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"Of course..." ~ She had barely spoken two words before Aragorn motioned for her aside. He gazed upon her lovely face, feeling the familiar burden ~ How will she be able to survive an encounter with a dragon?! ~ Just fighting the lizardmen had nearly killed her.
Softly, he said to her ~ "Fantine, I think you'd better stay here, where you are safe." ~ Shaking his head at her protests ~ "No, let me finish... you are the pearl of your loved ones, Arthur included. And I would not want you to put your life at risk like this." ~ "As long as you know the risk, I am satisfied." ~ She answered, her cheeks turning a shade redder ~ "I wish to go, cousin Aragorn... you know that I do..." ~ Her glistening eyes pleaded with his.
He saw the anguish in her eyes, instantly repelling against what he already knew ~ Impossible. I cannot return her love, when so much weighs on my mind... it would be an unnecesary distraction. ~ He avoided her eyes deliberately, staring right through her ~ "Fantine, it cannot be. Your participation would cause sleepless nights and endless worry for all of us. Please, be obliging and not go." ~ Adopting his most persuasive tone.
With a sigh, she lowered her head in assent and he relaxed. That was her style: womanly, malleable and eager to please. He knew he had only to snap his fingers and she would be more than happy to die for him ~ Well, all the more I must protect her from such a foolish passion. ~ He gave her an encouraging smile, than signalled for her to leave quietly.
This, she did obediently.
"Sorry about that, Cyrus." ~ Aragorn threw a sheepish grin at the half-elf ~ "Family duty and all that... with her out of the way, and possibly Ursula too, we'd be weaker in numbers." ~ His expression turning serious ~ "But I'd definitely have less distractions in my mind." ~ Coughing a little ~ "Let's hear your plan, then."
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