The Earl sat in front of the fire, his long legs stretched in front of him, the flames casting a golden hue on his tan face, and shining in his raven locks. His muscles were tens and his head felt like hammers where thumping inside his skull, yet all he seemed able to think about was her. He could remember the first time he saw her as if it were yesterday. He could still smell the heady scent of lavender that sill lingered in her hair today. He remembered hearing the sound of her musical laughter before he actually set eyes on her and that was enough to ensnare his heart, but when saw her he knew his heart would be hers forever. She had the innocence of a child deep within her hazel eyes, yet she walked with the grace of a woman. Her skin was as soft and downy as a lilies petal and her hair was as dark and silky as raven’s feather. She was a walking contradiction innocent yet seductive, fragile yet so strong. She was the love of his life. And she was troubled. He longed to soothe her pain and wash away her fears yet he didn’t know how, he didn’t know what were the demons that were haunting her every waking moment and steeling the sleep from her eyes. It was as though she could sense she was on his mind because at that moment she walked into the room and brushed her fingers through his hair. He caught her hand in his and pressed a kiss into her palm. She didn’t move. He could see the shadows in her eyes, and it enraged him, why wouldn’t  she trust him with her problems. “What is it my love, tell me?” he tilted her chin up so he could look straight into her eyes yet she pulled away from his embrace. He felt powerless, yet his blood was pumping madly through his vines. He didn’t seem to be aware of his actions, he grabbed her upper arms and shock her slightly “what has been troubling you? Trust me! Tell me!” she was about to shout back but her words seemed to lodge in her throat and she just sagged in his arms, mighty sobs shock her slender frame. He warped his arms around her and held her against his strong chest, as if he willed his strength to seep into her body. she felt a warm moisture on her cheek, mixing with the bitterns of her tears, yet her pain was so strong that she didn’t pay it any head, she needed to empty all her sorrow into the one person who could make her feel better, then she heard his sharp gasp of pain.  She looked at him but his chest was covered in bright crimson blood, she touched her cheek and her fingers came back drenched in his blood. He fell to his knees with a horrid thud.

“Your tears burn me my love, but give me all your pain and I’ll turn them into pearls” he stretched out his trembling hand and offered her a rope of the most exquisite pearls. She shoved the peals to the ground and started rubbing her small hands franticly over the jagged wounds on his chest “I am sorry my love, I will stop crying just don’t leave me” she rubbed his wounds with such determination and need, as if her movements could give him back his spilled blood. They sat on the thick rug in each others arms sharing their pain as one. They were one. They were each others love.