"No." Hornet said immediately, staring at her. "Roen..."
Roen continued to stare at Gharen as if to press her point. “I do not want to be a fugitive. I do not want you to be a fugitive.†She reiterated, this time, there was determination that fueled her words. “I do not want Kage to be a Blade. I do not want them hunting you or Hornet to get to me.â€
"Goin' with them will put ye in close te' th' syndicate lass.†Gharen met her gaze, his jaw drawn tight.
"They wanted you, Gharen. Not me."
"Aye, an used ye te get te me."
"Then you need to make certain that, that does not happen again." Roen frowned. "I cannot let this be for naught." She glanced over her shoulder towards Ser Crofte, and Natalie who had now come to join her. “I need him cleared.â€
"Roen… that will be complicated." Natalie chimed in, astonishment clear in her expression. “Far more complicated than your own case.â€
"Complicated, yes, but not impossible, Ser Mcbeef.†Crofte nodded to Roen then to Natalie. “We must try."
“Very well,†Natalie narrowed her eyes. “I will take Gharen’s case.†When she saw all eyes turned to her, the Miqo’te Sworn continued, not wavering. “Ser Crofte can focus on Roen’s case, while I work to clear Gharen. One of the strongest charges against Roen is consorting with a terrorist. If Gharen can be cleared, Roen’s case might go a lot easier.â€
“Besides…†Natalie added under her breath. “Me working with Roen, is not a good idea.†She averted her eyes from those on the bridge.
Crofte nodded. "Aye, and you know more of the events personally than I." She looked back to Roen, breathing a sigh of relief. "Not only that, I will be spending time watching over our guest."
Roen turned to Hornet, spying the consternation on the taller woman’s face. "Please do not tell me I am making a mistake."
"Roen…†Hornet struggled for a response. "I... I'll take care of him," was all she managed.
Roen exhaled and nodded. “Aye.â€
"Every part o' me says this is a bad idea."
"I know.†Roen found herself strangely calmer by the minute. She had something to focus on now. Clearing herself and her brother. It was a purpose. “But I feel it is something I need to do. Too many. Too many have been hurt because of this. I need to put an end to it. I will not have it haunt me or anyone else for the rest of our lives."
"It's always been your decision Roen,†Hornet said softly. She slipped down to her knees, embracing her tight.
"You will take care of him, aye?" Roen said quietly to Hornet.
"I promise." Hornet nodded as she rose again. "If they let me, I'll visit." Â
Roen searched Gharen’s eyes. "I am going to put my fate in their hands. No matter what the decision, Gharen. Do not let them use me to get you."
Gharen’s neck muscles tightened slightly. "I cannae promise that, an' ye know it."
She frowned, her eyes locking onto his. "Please." She pleaded. “Promise.â€
The siblings looked to each other in a silent struggle, before he exhaled and took her in his arms. "Ye win. We'll see what Nymeia has in store fer us."
Roen rested her cheek against his chest. "Aye."
She couldn't see Gharen's scowl. She heard it in his voice. "Lets get this o'er with 'fore I change my mind and do somethin' rash."
Roen continued to stare at Gharen as if to press her point. “I do not want to be a fugitive. I do not want you to be a fugitive.†She reiterated, this time, there was determination that fueled her words. “I do not want Kage to be a Blade. I do not want them hunting you or Hornet to get to me.â€
"Goin' with them will put ye in close te' th' syndicate lass.†Gharen met her gaze, his jaw drawn tight.
"They wanted you, Gharen. Not me."
"Aye, an used ye te get te me."
"Then you need to make certain that, that does not happen again." Roen frowned. "I cannot let this be for naught." She glanced over her shoulder towards Ser Crofte, and Natalie who had now come to join her. “I need him cleared.â€
"Roen… that will be complicated." Natalie chimed in, astonishment clear in her expression. “Far more complicated than your own case.â€
"Complicated, yes, but not impossible, Ser Mcbeef.†Crofte nodded to Roen then to Natalie. “We must try."
“Very well,†Natalie narrowed her eyes. “I will take Gharen’s case.†When she saw all eyes turned to her, the Miqo’te Sworn continued, not wavering. “Ser Crofte can focus on Roen’s case, while I work to clear Gharen. One of the strongest charges against Roen is consorting with a terrorist. If Gharen can be cleared, Roen’s case might go a lot easier.â€
“Besides…†Natalie added under her breath. “Me working with Roen, is not a good idea.†She averted her eyes from those on the bridge.
Crofte nodded. "Aye, and you know more of the events personally than I." She looked back to Roen, breathing a sigh of relief. "Not only that, I will be spending time watching over our guest."
Roen turned to Hornet, spying the consternation on the taller woman’s face. "Please do not tell me I am making a mistake."
"Roen…†Hornet struggled for a response. "I... I'll take care of him," was all she managed.
Roen exhaled and nodded. “Aye.â€
"Every part o' me says this is a bad idea."
"I know.†Roen found herself strangely calmer by the minute. She had something to focus on now. Clearing herself and her brother. It was a purpose. “But I feel it is something I need to do. Too many. Too many have been hurt because of this. I need to put an end to it. I will not have it haunt me or anyone else for the rest of our lives."
"It's always been your decision Roen,†Hornet said softly. She slipped down to her knees, embracing her tight.
"You will take care of him, aye?" Roen said quietly to Hornet.
"I promise." Hornet nodded as she rose again. "If they let me, I'll visit." Â
Roen searched Gharen’s eyes. "I am going to put my fate in their hands. No matter what the decision, Gharen. Do not let them use me to get you."
Gharen’s neck muscles tightened slightly. "I cannae promise that, an' ye know it."
She frowned, her eyes locking onto his. "Please." She pleaded. “Promise.â€
The siblings looked to each other in a silent struggle, before he exhaled and took her in his arms. "Ye win. We'll see what Nymeia has in store fer us."
Roen rested her cheek against his chest. "Aye."
She couldn't see Gharen's scowl. She heard it in his voice. "Lets get this o'er with 'fore I change my mind and do somethin' rash."
