“And what of Noel, lady Lorelei?” She heard an amused voice asked and she turned to look at the other women curiously. It was a cloudy and windy day in Riven, a storm brewing and coming close, but the women of Riven still did their duty and several were by a small pond at the edge of the jungle to clean clothes. She had become far more accepted among the women, perhaps not entirely their best friends but they no longer sneered and gave her a difficult time “What of Noel?” Lorelei asked as she dipped clothes into the water, having been day dreaming and not paying attention to what they spoke of. The women grinned “We all must know, how he is in bed?” Another asked and Lorelei blushed and looked away “I…I should not speak of that” She responded but they gave her looks “Come now lady! Tell us! Is he a great stallion?”. Lorelei looked to them with a grin, squeezing the water out of the clothing and putting it in her basket “No” She said and the woman looked surprised but Lorelei still grinned and looked to them “A stallion’s stamina and strength is that of a foal compared to Noel”. The woman’s jaws dropped and they giggled and gasped, tweeting among each other as Lorelei covered her mouth and laughed with a blush.

Meanwhile across the way in the village the council meeting was adjourned and one of the members stepped from the hut to return home to his wife and children. “Shale” A name called the council member, who stopped to turn and smile at the older man approaching him “Old man Bhelen” He greeted him as the man, Bhelen, approached “Is the meeting over?” Bhelen asked and Shale nodded “Yes, and our leader decided against sending men to J’nanin” He began to walk and Bhelen stared for a moment, looking confused and quickly followed “I do not understand. Yesterday he wished to send men there, to search for the things they may have stolen. To intimidate them” He knew this because he had given the idea to Noel in the first place and had encouraged him it was the right thing to do for Riven. Shale chuckled “Yes old man, but then he went home” He gave him a knowing look and Bhelen frowned “Lorelei?” And Shale nodded “She changed his mind it seems” Shale was not concerned over this at all, but it was obvious Bhelen disapproved “A wife is not to give opinion. How could she make Noel change his mind?” And this made Shale laugh more “Come now old man! You once had a young wife. It is her hand that controls the cock and with that control comes all other control. Noel is a great and strong leader, but it seems he is quite helpless against Lorelei. He wishes to please her, and why not? She is a good woman”

Bhelen did not like this at all. When Noels’ father died Bhelen had helped raise him and for years had given Noel advice and guidance, and now his opinions and thoughts were being overrun by his foreign wife? He had never heard of such a thing, a woman knew nothing of politics, especially one who wasn’t even from Riven. He turned when he heard giggling and saw a group of women returning from the jungle, Lorelei among them. He had to correct this….he had indirect control of Riven by helping be a word wisdom and advice to Noel. He would not let this woman take his place.

Council was irritating him that afternoon. The previous day he had been convinced by the members that it seemed just to send men into J’nanin to search for things that had been stolen, but he had slept on it. With a stormy season approaching and whispers about the Art it seemed trivial to send men in to invade another Age for such small matters. Instead he suggested that more men be posted about to protect and watch rather than send them away for a trivial duty.

This answer seemed to settle well with most council members. They respected Noel and his idea to not waste time on childish things or waste men on small games. He reserved his power for the bigger fight, and saved his stamina for when it was truly needed. This did not settle well with Bhelen. He knew the old man was jealous that he thought Lorelei had more of a whisper in his ear than he did, but the times were changing. Noel was getting older, and he knew not to wage war when it was not needed. He was not a hot headed man.

After chatting with a few council members he stepped outside and stretched his back, then cleared his throat and began walking to the market. The storm overhead left a cool but humid feeling in the air and left Noel with a strange instinct. Bhelen hurried with his stiff leg after Noel, calling to him as he caught up with him and Noel slowed down to greet him. “I know you are not happy about a battle lost before it began, but I am not wasting my time with trivial things and the Nanites. They are fools and if they are stealing from us they will be discouraged with more men standing guard.” His face somewhat stern as he walked through the market, looking at all the trinkets and fruits as he passed. "What else troubles you, old man? You seem more agitated as the days go on. Is old age finally getting to you?"

