It was first light when Neyaa crept out of the house in High Road.
The ground was freezing beneath her bare feet, for she had carried her boots to the door in order to slink away undetected. They had talked deep into the night, sharing more than they should have, Neyaa smiled regardless. He had asked her to wake him before she left, it was better that she did not. Pulling on her boots and wrapping her cloak about her she looked around for her mare, Féle who had no doubt wandered home.
The morning air nipped as she traipsed home, bird song accompanied her thoughts as she reflected upon a question that was asked of her last night "why do you care for a man who has none for you?". It was an honest enough question but one she could not rightly answer, why did she care so greatly for a man whose affections towards her appeared so sparse in return? The question would even cause her footsteps to pause a moment. Continuing on she reasoned that the man in private differed from the man others would readily judge and call into question his character and motives. Neyaa frowned, pausing again. She would not plead his case, it was better that Neyaa herself was met with sympathetic looks or sneers from those who would judge her a fool, than to defend her reasons for staying and compromise his reputation. True enough his words had the capability to both uplift and then crush her, he barely acknowledged her in the presence of others, yet in the confines of his home they would converse for hours and during those moments she beheld a man others did not heed. Perhaps the only other person who would understand how she felt was Hyrien?
Thoughts that burrow within the depths of one's soul can make a trek seem curtailed and soon enough she was welcomed by Féle who was standing in the garden of a familiar house. Unlocking the door quietly Neyaa removed her cloak, slipped off her boots and padded into the bedroom. The fire was naught but embers but the warmth welcoming anyway. Once she was warm enough to not bring a chill into the bed and risk a scolding, Neyaa gently slipped beneath the covers, the topic of her thoughts had still not drifted far from her, why, yet again, so soon after the last one did she harbor love for a man that would not want it?
It was as if he sensed her presence beside him, he rolled toward her pulling her close to him, wrapping her up in his arms. At that moment her question was answered for her, why did she love him?....it really did not matter did it?...all that mattered to Neyaa was that she did.
