She weaved through the people of the Marketplace, hands tucked into her pockets. She was dressed in her usual attire, her vest color a royal blue. She then tucked stray crimps being her ear as she exited the Marketplace and started on the road towards home. Her expression was easy, though a closer look in her eyes would make her seem a bit weary.

Ewan shook hands briefly with the merchant and tucked away the purchase in his coin pouch. He turned to make his way to the Minstrel Guild Hall when a familiar figure caught his eyes. He quickened his pace slightly to come up behind her. Alterting his voice rather efffectively, though she would know him anyway through other gifts of perception, he pretended to be a burly, drunken fellow, "Shay, lady, willya nae shhhign this purty picture of you for meh?"

Distracted within her own thoughts, she barely caught the sound of footsteps behind her until she heard slurred words of an unfamiliar voice. Her shoulders became tense as she clenched her jaw, grey eyes taking a faint glow, "I beg your pardon?" She said, curling a fist as she turned on her heels to face the character, until she came nearly toe to toe with Ewan. Her fist relaxed instantly, and her eyes widened, "Oh, mercies Ewan!" She brought the once curled hand to the base of her neck.

His brows rose and he gave a sardonic smile, but there was some struggle to keep his cold humor. His jaw clenched then released, "First time you heard that? I find that surprising considering how well those calendars are selling and how happy you look in showing a good portion of your very appealing skin."

Surprised, her eyes widened all the more and her lips parted slightly in shock. For a brief moment, hurt creeped into her eyes, before they turned stone cold and she composed her features to be expressionless. "For someone who has been blamed for something that was not entirely his fault, I would think he would not be so quick to blame." Her body turned rigid, and her chin came up just slightly, "Now if you have only come to me to affront me like everyone else, then forgive me for not wishing to be in such company." And with that, she turned back on her heels and had every intention to walk away from him and home.

"Not entirely your fault?" He came up and matched her stride, "Have you seen the picture? You look happy enough to have had the arcane portrait taken. What am I supposed to think? I am not blaming you, but I admit I am surprised and hurt that..." He paused his words but not his pace, "...I just was mistaken that your thoughts on such things were the same as mine."

She refused to glance up at him, her presence still rigid and cold as he came beside her, "No, you were not mistaken." She carefully spaced her words so that they did not carry heat, only a chill, "I did not sign up for this. I do not know when it was taken, who it was taken by, where I was. Nothing." Hands went back in their pockets without her usual grace, "But bloody hell, I have been more happy these past many months, and so it is not uncommon for happy people to smile." Though she certainly didn't look happy at the moment.

He walked in silence collecting his thoughts and then at the approach of a side street he paused. His voice soft, "I am glad you have been happy." He turned the corner and his steps slowed as he debated with himself how easily one in this place could get taken off guard and how fragile trust was.

She stopped in her tracks as she watched him turn the corner. Still keeping a tight reign on her control over her emotions, she created a gentle breeze that would carry over her words so that she did not have to raise her voice, "How could you mean that, when you and talk to me in such a manner? Though I would rather you tell me your worries than continue to avoid me." But then she continued back on the path towards home, the corners of her lips turning down slightly.

"First of all, is there something I can do besides venting my own anger at you? And second, would you think it absolutely boorish of me if the next time some fellow leers at you I bleed them like a stuck pig?" The second question, of course, was jest, and it could be seen in the smile, but there was ernestness in his eyes over the first question. His thumb caressed the back of her hand. His anger had gone where all his anger goes, deep into the darkness to wait for a proper purging.

She couldn't help but start to smile at his second question. Though the look in his eyes told her she should answer the first to ease his mind, "Well, there is not much that can be done with what has already happened, except to move on." Though even her own voice reflected that it was easier said than done, "Just... do not avoid me so, if something happens again?" She took a small step towards him, "And you have full permission to do as you wish with the men who leer."

"May I ask a favor then?" He took a step closer to her as well.

"Of course." She offered a faint smile as he also took a step closer.

"Mmm..."His brow furrowed briefly and he shook his head, "Nothing. Do not mind it." He gave a smile and leaned forward slightly with the intention of placing a soft kiss to her forehead.

She sighed softly, taking advantage of his closeness and wrapping her arms gently around his middle as he place a kiss to her forehead, "What is it?" She pressed softly.

"On further thought it was a ridiculous request. I was going to say that we need to try and inform each other as soon as we can when such things happen, but that is ludicrous. If we jumped every single time this chaotic place abused our sensibilities, we would be running notes to each other every hour." A low laugh, his arms moved around her and he held her close, enjoying the knowledge that he was one of the few that was allowed to do so.

She chuckled also, resting her head on his right shoulder, "I am sure that we need to work on sharing such information, but I would not say that we do not." The last of her anger left her as his arms came about her, "It's horrible." She murmured against him.

He caressed her back comfortingly, "We will get through this, but I am sorry it has been brought upon you. I know you do not seek such attention, but you are also too kind to take those responsible to task over it either. Yes, I suppose you are right and the best thing is to move on."

"Yes, well.." Though she enjoyed the comforting movements on her back, she shifted slightly so that she could look up at him, "I have had many thoughts of giving the witch a piece of my mind... but it would not change anything."

"Mm, yes, too true. Her whole perception of the world is so entirely foreign she would not grasp your point, and typically she's rather harmless so I find it difficult to seek a way to threaten bodily harm to her. She did overstep her bounds this time, though." He moved so that one arm stayed behind her, but so they could continue walking to her destination, "Heading home are you? Avery coming in tonight or tomorrow?"

Indeed she did." She offered, before hoping that for now, the subject was done with. She also kept one arm around him, before she started walking again towards home, "I am going to get him tomorrow morning. And yes, I was heading home, where I have been all by my lonesome." She teased, making it obvious in her sly look up to him and the gentle squeeze her arm gave.

He looked at her and gave a squeeze in return, "Mmm, yes, well I did not want you to get too accustomed to my presence. " He jested, then more soberly, "I walked Rhian back to the manor. By that hour, if I had returned it would have been very late, and I did not want to wake you."

"Ah," She rested her head his shoulder as they came upon the street to her house, "I do suppose I have stolen many nights away from you being at the manor. How is Rhian? I have not seen her since.." Ger voice trailed off, trying to remember, "I cannot even recall."

"She had some family obligations back in Yransea. Her aunt passed away and her brother and his wife had a baby. She has just returned. For what brief moment I saw her, she looked well." He observed their surroundings, "I need to take care of some things. Will I have the opportunity of seeing you again tonight?"

"Hmm, well I am sorry to hear of her aunt." She said with honesty, turning to face him just as they reached her home. She offered a warm smile, "Of course, dear one. Where would you like to meet?"

"Perhaps at the inn?" He smiled and offered a soft kiss, "I will find you."

She returned the kiss in kind, "Then I shall be waiting."