Bhelen winced internally when Noel called him out, but he decided to shake it off and play a different tactic then to pester Noel why he changed his mind. He patted his back “No, no, my boy. You are leader and you make the decisions you feel are right. You know I respect anything you decide” Yes, him, not his snow white wife but he wouldn’t’ ask if she influenced him. If Noel was truly as smitten with Lorelei as everyone said, attacking her in anyway with blame would only irritate him. “I only thought the idea would be best to solve the issue, but I am old in my ways as you know. It is a new day for better tactics” He chuckled, smiling at the man he had once raised. Bhelen was old in his ways and did enjoy war, when the prospect of attacking J’nanin had been in the air he had embraced it…and then Lorelei came into the picture.

He laughed again and pointed a finger “I may be old but not near dead, Noel Louvel and could still beat you with a sword” He joked “Noel!” He turned when he heard Lorelei as she ran over, coming to her husband’s side and touched his arm as she looked up to him “I heard you will not send men to J’nanin” She was relieved and she kissed his chest “Thank you”. Bhelen had not been entirely pleased to have a strange woman brought to Riven, but after watching weeks of them together in the beginning he could tell the couple was unhappy and felt she would merely blend in with the rest of them soon enough. But as time passed on he saw a connection grow between them and now he saw affection between two people who barely spoke to one another. Seeing them together he knew Shale was right, Lorelei had Noel enraptured.

The old ways had left many for dead and wasted much money and lives that the Riven did not have to offer. Over the last few years while Noel had led the Rivenese things had flourished. Children were not malnourished and there was less crime. Not to mention they were not sweltering to feed their soldiers as they once had been. With more people at home and more husbands to tend to their wives things were overall better.

He glanced sideways at Bhelen as he spoke, serious even with the man who had raised him. “I am glad to hear you see it that way.” He was glad the man knew his place and whether or not to question the proud lion and his decisions. Noel was even tempered but it didn’t mean he would allow any man speak ill without punishment. Finally a smile cracked his face for a short time. “You boast more than you can handle, old man. I can best you any day.” He playfully pulled at the sword on his hip, but pushed it back in when he heard Lorelei coming.

She was one of the few he would smile at, but even in public he was reserved with her. As she thanked him he touched her hair and ran the nearly white strands through his fingers. “I have better use for men here than in a foreign land.” She had Noel enraptured since the very moment he saw her, though he was still fairly good at concealing it in public... or so he thought. Nevermind that he was walking through the market looking at trinkets so he could find her a gift, same as he did at least four or five times during a week.

Bhelen had raised the boy, he saw the shifts and changes in him that others did not. Noel’s expression may have not changed from its stoic gaze when Lorelei came to him, but to Bhelen it did, he saw the change in the man immediately. Noel’s little wife had the statuesque man wrapped around her finger, and he wasn’t the only one head over heels. Unlike her husband Lorelei did not hide her expressions and she looked up at her husband with admiration and adoration. “I know they are not to blame. Soon we will find who is” We? Bhelen did not like her easy use of we, as if she had any part of it. Bhelen was not a man to be abusive to a woman, but he did believe a wife’s duty was to be quiet, tend to her home and to her husband without imposing her own thoughts or wishes.

She looked to Bhelen and smiled “Hello Bhelen, it is good to see you and that you well” She greeted warmly and Bhelen nodded in return “And you as well, lady. I heard you saw the healer this morning. I hope you are well”. Lorelei pursed her lips and glanced to Noel, for she had not told him she was going to see the healer for she had not wanted to worry him “My stomach felt ill. I believe I am not used to the food here still. The healer gave me a herb to eat to soothe the discomfort. I feel fine now” She said reassuringly.

