach.
Maester Anders dives in and reaches Lady Aaralyn quickly only to find that the river runs fast and that helping her out of the waters could be more difficult than he had initially surmised...
Darne pauses as he watches the bear for a couple of seconds. He slams the prongs down on his Trident and immediately sprints towards the water and dives in.
He reaches out a hand and wraps it around Aaralyn first.
Kicking her legs Aaralyn tries to keep her head above water and attempt to not drowned Anders as well. When she feels Darne wrap his arm around her she panics for only a moment till she realizes it was her betrothed.
Mustering his courage, and looking Tele in the eye, Lothar continues:
"Tele, I love you. I would see us happy together."
And he leans in to kiss her.
When they where solidly upon land Aaralyn, still soaking wet and shivering from the cold river, dropped the broach. Her hand burning as she looked at her palm. Dots of blood and gashes from the edges of the broach greeted her and she shuttered from half of the cold and the other half of the blood.
Gently picking up the broach with her unharmed hand she looked to Anders and Darne. "T-thank you..." She said through chattering teeth. "S-S-ser S-s-savaric." Aaralyn muttered as she looked around for him. The last thing she remembered was him pushing her out of the way from a bear.
Darne once he got footing made sure that Aaralyn could stand before he grabbed his Maester by the arm and pulled him up as well. He looked positively drenched, the ring mail chinging as he tried to wring himself off a bit.
He looked to Aaralyn having almost forgotten the man with her. He held up a hand "You, go with the Maester, chase down those cowards who ran off to leave the Knight to die. I'll go and check on him and carry the man home if I haveto. Here's hoping that nasty bear decided fish was more his interest..." he said before pausing and thinking to reconsider.
He shook his head "No..Maester, stay with her and catch your breath. I'll call for you if the bear has run off. I can't even take care of the injuries I have, let alone take care of the Knight if he's still alive and could be saved." he said thinking better of himself.
With that, he proceeded to start carefully making his way back towards the scene of battle.
Lothar does not hesitate in responding.
"From when I first saw you, I felt - everything. No matter what happened, I could not ignore that, or you. "
"With all due respect," the Maester speaks while catching his breath, "I should tend to Ser Savaric wounds. And time is of the essence as he could be dying as we speak!"
With that, having quickly ascertained that both Lady Aaralyn and Darne are fine for the time being, he also makes his way to the scene of the battle, but with less care and greater haste.
Aaralyn gladly allowed Darne to help her up, her wet clothes made moving a bit more difficult than normal and the cold was starting to set in. The young Karstark was shaking, though that was likely more do to the stressful situation than the weather and her wet gown.
When two men began to head back to where Aaralyn and Savaric has been before and where she had gone into the river at, Aaralyn followed. Staying with them was her best chance and truly she wanted to know what happened to Savaric. As the walked Aaralyn's shifted from their path to Anders, then Darne a few times. It seemed like she wanted to say something but chose not to.
Lothar holds her in his arms, trying to comfort her with his presence.
Should desire reignite, he will not refuse it. But he will not press.
Lothar looks Tele straight in the eye.
"Yes, my lady, you do."
He surprises himself by how much he means it.
Aaralyn covered her mouth with both hands as the came upon the scene. Her knees weak and mind racing, Aaralyn buckled under the weight of her body and heavy wet clothes. Dropping down to her knees she couldn't pull her eyes away from Savaric's form. He had taken the blow the creature had meant for her, she knew that was his job, but her heart still ached. He had been close to her father, though she didn't know him too well, and while he didn't agree how she acted towards her father after finding out about Tele's death was still respective about it. "S-savric... this is all my fault..." She muttered through her hands.
Maester Anders is distracted for only a brief instant by the lone crow flying above.
"Not your fault!" Maester Anders speaks abruptly as he rushes to the side of the fallen knight while fishing in his satchel for a small bottle of strong alcohol with which he cleanses his hands. His decisive and confident demeanour is inspiring, but the manner in which he addresses the noblewoman is almost impertinent – the bastard doesn’t know his place.
