[D7 EE] Holding On (Sickroom)

[Mariessa Tremaine]

Mari frowned, but didn't stop the squire from going to Harben's side.

People didn't just try to kill eachother with poison over nothing. There was more going on. The squire probably didn't know, but Harben might have a guess...

"... Should I give the two of you a moment?"

[Ser Harben Varner]

"You should go, Derrin, before Ser Kenway comes looking. Better you're gone, not going," Harben tried to nod, but couldn't manage it.

[Squire Derrin]

"Aye, that'd be right. Sorry for the interruption, milady, but I'll be gone now." Derrin scurried away, halfway between a man on an mission and a criminal on the lam.

[Mariessa Tremaine]

Mari watched the squire leave, as did Kevith.

"Harben..." she returned to his side, brushing some of his hair away from his forehead. "... Who would do this to you?"

[Ser Harben Varner]

Harben heaved a sigh, "I don't know who. But I do know why."

[Mariessa Tremaine]

"Then tell me, and I can find the one's responsible," she said firmly. Just like when they were young, she easily took on that noble aspect of a knight.

[Ser Harben Varner]

"Mari... I told you, I've done things that weren't so noble. I'm not proud of what I've done, and look what it got me."

[Mariessa Tremaine]

"You said as much before, yes. However, I'm not willing to forgive and forget that someone did this to you." She did not relent. "Because you do not deserve this."

"Tell me, Harben."

[Ser Harben Varner]

He seemed to concentrate for a time, but his muscles refused to obey, and he remained helpless and limp on the bed. His face fell in defeat, "I'm sure you heard the rumours. They were true," he admitted, "three months ago I..." he closed his eyes, unable to look at Mariessa as he spoke, "I robbed Lysa's virtue, for no better reason than I could."

[Mariessa Tremaine]

She had heard talk that he had been enamoured with Lysa, but that there was more to the rumours was surprising, to say the least. Mari had to stop herself from asking if it was against Lysa's will... of course it wasn't. Harben wouldn't be here if that was the case, right?

"But... Lysa wouldn't try to kill you for it, right? I can't believe she'd do that." The touch of her hand against Harben's forehead was a small reassurance that she did not think less of him. "It must have been someone else that knew."