Hawke would always defend himself against harm, but he would not point a sword near an innocent and Lorelei was just that. With her standing next to Noel she was too close, if he tried to attack Noel she’d be in the way and he’d rather be harmed then hurt her on accident. When Lorelei spoke he had to concentrate on her words, the Cleft she spoke was a bit jumbled and she used a few words that were incorrect, but he understood what she really meant. She looked so comfortable standing with the Rivenese men, not frightened or silently begging for help, something he wasn’t sure why but thought he would have seen from a girl forced to marry in such a Age.

When Noel said no, he wasn’t surprised. If they were so easy to convince the plant would already be in Uru. She translated to Hawke and he frowned, feeling his stomach drop. No, damn it no! If he had to fight till the death against these people he would for Cecelie! He couldn’t just take this and go back without trying for her. He rather die for her then go back home and watch her die knowing he did not try his damnest to save her life. “Please!” He begged as he looked to Noel then to Lorelei “Please, there is a woman I must save! She is dying and I love her! Please, I cannot lose her!” Emotion filled his entire face and Lorelei frowned, feeling pity for the man as she translated to Noel “If you will not give me the plant then kill me here, because I will not return knowing I have failed her” Lorelei hesitated, not wanting to translate that but she sighed and did, giving Noel sad eyes.

Uru soldiers were supposed to be brave, fearless, and robotic. Why was this one so emotional? Why had he risked his life for a woman? Was she some high society brat who had ordered him to go to Riven and find her a cure? The situation perplexed Noel and he looked to Lorelei as his guards stood at attention with their spears pointed at the begging soldier. “Why is he so persistent? He must be stupid.”

Yet then the truth came out: he was in love. Men in love were stupid creatures, blinded by their heart. Men weren’t supposed to have hearts. But even the most dangerous of men could learn to love, and learn to succumb to their foreign lovers and be made weak in the knees by her smile. He looked to Lorelei as she translated, his face as stern as ever but he read her eyes and felt pity for the man only because his loving wife did. He was empathetic to her and her sorrow was his. After a moment’s hesitation he looked back to the soldier and lifted his sword, holding it in the air as though he may swing though after a few moments of hesitation he sheathed his blade. “You are lucky she feels your pain.” He spoke then in broken Cleft and stared the soldier down. “Ask him if he would bleed for her, Lorelei. If I bring him to the healer and he is seen by the people of Riven they will hurt him, and I will only stop them from killing him. He must walk through the savages if he wants the root, and must wear the scars to show it.”

Lorelei did feel for him. He was a man in love, desperate to save this unknown woman and had come here without any back up to try and find a plant that he probably wasn’t even sure existed. Yes the soldier could have been lying, but something about the desperation and emotion in his eyes just couldn’t be false. If she had been in Hawke’s possession she would do the same, venture anywhere no matter how dangerous to save Noel and she felt Noel would do the same for her. When Noel raised the sword she lowered her gaze and tried to keep the pain off her face for the poor man, but then she let out a breath of relief when Noel sparred him and she looked to her husband with a small smile.

Hawke expected to be killed but he didn’t flinch, he stayed perfectly still and waited for the blow that never came. He looked taken aback when Noel put his sword back then looked to Lorelei and noticed the way the two looked at one another. So that was it…this large man felt tenderness for the Nanite girl, he understood Hawke’s feelings. Well, what luck was on his side. When Lorelei translated for Noel again he looked the man in the eyes seriously “Take all the blood you need” He said lowly and Lorelei translated after a moment. She admired the man, he truly meant to do anything for the woman he loved.

Noel would do anything to keep Lorelei happy, and he knew it would bother her for days if she saw such a man die. She was romantic. This was like some sick, twisted fairy tale where the knight must save his princess. If the knight was killed the story would be ruined, and Noel knew it would eat at her gentle nature, so he spared the foolish soldier. He could not say the same would be done by the people of Riven.

“Come.” He said in cleft and turned to go back to the village. He ushered Lorelei towards her horse. “Go to the healer, be sure that he has the healing root ready so the fool does not stay long.” With that Noel mounted his stallion and told the guards to fall back to the portal. He would guide the soldier in silence, but when they reached town there was little quiet left. There was a fire going and people of Riven were drinking and celebrating their triumph over catching thieves. They danced, and by this time at night most of them were piss face drunk. As they saw the soldier they began to crowd him and look to their leader, then a few took their swings at the soldier to hit him as hard as they could or scratch at the Urun slave. They did not take kindly to him, but they did let him follow Noel… eventually. Noel glanced back a few times to make sure he was not trampled to death by the Rivenese, and he guided him through the people towards the hut of the healer.

