Not sleeping on the job! Honest!

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath stared at the girl for a second, unsure of what was happening.  As her cheeks flushed and she looked like she was about to begin crying, though, he decided he couldn't afford to hesitate any further.  Leaping off of the bench and kneeling in front of Dorothea, Tavath took one of her hands in his and, with the other, tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes.   Her pupils didn't seem to have the tell-tale constriction of poison, nor were her hands particularly warm or cold.  A sudden chill ran through Tavath as he realized it could be a magical affliction.

"Lass," he said, concern evident in his voice, "Dorothea, are you alright?  What's wrong?"

[Clair]

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she looked at him helplessly. "Oh, Tavath," Dorothea said, barely more audible than a whisper, "I'm scared. I lied. I came here because I'm being followed. I'm so frightened. My father, he couldn't pay our rents anymore... so he sold me...to a whore house--" She let out a sob for affect, "--but I don't want to go back. Don't let them take me back there. Protect me?" Dorothea buried her face, as if ashamed, with her free hand; she tightened the grip of her other hand in his, as clinging to him. She hoped her story would win him over.

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath stared at her for a moment, his face draining of colour before flushing a deep crimson.  "Lass," he said quietly and evenly, "They'll no' have you, in any way, I promise you that."

He stood and tightened the straps of his cuirass, glancing back at the archway Dorothea had entered by.  There didn't appear to be anyone there, but bandits were, he knew, devious by nature.  Picking up his spear, he looked back at the girl and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring grin.  "Don't you worry none, Dorothea," he said calmly, "I'll take care of 'em for ya.  You'll just need t'let me know where they are.  An' where yer Da's at; I'll want ta have a word or two with him."

[Clair]

She rushed to her feet, grabbing his arm. "No, Tavath!" she cried. "Don't go; they're too strong. Please, just... help me..." Her shoulder sagged. "I just need to find someway to get on my feet, so I can--" she swallowed a sob "--take care of myself. Is there... anyway you could get me a job?" Dorothea bowed her head. "Or if I'm too much a bother, perhaps just some supplies and I can be on my way. I haven't eaten in so long..."

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath looked at the girl for a moment and nodded.  "Aye, yer prob'ly right, lass," he said slowly.  "Just wait here for a moment, an' I'll be right back."

Without waiting for Dorothea to respond, Tavath jogged to the archway and poked his head into the street.  He scanned the passers-by and, while was able to spot several character of no-doubt less than stellar repute, none seemed concerned with keeping an eye on the entrance to the garden.  Nodding to himself, he walked slowly back to where Dorothea sat and smiled at her.
"Well," he said cautiously, "It's lookin' clear for the moment; if you've a mind, I've some bread, cheese and dried fruit that you'd be welcome to, lass."

[Clair]

Dorothea's eyes widen and she smiled widely. "OH! Thank you, thank you, Tavath," she cried happily, hugging his arm. "You' no idea how much you' helped me!" She hoped he would let her stay.

Dorothea's story, though not entirely truthful had not been a complete lie. She was indeed being followed; and, much to her chagrin, Dorothea was unable to cast herself a shield. Umeson had surprised her and she'd let her guard down. For the time being, she was as weak as a human man.

"But I will not let you give to me out of charity, Tavath," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "I will make sure I am useful to you in some way."

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath stiffened as Dorothea grabbed his arm.  He hesitated a moment before awkwardly patting her on the shoulder and sliding his arm out of her grasp.  He shook his head and smiled at Dorothea as he reached for his kit-bag.
"Don't ye worry about it, Dorothea," he said as he rifled through his belongings.  "It's no hardship, I assure you.  Besides," he added as he handed her a small, oil-skin wrapped bundle.  "It's the least I can do for such a...lass as ye."

[Clair]

She took the small bundle, her hands lingering on his for a moment, as she looked up at him with shining happy eyes. "Oh, no! Whatever it is you might be needin' or wantin', you tell me, Tavath. I won't accept this as charity."

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath felt his cheeks flush at the touch of Dorothea's hand and shook his head.  "No, lass," he said warmly.  "It's not charity, lass; it's a gift.  Besides," he added with what he was certain was a stupid grin on his face, "Bein' around a pretty girl's plenty reward enough for me."