Noel knew Bhelen must have had an idea how smitten he was with Lorelei, but he would still try to hide it to the best of his abilities. Still, he enjoyed the expression she gave to him. As she looked up to him he touched her arm, but soon dropped his hand. “They may still be the ones responsible, but I will not wage war without more evidence. It would be a fool’s move.” But by the way his face changed it was clear the conversation was done. He was not upset, but Noel did not like to discuss war and battles amongst the public. So to change the subject he side stepped and let his arm wrap around her waist briefly so that he could face Bhelen. “Would you join us for dinner tonight? You can bring over some fine wine.” A smirk flashed to Bhelen and the teasing stayed expressed in his eyes.

Now that they spoke more Noel was under the impression that Lorelei told him everything. She did an awful lot of talking when they were together, what else was there to tell? He looked down at her in surprise but kept his face clear of that as she gave her explanation. “Was there anything else? Just herbs?” Was that all the healer had to offer her for her upset stomach? Ideas ran through Noel’s head though he kept silent and ran his hand down her back then kissed the top of her head. “I have some things to do before I go home. I will meet you at dinner and hear more about your trip to the healer, Lorelei.” It wasn’t a rude dismissal, but he truly did have things to get in the market and a few more people he needed to speak with before the sun went down and people went home for the night.

Lorelei knew Noel had a reputation to maintain, he could not behave the way that he did when they were alone and it did not bother her. Behind closed doors she could get him to smile and recently their hands would be all over each other, but in public she knew this was not an image a man wanted other to see, especially as leader. She frowned slightly and wanted to speak more but she could tell he did not so she merely kept quiet. She could discuss it further with him later and so when his arm went around her waist she leaned into him some to smile at Bhelen. She liked the man, he had been nothing but kind to her and she knew he was important to Noel, though she had not spent much time with him as it was normal for her to not spend much time with any of the men of the village other than Noel.

Bhelen chuckled “Oh, I do not want to interrupt your time together. By the sounds others hear from your hut, you enjoy your time alone” He teased them with a smirk and Lorelei blushed and looked down shyly. It was true that the past few weeks she and Noel had been…quite insatiable with one another. They had finally found a happy medium with one another, where she was not afraid to be bedded by him and he was very satisfied by her new found boldness. “Please, we would love for you to join us. The storm will be harsh, it will be nice to have company against it” She said and he nodded “Alright, alright, of course. If the lady insists, I would be welcomed to join for dinner”

When he saw the reaction Noel had for Lorelei not telling him about the healer, that is when Bhelen got the idea. He did not want the girl harmed, but the solution he had could have her sent back to J’nanin and be rid of her. Noel saw Lorelei as this pure soul that could do no wrong and if he could somehow show him that perhaps she was not, Noel would rid of her himself and her control would be gone. She nodded “Just herbs. I feel better, do not fret” She touched his chest momentarily and gave him a smile, not telling him that this wasn’t the first time her stomach had soured lately. When he said he had things to do she kissed his chest “Alright husband. Keep safe” She looked to Bhelen with a smile “I must go home then and make sure all is well for your arrival at dinner” She said and Bhelen nodded, looking between the two. And he had to put his plan in motion to confront Noel tonight.

Noel was glad that Lorelei knew when he could be affectionate and when he could not. He was also happy that she knew when to cut things short. He would tell her everything, but only in it’s proper time. The Riven public could not know a husband told his wife so much about battles and council things. He was sure other husbands did this, idle chat between dinner and bed time, but it still must remain secret.

For the first time in a long time in public Noel laughed. It was a deep sound from his barrel chest that made a few women near by look over, curious to see what their leader found funny. He inhaled a deep breath after and smiled a few seconds longer than usual as he looked down to Lorelei. “I can restrain myself so you might have a decent meal to fill you for once.” When Bhelen finally agreed Noel nodded. “Good. See you near sundown, old man.” He looked down to Lorelei as she kissed his chest and he cupped her face, bending down to give her a short kiss. “I will see you soon, my sunshine.” The only Nanite words he used in public were ones of affection.

A few hours later Noel returned home carrying a bouquet of wildflowers and a glass bottle filled with small sea shells. He put his stallion to pasture for the night and walked into their hut, chuckling a little to himself at the idea of other’s hearing them. “Lorelei,” he called to her and set the flowers on the table as well as her new gift. The aroma of dinner making his stomach growl loudly like a man starved at war.