He glanced at the guards carefully before he began following Noel. He kept watching Lorelei and Noel, curious about them. When he heard the news in Uru about her, people had spoken with pity in there voice for the girl forced to marry a man in Riven, yet when he looked at her she hardly seemed like a woman who was unhappy and defeated. She nodded to Noel’s instructions and placed a hand over his heart briefly “You are a good man, my heart” She murmured before she mounted the mare and with one last look to Hawke, one filled with some pity about what he would face soon, she turned the horse and headed ahead to the village.

Hawke followed, his body tense and ready for anything to happen, a hand on the hilt of his sword. This man may have obliged his wife’s wishes but she was now no longer here, so who knew if the man would gut him or allow him to be beaten to death when she wasn’t around to watch. When they reached the village his eyes widened, looking at everything with shock and his eyes swept about with all the movement around him. It was shell shock to see all of this…barbarity. He had never seen anything like this, men and women half clothed, shouting vicious words and waving about crude weapons. And then the violence started.

Hawke wasn’t used to not defending himself, but he knew he couldn’t put up a fight. Punches flew at him, knives cut at his skin, kicks at his leg knocking him down and only made him vulnerable for more kicking in his stomach and ribs. But Hawke kept going forward and picking himself up, keeping his gaze ahead of him and ignored the violence against him. Blood covered his arms and leg and he spit out blood from his mouth several times. It got so bad he ended up all but crawling on the floor, wincing and gritting his teeth and punches and kicks flew up at him “Enough!” He suddenly heard a voice say over the crowd and he looked up to see Lorelei cutting through the crowd “You have made your point. He knows he is unwelcomed” She leaned down and helped Hawke up, then helped him walk the rest of the way to the healer, the crowd backing off. Hawke groaned “You…hold quite a bit…of control…for a Nanite in Riven…” He gasped out the words and she shook her head, glancing to him “I am no longer Nanite. I am Rivenese. That is why I hold control”

Noel rode his horse and cut a path through the crowd as they shouted and beat the soldier down. For some time he did not look back, knowing the soldier would learn his lesson to never come back to Riven. Or at least he would know to keep his mouth shut about where he got the medicine. Soon Noel dismounted his horse and went to the soldier after hearing Lorelei command the Rivenese. He walked behind them as she helped him to the healer, his cold gaze looking to the crowd and they quickly scattered and went back to their festival without questioning their leader. They trusted him whole heartedly.

Once inside the healer’s hut Noel still remained silent. He looked to Lorelei and the bloodied soldier, then to the healer. “Give him the healing root and honey, but only spare enough for one woman. Disease is spreading in the other ages and I want plenty left for Riven.” The healer did as he was told and packed the root in a small cloth, then gave him a jar of honey as well. The old healer looked to Hawke without judgment, then to Lorelei. He told her instructions of how he must boil the root in water and honey, then get the girl to drink as much as possible. That it would take a few hours, but she would survive and need a few days rest. In the wrappings the healer also packed a small amount of herb to help with his pain, and told Lorelei this under his breath. After the healer explained this all Noel sat with an unamused expression then touched the hilt of his sword. “Come.” There wasn’t much time left if the girl was truly as sick as he said.

Hawke certainly never wanted to return here and hoped he never had reason too. No wonder people said such awful things about Riven, but he had been given some pardon by their leader but he had a feeling that without Lorelei he would have been dead the moment he stepped out of the portal. How did a woman like her survive in such a place? Even with his mind set on Cece he still had room to worry about others and he worried about the girl, but she seemed to be able to handle herself, though didn’t make him feel any better. She helped him inside the hut and sat him down, looking over his wounds but he shook his head “I’m fine” he insisted.

As the healer gathered things he frowned at Lorelei, glancing to Noel then to her “Are you safe here? Do you need help?” He asked quietly and she looked at him in confusion before smiling, touched this strange man seemed concerned for her well-being but it was not necessary “I am happy” She told him, giving him a nod to which he returned. She translated the instructions to him from the healer and he took the items, nodding “Thank you” He told them and stood, his body fighting him for all it wanted was to stay seated and catch his breath but he ignored it. “I hope you are able to save her life, soldier” She told him softly and he gave her a small smile “Me too” Then he turned to Noel, eyeing him for a moment before following him again.

The healer watched the soldier as Lorelei gave him instructions, making sure the man knew what to do. The healer root could cure nearly anything and when one Rivenese had come down with the same illness as the people of Uru had the root had cured him within hours. Hopefully it would do the same for this girl the soldier so longed for.

