They stopped walking, what were they doing? Was he going to get his horse and let her go on alone? This wasn't how it was supposed to go down today. They were supposed to grab her while she was out, she was supposed to be alone. His father wasn't going to be pleased. And then to hear this man ask Alannah to marry him? Father would seriously be angry, better continue to watch and see if anything changes.
He had taken her ahold of her and wrapped his arms around her trembling body. It was as though she melted into him and accepted his warm embrace. She laid her head on his chest for a long moment, clinging to him with a desperation that spoke volumes to Dominic. Alannah's sobs made her entire body jerk, it was as though she were drowing in the ocean and wasn't able to break free of whatever was holding her down. When all at once, she pushed away from him. She looking up at his face and saw nothing but love which only made things worse for her. She jumpped up and ran blindly deeper into the woods. She tripped over a fallen tree and fell face first into the ground. She stopped crying and suddently wretched the contents of her stomach right there on the ground. Dominic who had been running to catch up to her, knelt beside her putting his hand gently on her back, but she flinched at from his touch, and suddently felt very faint.
"Dominic, please, don't touch me! I . . . I" she could barely get out between heaves.
"Alannah it is not weakness to accept love and protection, it is in our nature as humans. I love you and I know that you love me, so please don't fight this any longer." he said with a tenderness that she had never heard from him, "and as far as your father's wrath is concerned . . " his humourless chuckle sent a chill of apprehension down her spine. "We Beringers have survived for many, many generations, we have survived the grasping depredations of those of those who are without honor or principle. I am of course not invincible and only a fool would say such a thing. But I am indeed resourceful and enduring, I go after what I want and I want you."
"I….I want to believe you Dominic I do," she said choking on her sobs, "but I don't think my father is the kind that can be reasoned with, I just can't! He is evil incarnate, Dominic! When I looked into his eyes, I've seen the evil that is there staring back at me! He laughs when he makes you afraid of him. I swear looking into his eyes is like staring down at the road to see a rattle snake coiled at your feet!"