[06:00] Romani pretty much glomps Ophe as soon as they're alone.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:01] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Sure."
[06:01] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I do not know much about this place."
[06:01] She was tackled, nearly falling backwards from it.

"... I wanted to do that when I saw you. You stole my idea," She teased with a small smile. She'd take his hand, going off to find somewhere private so she could explain.
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
[06:02] Romani would give a small chuckle, seeing that smile on her face. For a moment, he just holds her, tears beginning to well up in his eyes, before taking her hand.

"Heh. This is one time I do not mind being a thief."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:02] Ophelia cos Montclaire says, "... I don't mind it either."
[06:08] She didn't know the best place to go, all honestly. So she just walks, climbing up a few flights of stone steps before she stops at a cliff, by the water. She stares out at it for a long time, just silent, content to stand there and hold his hand.

Eventually though, she does turn to him.

"... I feel guilty. I don't care what you think - or say, Romani. This is my fault. The reason why your ribs are broken, why you're here, captive. It's my fault." She said, pointing a few of her fingers directly at her chest now. She seemed so different now - how many months had it been?

Her hair cut short, and done quickly with a knife. She no longer wore a dress, instead wearing a knee length tunic and those leggings on underneath it. Thankfully she had had enough coin on her to buy a cloak.

"I was selfish. I... I realize that. I was selfish, because instead of just not engaging him, I did anyway. I'm just lucky, I guess, that I didn't die. Or get horribly injured, but..." She trailed off, eyes dipping to the ground now.

"He said - since... Since I tried to take his life, I'm his - this is so stupid - his indentured servant. I... Romani, he took my wedding ring." She admitted that, and suddenly the dam broke. She began crying. It was such a small thing, a ring of all things, but it hit her hard. "He... He kept me in that stupid house, for... All these months, and he wouldn't even let me go outside." She sobbed out.

She stepped closer to him, before throwing her arms around his neck and hiding her face against his chest now, crying.

"All this... Because I was selfish and stupid. I'm sorry..."
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
[06:18] There was no good place to go. No house that was there's in Myllenoris, no place that the Stellus could really feel fully at home. It was all too wild here, too unkempt. His hand would also ever lower to his ribs, holding them as he ignored the pain, ever trudging onwards as they reach a cliff near the water. For a moment, he just stands there, holding her hand, perhaps giving it a squeeze.

".. Do not." The Stellus would say, as she spoke of feeling guilty. "I may have left Orsona to retrieve you, but the method I took was my own accord. The reason my ribs are broken are because I decided to fight, despite knowing that I have not won against anyone who has ever wielded a weapon. The reason why I am a captive is because I choose to battle, and I lost."

His hand clenched into a fist, looking over the changes first. The hair that was short, the tunic and leggings, the coat. Very different looking from the woman he had married.

But the same woman, and that was what mattered to him.

"You were selfish because you choose to engage him. I was selfish, because I choose not to act as a Stellus, not to stay by the church and pray, but instead to come and find you. And for that reason, an occultist can walk free in Myllenoris, my ribs are broken, I am a captive here, our child is alone at home with the maids, and I was reminded just how much of a failure at life I am."

A breath taken inwards. A pained laugh, and a faux smile.

"..." The ring thing does bring an end to the laugh, his own eyes cast towards the sea a few moments before wrapping his arms around her and just holding her close.

"Ophe, you are not a ring. Our marriage, our bond, is not something so easily destroyed, removed, cut away, or anything. He may have kept you in that house, and I may have been chained and shamed in the middle of Myllenoris."

"But we are here now. You are here. I am here. And I love you all the same. No matter how selfish and stupid we both were. So it is fine."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:24] It was depressing. She wanted to be anywhere but in Myllenoris - and yet, here they were. He held her close and now her head shook.

"You're not a failure at life." She said softly, her voice muffled. Sure, his shirt was getting wet - but he could deal. A small price to pay. "You... Are my husband. You are the man who - for SOME reason - decided to fall in love with me." She said, a little sniffle emerging from her.

