Heavy is the Head of House (Corrine)

Ben stood and moved towards his Lady wife, his head trembling as if to clear it's grogginess. "
Just an odd set of circumstances. Is everything well with you? Has something happened?"
A shiver of fear quakes through Ben as he reaches for the reins of Jory.

Ser Markus looks to Corrine with cloaked pity. She was no longer the young girl of his memory, but a woman grown with the weight of noble house on her shoulders. Ever the loyal man he directs his attention and words to the leader of House Marsten "
My lady, I will take your escort and move on a ways, so that you and Lord Marsten may speak."

It takes all Corrine's fraying composure not to meet Ben's enquiry with a withering look. She instead directs her attention to Ser Markus;


"
Thank you, Ser."


She keeps her eyes on them as they ride ahead. Once she is sure they are out of earshot, she finally speaks to Ben;


"
Tell me more about these odd circumstances. It seems we have many on our hands at the moment,"
she intones, tersely.

With that tone he gives her an inquisitive stare, but continues to explain. "
On my way to break fast with you this morning the early patrol intercepted me. They notified me of this place."
His free hand sweeps over the small encampment, before landing on her thigh. "
It troubles Ser Markus and me that one would leave it so easily found. It is a mere ten feet from our regular patrol route. The fire is insubstantial. It could not have been used for warmth or cooking. It would have to have been built between the late night and early morning and then abandon. For what?"
His chin dips and reverberates side to side in confusion.

Seeing Corrine's remaining unease he switches the subject, his hand lovingly stroking her leg. "
But what is it that is troubling you, my love? Is it Sam?"

She does not move away, but the touch makes her skin crawl.

Just get it out. Nobody is within earshot. Just keep your voice down. Don't make a spectacle of yourself. You can always ride away if it gets to be too much.

She swung down from Jory's back and patted his neck. His slightly coarse hair helping her to ground herself. After a few moments of silence, she folds her arms and looks up at Ben with a stare like the edge of a knife, though already her lower lip had begun to quiver.

"
How long have you been fucking Marei?"
she demanded, her voice immediately cracking with hurt, her eyes welling up.

Ben's eyes narrow in perplexity. A reflexive intake of cold morning air burn his lungs. The fiery burn adds to the piercing wound in his heart. The rising need to rage back at her accusations is easily overcome by his deep love for her. He tries to retain a neutral demeanor, but can not help letting his crooked smile peep through at the sheer awkwardness and absurdness of their situation.

"
Never would I, but you seem certain?"
His eyes shone with compassion, all the while his mind attempted to make sense of what was happening.

Damn this lack of sleep I can hardly hold a simple thought let alone rectify this.

She snorted with dismay at his denial.

"
Don't insult my intelligence, Ben! You were seen with her! I had to listen to it described today, like some banal report! I've never felt so humiliated in my life! The whole keep is gossiping about it! I am made a mockery in my own home!"
She hissed, angrily wiping her shameful, unbidden tears.

A shuddering breath exhaled forth. His weariness even more visible now. Letting this fatigue take him, he plummets to his knees. His eyes search hers and his hands reach out to her. "
I would break my vows to gods old and new before I ever broke my vows to you."
Those searching eyes mirror his saddness and heartbreak. "
I went to her last night at her request. Nothing carnal intended, but with love. Love for my cousin's child and his mother. If you are listening to rumors than you know how they are being treated."
His last sentence carried a supressed anger.

Her resolve was disintegrating in the face of his plea. He seemed earnest, but what did that mean about what she had been told?

"
I... I want to believe you, but I don't know if I can. If your cause was genuine, why hide it from me? And why is she passing messages? This all looks very suspect, Ben. For all I know it could be true that she's involved in Sam's death. Gods, I cannot bear this. I don't even know who to trust in my own home!"


Fresh tears welled up, and while she longed to take his offered hands, she just hugged herself protectively.

A stab of pain physically shook him at her doubt and refusal to touch him. His bloodshot eyes watered but did not flow. The abandoned hands collapsed to his sides. "
What cause? I simply went to speak with her to reassure her they were safe. The hour was wrong, but with Sam's ... absences and rumors I thought... it was wrong. I see that clearly now. As to message I assume you mean letters to Dunstan and her father. No one will speak to her let alone dispatch her messages. As for involvment ... what exactly have you heard ... and from what source?"
The questions pique him,but he lacks the energy to press or think it over. "
She fears you, you know. Because she feels you took them from Dunstan. She fears what you would do if you believed the rumors."

Corrine's hands flopped by her sides in bewilderment.

"
I took her from Mountain's Reach so that Dunstan wouldn't make a fool of my friend! Aofie has been through too much to have to watch her husband parade his mistress and their bastard in front of her! I wasn't going to be responsible for bringing her further unhappiness! I fid what I believe was right. Would you knowingly send Ellie or Bethany to a man who would be unfaithful?"

Breathing deep he tries to muster the energy to continue this unbelievable situation. A small part of him chipped away by her angry decription of Ben. "
I tell you that, to let you know why she was using me as an intermediary. I was supposed to speak with you first thing this morning."
He pauses momentarily, something about this all nagging at him. "
Never would I put anyone in that situation... but dealing with the aftermath of it all seems to have Damned me anyway."
His final words spoke softly and with finality.