Noel led him outside and stopped at the crowd. “Leave him. Let him pass.” He commanded with a deep voice and the people spread to make way for the two men. The tall leader guided the soldier back to the portal in silence, though when it was within sight he stopped and looked to him. “Luck.” He said with good nature though his face was still barren of any emotion.

Back in Uru Cecelie had yet to wake. She had tossed and turned fr nearly an hour, but had gone still and her breathing had become more shallow yet spaced out. There was no more sweat on her brow, only coldness in her skin and a listless cloud loomed around her.

He was glad to not be beaten as he walked through the village again, for he did not want the plant or honey to be destroyed or be beaten so much he couldn’t make it back to Cece quickly enough. He hoped it work…he really hoped it did. A part of him was scared this was a trick, that they gave him some random plant that wouldn’t do anything for her just to be spiteful. But at least he had tried…but if that was the case he would come back here and kill as many people as he could in vengeance. He was not a man who enjoyed killing or revenge but if they tricked him when it came to Cecelie, he would have too much anger and sorrow to bare.

When they reached the portal he relaxed and looked to the leader “Thank you” He told him earnestly, grateful for his help. He then went through the portal and returned to Uru, rushing through the streets to return to Cece and just hoped she had not reached a point of the illness that she couldn’t return from. Magda tended to her and when Hawke stormed inside she looked shocked “Hawke!” She gasped, surprised and relieved to see him. She had truly thought he wouldn’t return, yet here he was. He panted, giving her the bundle he carried “Boil that in water with honey. It should heal her. But you cannot tell ANYONE of this, alright? It was the deal. I tell no one if it helps her. Alright?” He asked breathless but firm and she nodded “Yes, but, your wounded. You need help” She insisted but he shook his head “I’ll be fine! Make it. Just make it” He insisted and she frowned and went to the kitchen as he collapsed on the couch.

She brewed the concoction and went into the room with Hawke following her, not wanting to rest until she drank. He helped her sit up as Magda slowly poured the drink, rubbing her throat to get her to swallow. When it was done Hawke laid her back down and his shoulders slumped ”Now…we wait”

It was strange of Noel to do let a stranger into his Age and give him the things he requested. Normally he would have cut out the tongue of a man who asked for anything when charging into Riven, but something had gotten to him about the soldier. There was a soft spot in the savage leader for love after all. As he watched the man go back through the portal he nodded to the guards. “Don’t let that happen again.” He commanded and went back to the festival to find his wife. He wouldn’t be so kind twice.

Morning could not come soon enough. Even through her dreams Cecelie could feel her body ache and she drifted in and out of sleep, yet could not manage the strength to open her eyes. Was this what it felt like to die? She thought she imagined drinking some thick, sticky liquid but could not tell if it was a dream or reality. In her sleep she heard Hawke’s voice, and soon began to dream of a family with him. Her belly was swollen and they were wed, and living outside of the dirty Eder Kemo.

When morning finally came and the birds chirped outside her window Cecelie woke. She stirred quietly, stretching and squinting with a headache and slightly upset stomach troubling her; but it was nothing compared to last night. She was going to be alright… she was fine! Soon she sat up and looked around, touching her hair and face only to notice Hawke asleep near her and a woman asleep in the chair outside her room. Who was that? She tilted her head, but took little time to care once she looked to Hawke and began kissing his face and neck fervently. What had happened last night? And why did her mouth taste of honey? "Hawke..." She cooed to him and continued planting kisses across his neck, shoulders, and face to wake him.

Magda had tended to cleaning up Hawke’s wounds and fetching him some fresh clothes to change into before both of them collapsed in rest. Magda had wanted to drill him to find out what happened, but after stressing over taking care of Cece for a few hours and stressing over the possibility of Hawke not returning she just wanted sleep, and Hawke needed rest after his eventful experience as well. But unlike Magda who slept soundly, Hawke kept waking up every so often to check on Cece. At first he didn’t see improvement, but then she started to feel cooler to him and he began having hope once more that he hadn’t been fooled about the plant.

He startled awake when Cece began kissing him, his body and face swollen with cuts and bruises but when he saw her there a smile creased his face and he sat up, a rush of breath leaving him as he hugged her close “Oh you’re alright…you’re alright!” He said in relief then laughed and leaned back to kiss her “It worked!”

Cecelie didn't remember anything from the night before. She watched Hawk confused as to why his face was so swollen and cut then he tried to look his body over but je woke and hugged her tightly. "Oh!" She said with a laugh and hugged him. "I am feeling better... but what happened to you?"