He further inspects the wound and attempts to stop the blood flow with bandages…
Darne grabbed his trident and gently put a hand on Aaralyn's shoulder "You did you duty to your Lady in Waiting as he did his duty as a Knight. If he survives, ask him if he'd choose to save you again if he could go back and do this moment over again...he'd answer yes without thinking for a second about it." he said softly.
He moved forward to the Maester's side "Will the man live? That bear was a strong beast, I was lucky myself to survive a hit." he said solemnly.
"Wondering if he will live will not save his life!" Maester Anders answers sharply, his hands red with the knight's blood. "We'll need more bandages. And we'll need a cart to transport him!"
"And you're the only know who has knowledge to save him!" Aaralyn snapped at Anders. "So quick snapping at us and do you damn job!" She said as she crossed her arms and watched the Maester work staying rather close to Darne.
When the Maester had finished and Savaric was stable, Aaralyn let out a long sigh she had been hold. She was starting to get colder. "We have to get him back." Aaralyn said, stating the obvious. "But... can you two carry him?" She asked looking between Darne and Anders. "Safely I mean. I'm not strong enough to try such." Aaralyn explained.
Taking a moment to look around she remembered "Lord Roote and his men where out here, they should be coming this way at some point... right? Or maybe they aren't that far away?"
"It wouldn't be safe to carry him," Maester Anders answers, rebuked. "We need a wagon. Or a litter of sorts..."
With that, the young man looks around for sturdy branches, which could serve to construct a stretcher to carry the wounded knight.
Darne looked at the two beside him "It's alright Lady Karstark, the last few minutes have been trying and dangerous for us all. And the danger hasn't passed fully yet. But, I'm afraid I agree with the Maester on needing a wagon." he said simply.
He looked at the Maester and then at his own injured body "I'm afraid neither of us are 'fit' enough to carry a man so well built and covered. Even with a litter, we'd need to strip him of his armor.
He scratched his head "[b]It would be best if we had someone to run back to get help...but none of us are fit for the job. If danger came, I would need to be here to protect him. If he took a turn for the worst, the Maester would need to be here for him...and I'm not one to send a shivering, wet, unarmed maiden off for help by herself." he said scratching his chin a bit.
He cursed internally, if his brother were here this would be another story but of course, the cur had to get himself in a mess...He sighed and looked around. "Those men that fled, hopefully they'll be back soon or run into someone with a wagon to come back for the people they left for dead...I'll certainly have some strong words for House Roote at the lack of spine their men seem to have." he said spitting to get the bad taste out of his mouth at having to speak of such cowards.
Looking from one man to the other as Darne spoke. It was true, Darne was the only fighter left since Savaric was injured and out cold, the Maester the one keeping him stable, only Aaralyn was could leave and nothing be lost.
"I'll go." Aaralyn said as Darne went on about House Roote. "I am the one who brought Savaric out here seeking Tele's... Tele's body... I'm the only one who isn't needed here! Just... point me in the direction of the town and I'll head back." She declared.
Darne pauses and catches his tongue "And if a Bandit were to find you or that bear again? Then we'd be left here still without aid coming and in need to save you as well. I don't think the Lady hear everything I said. It's too dangerous for you to go alone. Our best choice is unfortunately to wait. House Roote's men will come back before nightfall." he said unhappy himself with the plan of wait and see.
He looked at the Maester "I have my undershirt if needed for extra bandages. So long as we avoid the torso area where my own blood is, it'll be good enough I wager and it's what we have available. Unless you have a better either Maester? Or do you have a better idea Lady Karstark?" he asked curious.
"Go with her," the Maester suggests. "I'll be fine. And if we don't get him back soon, I am afraid that his chances of surviving will go from slim to none. I can't care for him properly here."
