"Could you believe, Sir Kurn, that I was just about to lay my head on the pillow and sleep? It's true! But then when I saw you, I felt something akin to a gust of cold wind wash over me, giving me just a tad more energy to stay awake."
Mariel smiled as she noticed that his eyes had caught the shimmer in her nightgown; she took advantage of his gaze and pushed herself off the doorframe then slowly knelt down and picked up the bottle and wine glasses and stood.
As she bent down to pick up the things, Durian must have taken a step closer towards her, for when she stood, her heart began to flutter at his sheer stature. He stood tall, and his arms, although covered in a white tunic were well shaped and muscular, as were his broad shoulders. His dark hair just covered his shoulders, and his beard was perfectly shaped and just full enough to cover his jaw, cheeks and upper lip. And his eyes....they were dark, but they held such a mischevious spark.
And yet, as she gazed into them, she thought she recognized a grief that she herself had grown to hide.
Mariel held up the bottle and glasses and shrugged her shoulder.
"Shall we?"
She then turned and walked back into her room, then set the items down on a small table in the corner by the door, then turned and leaned against the edge of said table and waited for him.

Mariel took a long sip of her wine as she allowed her gaze to wander slightly. She too caught sight of his wandering eyes and couldn't help the amused smile that made it's way to her face.
She shook her head which caused her curls to bounce and the hair in front of her face sway slightly.
"No sir, you are actually assisting me. For they say that drinking wine before lying down helps to calm you and lull you into a deeper and more pleasant sleep."
She paused for a moment then swirled the red liquid around in her glass and brought it to her lips. After swallowing the wine, she continued.
"But from what I recall, you and your friend Derak didn't seem to mind keeping that from us." She referenced the other dancers who performed for Derak's stag night.
"So why are you so concerned about me now, then, if I may ask?"

The old man informed the two that he still had the last few windows to install into the inn before leaving. The earliest, he figured, would be mid day tomorrow.

He too, grew weary from a long day, however, and asked the sisters who owned the inn for a room. Once he got to his room he slumped down on the bed and sank into it.

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Mariel listened with genuine surprise at his answer; she had become so accustomed to dealing with drunken men that she was quite at a loss for words. Her brows creased together as she recalled those times and what they had called her, how they had promised to take care of her. But after a few nights of dancing, they would leave her to pick up the broken pieces of her heart.
Mariel's thoughts were interrupted as she watched him place a hand on the table and shake his head. She stood up and walked over to him, but before she could ask him if he was well, he spoke.
She let out a breath and smiled slightly, but she looked at him with concern in her green eyes.
"Alright-" She spoke, then raised her glass to her lips and took a few sips as her mind began to race with inquiries she wished to ask.
"First of all, I would like to know your name." She smiled, then tilted her glass towards him. "Your real name."

After taking the last sip from her wine glass, Mariel placed it on the table and stared at his hands as she digested his words.
She could feel the tension behind his words, and although she wanted to dive into her questions and find the true reason of him being here, she felt that she needed to earn his trust.
"Yes, Marion was my stage name-" she spoke in a quiet, vulnerable tone as she looked up into his eyes. "-I took the name after I'd found out that..." her voice suddenly stopped and she lowered her gaze and took a breath. Although she had moved on, she felt as though her heart were breaking all over again. Mariel blinked, then tentatively met his gaze again and continued with false bravery.
"....well, let's just say that my husband found someone else to warm our bed with whilst I was away tending to my dying brother."
As she spoke, she could feel tears well up in her eyes and she cast Durian a small, pathetic smile as she saw the concern grow in his eyes. Lifting up a finger, she lifted her chin slightly, took a breath, then continued.
"My true name however, is Mariel, and you, sir Durian, may ask whatever you wish."
A flirtatious spark returned to her eyes as she smiled at him then took turned and poured them both another measured glass of wine.

The old man slept soundly in his bed, a loud snoring sound being heard from his room almost as if it echoed down the hallways. It was a wonder he himself could sleep through it. If one were to brave the infernal sounds, however, and stand next to the sleeping man, they would hear he lightly whistled a constant melody in his sleep. Outside, once more, the rune markings glowed lightly yet once more. As they did another traveler passed by and saw the lantern on the porch of the inn. They thought to pass on by but the faint blue glow of the ruins caught their eye and they knew that this was the place.

---

A knock sounded on the inn door, seconds later accompanied by the sound of the hinges creaking. "Excuse me?" a gentle voice nearly whispered from the cracked doorway. "Is this inn open?"

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Mariel felt his fingers graze and linger on hers as he spoke to her; and for a brief moment, she felt her heart flutter at his touch, but after he finished, she quickly drew her hand back to her side and swallowed nervously.
She was surprised by the weightlessness in her stomach as he touched her, and although she did not want to admit it, she found herself wanting to be held by his strong arms. Perhaps it was just the wine. Or the loneliness inside of her. Mariel met his gaze once more and nodded then glanced down at the red liquid and swirled it around.
"Aye, I am glad that you decided to share this wine with me." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she felt color rise to her cheeks and lowered her gaze. She hadn't meant to say that, but apparently her heart did. In an attempt to cover it up, Mariel continued in answering his question.
"I sir, am not running to someone but rather from someone..." She took a long sip of her wine, then rested the lip of her glass lightly on her chin as she stared past him for a brief moment. A twinkle in his eyes caught her attention and she turned her attention back to him.
"What of you? What brings you out this way?"

Mariel tilted her head slightly and furrowed her brows as concern for this man filled her eyes. What he recounted to her was horrible, and she could only imagine the grief that he was going through, even if it was in the past. She wished to help him, for seeing the sadness in his eyes reminded her of the grief she'd held when she watched her brother die.
A heavy breath escaped her lips as she was brought back to the present by the sound of his deep voice, and his touch. She pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze as she felt a red color rise to her cheeks; after a brief moment, Mariel met his gaze again and answered him.
"Aye, I can understand where your suspicions lie, for I too wondered at their success in obtaining this land. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
She quickly took a long sip of wine, then blinked and rested her fingertips on the table next to her to steady herself.
How many glasses had she had already?

Mariel hardly knew what was happening, for the wine was beginning to make everything slow down. As she held out her glass, she blinked then raised a brow as she felt a trickle of wine run down her hand, but she ignored it and took a sip of her drink as she listened to Durian.
Once she lowered her glass, she saw that he was stumbling back, so she reached out and grabbed his free hand and began to pull him back towards her. As she stepped behind her, she tripped on the train of her nightgown and stumbled back, all with Durian in tow.
As the two regained balance, Mariel followed his eyes to each of their wine bearing hands and giggled. But her smile soon faded at the tone of his voice, so she took another sip and nodded, then led him to the bed and sat on the edge of it.
Once he sat, Mariel began to accept the fact that she was very attracted to this man. He seemed to be adventurous and was quite a flirt, but she also thought she saw a gentility and honor within him. She smiled and nodded, and as she spoke, pieces of her words began to slur.
"Please, do share this...proposal with me....I am very interested in you..I mean...in your theories..."
Mariel blushed as she caught her own words, but she continued to look at him with a small smile on her face.