Lorelei had spent the day cleaning up the home and making dinner, baking the bread, picking the perfect pieces of fruit and cuts of meat. She wanted to impress Bhelen, to show him she was a good housewife so that he would approve of her or continue to approve, she wasn’t sure. Canyon followed her around the hut, having grown much in the little time she had had him. The wind had picked up stronger outside an the sky dark with black clouds, full of rain that had yet to fall but it seemed soon it would. When she heard Noel she turned and smiled, setting a plate of food down and walking over to greet him. She slipped her arms around him and reached up to kiss him “I am glad you made it home before it rained. Hopefully Bhelen will arrive dry”.

She took in a breath and glanced down “Noel I know you are upset that I did not tell you I was seeing the healer but…there is something I must tell you. I, lied” She looked up and laughed a little “Not, lied but…I am not a completely certain, neither is the healer at least not yet, but-“ She touched his face, smiling but there was a rapt at the door and she sighed, looking over to the door then back to him “I’ll tell you later” She said softly.

The aroma of fresh baked bread and Lorelei’s other assorted cooking made his stomach growl before he even got through the door. When she came to him and raised her arms up to go around his neck he bent down, kissing her like a man on his honeymoon. He was sweet and caring, yet passionate all when alone with her. “It smells wonderful in here.” If Bhelen was late like hell Noel would wait patiently.

He reached down to scratch the wolf pup’s head as he pawed at his leg, watching Lorelei curiously. “Lied about what?” He asked, looking to her with concern mingled in his serious dark eyes. The knock at the door made him sigh and nearly growl and he touched Lorelei’s arm, then went to the door and welcomed Bhelen in. “Old man, you have always had impeccable timing.” The leader glanced back to Lorelei and ran a hand over his hair as he looked to Bhelen. “Come in, I hope that you are hungry. Lorelei knows how to cook for an entire army.” Though most nights it was Noel who finished it single handedly, even if he did have to get up later to top it all off as a midnight snack.

She loved when she and Noel were alone, she got to see the side of him that no one else in the whole village got too, not that it hadn’t been a lot of effort to draw it out of him. But she was happy now, happier then she had ever been in J’nanin. She woke up in his arms every morning and went to bed with them tangled in blankets. And now she had news that could even bring them closer together, but apparently she would have to wait, she wanted to tell him in private, especially since she was not sure. When he went to the door she followed to greet Bhelen, but when Noel opened the door her smile flattered to see the rigid and serious expression on the man’s face.

Bhelen stood at the door and didn’t budge to come in or smile to greet them. His gaze flicked to Lorelei only for a moment, as if she was a passing thought, then looked to Noel “I must speak to you my boy” He glanced in Lorelei’s direction but would not look directly at her “In private” He motioned, asking for Noel to step outside with him into the cool and windy night.

The side that Lorelei saw was such a rare occurance that not many besides his mother and perhaps a whore on a very drunken night even came close to. His stoney rock hard heart could actually beat like a normal man, and love like a normal, foolish man. He grumbled and made a face at the knock at the door and stared at Lorelei before going. What could she be hiding? What had she lied about? Most men would have been aghast and angry, but he saw Lorelei as too good in nature to lie about anything more than a little white tale. It was probably nothing.

All his airy and light nature dropped cold when he noticed the expression on Bhelen’s face. His brows knit and he looked more serious and stern than normal. “It is going to rain, old man.” He said lowly, but after he knew he wasn’t kidding he nodded and glanced back to Lorelei. “Wait here.”

He pulled the door shut behind him, making sure it was all the way closed before leading Bhelen out to the small shed where the horses rested when it was going to rain. It smelled sweet of hay and chipped wood and he patted the white mare as he looked back to Bhelen. “What’s got you so glum, Bhelen? I pray you did not pull me out into the rain for nothing.” But he knew Bhelen all to well, and knew the man would not take a jest so far. As he stood inside the shed it began to rain, slow at first, then quickly turning into a heavy downpour.

