The Books of Love.

"Temple of Mara huh?" Argis questioned the young wood elf who had her bright hazel eyes upon the temple. The temple was nested in Riften, the city of the Thieves Guild. The Nord looked down at his thane and a tiny smirk appeared on her face, "You looking for marriage?"

Rhawneth looked up to him with a frown upon her tanned face, obviously offended. "No!" She snapped causing Argis's smirk to widen at her reply. "I'm just looking for something to sell back to the Guild," she muttered under her breath.

She walked up the steps and Argis followed behind her. The dragonborn opened the doors and the pair stepped inside. Her eyes scanned the area as she walked down the alter. The temple was small and barley had anything within it, except for a large statue of Mara behind a table with a shine on it. Then, a priest approached the pair. Rhawneth stepped back due to the man's eager steps, causing her to hit Argis's stomach. Argis gently placed his hands onto her shoulders due to her impact on his chest.

"Ah, a young couple." The priest said happily causing Rhawneth's tan face to flush deeply. "You must be here for my blessing and Mara's blessing as well so you can be wed." Rhawneth looked up at Argis with her mouth agape and then felt the pressure of his hands upon her shoulders which did not help the situation.

"We aren't together," she murmured as she pushed Argis's hands from her shoulders. Her humility entertained Argis to a certain degree.

"I'm just her housecarl," Argis said to the priest causing the priest to sigh in sadness.

"Tsk, what a shame. We haven't had any marriages here in a while. I hope Lady Mara will give me visions about couples in need. I'll be sure to pray for you two," the priest said and his words left the young elf speechless. She only raised a hand and her mouth was agape.

"We…don't..ugh!" She was so frustrated which caused a smirk from Argis once again. Rhawneth gazed up at him and glared.
"Wipe off that smirk," she said in an annoyed tone and pointed a gloved finger at him
Argis only took a hold of her hand gently, despite his large hands and noridc handcuffs. "It's nice to see you flustered every now and then."

Rhawneth only frowned and yanked her hand from his. A female dark elf priest walked over to them and smiled at the pair, which caused Rhawneth to put her hands up. "We aren't getting married, we just to know if you need any help around here."

The woman frowned but then her expression brightens. "So you wish to seek Mara's blessings then?"

"I guess," Rhawneth said which made the woman smile.
"Wonderful, all you have to do is tasks for Lady Mara and I will give her your blessing. I am Dinya Balu, a humble servant of Lady Mara," the priest explained. "Let's see if Lady Mara has a vision for me."She walked behind the alter, placing her hands upon the shrine.

She closed her eyes and then spoke to the pair, "She says the dawn surely opens upon you. You must bear its light so that all may see. Mara has reflected an image to her. At the foot of the throat and young woman, almost a girl, her fickle love must resolve itself. The village of Ivarstead. The woman, Fastred. This is the prayer heard by the goddess and relayed to her servants. Return when she has seen her path."

Rhawneth nodded at the woman and Argis only rolled his eyes at the so called visions. Rhawneth caught a glimpse of his disrespect and elbowed him gently in his rib cage. The Nord glared down at her with his mutil-colored eyes.

"We shall travel there at once," Rhawneth spoke with a slight bow.
"Lady Mara's blessings upon you child." The priest said and she walked away from the altar.

"This walk has been horrible. First a troll and then two sabre cats!" Rhawneth complained as the pair made their way up the mountain to the village of Ivarstead. This wasn't the first time the elf had to make this journey, she remembered stopping at the village when she was on a quest to find the Greybeards.

"You're the one who wanted to help that crazy old priest," Argis reminded the elf causing Rhawneth to mumble under her breath.

The leaves dance in the breeze once the pair reached the top of the hill and saw the small village. Argis rolled his shoulders back and looked down at his thane. She had on her assassin cowl, even though Argis knows what it is, they have never discussed the issue of her loyalties.

"We're here, now what?" He asked her.
"We find that girl and talk some sense into her," Rhawneth mumbled.
"Forgive me Thane, but you sound….nervous." Argis replied with a hint of humor in his voice.
"I…I'm not good with this type of stuff Argis," she admitted. "You'll help me though, won't you?"
He looked to the side, gazing at the rushing river and sigh escaped his lips. "I'm your housecarl and I'll do whatever you ask of me, my Thane."
Rhawneth smiled up at him causing Arigs to look away with a flushed expression. The pair walked into the small village and Rhawneth removed her shrouded cowl from her head, exposing her dark locks and elfvish features.

Rhawneth walked over to a girl who was picking vegetables from the garden. Once Rhawneth stood in front of her, the girl smiled brightly and clapped her hands together. "Are you the one sent by Mara!?"
"Um, I guess. What's troubling you?" Rhawneth questioned.

"My name is Fastred and my parents are impossible! Bassianus wants to marry me. And I think I love him. But he wants to move to Riften afterwards, and my father won't allow it. He only cares about this stupid town, but Bassianus makes me happier than anyone ever has."
"Your mother?" Rhawneth asked causing the girl to sigh hopeless.
"My mother isn't any help either."
"Oh," Rhawneth answered and look up to Argis, who only shrugged his hefty shoulders. "Well, you sound a little confused."
The girl took a step to Rhawneth , "I don't want to choose! They're both so amazing!" Fastred then turned away from the pair and contuined to pull at the crops.