"That isn't a failure. Mistakes were made, yes. Our child is at the very least being watched over... And - we'll get home. You'll... Get home." She said with a tiny nod. "I know I'm not a ring but it represented you, and that was all I had, Romani. I know what we have isn't something he can just make me forget about even if he tries his hardest. But it hurt." Her eyes squeezed shut,

"Did you know.... The first thing he did was cut my hair? With a knife?" She asked, as if lightening the mood just a tad bit before continuing, "I really... Really don't know if he'll let me go, even if the war is won on either side. I don't know what to do."
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
[06:32] The wetness of his shirt bothered him not. In fact, he would still bring her ever closer, hold her tighter, despite the momentary cold.

"But I am." A small laugh anew. "Every time I have tried to fight for something, I have lost. Whether I tried to fight to save lives, to purge occultism, or even just to prevent simple banditry. I have failed and failed and failed. And I will fail a hundred more times."

A small sigh, raising a hand to pat her back. "I am your husband, you are my wife. I decided to fall in love with you, and I fall more in love you with every time we are together. In fact? I would say you are the single part of my life that has been a success. The single thing I feel I have done right for certain."

An exhale into the cold wind as he closed his eyes. "Our child is being watched over. And I do consider what I have done failures. But," He would rub her back. "I will not go home without you. It is either I go back with you, or I do not go back at all." The stellus decided, simply. A hand would lightly reach up, fingers gently touching the neck to rub it if the collar was not still there.

"I am sorry. I am sorry that when you were taken I did not come sooner. I am sorry I could not stop him from cutting your hair. I am sorry I could not come in bravely, some warrior or knight in shining armor to rescue you."

A small chuckle. "But.. If you are here, I am here. No matter where it is. No matter how much I have to be beaten to get there. As long as I live, I will go after you, and I will try to protect you."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:41] His words comforted her, and now even if her tears dried just a bit, she felt relaxed in his arms. The knowledge that he'd either go home with her, or not go back at all prompted her to lift her head up to stare at him quietly for some time.

Then finally, a finger was pressed against his lips.

"I love you with all of my heart. I don't care if you didn't come sooner. I don't care if you couldn't stop him from what he did to me, or that you didn't kick the door down and slay the fearsome dragon that kidnapped me," She said quietly. "... I care that you came. That you're here. I care that you suffered on account of me."

"Osrona needs it's Stellus, Romani - though I suppose that's more or less in the future anyway. But regardless of anything else? You are my knight in shining armor. Period." She said, leaning in some to press a kiss against his cheek.

"I don't know if he plans on sticking around Myllenoris. But he told me that I should forget my old life - but... How can I do that when you're my entire life?" She questioned with a little chuckle. "So we'll stay here together."
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
[06:48] The finger pressed against his lips caused a light blink, his eyes ever gazing towards hers. Her words did bring a small smile upon his face.

"I love you with all my heart too. And while you do not care, I still wish I could do more, be more. Next time? I will try to run faster. I will try to come faster, to reach you faster." He held her close.

"I love you. And I made a promise to Berrios. That I would be in your life, and protect you as much as I can. That I would bear burdens and pain to be with and near you. Because I love you. So do not worry. I will come for you. I will suffer for you."

He smiles. "Always. For as long as I live."

"Orsona does need a Stellus. But I need you. You are the single success in my life and without you? I think I would rather die." He said, returning the kiss to his cheek to one on her forehead.

"We can not know his plans, or the future. But no matter where he goes? No matter what he tries to do or tells you? I will go after you. I will try to be with you." A small laugh of his own.

"Death or success, I will try to protect you, and be with you."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:50] The kiss upon her forehead calmed her down more than perhaps he'd ever know. A small smile settled across her features.

"Romani."

She just said his name. That was it. She didn't know what else to say. His devotion, his love? It was what she needed to see this through she realized. She had been miserable, and while there had been a general melancholy that emanated from her during her stay here and now? It vanished.

Now she pulled back a bit, gesturing to his side.

"We should find something for your ribs now... I really should I have learned medicine. So stupid." She commented with a small shake of her head.
(Ophelia cos Montclaire)
[06:54] "Ophelia."

A smile would cross his own lips. Because to him, there were very few words that could encapsulate how he felt. 'I love you' for the most part, but in this moment, he felt that he had been able to let her know how he felt. She was able to know how much he had missed her, and how much he had been willing to do to go after her.

Because that loving way he said her name? To him, in this moment? That was enough.

A slight grunt when talking about his side.

"It will not kill me. So it is fine." Romani said with a small nod, a small chuckle.
(Romani cos Montclaire)