[Clair]

Dorothea smiled and laughed. "You'ra sure good man, Tavath. Most men who have jumped on that offer... literally." She gave him a bit of a wink. "But I will find a way to repay you some way."

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath worked his mouth dumbly for a moment, and then shook his head as he gave Dorothea a half-smile.  "Aye, well," he said, his voice tinged with a note of sadness, "I'm not sure what sorta men ye've been, uh, familiar with, lass, but...well, you've no need t'repay me.  'Specially not in that way."

He set his pack back by the bench and sat down, leaning against a dwarf pear-tree.  He looked up at Dorothea and tipped his chin toward her.  "You should eat, lass.  Once tha's done, we can talk about what we're t'do with you.  Fair?"

[Clair]

"You'ra good man, Tavath," she said again, taking a seat on the bench. "Honorable, and kindhearted. I envy the woman in your life." Dorothea nodded to him, thanking him again, before beginning to eat. When she'd finished a good portion of the bread, she looked up at him again. "Are you sure there'a nothing I can do...?"

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath watched Dorothea intently as she wolfed her way through the hard loaf of ration-bread and shook his head sadly.  She was beautiful, true, but her...insistence troubled him.  It was, he decided, a shame that someone as young as she was felt that she needed to offer herself up as repayment for a small kindness.  Not, of course, that he'd ever be able to articulate that sort of thought in words - not to her, at least, and certainly not in any remotely eloquent way.

Tavath shook his head again at her offer and smiled.  "No, Dorothea, I'm sure; it's not...Well, it's not that I'm not interested, lass, but, well, yer young an' ye've not had a good time of it, that much is clear.  I'm not sure what kinda men yer used to, but I'm not like 'em.  And," he added after after a moment, "there's no lady in my life.  Nor'd she be that lucky, lass."

[Clair]

"Well, sh' be'd taken care of, any woman you might'in find you'self with someday, Tavath," Dorothea said, with her rough accent coming through. At times, it was just far too exhausting to try and hide it; it also added to her story of a rough life as a child prostitute. "Perhaps' some day that's how I'll repay you'-- I'll get you a woman, hm?" She giggled.

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath smiled at Dorothea and shook his head as he looked up through the pear tree's leaves.

"Well, lass," he said after a few minutes silence, "that may be a long time in comin'.  But let's not think o' that for now.  What of you?" he asked, looking back at the girl.  "Can't leave ye here an', no offence intended, but sendin' ye back to yer da doesn't seem like the best of plans.  Where've ye a mind t'go to?  If it's Connlaoth-way, I might be able t' convince my employer t' let you go with us... "

[Clair]

Dorothea smiled sweetly, batting her eyes lashes. "Oh, please let-in me stay with you! I'm strong an-I can do good works!"

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath smiled back at Dorothea and shrugged his shoulders.  "It's not really fer me to say, lass," he said slowly.  "If I can finish up my contract without havin' to escort his nibs," he gestured to the house and grimaced, "then I can take ye most anywhere ye'd like.  If they're wantin' me to head back north, well...  It's their ship, y'understand?"

[Clair]

Dorothea grinned sneakily. Her mind was churning with ideas now; she wasn't sure what else she could do. She was running out of time very quickly; Dorothea had to find some way to snare him.

 "Well," she said with a shrug, "couldn' you'in say that I have' to come with you?"

[Jim the Viking]

Tavath raised an eyebrow at Dorothea's insistence she come with him.  He arched his neck and looked toward the garden's gate, then looked back at her and put a hand on the grip of a broad-bladed dagger at his hip.

"Lass," he said evenly, "There's somethin' not right, an' if ya want me to take ye along with me, I'm gonna need to know exactly what's goin' on.  Now, please, what's this about?"

[Clair]

Dorothea looked alarmed, stepping back. "Y-you... I... I told you!" she cried, more tears coming to her eyes. "I just don' want to be 'lone anymore. I guess it' not to be; I' die before going back there." She grabbed at the dagger that he reached for, grabbing it from it's sheath quicker than he could stop her, and held it to her neck. "It's no life, back there as a whore... I won' go back, I won'!"