"The ability to wait is not a luxury we have." Aaralyn stated before she shivered again. "Savaric needs help, the Maester has said he can't properly care for him here, and if we wait till night fall we'll likely catch our deaths in these wet clothes. We must do something and waiting isn't doing a thing." Aaralyn pointed out.
"You're wounded, you need help too... I've made up my mind. I'm heading back for help Darne Naelareon, you can either follow me as your Maester suggests, or remain behind. But I'll not stand here while Savaric slips away and we catch our death." Aaralyn states boldly before she turned and began to head back the way she and Savaric came.
Darne looks back and forth between the two and finally looking exasperated and defeated just shakes his head. He looks pointedly at the Maester "Fine, I will go with her to get help. But if you die, I swear I will come back and kill you myself." he said aggrivated.
At this point he turned and started off back towards the town. Hopefully, they would find someone with a wagon before then or st least a horse.
"I'll endeavour not to die," Maester Anders reassures Darne with a tentative smile. When they've gone, he looks out for danger with anxious eyes...
And so the nascent couple sets off to find help while Anders stays back with the downed knight. Savaric's breathing remains shallow but steady, the Stranger will not claim his life this day.
Aaralyn and Darne find Lord Naelareon and Lord Roote coming back along the path, their combined forces in tow. After some quick explanation you get the group headed to collect the knight. We open again on the group safe in town; now dressed in warm, dry clothing.
Darne got to his room and walked inside. He only paused inside for a few moments to make sure no one would still be in the hallway before he opened it carefully and looked outside to make sure no one was nearby. He slipped back out and made his way over to his brother's room minus his armor and weapons.
He knocked and whispered hurriedly to his brother before entering once the door opened or he heard any noise.
Once inside he didn't bother looking around, though the two talon holes in his shirt, his sopping wet look, and the blood stains around it suggested things had gone...wrong.
"Listen, things went sideways attempting to hunt the beast. A bear came around and knocked Lady Karstark's Honor Guard almost dead. Hell, I should be on a death bed beside the man. Perhaps a decent stab was enough but the bear seemed...odd. Still, everyone is distracted at present. Take care, but now would be a decent time for your disappearance." he offered.
He looked at the two of them for only a moment longer, held his hand to his mouth and left.
Darne went about taking care to remove everything that was unnecessary from his body. He changed clothes but kept them light. Even with the proper patch job over his own wounds, he was done with pomp and circumstance for the day. His chest ached and he wasn't really to care what any others might think.
Aaralyn sat next to the fire place in the main area, happy to be dressed in warm dry clothes. She had kept the broach the whole time, she couldn't give it to Nan, not yet. Lord Roote and Lord Naelareon had heard what happened, but she still needed to tell her father.
After sending a servant to fetch him if only because she wanted to rest and take in everything that had happened. Before they split ways Aaralyn had asked if Darne would return to the main area to help explain to her father. Not to mention she wanted him to be there when she told her father Darne saved her life. Questions of Darne's nature had been answered with that act. He could have just pulled on the rope that the Maester had set up, but that still risked losing them both. So when Darne jumped in and thus risking his own life for them... well it wasn't something she had expected.
At the knock and his brother's voice, Lothar gets up from his bed to open the door.
The sight of his brother makes him exclaim, albeit in a strangled voice of his own.
"Brother! Fine, we go."
"Tele? We have to go.", Lothar says, picking up weapons.
Back in town and confident that Sir Savaric will see at least another day, Maester Anders looks for Darne to look after his wounds. After all, it would not do to save the knight only to allow Lord Naelareon's son to perish.
On his way, he cannot but wonder if another hunt will be organized...
With the careful healing touch of Maester Anders, Darne felt while sore and irritable, at the least ready to face the world again. He winced slightly as he made his way down to the main hall of the inn and took his seat beside Aaralyn as she had requested.
He sighed softly and waved at a passing serving girl to bring him something on the strong side and sat there looking unkempt, wild, and disheveled. While this was a side that he had come to learn to hide, he felt he earned a pass for the afternoon about his appearance. He bowed his head politely at Aarlayn "I am glad to see that you are alright and your spirit hasn't been washed away with the silt." he said politely, hoping to break the tension of the events of the day.
