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[oneclearcall]

The evening being particularly fine, Clarion is in the garden, perched on the rim of a fountain and watching the water fall -- being careful, however, not to splash his trousers.

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[fair_hero]

Hero desperately needs guidance, needs someone to offer some sane counsel for the utter madness of recent weeks, and when she sees him in the garden she comes running, her white skirts blowing, and stops only when she's close enough to make a hurried, breathless curtsy. "O, sir!"

[oneclearcall]

"Why, Hero, my dear!" He looks up with a bemused and welcoming smile, climbing to his feet.

[fair_hero]

"Sir Lucian!" She curtsies again and then clings, tucking her face in his shoulder.

[oneclearcall]

His arms go about her at once, one hand on her hair. "Whatever is it?"

[fair_hero]

"I am to be married--!"

[oneclearcall]

"Congratulations," even more bemused.

[fair_hero]

"I know not whether it should be glad now. I am twice dishonoured and my lord hath slain the man and I have prayed, yet I swear he should have lived, 'twas my sin more than his, and I know not whether I should turn myself away and say I cannot marry, nor whether I should say it for my sake or his," in a whirling, stumbling rush that's followed by tears.

[oneclearcall]

"Dear me," Lucian says, startled, and hugs her tightly to soothe her, as though she were a child. "Dear me."

[fair_hero]

"I know not what. He is slain on mine account, on mine."

[oneclearcall]

"Dear me." He pets her hair. "I'm afraid-- Perhaps we ought to sit down, and you can explain more slowly?"

[fair_hero]

She nods, tearfully, and wipes her eyes with her sleeve. "'Tis that I sinned."

[oneclearcall]

"Hmm." Lucian steers her to one of the benches and sits her down gently, then settles beside her with an arm about her shoulders. "How so?"

[fair_hero]

Oh, safety. It's reassuring to have him there and to have him ask and it's all right to tell him, though she can't tell it without colouring. "I--I know not wherefore, I gave mine honour to a man."

[oneclearcall]

It takes him a minute or two. "I, er, suppose that's one way of putting it," mildly and quite without censure. "And the gentleman in question..."

[fair_hero]

"A was not my lord," and it's evident this makes it much worse.

[oneclearcall]

"Yes, I can see how that would be awkward."