Sir Dalan wrote his lady love a letter:

Ellowyn,

We are on the trail of Irish raiders in the West. I have tangled with such before as you know my love, so I do not fear them and perhaps can seek to improve my modest fortune. It is a relief to to fight mere mortal men and not Faerie giants.

I ride to battle with your blue scarf, knowing that the thought of you and your love will inspire me and keep me safe. I long for Winter so that we may become man and wife but until then I hope my humble words are enough.

Your loyal knight,
Sir Dalan

Weary from the expedition against the Irish and in truth little rested from the adventures earlier in the year Sir Dalan is content to ride back to Salisbury and home.

Ellowyn is but a day's ride to the west . . .

Just sayin'.

After much soul searching Sir Dalan turns his steed west. Though part of him longs for the sight of his home, a place too little graced by his presence this year lovesickness wins out over homesickness.

However he is also concerned he has no gift for his lady love. Unless he can meet a passing pedlar on the way...

There are a fair many shops in Carlion.  Perhaps a nice two-headed axe?  Or maybe some sweets, flowers, clothing, or jewelry would be more appropriate?

Sweets and flowers sound a fine gift for a fair maiden's heart and Sir Dalan busies himself finding and buying some, blue for preference to match fair Ellowyn's eyes (or at least wrapped with blue ribbon). Then both eager and nervous he makes for his lady love.

Lady Ellowyn is ecstatic to see Sir Dalan, and overwhelmed by his thoughtful gifts.

However, she can barely contain her tales of the recent fighting, "thank the Lord that you are come, I was so worried!  The Irish have been attacking all along the west of Escavalon and come to the very gates of the city!  I was so scared and didn't know what to do.  I could hear the clang of metal on metal and smell the smoke from burning buildings.  It was awful!  I of course hoped that you were safely on the other side of the Severn but secretly I wished you were here with me to make me feel safe."

Sir Dalan finds it distracting to be in the same room as the fair maiden and simply sit chastely. So beautiful and lively! It is a strain not to leap up and kiss her on the lips!

"I understand my lady and I thank all the saints you were safe. Your dear father is he in health? I know he is the Marshal and so must have fought the foe himself."

"He did indeed, along with his own retinue of knights.  Fortunately, they did not see much action as it seems that the fighting here was mostly a feint or some such," she notes with a helpless shrug.  "I am afraid that strategy and tactics are quite beyond me.  Why would you attack a city if not intending to take it?  It seems rather a waste to me but then all fighting is hard to understand."

"The raiders we defeated where trying to capture Princess Gwendollyn of Escavalon. Perhaps they hoped to cause a diversion of strength elsewhere?" Sir Dalan suggests. He smiles ruefully at his lady love. "At least in my manor you will be far from the Irish... though closer I admit to the Saxons."

"The Princess?" Elloyn gasps.  "What kind of unchivalrous rogues would do such a thing?" she asks.

She seems quite taken aback by this, especially targeting someone she knows and respects.

"Fear not, the Princess is quite safe and the Irish are fled," Sir Dalan consoles Ellowyn. "I am not sure the Gaels will try again soon, now the element of surprise is lost."

"But that they should try it at all is quite extraordinary is it not?" she exclaims.

She insists that they go talk to her father about all of this.

Sir Mylon is in a meeting but comes and joins the pair when he is free.  The trio enjoy some cool drinks in the shade of some trees on the rear lawn of the manor.  Ellowyn's father is courteous toward Sir Dalan and asks what brings Sir Dalan this far west.

Sir Dalan, feeling a little unsure (it doesn't seem quite his place to speak of such matters without the presence of Earl Robert) greets Sir Mylon well.

"Sir Mylon your fair daughter tells me that you to have been troubled by Irish raiders. Earl Robert and his knights, myself among them, helped drive away a group who sought to kidnap Princess Gwendollyn. Her grace is safe in Carlion under Earl Robert's protection and the Gaelsmen have taken to their boats and crossed the sea with their tails between their legs."

The Marshal appears somewhat taken aback by the news that the Irish were going after the Princess herself.  "That is grave news, Sir Dalan.  It appeared that it was intimidation that they were plotting and in our vanity we sent out our entire host to show that we would not be cowed.  And yet we seemingly fell right into their trap.  One that would have ended quite badly had you and your brothers not come to our aid."

He seems to look at Sir Dalan with a much higher degree of respect.  'I will not soon forget your assistance, Sir Dalan, thank you."

With that, he heads off, leaving the two alone.  As in alone alone, not chaperoned alone.

Sir Dalan feels very flush all of a sudden, aware he is alone with his lady love. After a long moment he takes her by the hand and draws her in close, looking into those deep blue eyes of hers. "My dear Ellowyn..." he says.

After an eternity seconds long he reluctantly draws away again. "No, it would not be right. Thy father trusts me."

"But it is a long time until the Winter," she notes with a sigh.  "Perhaps it would be alright if you just held me for a while?" she suggests somewhat timidly.

Looking into those eyes Sir Dalan's resolve falters. "Yes... perhaps it would be alright."

Taking Lady Ellowyn's hand he draws her in closer, so that her dress brushes against his breeches. He smiles. "Ah Ellowyn, will you miss Cardiff greatly?"

She shrugs, "I suppose.  Change is always difficult," she admits.  Looking up into Sir Dalan's eyes she says, "but I think that there is a lot to look forward to as well."

OOC:  Anything else Sir Dalan wants to cover?  I have covered what I wanted to.  Other stuff can be summarized.

He smiles at that.

After a while of just enjoying her company Sir Dalan asks her a little more about her family and her own childhood. He in turn tells her a little about Tisbury and Sarum, the better to let her know of her soon to be home.

Ellowyn tells Sir Dalan all about her childhood and growing up.  She is the only child of an important local official.  So she certainly never wanted for anything and she had plenty of people around the castle to play with.  She likes to ride horses and dance, and she can read/write well enough.

As Sir Dalan knows, she does not like conflict and violence, although she gets that it is part of what her father and future husband must do.  That doesn't make it any better for her, however.

Sir Dalan had forgotten she was an only child, and therefore would inherit whatever her father had. He could not bring himself to ask such a crass question however.

Instead he focused on her concerns. "I know you fear for me my lady, but the knowledge you are waiting for me will make me fight all the harder to return. As it is I do not go into battle alone but with my brother knights. They look out for me as I do for them."

He hesitates then kisses her lightly on the forehead.

The Lady gives a sort of half smile, "I know you are probably safer when you are out and about with the other knights but anytime you are away I can only seem to imagine the worst.  Human nature I guess."

If you are interested, Ellowyn is happy to show you around, you can meet her father's knights, see where she lives, etc.

"It's why I like you so much," Sir Dalan replies, smiling himself. "You care. Could you show me around a little, introduce me to your friends, your father's knights... your life?"

And she does.  Her father has twelve knights he can call on in times of need and several towns and manors, including one with a small castle.  It is probably comparable to Ariette's estates, perhaps slightly larger.

She shows you the places she used to play, where she likes to go riding, and takes you through the villages and talks to some of the people and points out fields and buildings and the like.