The return

Tessa stood on the parapet outside the room she had grown up in and now shared with her husband. Her return home had brought with it mixed emotions. She was thrilled to have actually seen her father and found him not only alive but in wonderful health. And yet, the words he and Llewellyn had exchanged on her return troubled her. She kept seeing the scene over and over again.

"Ye did it, m'boy! I don't know how, I don't care how, but ye did it! But ye didn't have ta marry her," Krom's voice boomed as he pulled the taller man to his feet. Embracing, each thumping the other on the back as Llew chortled huskily, "I married her a'cause she's one helluva woman, M'liege, not ta get her home."

The lord of the keep bustled them both through the portcullis as Llew managed to take hold of Tessa's hand and squeeze it gently with a whispered, "I'll explain everything."

She was so confused. Her father had had send Llewellyn to find her and bring her home. Why hadn't he told her? In the distance, she could make out the faint rays of the dawning sun. It was almost time to leave. Her pack was already packed, her horse saddled for the journey. Tessa stepped back into her room. She needed to see her father before they left. She needed to know.

She found him alone in the great hall. "I have been waitin' for ye child. Ye always came to find me when ye were troubled," came Kromwulf's gruff voice. "Why Papa? Why didn't he tell me?" she asked him, her voice almost the way it had been when she was little and troubled. The Lord of the keep lifted a hand and pulled this child, not of his loins, but of his heart, close. "I asked him not to child. I didn't know if ye would come home if he had told ye," he murmured into her hair, holding her close. He knew she would be leaving again and he didn't want her leaving hating him. "I missed ye, Tessa, ye have always been my daughter. I sent him to find ye because I worried. I wanted to know if ye were still alive...and if ye were happy." Tears slowly trickled down her cheeks as she hugged her father. "I can't convince you to come with me, Papa?" and yet before he answered, she knew the answer. "Nay child, my place is here. But when ye have children, I want ye to bring em home," he said, his voice gruffer than usual.

A short while later, goodbyes said, Tessa and Llew rode out of the keep. She still hadn't said a word to him and Llewellyn knew it would be a long trip. Especially if his wife was not speaking with him.

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> Tessa stood on the parapet outside the room she had grown up in and now shared with her husband. Her return home had brought with it mixed emotions. She was thrilled to have actually seen her father and found him not only alive but in wonderful health. And yet, the words he and Llewellyn had exchanged on her return troubled her. She kept seeing the scene over and over again. > "Ye did it, m'boy! I don't know how, I don't care how, but ye did it! But ye didn't have ta marry her," Krom's voice boomed as he pulled the taller man to his feet. Embracing, each thumping the other on the back as Llew chortled huskily, "I married her a'cause she's one helluva woman, M'liege, not ta get her home." > The lord of the keep bustled them both through the portcullis as Llew managed to take hold of Tessa's hand and squeeze it gently with a whispered, "I'll explain everything." > She was so confused. Her father had had send Llewellyn to find her and bring her home. Why hadn't he told her? In the distance, she could make out the faint rays of the dawning sun. It was almost time to leave. Her pack was already packed, her horse saddled for the journey. Tessa stepped back into her room. She needed to see her father before they left. She needed to know. > She found him alone in the great hall. "I have been waitin' for ye child. Ye always came to find me when ye were troubled," came Kromwulf's gruff voice. "Why Papa? Why didn't he tell me?" she asked him, her voice almost the way it had been when she was little and troubled. The Lord of the keep lifted a hand and pulled this child, not of his loins, but of his heart, close. "I asked him not to child. I didn't know if ye would come home if he had told ye," he murmured into her hair, holding her close. He knew she would be leaving again and he didn't want her leaving hating him. "I missed ye, Tessa, ye have always been my daughter. I sent him to find ye because I worried. I wanted to know if ye were still alive...and if ye were happy." Tears slowly trickled down her cheeks as she hugged her father. "I can't convince you to come with me, Papa?" and yet before he answered, she knew the answer. "Nay child, my place is here. But when ye have children, I want ye to bring em home," he said, his voice gruffer than usual. > A short while later, goodbyes said, Tessa and Llew rode out of the keep. She still hadn't said a word to him and Llewellyn knew it would be a long trip. Especially if his wife was not speaking with him.
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