Bhelen did not feel giddy doing this and only hoped the way he planned it would work out so that Lorelei would not be harmed, only exiled back to her home Age. He saw the woman’s confusion and felt some guilt in doing this to her but, should would be happier wouldn’t she? He was sure she missed home and wanted to return there, did she not? He didn’t speak a word while he waited at their doorstep, just looked at Noel with the same serious expression that it could not wait and they needed to speak now. Lorelei nodded as Noel went to speak of him, but was worried what was wrong and if something had happened.

Bhelen kept quiet as they went to the shed, but once inside he turned to him and frowned, looking deeply sadly “I have terrible news to tell you, Noel” He said slowly and he sighed “What I am to tell you I have suspected for some time, so I understand if you will become angry at me for not telling you sooner, but I wanted to make sure it was true. When the young man came to me he was fearful he would be punished, and I told him I would look into the manner. I spoke to many to ensure his honesty and those who know him say he is a pure and honest man” A spineless man who was easily threatened, but that was not the point “During this I….came upon others who acted suspiciously and it confirmed the betrayal further” He touched Noel’s arm in comfort “Noel…Lorelei has been unfaithful. A man came to me saying she tried to seduce him, but he rejected her but I suspect she tried this before…and others did not tell her no”

The reason Riven had been at peace and flourishing for a while now was thanks to their leader. They were not the savage, act before thinking group of men anymore. They took their time, they followed suit behind their leader who would look to all clues before acting on anything. As the storm brewed outside and lightning shocked the sky he watched Bhelen, the man who had raised him. The man who had never given him any reason not to trust him.

Until now.

As he spoke Noel could feel his blood boil. His heart raced, strong beneath his broad chest and pumped his hot blood quickly. The words were like poison to his ears, though he quickly became more angry with the man that was before him and the man who had supposedly touched his precious wife. “Who?” He asked, his voice stone cold and low. “Who told you this?” There was a moment where the calm broke and Noel rushed forward to shove Bhelen, his fists like boulders. “Give me the names of these men!” As his anger broke thunder boomed outside and spooked the horses behind him, causing Noel to glance back only to return his gaze to the old man. “So help me, old man, if I find this to be a lie I will have your head on a stake for treason.” There were many things Noel kept his head about, but treason was a crime to be brutally punished.

Bhelen’s eyes widened as Noel lashed out, though he had expected the anger but still could not prepare himself for it for he had never been on the other side of Noel’s anger. He stumbled and almost fell, putting a hand out and gave Noel a stern look like a father would “Calm yourself, Noel! I am not your enemy!” He told him firmly “I kept this so long because I did not want it to be true, I do not wish to condemn Lorelei. Do not place your anger on me for telling you the truth. I have done everything to learn if this is false, and it is not” He steadied himself and took in a breath “The young man is willing to speak in front of the council against her, the others however are merely suspicions Noel and they will not dare admit what they have done, and no one will wish punishment on our own when Lorelei is the one to have done the crime. She must be brought in front of the council for questioning” He sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair.

“You are our great leader. If Lorelei can be convinced to admit what she has done before the council, I am sure the council members would agree to banishing her than death” He paused, letting his heart try and calm “If she will not however, you know she must be questioned before them and if they find her guilty...”

There had never been a time for Noel to feel such anger towards Bhelen. He had been there to pick Noel up as a young boy when his father died, and had raised him. He was part of the reason Noel became the man he was today. Still, anger charged in his body comparable to the storm that lashed at the earth outside. “No! Tell me who this man is. I will question him myself. Give me a fucking name, Bhelen. Give me a name!” It was rare for the Riven leader to curse, but in the moment he could think of no better words.

When the old man mentioned death Noel took it as a personal threat and stepped close, every muscle in his body tense. “You will not speak of her like this. You will not open your mouth to anyone. You keep your mouth shut, or I will have your tongue from your head. I will investigate this on my own. I will question her own my own. Do you understand me, or do you need a reminder of who your leader is?” As he spoke he stepped closer and closer to Bhelen until his words nearly heated the air around the old man, like a dangerous growing fire. “This problem is mine, not the councils. I will see to it myself.”