Argis took a hold of Rhawneth's arm, in a gentle manner, leaning his head down to her. "My thane, this girl is inconsistent in her ways. Let's just leave," he whispered to her, hoping the girl wouldn't hear him.
Rhawneth hated to admit he was right, so she wouldn't. "We can help her. Let's talk to her parents." she whispered back causing Argis to just shake his head.

Argis released her arm and Rhawneth walked over to the small cottage and opened the door. A couple sit at a table, eating their lunch but stop upon seeing Rhawneth and Argis.

"You're not supposed to be here," the man said to the pair.
"We're here to talk about Fastred." Rhawneth replied.
"Oh, she's driving my insane. So pardon me if I'm a bit on edge. And I'm sure I know what this is about. She thinks she's in love with Bassianus and wants to leave town with him. Let me tell you how I see it. Until a few months ago, the girl was head over heels for Klimmek. Wouldn't stop talking about him. Now if I thought she was really in love with Bassianus, that would be one thing. But she's a child. It will pass."
"Why do you want her to stay here so badly?" Rhawneth asked the man, causing him to sigh deeply.
"Look outside, there's not much left of our village. Used to be good sized village, but now everyone is leaving for Riften. If all the young people leave, what happens to Ivarstead?"
Rhawneth was silent for a moment, unsure what to say. However, Argis spoke up, "You think she'll get over it?"
"You know how children are. Her fancies change with the moon. And, the boy lacks a spine, he'll need some convincing," the man finished speaking, stood up, and left the small house. The older woman cleared her throat, causing Rhawneth to look over at her.

"Don't tell my husband but I don't have a problem with Bassianus," the woman admitted causing Rhawneth and Argis to exchange glances for a moment. "I know if my daughter leaves, I'll never see her again but I want her to be happy. If they just snuck out of town, I could manage my husband."
"What would….inspire them to leave?" Rhawneth questioned the woman.
"Bassianus is still so terrified of Jofthor. If he knew that I'd keep him from hunting the poor boy down, he'd take my daughter to Riften without a second thought. Let him know that I'll watch out for them. I just want her to be happy."
Rhawneth lowered her hazel hues to the floor, "That's….admirable of you. I shall do as you ask."
"Thank you," the mother replied and the pair left the cottage.

Once outside, Argis looked down to his thane, "What shall you do, thane?"
Rhawneth kept her gaze focused. "I'm doing what the mother wants," she answered simply.
"Are you sure?" Argis questioned. "It might make the father extremely unhappy."
Rhawneth looked up at him with fire in her eyes. "Are you questioning me!?" She almost shouted causing Argis to glare at her.
"Never, my thane. I'll do as you ask, you know that," his voice was soften than before, trying to reassure his thane.

Rhawneth just walked away causing Argis to follow behind her. The pair found Bassianus leaning on the stone bridge, gazing at the rushing water.

"You Bassianus?" Rhawneth asked the man. Bassianus turned his head slightly and chucked to himself from her appearance.
"Who wants to know, elf?" Bassianus replied with an aggressive tone causing Argis to take a step forward, but Rhawneth placed her gloved hand upon his arm, hoping to calm him down. Argis looked down at her hand and took a step back, but kept his multiple colored eyes on the man.
"Boti said to talk to you about Fastred," Rhawneth replied, keeping her hand upon Argis's armored arm.
"Oh, my love. How I long to take her away from all of this." Bassianus responded, and his tone changed to one of enthrallment. "Why did the old woman send you?"
"She said that you should elope, " Rhawneth answered causing Bassianus to turn his full attention to her.
"I always knew she liked me. More than that brute Jofthor, at least. Wait, what about him, he'll come after us and…it will be unpleasant," Bassianus's voice trailed off at the end and a grim look appeared on his face.
"Boti said she would handle her husband, as long as you make Fastred happy." Rhawneth answered causing the man's expression to change and he rubbed his chin, obviously thinking of the situation.
"Well….this changes everything! I'll….I'll go speak to Fastred at once!" Bassianus replied and before Rhawneth could say anything, he took off running toward the small crop area. Rhawneth looked over to Argis and the pair walked over to the cropping field where Fastred was working.

The woman looked up as Bassianus addressed her, "Fastred, we must talk!"
"Bassianus, my love, what is it?" Fastred questioned with wariness in her tone. Argis rolled his eyes at the situation but Rhawneth was too engrossed in the two lovers.
"We must leave! Your father will never approve of us. I grow weary of this place as well."
Fastred stood up, gazing over at Rhawneth who only nodded her head. "Where will we go, my love?" Fastred questioned Bassianus.
"To Rifen, my pet. How you'll adore the city," Bassianus replied.
"With all the thieves, stormcloaks, and misguidance,"Argis mumbled causing Rhawneth to step onto his foot, causing him to groan in slight pain. She only did that because he was insulting her family, the Thieves Guild.
"Oh, and to be with you!" Fastred replied as she clapped her hands together.
"Go and gather your belogings my love. We leave when the moon is within the sky and its light shall guide us," Bassianus replied and the two lovers embraced one another.

Rhawneth's eyes widened at the sight and she moved her foot from ontop of Argis's. The housecarl only stared down at the girl. Her expression pulled at his heart strings. There was a longing in those hazel hues, a longing he knew he would never understand. Yet, he wanted to know what she truly wanted.

"Thane?" He questioned causing the elf to pull up her cowl over her head, shielding her expression and her eyes.
"Let's go," she mumbled and Argis's face softened.
"As you wish," he replied, keeping close to her side.