After eating a small and hasty breakfast made by the innkeeper, he had a small loaf of bread with some butter and ale. The gladiator left the warmth of the inn having lingered there for some time. Tugging his scarf closer to his skin, he left Mileth following the light of the lanterns which were lit and made his way to the blossom tree planted directly outside Gramail’s temple. Claudine had mentioned many moons ago that the Gramail temple was where her long lost brother Tormod had served and was therefore her favourite. The temple reminded her of family.

 

There was no noise save for the crackle and pop of the roaring fire she was sat in front of, her face which was illuminated by the warm sparks from the flames, did not appear to be a happy face as the smile that was normally there was replaced with a tired expression. The temperature was slowly lowering which explained the fur blankets she had wrapped herself in. Her head was bent down, concentrating on stoking the fire with an old gnarly stick. Walking over to her, he threw his shield and sword on the ground and lowered himself to a seated position next to her. He looked at her exhausted eyes and wondered what she was thinking about. She prodded the fire a little more as she pondered how to tell him what had happened in shinewood, figuring he’d ask as her letter was so brief. Her heart quickened as she felt his body thump next to hers on the ground.

 

“Hey Claud, let me in that blanket. My feet are frozen through from trudging through the cold today. You can explain what made you angry first. Then you can tell me why you appear so glum.” EvilClown said as he sat down next to her and pulled some blanket off her and got in the bundle as well. Admiring her eyes, the firelight reflected in them, he slowly placed his arm around the girls shoulders and pulled her towards him. Slowly inhaling he caught a hint of something sweet smelling, something she washed her hair in no doubt.

 

He faced her, paying attention to the expressions crossing her face during her tale. As she was retelling the whole Shinewood incident a faint blush bloomed across her cheeks. Much to EvilClown’s amusement, he thought 'For Fiosachd’s sake she’s so shy!'. EvilClown began to grin, 'I’m just going to tell her how I feel since she wasn’t receptive to him', and ever to the point, he told her how he felt and what he thought.

“So you are surprised that he had feelings for you? He has been staring daggers at me ever since I helped you with those earrings. It’s no wonder he did, you are extremely beautiful. I have had feelings for you from the moment we met.”

Claudine didn’t reply. Turning to face him, she titled her chin upwards to meet his gaze, pushing herself up using her forearms and lifted her lips to his and kept him captive. The gladiator was shocked for a moment until he cupped her tiny face with his large hands and deepened the kiss.

After a time they both broke apart, she sighed and he just said “Ever so shy, and now you’re kissing me? I am enjoying this.”

“I think I’ll take a leaf out of your book and start saying what I actually think.” she stated nervously

“About time. If you want to tell me something, just tell me. Don’t pretend you don’t have feelings for me. I could tell from how you’ve reacted to me ever since we met, but I was afraid to say something in case I was wrong. I’m please I was right though.”

She carried on telling him, “I love you Evil, and I am going to keep you, for many deochs to come.”

 

“I love you too Claud” he told her, gently kissed the top of her head and began to pull the blankets tighter around them both. After this, she nestled into his arms and they sat for a time as the sun was beginning to set, it was growing colder so EvilClown picked up the stick and added more kindling to the fire. Claudine had begun to fall asleep which left him very much to this thoughts for the night. The moon shone through the few clouds that were floating by aimlessly. The light shone on the tangled pair seated next to the fire, fur of the blankets glinting under the lunar scene, the gladiator would take her to the glade on the morrow, eager to mark their beginnings in their legends written about each of them.

 

​