Last night was a blur and she wasn't feeling one hundred percent better but she did feel far from death. "Who is she?" She questioned and nodded to the woman sleeping in the chair. "What happened last night? I... dp not really remember much..." She said slowly and tried to remember, then remembered the bath. " Did you give me a bath? Or was that a dream too ? ... I had so many dreams of you." She couldn't decipher what was real and what was not.

He kept laughing because he was just so relieved she was alright. He held her tight like she might slip away from him and disappear, because she almost had. If he hadn’t gone to Riven she’d be at death’s door he was certain. When she asked what happened to him he made a slight face and chuckled “Well…that is quite the story to tell” And he didn’t know if he wanted to tell her, she’d probably only get upset he had risked his life but, he would risk his life again and again for her. He touched her face and she felt cool and free of fever and he leaned in to kiss her.

He glanced back to Magda sleeping “She is a friend of mine. Her name is Magda. She was tending to you while I was gone” And getting his ass whipped, hence his brutal appearance. He then looked back to her and frowned “You caught the illness that has been traveling among everyone. You grew a terrible fever. I had a doctor come to tend to you but none of the medicine works, but Magda told me of a possible other solution and I searched for it” He smiled “Now you’re safe” He stroked her hair and smiled more “Yes I did. I was trying to keep you cool…you had given me permission”

What had happened to him?! Cecelie was left still baffled from the events of the night before but her worry was now on Hawke instead of past events. For the moment she let it slide and basked in his tight embrace, nuzzling her face against his chest. She kissed his neck a little slower now. “I love waking up next to you, even when I am ill.” With that she laughed, then glanced to Magda to make sure she was still asleep.

“I remember burning your dinner… did you ever eat?” She readjusted herself and sat up, touching his face gently as she worried more about him than herself. “Where did you go? What happened to you, my love? You risked your life for mine.” With that she cupped his face and crawled onto his lap, straddling him as she kissed him passionately to show her gratefulness. “You are a good, good man, Hawke.” How had she ever been so lucky? It was a common thing she asked herself. She kissed him again and smiled shyly when he mentioned the bath. “Did you bathe with me? I thought that was a dream… I also dreamt that we were wed, and that I was with child… and then I dreamt I was a mermaid. A very warm mermaid.”

“I love waking beside you as well” It was even more precious now than before. He could have woken up this morning and find her dead instead of enjoying her beautiful face. He shook his head “No, you were too sick. I dropped everything to tend to you. I had Magda come because I…” He didn’t want to admit that he had felt weak and defenseless in aiding her, that he had needed emotional support. He didn’t want Cece to think he had been weak and unable to support her in her time of need, but he had been so overwhelmed and afraid.

When she asked about where he went he sighed and gave in “I went to Riven” He started, frowning some “Magda heard rumors of a plant there that could heal the illness, so I left to find it. The leader found me first but his wife, the girl I told you about from J’nanin, she was there and translated for me. She persuaded him to oblige my wish for the plant without even speaking” He chuckled and smirked a bit “A true Nanite woman I suppose” He slipped his arms around her “I was given the plant with the promise I would tell no one and only give it to you. And well, I was beaten going through the village. My blood I suppose was payment to the leader”

He shook his head “N-no…I did not. I sat at the door. I did not lot” He assured her “I would not take advantage with you in such a state. Never” He nuzzled her face “Those seem to be beautiful dreams however”

He hadn’t even eaten? What kind of lover was she if she couldn’t manage to feed the hungry soldier. She frowned apologetically. “I will make it up to you. I promise.” She would need to make everything else up to him as well. Her hand ran down his stomach and she kissed him, savoring every moment with him.

Then he told her he went to Riven and all she sat back, looking at him with a frown. “You went to Riven alone? Hawke you could have been killed!” She frowned even more and looked at the cuts on his face. He had done it all for her. For a moment she continued to frown until her face softened and she smiled. “You are very brave… a fool in love, but so very brave.” The petite woman easily rested in his arms and pressed herself against him. “I can convince you without words as well. It is a secret that some Nanite’s hold dearly.” With little hesitation her mouth found his again and she touched his face as she kissed him passionately. Her other hand ran down his arm, feeling the muscles that carried her when she needed them. “I love you.” She broke he kiss long enough to speak. “I am yours. Forever.” Her body rubbed against him as she moved her hips, feeling so much passion built within her at his bravery for saving her, forgetting entirely the woman in the next room.

He shook his head “Cece, the fact you are well now is enough payment for me for a lifetime” She didn’t need to make up anything to him, she had been sick and even if she hadn’t she never had to owe him anything. Her reaction he expected and he only offered a lopsided smile “But I didn’t” Was all he could seem to retort. He knew what he had done was dangerous, but it had paid off and that was all that mattered, not what could have happened but what had happened. He had gone to Riven and returned safely, and now held a bit more respect for Riven, or at least their leader who could have been heartless enough to kill him without a thought but he hadn’t.