He sighed and shook his head “It is D’leh. He is the one that came to me and said Lorelei tried to advance on him, but was afraid to approach you in case you took what he said incorrectly. But remember Noel he rejected her, do not frighten the man. He is being honest and true by coming forward as he has” D’leh was spineless, a rare thing in Riven for a man but he was. It had been easy for Bhelen to threaten D’leh’s wife and children if he did not lie for Bhelen, though Bhelen had no true intention in ever harming his family, he just needed someone to create a story against Lorelei and fear was the best way to ensure someone listened to you. D’leh truly was an honest man and good man, this was the first lie he had ever given, so Bhelen knew his word would be trusted.

He frowned and looked disappointed “You know that is not the way. If it was another man’s wife, she would be brought to the council. People will not be pleased if they find you break the rules for her” Though at Noel’s threats he lowered his gaze unhappily and shook his head again as if Noel was a spoiled boy trying to get his way “I know you are leader” He said, giving him a look. Noel was fierce some but Bhelen was not so afraid like others to speak up more to him, though he still was careful “If that is the way you wish to do it, then do so. Just be careful, women know how to pull at a man’s heart to get her way and I only say that because I care for you, Noel. I raised you and you are a son to me. Do not forget that”

This couldn’t be true. This could not be true. His sweet, innocent Lorelei who, up until a few weeks ago, had cried each and every time he touched her. How could she bring herself to seduce another man? He was not going to share her gentle nature with Bhelen. He wouldn’t tell anyone about their first few weeks of marriage because he knew it was all he had left to protect her name. As Bhelen gave him the name his fists clenched and it was all the strength he had in him that kept him anchored down where he was. “Who else? Who says she bedded them?”

He growled as the thunder rolled out ahead. “I will not bring her to court and disgrace her until I have further proof. I will look into this myself to be sure there is enough evidence and not some old man’s tale.” As he reminded Noel of who raised him his eyes stayed cold and cruel with no sign of the little boy that once loved Bhelen. “Go. Go back home, and tell no one what you have just told me.” He stepped out of the horse shed to leave and glanced back at Bhelen, the rain falling down over him. "I trust you, Bhelen. I pray you are not giving me reason not to."

“As I said other men merely acted suspicious when I questioned them if they had spent time with her. I am sure if you asked them by now they would be prepared to act normal. Nothing can be used with them” Only because there was no them since he had cooked this all up in one afternoon. He wouldn’t just give names and accuse other people, he would keep this mess with just Lorelei and D’leh. But the fact that Noel was so eager to not believe him, to speak so harshly to him just encouraged Bhelen this was the right thing to do. He had raised this boy and he had the audacity to treat him like this for a woman who only knew a few months? She had to go. He would not be treated like this. Noel had always respected his word and now this woman tossed that all away.

“I will return home, but you must make sure you take care of this. Do not let her convince you with one bat of her eyes” He warned him, watching him step out of the shed and he frowned at him “I have never steered you wrong, my boy” Was the response he felt was much better suited then saying he wasn’t lying. This woman had too much of a hold over him…he needed to be free of her.

Noel took in Bhelens words and went inside without another look at him. How could he believe this? How could Lorelei have done this? He walked into the hut silent as the grave and went to the table, but instead of sitting he paced around it and clenched his fists.

"Bhelen will not be joining us for dinner." he started, obviously on edge because not ten minutes ago he had been famished and now he wouldn't even sit down. "What was the secret you were keeping from me?" he asked, his ave serious and free from all th joy he had only minutes ago. This was going to be a very, very long night. For a moment he paused to look at his wet feet that dripped on the floor then looked tp Lorelei. "How well do you know D'hel ?"

