Berek gazed into her green eyes, and heard her voice. He'd grown so used to it, so familiar with it. But now she spoke in a different way. He'd never heard her speak his name like that. "Ferona," he breathed, practically melting at her hands on his shoulders, her body language. He saw her lips part, and his breathing deepened as he lost himself in her eyes. His hands slipped around her waist and back, and he spoke her name again, even more softly.

Berek leaned in and kissed her, breathing her in as he did so, his arms wrapping around her ever so more tightly. It felt very right to do this, and he enjoyed the moment, knowing she was safe and so very welcome here. He'd never known what love was, but this was probably it.

After their lips separated, Berek rested his forehead against hers, simply holding her. He smiled, so very comfortable here and now. The warmth of the room only added to the comfort. "Would you..." He began, his hand reaching up to grip hers gently. He felt so calm yet nervous somehow. "I'm..." He needed to say it. "I'm so glad to have you here."

That was another thing, his own eyes were so lovely. In the right light they were a beautiful gold color. But just now they were warm caramel. His body relaxed, his arms swept her up, and his face lowered to hers... Just as she'd desired.

She kissed him warmly, closing her eyes. Her arms closed around his neck and before he pulled away she stood on her tiptoes to get closer, sinking back down as he pulled away. Their lips parted as softly as they'd met but his face stayed close. For a few seconds, they exchanged breaths.

Then Ferona found her hand in his and Berek turning shy. He didn't finish his statement but she suddenly clued in to what he meant. Not just that he was glad to have her here... But would she /stay/ here, with him? He'd been getting at it all day, she realized. It scared her a little. For how long? Forever? She wanted to pull away. But that was the fear talking! What she really wanted to do WAS stay, just like this. She had no real plans of leaving.

"I--" she nodded, trying to look more certain than she felt. She squeezed his hand and his shoulder. "I'm glad to be here with you, too." That much was true.

He had wanted her to say of course, but when she didn't, he didn't feel too surprised or hurt. He kind of expected it, though it wasn't as warm as the kiss they just shared was. Still, he could tell she wanted to stay, and that was good enough for him. She'd been damaged before. He wouldn't hold that against her.

He drew her toward the cot, though it was merely to sit with each other and enjoy one another's company. Berek's back was against the wall, and his left arm was around Ferona as they sat and merely felt the warmth of the room, as well as one another. He kissed her forehead.

It felt so right to be like this, in this moment. This girl had driven him crazy, and now he couldn't imagine his life with her gone. Such was the way of things, he'd always heard. He felt the lumpiness of the cot again, and realized just now that he hadn't been in his own bed in two weeks. Though he could wait longer. He knew she enjoyed the bed, and the cot wasn't so bad.

And at the moment, he'd do anything for her. A cot was a small price to pay. They sat there for as long as they wanted to, simply enjoying each other's company.

Ferona cuddled up to him on the cot, trying to enjoy the moment and not think too much. She took his hand and twined her fingers through them and closed her eyes. It was early yet but the day had been exhausting and the trip had been long. And it was so cozy in here... And yet the bed was not so much. She started feeling bad for taking the best mattress, but...

She yawned sleepily, loosening her grip on his hand.

Berek fell fast asleep before long. The night dragged on, and the sun began to rise, drawing the first bit of light through one of the tiny windows in the workshop. The light caused Berek to stir, for it was just on his face, Ferona being too short to have it effect her just yet. He gave a light groan and sat up, though he was slow and quiet enough so as not to wake Ferona yet. For a moment he simply looked at her, before he decided to make them some breakfast.

He'd not used the new food just yet. Breakfast was simply, so tip toeing into the cooking area he began to start the cooking fire when he noticed some movement out the window. It took him a second to even comprehend it, but when he did he felt a wave of frustration wash over him, and he growled at the thought of having to deal with this now. His knuckles still stung slightly from the punch he'd given the man yesterday.

Grabbing his work hammer, he was a bit quicker and less quiet passing through the workroom this time, hoping he was moving too swiftly to wake up Ferona.

Stepping out the front door, he found himself face to face with three Knights and eight guardsman, who had halted their approach when they saw Berek at the front door. The Knights wore the coat of plates armor, and the guards were more liberally armored with chainmail.

"This is our final offer," the Knight at the center said, holding up a bag of coins. He looked Berek straight in the eye as he spoke, his expression grim. "Two hundred coins for the lands and the business."

"Or what?" Berek asked, his tone showing how annoyed and dismissive he was of the whole affair.

"...Or lord Ashmoore will see to the confiscation of this land personally through for-"

"And what of Lord Pembrooke?" Berek interrupted him. That brought a look of distaste from the Knight who spoke. The Lords Pembrooke and Ashmoore had both wanted Berek's land, and he'd refused both. It seemed like they were both racing to muscle him out. The Knight didn't even bother to answer the question. "You've three days to decide. Refuse, and you'll lose more than your home."

Ferona stirred because he did and awakened to not as many cramps in her neck as she would've expected. They fell asleep sitting together but got marginally more comfortable through the night. He didn't make a bad pillow! She made a very soft noise of protest when he got up but then settled all the way down in his place and seemed to go back to sleep.