He laughed “I know you can. I believe it is a secret only Nanite women themselves have” Poor saps in J’nanin, no wonder people called there men spineless, woman were just too good at being persuasive. He returned the kiss readily “I love you” He returned the words against her mouth, his body stirring as she moved against him. He swallowed hard and trailed his hands down her arms “You need rest still. Do not push yourself” He said gently. He glanced out the door of the room then back to her, really not wanting Magda to catch them like this, he’d be utterly embarrassed.

As a younger girl Cecelie had visited Riven and she knew the people could be good, but she knew how they hated authority from other ages. The only reason most people had trusted the Atreyu family was because they were not authorities. They were merely looking for knowledge and trying to understand. Plus her father had a gift with words. Still, she knew that Hawke could have been killed. “I am happy you are brave, my love… but if you continue risking your life you will have hell to pay.” She said with a smile and scrunched her nose, pressing her forehead to his.

She was ready to stay on him for the rest of the morning, loving and kissing him, until he reminded her she needed rest. “I am fine.” She wasn’t. Her head was pounding and her stomach ached like something had seriously been wrong and she was on the mend. She kissed him for a little while longer then sat back on his lap and put her hands on his chest. “Are you hungry?” With that she rose and got off of him, fixing her robe as she got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make him breakfast (though tip toed quietly around the sleeping stranger).

[ooc/ ack I ran out of time. I shall post to Lorelei when I get home]

When she insisted she was fine he gave her a look. She was starting to sound like him, Hawke could have a knife in his chest and he’d still tell people he was fine. He was glad to see she was feeling so much better and wanted to move around, but she had literally just recovered, he didn’t think it wise that she start tempting fate again until her body was fully recovered and she was strong once more. When she got up he shook his head and quickly got off the bed himself, grabbing her arm and pulling her back “No” He said firmly. “You have just broken your fever. You need more rest. If you push yourself too soon you will stay weakened and you may get sick again” And he couldn’t risk another trip to Riven.

He gently ushered her back to bed “I will make you breakfast. We will also need to scrub your home to kill any of the illness left behind. You need rest. I will not let you get sick a second time” He insisted, not leaving any room for argument.

Cecelie was starting to act more like Hawke. She was sure there must have been things about him that had changed where he was similar to her as well. They spent so uch time around one another. She would always brush people off when hurt or sick, but would do so now in the same manner that he did. She was fine, or at least that’s what she wanted him to think so that she could make him breakfast.

When he grabbed her arm she stopped and looked back at him with a confused expression, only to give him a look. “I am sure I will be alright.” She wasn’t sure, but she gave in to him and turned back to him. When he said he would make breakfast she smiled and let the rest of his words roll off her shoulders. Yeah, yeah. They could clean. She was excited for him to cook for her. As he ushered her back to bed she stopped and put her hands on his chest. “You are far too good to me, Hawke Vezzan.” She stepped in closer and hugged him tightly, pressing her ear to his chest. “I would be lost without you.” How had she ever survived without him? With that question in mind she went back to bed and tucked herself in. She sat up, but at least she obliged him and was back in bed.

“No. I will not yield on this matter. To bed” He meant business, he knew he always gave in to what Cece wanted but this was a matter of her health and he would not let her win this time. He wanted to make sure she felt a hundred percent before she started moving around, rest would make sure of that. He followed her back to the bed to make sure she listened or if he’d have to wrestle her and tied her down to stay put, then smiled and touched her face “And I am lucky to have you as well” He kissed her “And I want to keep you, so rest” He added to make sure she wasn’t trying to sweeten him up to win.

Once she was tucked back in bed he gave her another kiss before walking out of her room. Magda was stirring, looking at him with a smile “She’s alright?” She asked and he nodded as he went to the kitchen “She’s feeling better”. Magda look impressed and stood “The plant, Hawke, it could save a lot of people if you said something…” She started but he frowned and shook his head “No” He said firmly “I swore to the Riven leader. If I said anything they’d send hordes of soldiers to Riven and slaughter them just to get the plant” He looked to her and sighed “I don’t like it. I don’t like the fact that I selfishly saved Cece and others are dying. But I gave them my word” He started to start a fire in the oven and Magda crossed her arms “Who cares about the Rivenese? Their savages anyway” Hawke shook his head and thought about the Riven leader and Lorelei, the way the man looked at her “Their not as savage as we think”