When he returned inside she turned from there small kitchen and laughed to see him wet “Oh goodness! You’re soaking” She walked over to grab a blanket and walked over to him “Where is Bhelen?” She asked as she started to dry her husband off, pausing to frown when he said Bhelen would not be joining them “Why not?” She asked, really looking at his face and seeing the darkness in it and she lowered the blanket “What happened?” She asked worriedly, knowing whatever Bhelen had told him it had not been good. When he asked her about her secret she looked a bit thrown off by the way he asked it “Well…” She wanted to tell him but she was worried about his behavior “Tell me what happened first”

She slowly continued to dry him and when he mentioned D’leh she mused the name over but shook her head “I do not know…the name sounds familiar. Why? Did something happen with him?”

Why had he invited Bhelen to dinner? Noel had it convinced in his head that if he had not invited the man to dinner he would not have brought the news that made him feel sick. Noel had seen men beheaded. He had seen them cut and hung like deer to let bleed out, had seen their intestines hung from their bodies when he was only a boy… and yet this, this simple act, made him feel nauseous. The thought of Lorelei with another man made him murderous though he stayed perfectly still and watched her as she dried him off, not answering any of her questions.

For the next few moments he stood silent, just simply watching her and observing what may be their last few moments of something similar to peace in their marriage. Finally he spoke, his voice low. “D’leh claims you came to him and tried to seduce him. He claims he said no, but knows there are others that did not deny you.” As the words hung in the open Noel gripped the tall back of the kitchen chair, feeling the wood nearly crack under his clenching fist.

Something was terribly wrong, she had never seen Noel like this, even with the event with Fenris he had stayed rather calm, at least around her. But this…just something about the way he was acting was wrong, like the anger he felt was towards her but she didn’t understand why that would be. He wouldn’t speak to her and she felt like they were back at the beginning, where all her questions and statements went utterly unanswered. She continued to dry him though, but his stare and silence was unnerving and finally she sighed and lowered the blanket, looking up at him with confusion and worry in her eyes “Noel, what is wrong? You worry me” She asked, searching his expression and she raised a hand to touch his face.

Then he spoke and she froze, staring at him in shock and her hand lowered, first looking confused as if she had heard him incorrectly then she looked sick. “What?” She barely got the word out and felt appalled by such a rumor “Of-of course not! That is a lie! I never approached him in any way” She glanced to the door then him “That is what Bhelen told you” Then a colder realization hit her and she stepped back, a frown forming on her lips “And you believe it” Why would he believe such a thing? What had she ever done to make him think she would be unfaithful? “You are the only man who has ever touched me”

The only thing that made him feel even sicker than thinking Lorelei slept with another man was Lorelei’s look of betrayal. As the rumors he had heard spread over her and she came to realize what they meant he stared, hurt in his eyes and the look of a lost man lingered. What would he do if the rumors were true? What would he do without her?

“That is what Bhelen brought to me. That is what he told me.” As the words came out Noel found himself gripping the seat harder until he stepped around the table towards her. “Tell me it is not true, Lorelei. Tell me these are false allegations… that they must have been made by fools and traitors. I will cut out the man’s tongue if he has spoken ill and false things.” He reached to touch her face and frowned, true emotion on his normally vacant face. “Tell me and I will hang the man who has slandered you... I need you, and I do not know what I would do if were without you."

She had thought things were improving, so why these rumors? The women had not said anything to her or treated her oddly and wouldn’t they be the first to know and condemn her if she was sleeping with their husbands? And for Noel to believe it…it hurt her, though she knew it shouldn’t he had no reason to trust her but still it left a wound. How would she convince him? It was her word, the word of a woman, against the man who raised him and other men. Men were respected and believed, women were always wrong…she did not know how she’d convince him but she knew she had too. She knew the law in Riven, an unfaithful wife was to be beheaded for her crimes and this scared her, especially if the secret she held was true. More than one life would be taken.

She flinched when he came around the table as if he might lash out, but she stood where she was and looked at him with tears beginning to fill her eyes. “It is not true” She said with emotion in her face, her lips trembling and she shook her head “I would not be unfaithful to you. I would not lie with another man. You are the only man that my body will ever belong too” Tears started to fall and she trembled fearfully “Please Noel, believe me…please” She didn’t want to die, she didn’t want to die over lies.