She felt the breeze of his passage as he suddenly came rushing past her but didn't know anything was amiss until she heard voices.

She sat up slowly and then got out of bed, approaching the window quietly. She could hear the ultimatum perfectly through the closed window shutters. She could also peek out and see the knights. Her eyes grew very wide. Berek was about to loose everything?!

Berek watched the Knights and soldier walk away, gripping his hammer in his strong hand, his jaw clenched. He didn't exactly expect this after them having not visited him for a few weeks. He'd thought they had changed their minds and decided on different towns to conquer. But he guessed that was just foolish optimism.

He sighed, and turned around, making his way into the house to check on Ferona. Humphrey had walked through the small doggy dog and boofed, but Berek shushed him so as not to wake her just in case. He was far more worried now that she was here, and they still wanted him and his land. Now he had someone else he cared for to protect.

Ferona wasn't sure what to do. When the soldiers began to leave she was relieved but it clearly wasn't over. If he didn't sell, they would just take it all? In just three days?! He had no choice then...

She had mixed feelings about this place. On one hand it still got boring here, for her. On the other, it was her refuge, her safe haven. She called it home yesterday in the midst of all that upset! And now all of that was threatened? But then again, a great deal of what made her feel safe here wasn't just that there were no people around. It was Berek himself. As long as he was okay... Wait--which also implied as long as they were together... She frowned. Was she relying on him that much already?

He came back in and hushed the dog but Ferona was wide awake now. She met him in the other room, a little hesitantly, and leaned on the door frame. When he looked up at her, her expression said she already knew.

"Berek... What will you do?" she asked.

He hadn't expected her to be awake, and when he saw her, he sighed. She was a marvel to him. So vulnerable and womanly, yet she still had an imperious aura that made him truly believe she was really a Queen.

He looked into her eyes, and then sighed, his broad shoulders rising and falling like a wave. He shook his head. "I don't know." He told her. He placed his hands on his hips, giving a sad smile. "The last time I saw them was before I'd met you."

His next words had conviction, however. "I went to live out here to be free, not to be under the yoke of one or the other greedy Lord. I went to live out here to ply my own trade, not to pay any more tribute than the town's tax..." He sat down on the cot. "I won't sell. I can't."

Ferona made an uneasy face, not wanting to displease him.

"I can't understand your feelings..." She crossed her arms, still standing apart from him near the door. "At least with the money you could get a new forge... maybe IN the town so you didnt have to travel so far to see another person." Then again, he'd said how much he disliked the men in town and so far she disliked them too, except perhaps the wig maker. "They can't all be bad..." she didn't say that with conviction though.

"If they're going to find a way to take the land, one way or another, shouldnt you take the money?"

Her expression was vaguely perplexed and definitely anxious. If she had still been the queen, on the other side of this she would've said 'what a stupid farmer! Just take it from him!' with out seeing his side even a little... A guilty expression crossed her face. No wonder they rose up against her...

"It's not that I don't want to be in town, necessarily." He said. "I don't dislike everyone. A lot of them are nice, except for some of the workers. But..." Berek placed his hair in his hands, resting his forehead. "If I give up my land, then the next land they'll take is the town itself." He explained, and sat up as he thought aloud. "And if that happens, the town will likely be in the middle of a war between the two lords, and after all of the blood has been spilled, those that are still alive will be taxed heavily."

He gave her a helpless look, and breathed in deeply. "I have a friend or two in town. One of the owners of the Inn. Maybe you should stay there for a few days while this gets sorted out. You and Humphrey and Jeffrey. I don't want any of you in danger while this is happening. I think I can talk them out of this but..." He shook his head. "Only one way to find out."

Ferona's eyebrows rose high. "Berek... it's not your job to save EVERYONE." She came forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. "You're just one person!" And he was not a king. What could he do alone? He was trying to stave off a WAR?

When he gave her the helpless look she sat down, her hand on his arm, turned toward him. Her fingers tensed when he suggested sending her away. She was thinking of the reception she'd gotten yesterday. She had only been standing there feeding Rose, not asking for any trouble! If those guys ever laid eyes on her again it would be the same... Well, perhaps not if they weren't willing to cross Berek. But if he wasn't with her, or anything happened to him...

"If... we do that what do we do about the guys from yesterday?"

He shook his head, sighing. "I wish I had all the answers." He said, and he looked to her. The big man's hand closed around hers, and he smiled. He needed to be sure, for her. He was confident in himself, at least. "I'll be ok." He promised her. "I always am after all." His smile was warm and full of surety.

Humphrey gave a great bark to gain their attention. He whined when Berek looked at him, and Berek's face fell. "Hey, what did I just say?" The Blacksmith said. "The people you'll be with are nice and helpful, and as long as you stick with them no one will harm you." He rested his head against Ferona's. "Do you trust me?"

Sitting close, holding his hand, picking up the confidence he was radiating... She wanted to believe him. But she knew he was just saying that. He couldn't know that everything would be okay. He was going up against powerful people! People following orders who would look at him as just an obstacle, not a good man they were hurting. Like she would have if the roles were reversed.

But at the very least... She closed her eyes and inhaled calmingly, leaning her head against his. Their noses bumped together and she sighed softly. "Yes, I trust you."