He drunkenly pushes to his feet. His body sways as he looks around the clearing from Jory's large dark eyes to Corrine's blue. The watery eyes gazing out are blank like that of a blind man. A contorted look of both saddness and being lost add to the outward appearance. His words are slightly above a whisper. "
You of all people know what I have sacrifced for my sisters happiness and safety. You know the great compassion that blankets the darkness I hold inside. Straighten this mess out or not, the damge is done. You feel betrayed by my secrecy and your doubt has cut me deeper than any clansman's axe."
A few short stumbling steps lead him toward Rose.

Her own heart stung with shame to see his state. She hurried to his side and took his hand.

"
Ben, stop. You are swaying around like a drunkard. You're in no state to sort anything out. Come home with me. We can..."


She sighed regretfully, and with worry. Had she been deceived? If so, who was manipulating her?

"
We can work all this out when you've rested. Neither of us are in good minds right now."

He turned to her, still with that lost look. A gentle squeeze of her hand and distant smile the only evidence he was still coherent. "
We have duties, my Lady. This trail will be getting cold and Hartshorn is in need of ... order."

"
Then let Ser Markus, Lem, and Clyde follow it. You're no good to anyone in this state. Or at least let me help. It'll go swifter and easier, and I want to make up for my error and my sharpness."

Some clarity returns to his blue-grey eyes, as he looks on her. He drops Rose's reins his hand to cup her face. "
Always the caregiver. Would I have been more thoughtful and cautious, we may not be here now."


With a sigh he finishes. "
Let's return home. I wish to hold Bethany."

"
Thank you. I'll tell Ser Markus to take my escort and follow the trail. Let's go home. We do clearly have some issues to sort out, but we can do that after. Right now, you need rest. You look like you haven't slept in days."


She held him steady, the ice in her heart melting away, though replaced with fresh doubts about Sam's man, and her mother. Words were going to be had.

"
Get yourself mounted, and I'll go talk to Ser Markus."

"
Just two."
He mumbles. Putting a foot in the stirrup it takes two attempts to pull himself in the into the saddle. Once up, he straightens himself upright, attempting to look whole.

"
Let us ride together and tell them we are returning."

Corrine mounts Jory with considerably more finesse, and moves him closer to Rose, rather concerned that her husband might keel over at any moment.

"
Alright, let's go tell them. Stay close. I need to be able to catch you if you start falling off."


She walks Jory forward, toward where their three retainers waited.

"
Two days. Honestly,"
she tutted, though not without affection. She called to Ser Markus when she thought he'd be able to hear.

"
I already fell for you long ago and harder than this short distance to the ground."
A strangled laugh follows.

"
Since the letter it has been one big fucking beautiful disaster after another. Pardon my mouth."
He let Rose keep pace with Jory as the two moved forward.

Ser Markus replied to his lady's call. "
Yes, my lady."

She indulged his silly, rather sweet comment with a shy smile. She inwardly scolded herself for having doubted him.

"
Yes, the letter. It is hard to resist feeling like his curses upon us in it were real. I feel a darkness upon the House."


She gave Ser Markus a slightly apologetic smile.

"
Lord Marsten is unwell. He is coming back to the keep with me. We need you to take Lem &
Clyde and continue with what you were doing. Follow the trail and learn what you can. Make sure those two are given some cider from the cellars on your return. They earned it. Have yourself something too, for your trouble, with my thanks."

Ser Markus nodded, ever dutiful, and did as asked. Meanwhile, Corrine and Ben trotted off in the opposite direction, back towards Hartshorn, Corrine keeping an eye on her sleep-deprived husband, in case he became as unsteady in the saddle as he had been on his feet.

Once they returned, Corrine noticed that some went conspicuously quiet as she and Ben passed by, walking the corridors to the master bedroom. Likely due to the gossiping, Corrine surmised. But there would be time to deal with that later. Right now, she had to take care of Ben, her genuine love and caring tinged with guilt.

They made a detour past the nursery, where the nurse was feeding Bethany while her baby brothers slept soundly. Bethany came along easily with her mother, and the three of them were soon securely in the santuary of Corrine &
Ben's rooms.

"
You get into bed first. I'll put her down next to you,"
Corrine instructed, gently, ushering Ben to his rest. Bethany was already yawning when Corrine put her down next to Ben. She instantly burrowed into his arms, seeking his warmth. Corrine sat on the opposite edge of the bed and watched them with a soft smile.

"
There. Get some rest. You'll feel better."

The low thrum of a tiny drum, and glowing warmth against his chest, fill Ben with joy. An incessant scratching along with a sharp light piercing his lids drive him into wakefulness. Bethany lay balled against his chest and Corrine sat a table with quill in hand. Blinking his eyes clear, he smiles brightly, but as quickly as it came, it faded with the memory of the mornings events.

With a practiced ease he carefully removes himself from the bed. The cold stone floor sending a cold chill up his spine, causing an involuntary shiver and his skin to raise. A quick glance shows him his actions have not disturbed Bethany's slumber.

Corrine sets her quill down and gets up to go to him, tentatively taking his hand.

"
Are you alright? Feeling any better? I didn't disturb you, did I? I was trying to be quiet. I was going to join you, but then thought of something I could get done in here, so I could still be here for you."


The slight babble in her speech belied her anxiety.

A quick embrace pulls her tight to him. The warmth of her body and fabric of her gown a stark contrast to his cold, bare skin. Nuzzling his chin into her neck he answers. "
I am well. And I am sorry for my incompetent actions."

The embrace causes her suppressed emotions to flow out freely, the readiness of his love and her own shame at her behaviour moving her almost to tears. She clung to him dearly, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"
No, no love. I'm sorry. I feel awful that I thought such ill of you. I took others' word over yours and that was wrong. Please forgive me. I will never doubt you again, I swear it."