Marian looked down at the ring. "I know he will remember. I just have to be patient."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Jonah nodded. "I suggest you do just that. You don't want to shock him or do anything stupid. He'd find no guilt in ridding himself of you at the moment, believe me. For now, I suggest you just cooperate and hope that maybe he'll come around."

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Maraian started walking over to Max." I could talk with him for now, about different things."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Just watch yourself," he warned. "And don't step outta line."

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian walked over to the fire and sat opposite of Max.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Max looked up at her swiftly, raising one eyebrow, then returned to poking the embers of the dying fire with a long stick, stirring the flames back to life.
"Care to tell me what you were doing in my woods anyway?" He spoke at last.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian looked into the fire. "The King summoned me. For all I am worth, I do not know why."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He raised a brow at her again, intruigued. "And... how much are you worth, would you say?" he inquired, hoping to get a feel for how much he should ask for ransom. After all, if he were to be dealing with the king... He could end up a very rich man...

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian looked at Max. "I am not sure. I am from a small villaige. My father was a merchant and farmer."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Max swore under his breath. "The king wouldn't pay to have you back?" He was searching every possible option. "Gah, what am I talking about? He has hundreds of other subjects... What about... Husband? Hm? You got a little loverboy back home who'd pay to have you back? Or something...?" He fabricated a possibility with a vague waver of his hand.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian shook her head. "I have no one back home. not since my fiance left."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He frowned, annoyed and disappointed. "Hrmph. What good are you to me then?" He rested a palm under his chin, pondering, his gaze intertwined with the dancing flames. He looked so primal, sitting there crouched before the fire, the light dancing across his bold features, his golden mane of hair hanging sulkily in his face.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian smiled sadly. "I am sorry to have inconvinenced you. And I sorry abot before. You look like my fiance, and its a sad coincendince that you have the same name."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He made the "Hrmph" noise again in his throat, but looked up with slight amusement, a roguish grin haunting his features. "At least you have good taste, then."
Vain as ever. Some things never change.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Marian smiled, she blushed harder, and felt her heart start to race. "I think I should say thank you."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

He shrugged, smirking at her, then tilted his head back to stare up at the evening sky through the treetops. His breath made soft clouds in the cool autumn air. Something inside his heart clenched, feeling empty.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~