Aaralyn looked up to Darne, and her eyes followed him as he took his seat. He looked as rough as he probably felt after fighting off a bear and rescuing her and his Maester. She took a moment to pin the broach to her skirt before she leaned over and tried to fix his hair a bit. Her touch gentle and slow, and focused upon making him look less wild. "Thanks to you and your Maester." Aaralyn said as she offered him a kind smile. As she withdrew her hand he could see the small cuts from the broach she had been grabbing for dear life in the river.
"You know Darne..." Aaralyn began, "that was brave of you to jump in and pull me and your Maester out." She said with a small shrug. "You could have done the safer thing for you and pulled the rope in, yet you did the more dangerous thing to try and ensure our survival... after you fought a bear! As you sure you're not a Northerner?"
Darne raised a hand to stay her compliments and such "It was not bravery but perhaps stupidity. Still, I trusted I was a better swimmer than dragger in my current state. There is no need to thank me." he said softly.
He looked at her with a raised brow when teased him about his origins. "I imagine if I'd been a Northerner, I would have killed the bear first and given you his pelt to keep you warm after your swim." he said jokingly. "Perhaps I should teach you to swim if you're to become a Naelareon. The rivers are our lifeblood and surround us and our businesses. The skill is very useful. It's a shame our Maester and my bear of a brother don't know how..." he said shaking his head.
Aaralyn actually laughed at his comment on Northern men. She couldn't say he was wrong, but it was still something she didn't expect. "Well either way thank you."
"Maybe I should learn, as I am to be your wife after all." Aaralyn agreed as she settled back into her chair. "If I will be around rivers so often it just might be a skill I should have. Though I do hope not to fall in to anymore rivers." She told him with a small smile. "People may speak of your brother's ability with a blade, but I learned today you might rival him in courage at the very least. I will be proud to see that in our sons."
Darne looked on the verge of saying something to Aaralyn when the procession of Lords came upon the inn. Darne's slight smile soured at the scene of angry men and he paused for a moment to see if there would be some conversation immediately brought up.
He looks to Aaralyn for a moment then back to the men. "Perhaps a drink to the health of those present before this turns less pleasant." he said no particularly in the mood to hear three lords get in a row.
"Make sure it's watered down a bit my intended, we don't need anyone throwing punches." Aaralyn told Darne as a half jest, as she was poking fun at the fact Northerners where seen as a bit.... savager. Though few other than herself would know that. But truthfully she was worried her father would try to wring Lord Roote's neck for leaving Aaralyn out of his sights for too long.
Brushing her skirt out as she shifted to sit with her legs crossed before turning her attention to the three older men in the room. "I think I can speak for all those here when I say this visit has been a disaster. My handmaiden gone, attempts to find her body a failure, some of Lord Naelareon's men dead, Sir Savaric badly wounded from a bear lead to us by of Lord Roote's men, myself knocked into the river, and then Darne and the Maester of House Naelareon to our rescue." Aaralyn summed up. "I'd say all but the last makes for a rather terrible day." She stated, giving a half hearted sigh. "There was a small issue with how your Maester handle the situation Lord Naelareon but given the fact he helped save my life and the dire situation we where in I can overlook his, foolish choice of words." Aaralyn said as she looked to Lord Naelareon, he tone wasn't angry just more of a statement. "Though I will have words with him on how he speaks to me. I'll not have such when I am Lady of House Naelareon." She however stated at the end.
"So, now that we're all caught up on the events, can I ask that we keep our voices and tempers down?" Aaralyn asked as she looked at the three Lords. "Anger fills the air in this room. The sour looks on your faces could turn most food..."
Maester Anders blushes when rebuked, but knows better than to even attempt to defend himself. These nobles always imagine that they deserve respect by virtue of nothing more than their birth, he seethes inwardly.